Floods on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali have killed at least nine this week and affected 600 people, blocking off major roads in the capital and disrupting a busy travel destination, officials said on Wednesday. Continuous heavy rains between Tuesday evening and Wednesday caused the floods and killed five people in Bali's capital Denpasar, Abdul Muhari, the spokesperson of the country's disaster mitigation agency said in a statement. Four more people were killed in the regions of Jembrana, Gianyar, and Badung, Abdul added. Two people were still missing. Out of 600 people affected,...
The ISM Manufacturing PMI rose 0.9 points from the previous month to 49.3 in December 2024, beating market expectations of 48.4. The reading reflected the slowest pace of contraction in the U.S. manufacturing sector since March's 50.3 reading, the only expansion in the industry since September 2022. A gauge measuring new orders came in at 52.5, reflecting the strongest level of new orders in 11 months, suggesting that lower output for manufacturers may be nearing a bottom despite the Fed's prolonged interest rate tightening. In turn, a gauge measuring the prices faced by businesses rose to...
Global stocks advanced on Thursday after a four-session drop to end 2024, while the dollar strengthened after economic data pointed to a U.S. labor market that remained on solid footing. On Wall Street, U.S. stocks were higher in the early stages of trading, with the S&P 500 on track to snap a four session streak of declines to end 2024. Data from the U.S. Labor Department showed the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits dropped to an eight-month low of 211,000 last week, below the 222,000 estimate of economists polled by Reuters. Gains were led by the...
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell to 219K in the week ending Dec. 29, 2024. That was down from the 222K estimate and from the previous weekly reading of 219K, which was revised down to 220K, the Labor Department said Thursday. Source: @Newsmaker23
Investors are expecting more gains for the U.S. stock market in 2025 after two straight standout years, fueled by a solid economy supporting corporate profits, moderating interest rates and pro-growth policies from incoming president Donald Trump. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 24% year-to-date, even with a recent speed bump, and is on pace for its second straight year of gains exceeding 20%, lifted by megacap tech stocks and excitement over the business potential of artificial intelligence. Investors are more confident about the economy than this time a year ago, with consumers...
China's official Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) eased to 50.1 in December, compared to 50.3 in the previous reading. The reading came in below the market consensus of 50.3 in the reported month. The NBS Non-Manufacturing PMI rose to 52.2 in December versus November's 50.0 figure and the estimates of 50.2. Source: FXstreet
China's official NBS Manufacturing PMI increased to 49.7 in June 2025 from May's 49.5, matching market expectations while marking the third consecutive month of contraction in factory activity.
It...
Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
Poland shot down a drone in its airspace on Wednesday with the support of military aircraft from its NATO allies. This is the first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to have...