UNDATED (AP) — European stocks wallowed in early trading today on dour growth prospects while Asian shares were mostly higher as a slump in energy prices promised benefits for the region’s major economies. Futures point to Wall Street losses at this morning’s opening. Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell more than a dollar to just below $81 a barrel. The dollar fell against the euro and the yen.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Several economic reports are due later today including the Labor Department’s release on the Producer Price Index for September and the Commerce Department’s retail sales figures, also for September. In addition, the Federal Reserve releases its Beige Book survey of economic conditions around the U.S. and the Commerce Department will issue its release on business inventories for August.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s unemployment rate dropped to 6 percent for the June to August period, down from 6.4 percent in the three months before and the lowest rate since 2008. The Office of National Statistics says there were 1.97 million unemployed people, 538,000 fewer than a year earlier. The agency says it was the largest annual fall in unemployment since records began in 1972.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A federal bankruptcy judge will decide tomorrow whether to terminate the union contract of Atlantic City’s Taj Mahal Casino Resort, something the struggling casino says is necessary to avoid shutting down next month. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Kevin Gross says he’ll announce his decision Friday afternoon in a teleconference. Trump Entertainment Resorts plans to close the casino Nov. 13 unless it gets relief from costly pension and health care obligations. It would be the fifth of Atlantic City’s 12 casinos to close this year.
NEW YORK (AP) – Facebook and Apple are adding to the perks available to top talent. Beyond day to day luxuries like free lunches, dry cleaning and massages, the companies will now give up to $20,000 in benefits to help employees pay for infertility treatments, sperm donors and even to freeze their eggs. The move comes amid stiff competition for skilled engineers.
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