Category: News Desk

Jobless Claims Fall as Fed Upbeat on U.S. Recovery


Jobless claims fell by 14,000 to 298,000 in the week ending August 16th, according to the Department of Labor. This was lower than most analysts had expected, spurring speculation that the Federal Reserve may tighten its monetary policy faster than predicted. The previous week’s claims were revised up by 1,000.

The 4-week moving average for claims rose from 296,000 for the four weeks prior to August 9th to 300,750 for the four weeks prior to August 16th, or a change of 1.6%. However, the 4-week moving average is down nearly 10% from a year ago.

Economic Restoration in Ireland Receives an ‘A’ Grade


The ratings agency known as ‘Fitch’ has recently upgraded its view on Irish debt to an A- grade. This announcement said that the country has recently begun to experience less vulnerability within their banking sector, and improved trends within the economy. The agency delivered its assessment recently in a pre-budget boost, suggesting that the outlook for the rating was considered to be stable. This means that they currently do not expect to see any significantly stormy economic clouds on Ireland’s horizon.

Britain Defined as the Least Expensive Manufacturing Economy in Western Europe


Enhanced productivity and a consistent growth in stable wages over the past ten years have allowed the UK to emerge as an increasingly competitive economy, even in comparison with various Eastern-European countries. Recent evidence has suggested that the UK economy is finally beginning to recover its mantle as a hub for global manufacturing, becoming the cheapest location to produce goods throughout the entire Western Europe.

The Week in Review: U.S. GDP Growth, S&P 2000


The S&P 500 hit 2,000 for the first time in history shortly before the Bureau of Economic Analysis revised upwards their estimates for GDP growth in the second quarter of 2014. While stocks have reversed course from their weekly high, U.S. equities remain attractive to investors as more investors bet on equities thanks to improving economic conditions and the possibility of a quantitative easing program by the European Central Bank.

Germany’s Struggling Second Quarter Slows with Weak Industry Output


In the month of June, German industrial output managed a miniscule rise of only 0.3 percent, falling far short of the rise that was predicted around 1.3%. Mixed with the fears that the crisis in the Ukraine has created, the weak industry output of Germany has suggested that Europe’s largest economy could be seriously struggling in its second quarter.

How long does this have to continue until these European countries figure out that socialized health care and other burdensome regulations are hurting their prospects according to business leaders?

U.S. GDP Growth Revised Upwards on Declining Unemployment Rates


The United States GDP rose at a 4.2% annual rate in the second quarter, according to a new estimate by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis.

U.S. Federal Deficit Spending Falls at Accelerating Rate


The U.S. Federal budget deficit is declining at a faster pace than previously projected, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office.

Due to cost-cutting after the so-called “fiscal cliff” in January 2013, in which Federal budget cuts automatically went into effect, the U.S. government’s deficit has shrunk to $506 billion on an annual run rate in 2014. According to the CBO, this shortfall is 25% smaller than it was in 2013, and will account for 2.9% of the nation’s GDP.

Israeli Strikes Hit Hard on Gaza’s Economy


The company that owns the largest, most productive factories throughout Gaza, ‘Gaza City’ had their operations destroyed through airstrikes and artillery shells, leading them to comment that Israel may have intentionally targeted the industrial sector in Gaza in order to bring the economy crumbling down.

Well, when you are firing rocket after rocket into Israel because of irrational hatred, you should be smacked down which is what Israel has the right to do.

The Week in Review: Stable Emerging Markets, U.S. Unemployment


Equities broadly rallied for the week as cooling tensions in Ukraine, stable unemployment rates in the U.S., and emerging markets saw growing demand for debt. Investors have eschewed the risk aversion that saw U.S. stocks fall in the first half of August, while commodity prices sought a bottom and fears of deflation were replaced with confidence in a global return to consistent growth.

Spain: A Slow Recovering Economy


Spain is a member of the European Union (EU), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). It has a mixed capitalist economy and is the 14th largest economy in the world. The currency of Spain is the euro. The economy is dependent on tourism, the export of semi manufactured goods, automobiles, fruits, renewable energy, and manufacturing.