May 08, 2026 15:50 ET Manufacturing and services sector survey results and labor market data from main economies were the highlight on the economics news front this week. Factory orders and jobs report dominated the news flow in the U.S. Similarly, industrial production data from German garnered attention in Europe. In Asia, purchasing managers’ survey results from China and the central bank decision from Australia were in focus.
May 08, 2026 11:24 ETThe Commerce Department released a report on Friday showing a sharp increase in U.S. wholesale inventories in the month of March. The report said wholesale inventories shot up by 1.3 percent in March after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.9 percent in February.
May 08, 2026 16:15 ETFollowing the pullback seen over the course of the previous session, stocks showed a strong move back to the upside during trading on Friday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the way higher and reached a new record closing high along with the S&P 500.
May 08, 2026 14:37 ETPartly offsetting the losses from three consecutive sessions, crude oil prices have inched higher on Friday as Middle East tensions renewed after the exchange of fire between the U.S. and Iran. Iran is delaying its response to a U.S. peace proposal to end the war, adding to the uncertainty.
May 08, 2026 10:29 ETA better-than-expected job market update from the U.S. on Friday has dampened rate cut expectations from the Fed, dragging down cryptocurrencies.