http://www.mail.com/subjects/1696-leading-economic-indicators.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.28/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/1696-leading-economic-indicators.html http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2099414-markets-choppy-ahead-bernanke-testimony.html LONDON (AP) — Markets were fairly choppy Tuesday as investors were reluctant to push stock indexes up further ahead of a much-anticipated statement from U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. The Fed is conducting its third round of massive bond purchases known as quantitative easing. The aim has been to help drive down interest rates and spur lendin... Tue, 21 May 2013 10:34:51 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2099414-markets-choppy-ahead-bernanke-testimony.html 2013-05-21T10:34:51Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2099352-average-credit-card-debt-late-payments-fall-1q.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Americans got better about paying their credit card debt on time in the first three months of the year, a period when many borrowers use income tax returns to tackle their holiday season debt. The rate of credit card payments at least 90 days overdue fell to 0.69 percent in the first quarter from 0.85 percent a year earlier — drop of ne... Tue, 21 May 2013 10:12:39 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2099352-average-credit-card-debt-late-payments-fall-1q.html 2013-05-21T10:12:39Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2097192-asia-stocks-muted-ahead-fed-meeting.html BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stock markets struggled to post gains Tuesday as investors waited for the U.S. Federal Reserve to telegraph what it plans to do next with its economic stimulus program. The Fed is currently conducting the third round of massive bond purchases known as quantitative easing to help drive down interest rates and spur lending. But recently... Tue, 21 May 2013 03:07:16 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2097192-asia-stocks-muted-ahead-fed-meeting.html 2013-05-21T03:07:16Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2097880-small-company-stock-bright-spot.html NEW YORK (AP) — Small-company stocks were a bright spot in a subdued start to the week for Wall Street. The Russell 2000, an index of small-company stocks, climbed above 1,000 points for the first time and ended higher Monday, even as the Dow Jones industrial average, the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq composite index all edged lower. ... Mon, 20 May 2013 22:37:05 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2097880-small-company-stock-bright-spot.html 2013-05-20T22:37:05Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2093088-stocks-rise-hopeful-signs-us-economy.html NEW YORK (AP) — Encouraging news about the U.S. economy extended the stock market's rally Friday. Small-company stocks rose the most, a sign that investors are taking on more risk. Two companies soared in their stock-market debuts in the latest indication that the market for initial public offerings is reviving. A gauge of future econo... Fri, 17 May 2013 21:41:14 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2093088-stocks-rise-hopeful-signs-us-economy.html 2013-05-17T21:41:14Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2093140-unemployment-falls-40-us-states-rises-3.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Solid hiring helped lower unemployment rates in 40 U.S. states last month, the most since November. The declines show the job market is improving throughout most of the country. The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates increased in only three states: Louisiana, Tennessee and North Dakota. Rates were unchanged in seven sta... Fri, 17 May 2013 17:28:51 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2093140-unemployment-falls-40-us-states-rises-3.html 2013-05-17T17:28:51Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2092710-world-stocks-strong-weekend.html AMSTERDAM (AP) — World stock markets rose steadily on Friday after two key indicators suggested the U.S. economic expansion will continue. The Conference Board reported that its leading indicator index for the U.S. increased 0.6 percent in April, following a 0.2 decline in March, due to recovering housing and labor markets. "In general, the (index) points... Fri, 17 May 2013 16:41:18 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2092710-world-stocks-strong-weekend.html 2013-05-17T16:41:18Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2093078-gauge-us-economys-future-health-up-april.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A measure of the U.S. economy's future health rose solidly in April, buoyed by a sharp rise in applications to build homes and a better job market. The Conference Board said Friday that its index of leading indicators increased 0.6 percent last month to a reading of 95. That followed a 0.2 percent decline in March. The index is intended ... Fri, 17 May 2013 15:39:14 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2093078-gauge-us-economys-future-health-up-april.html 2013-05-17T15:39:14Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2093164-tableau-software-soars-trading-debut.html NEW YORK (AP) — Tableau Software shares soared in their trading debut Friday after the company and some of its investors raised about $254.2 million in its initial public offering. Seattle-based Tableau Software Inc. provides software that helps businesses convert data into visual presentations. The shares jumped $17.50, or 56 percent, to $48.50 in mornin... Fri, 17 May 2013 15:08:03 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2093164-tableau-software-soars-trading-debut.html 2013-05-17T15:08:03Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2090788-late-fade-wall-street-wal-mart-disney-slump.html NEW YORK (AP) — Signs of a slowing economy combined with comments from a Federal Reserve official helped pull the stock market down Thursday. There was plenty of discouraging news. Applications for unemployment benefits rose last week and manufacturing slowed in the mid-Atlantic region. Wal-Mart sank after warning that its customers were spending less at ... Thu, 16 May 2013 22:10:09 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2090788-late-fade-wall-street-wal-mart-disney-slump.html 2013-05-16T22:10:09Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2091366-sector-snap-makers-computer-networking-gear.html SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Investors snapped up the stocks of companies that make computer networking gear Thursday after industry leader Cisco Systems Inc.'s latest quarterly earnings raised hope that business is picking up after a long stretch of lackluster demand. Cisco led the rally as its shares surged to their biggest one-day gain in 21 months. The stock ... Thu, 16 May 2013 19:18:52 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2091366-sector-snap-makers-computer-networking-gear.html 2013-05-16T19:18:52Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2089572-influence-game-tech-labor-spar-immigration.html WASHINGTON (AP) — To the U.S. technology industry, there's a dramatic shortfall in the number of Americans skilled in computer programming and