First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits rose by slightly more than expected in the week ended April 18th, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday. The report said initial jobless claims climbed to 214,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level of 208,000.
The UK private sector economy gained momentum in April after posting the weakest growth in six months in March, supported by moderate upturns in both manufacturing production and service sector output, survey data from S&P Global showed Thursday. The composite output index posted 52.0 in April, up from 50.3 in March. A score above 50.0 indicates expansion.
The euro area private sector contracted in April as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East deepened the economic woes, flash survey results from S&P Global revealed Thursday. The composite output index fell to a 17-month low of 48.6 in April from 50.7 in March. The index fell below the 50.0 no change mark for the first time in 16 months in April.
The euro weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Thursday, as Eurozone business activity unexpectedly slipped into contraction in April as a result of rising energy prices and falling services demand. The ongoing closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz, also led to the downturn...
The antipodean currencies such as the Australia and the New Zealand dollars weakened against their major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday, as Asian markets traded lower, with traders remaining cautious as the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and the Strait...
Europe's new car registrations logged strong growth in March driven by the surge in demand for battery electric vehicles, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, or ACEA, said Thursday. Car sales increased 12.5 percent from a year ago to 1.158 million units in March, with electric and hybrid vehicles accounting for the majority of growth.
The U.S. Dollar value moved higher after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire set to lapse on April 22, which boosted the stock markets. However, the blockade on Strait of Hormuz and Iran's seizure of two ships in the strait kept the tensions alive and limited the dollar's slide.
The British pound strengthened against other major currencies in the European session on Wednesday, after the British consumer price inflation increased in March to the highest level in three months, driven mainly by higher transport costs. Data published by the Office for National Statistics showed...
The U.S. Dollar value edged higher as the U.S.-Iran standoff over the next round of peace talks kept the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, pushing oil prices higher. In addition, more-than-expected U.S. pending home sales numbers and strong month-over-month retail sales supported the U.S. dollar.
A report released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday showed business inventories in the U.S. increased by more than expected in the month of February. The Commerce Department said business inventories climbed by 0.4 percent in February following a revised unchanged reading in January.
Pending home sales in the U.S. increased by much more than expected in the month of March, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on Tuesday. NAR said its pending home sales index jumped by 1.5 percent to 73.7 in March after surging by 2.5 percent to an upwardly revised 72.6 in February.
The Commerce Department released a report on Tuesday showing retail sales in the U.S. surged by more than expected in the month of March. The report said retail sales shot up by 1.7 percent in March after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in February.
The New Zealand dollar strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday, as traders increased their bets in favor of interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) in the near future due to higher-than-expected New Zealand (NZ) Q1 Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. According...
The U.S. Dollar value ended nearly flat as investors parsed the escalation in the Middle East following a fresh U.S.-Iran standoff.
The U.S. dollar dropped against major currencies during the week ended April 17 as a de-escalation in the Middle East war dimmed safe haven demand for the dollar.
April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.