US New Jobless Claims Fall to 654,000
Analysts had predicted that new jobless claims would be 660,000 for last week, but the actual number beat expectations coming in at 654,000. Despite the better-than-expected result, this still marks the 11th straight week that the number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits set an all-time record now totaling 5.84 million people. More
Canadian Economy Loses 61,000 Jobs
The Canadian economy lost another 61,000 jobs in March raising the national unemployment rate to 8 percent. More
Japan Details $150bn Stimulus Plan
Japan released more details on the 15.4tn yen ($150bn) stimulus package announced last week. The plan – equal to about 3% of Japan’s gross domestic product (GDP) – will boost investment in fuel-efficient vehicles and consumer electronics, and also includes direct aid for struggling firms and unemployed / temporary workers. More
BOE Holds Interest Rates at 0.5%
The Bank of England had held its overnight lending at 0.5 percent as expected. More