engineering that is hampering business. To unions and some Democrats, it's more sinister: The push by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to expand the number of visas for high-tech foreign workers is an attempt to dilute a lucrative job marke... Thu, 16 May 2013 17:36:09 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2089572-influence-game-tech-labor-spar-immigration.html 2013-05-16T17:36:09Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2090136-us-housing-starts-fell-april-permits-surged.html WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. builders broke ground on fewer homes in April, one month after topping the 1 million mark for the first time since 2008. But most of the decline was in apartment construction, which tends to vary sharply from month to month. And applications for new construction reached a five-year peak, evidence that the housing revival will be sus... Thu, 16 May 2013 13:33:38 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2090136-us-housing-starts-fell-april-permits-surged.html 2013-05-16T13:33:38Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2090148-us-jobless-claims-jump-to-highest-level-6-weeks.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose 32,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 360,000, the most since late March. The jump came a week after applications had reached a five-year low. The less volatile four-week average rose just 1,250 to 339,250, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's a level consistent with mo... Thu, 16 May 2013 13:22:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2090148-us-jobless-claims-jump-to-highest-level-6-weeks.html 2013-05-16T13:22:06Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2089060-japanese-economy-grew-35-percent-pace-1q.html TOKYO (AP) — Japan's economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 3.5 percent in annual terms last quarter, giving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a boost as his government tackles reforms needed to ensure a sustained recovery from two decades of malaise. Stronger consumer spending and public works investment coupled with aggressive monetary easing lent oomph to th... Thu, 16 May 2013 09:40:45 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2089060-japanese-economy-grew-35-percent-pace-1q.html 2013-05-16T09:40:45Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2086780-asia-stocks-mixed-wall-st-ignores-euro-gloom.html BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Thursday following dour European economic data that dampened hopes of a recovery there anytime soon. However, losses were limited by another record session on Wall Street. The European Union statistics office said Wednesday that nine of the 17 countries that use the euro are in recession, including France. The... Thu, 16 May 2013 05:27:43 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2086780-asia-stocks-mixed-wall-st-ignores-euro-gloom.html 2013-05-16T05:27:43Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2088304-stock-indexes-shake-early-slide-close-higher.html NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market is closing higher after shaking off a morning slump. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 60 points to close at 15,275 Wednesday, a gain of 0.4 percent. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose eight points to 1,658, or 0.5 percent. Both the Dow and S&P are at record highs. The Nasdaq co... Wed, 15 May 2013 20:17:11 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2088304-stock-indexes-shake-early-slide-close-higher.html 2013-05-15T20:17:11Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2087208-us-homebuilder-confidence-rises-april.html Confidence among U.S. homebuilders rebounded this month, reflecting improved sales trends during the spring home-selling season and the strongest outlook for sales over the next six months in more than six years. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Wednesday rose to 44 in May from 41 in April. The increas... Wed, 15 May 2013 15:32:05 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2087208-us-homebuilder-confidence-rises-april.html 2013-05-15T15:32:05Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2087062-us-wholesale-prices-fall-07-pct-3-years.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Sharp drops in fuel and food costs reduced a measure of U.S. wholesale prices in April by the most in three years. Outside those volatile categories, inflation stayed tame. The producer price index, which measures price changes before they reach the consumer, fell a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent in April from March, the Labor Departmen... Wed, 15 May 2013 14:52:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2087062-us-wholesale-prices-fall-07-pct-3-years.html 2013-05-15T14:52:29Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2084382-stock-market-rises-record-territory.html NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market marched back into record territory Tuesday as investors seized on the latest encouraging news about the economy. This time, it was a report on the health of small businesses. Small business owners were slightly more optimistic in April, according to a survey released by the National Federation of Independent Business befor... Tue, 14 May 2013 22:17:56 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2084382-stock-market-rises-record-territory.html 2013-05-14T22:17:56Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2081396-asia-stocks-rise-us-retail-sales-gain.html BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stock markets rose Tuesday after data showed U.S. consumers revved up their retail spending last month. The Commerce Department in Washington said retail sales increased 0.1 percent in April from March, an improvement from March's 0.5 percent decline. Economists had forecast that sales declined by 0.3 percent in April. The uptick in s... Tue, 14 May 2013 03:11:47 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2081396-asia-stocks-rise-us-retail-sales-gain.html 2013-05-14T03:11:47Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2082632-high-tech-pushes-immigration-bill.html WASHINGTON (AP) — High-tech companies looking to bring more skilled workers to the U.S. pushed Monday for more concessions in an immigration bill pending in the Senate. Labor unions said the Silicon Valley had already gotten enough in the legislation and further changes risked chipping away at protections for U.S. workers. The clash is set to play out in ... Tue, 14 May 2013 02:50:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2082632-high-tech-pushes-immigration-bill.html 2013-05-14T02:50:29Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2081806-stock-market-rally-pauses-monday.html NEW YORK (AP) — A record-breaking rally in stocks paused Monday as investors assessed whether the rise in stock valuations overstated the recent improvement in the economy. The latest positive data, out Monday, showed that Americans increased spending at retailers last month. That suggests that consumers may boost economic growth in the current quarter en... Mon, 13 May 2013 23:20:26 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2081806-stock-market-rally-pauses-monday.html 2013-05-13T23:20:26Z