While job losses were less than expected, they are “more than we should tolerate,” Obama said following a report by the Labor Department that the U.S. unemployment rate held at 9.7 percent in February and payrolls fell less than forecast. Obama spoke at the Arlington, Virginia, headquar

AAP Emerging nations, particularly in Asia, run the risk of inflationary pressures and asset price bubbles if they don't withdraw their government stimulus faster than developed countries, the International Monetary Fund's second in charge says. "In emerging market economies,

AFP Britain emerged from the longest recession on record in the fourth quarter of 2009 on a stronger than expected footing, revised official data showed on Friday. British gross domestic product - the value of all the goods and services produced in the economy - grew by 0.3 per cent in

The Conference Board said on Tuesday its Consumer Confidence Index fell almost 11 points to 46 in February, down from a revised 56.5 in January. Analysts were expecting only a slight decrease to 55. It was the lowest level since the index recorded a 40.8 reading in April 2009. The

The Australian dollar hit a 25-year high against sterling on Monday and was strong against other major currencies, helped by firm commodity and stock prices and a genial mood in the market. At the local close, the dollar was trading at $US0.9006 in late trade, up from $US0.8902 on

The tertiary index , which captures 63 percent of the economy, fell 0.9 percent from November, the Trade Ministry said today in Tokyo. The median forecast of 21 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was for a 0.2 percent drop. A global trade revival that spurred production at the country

Planned firings fell 70 percent last month to 71,482 from 241,749 in January 2009, according to data collected by the job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. Announcements increased from a two-year low of 45,094 in December. Companies are retaining staff as the economy rebounds

North American Commodity Update Commodities - Energy Oil Initiates its Biggest Rally in a Month as Manufacturing and Risk Appetite Improve Crude Oil (LS NYMEX) -  $74.65  //  $1.76 //  2.41% A bounce in capital markets and subsequent slip for the US dollar helped leve

T O GET themselves re-elected, governments have to demonstrate they've been working hard to solve the biggest problems facing the country and that they've got big plans for their next term. To this end, Kevin Rudd has been promising to avert the looming slowdown in our rate of economic