Economic Indicators

Fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, a sign that layoffs declined and hiring is likely strong.

Applications are a proxy for layoffs, since people cannot claim benefits unless they lose a job through no fault of their own.

Applications for US unemployment benefits fell last week to a low 216,000.

Durable goods orders have been weak since August.

Top officials of the European Central Bank worried at their last meeting that the slowdown in economic growth might be "deeper and more broad-based" than previously suspected.

After GM's November announcement of a broad restructuring, including Oshawa, the union backed brief production disruptions, a call to boycott GM's Mexican-made vehicles and a "solidarity" concert for workers by British musician Sting.

Shares in the world's biggest shipping company, Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk, plunged Thursday after it warned of the commercial damage it would suffer from a U.S. escalation in the trade war with China.

High level talks are being held Thursday and Friday in Washington.

Asian stock markets rose Thursday following a listless day on Wall Street ahead of U.S.-Chinese negotiations aimed at ending a tariffs battle.

U.S. stock indexes edged higher in early trading Wednesday, extending modest gains from a day earlier, as investors reviewed the latest batch of company earnings reports.

Asia expert Gordon Chang explains why President Trump should consider raising tariffs on China.

Federal Reserve policymakers last month noted greater threats to the U.S. economy, ranging from adverse effects of the government shutdown to rising trade tensions, and opted to emphasize that they would be "patient" in raising interest rates.

___ Minutes show Fed officials noted number of rising threats WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve policymakers last month noted a number of increased threats to the U.S. economy, ranging from adverse effects from the government shutdown to rising trade tensions, and opted to emphasize that they would be "patient" in raising interest rates.

Google says it forgot to mention that it included a microphone in a security product it began selling in 2017, but blames the omission on an error.

Samsung is expected to show off its latest smartphones Wednesday, the latest effort by a phone maker to come up with new features compelling enough to end a sales slump.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is presenting a proposal to make Brazilians work longer before they can receive a pension as part of an effort to rescue the troubled retirement system.

Stocks closed modestly higher on Wall Street Wednesday, extending the market's gains from a day earlier.

Italy's economy minister says there is no plan to nationalize Alitalia, the troubled airline that declared bankruptcy two years ago.

President Donald Trump says tariffs on imported vehicles from Europe are something "we certainly think about" and a final decision depends on the United States and the European Union reaching a trade deal.

The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local): 9:35 a.m.