WASHINGTON, July 3 Reuters The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits increased last week, pointing to easing labor market conditions. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 238,000 for the week ended June 29, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. The report was released a day early […]

TOKYO, July 3 Reuters Japanese service activity contracted for the first time in nearly two years in June as domestic demand cooled, a private sector survey showed on Wednesday, although business confidence and hiring indicators remained upbeat. The service sector has been propelling economic growth in Japan, offseting feeble manufacturing performance. The final au Jibun […]

BEIJING, July 3 Reuters China39;s services activity expanded at the slowest pace in eight months and confidence hit a fouryear low in June, dragged by slower growth in new orders, a privatesector survey showed on Wednesday, suggesting more economic stimulus is needed. The CaixinSP Global services purchasing managers39; index PMI eased to 51.2 from 54.0 […]

DUBLIN, July 3 Reuters Growth in Ireland39;s service sector moderated slightly in June, bringing jobs growth to a near standstill but a sharp drop in input costs offered welcome relief to firms, a survey showed on Wednesday. The AIB Global SP Purchasing Managers39; Index fell to 54.2 from 55.0 in May, broadly in line with […]

July 3 Reuters Sanofi and partner Regeneron on Wednesday won European Union approval for wider use of their Dupixent injection in patients with a chronic lung disease, a rare case of the EU clearing a drug faster than the United States. The EU Commission approved Dupixent to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD in patients that cannot […]

SEOUL, July 3 Reuters South Korea39;s government on Wednesday vowed to support small businesses and the construction sector struggling due to high interest rates in the second half of 2024, as it revised up its forecast for this year39;s economic growth. Small businesses are still in difficult conditions. Amid persistently high interest rates, their interest […]

BENGALURU, July 3 Reuters Growth in India39;s dominant services industry accelerated last month, buoyed by strong demand and a record rise in export orders, according to a business survey that also showed companies were hiring at the fastest in nearly two years. HSBC39;s India Services Purchasing Managers39; Index, compiled by SP Global, rose to 60.5 […]

BERLIN, July 3 Reuters A solid rise in business activity in June ended a positive second quarter for the German service sector, albeit with the rate of expansion easing slightly, a survey showed on Wednesday. The HCOB final services Purchasing Managers39; Index eased to 53.1 in June from to 54.2 in May, slightly below a […]