News Highlights: Top Global Markets News of the Day - Thursday at 1 PM ET

U.S. economy grew 3.0% in spring - and GDP looks set to repeat that feat in third quarter 
 

The last of three updates on U.S. growth in the second quarter showed the economy expanded at solid 3.0% annual pace - and there's no sign it's taken a big turn for the worse.

 
Jobless claims sink to 4-month low. Businesses aren't hiring - or firing - many people. 
 

The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week fell to a nearly four-month low of 218,000, reflecting the reluctance of businesses to cut jobs even though they're no longer hiring many new workers.

 
Stock Indexes Trade Higher, Micron Jumps 
 

Stocks rose, with several economic strong readings. Jobless claims undershot forecasts, while durable-goods orders proved unexpectedly robust.

 
Durable-goods orders were flat in August, beating forecasts of a sharp decline 
 

Orders for U.S. durable goods were flat in August, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

 
Pending home sales inch up in August on slight improvement in housing affordability 
 

U.S. pending home sales rose 0.6% in August, as a big drop in mortgage rates prompted some home buyers to act.

 
Fed's Rate Cut Is Jolting Small Businesses to Spend Again 
 

From restarting expansion plans to boosting marketing, some entrepreneurs are preparing for lower borrowing costs. Others say not so fast.

 
China Is Assembling an Economic Bazooka, Piece by Piece 
 

China's central bank and its top political leaders appear to be abandoning a reluctance to act forcefully on the economy.

 
Hong Kong stocks lead global surge on reports of more China stimulus measures 
 

Hong Kong's equity market hit a one-year high and led a surge in global stocks as the China-stimulus-induced risk-asset rally received further propulsion

 
China Market Support May Fizzle Out If Key Issues Remain Unsolved 
 

China's push to bolster its stock markets has stirred optimism, but begs the question of whether investors will take the bait amid lingering doubts about the economy's underlying weakness.

 
Swiss Central Bank Delivers Another Rate Cut 
 

Switzerland's central bank cut its key interest rate for the third straight meeting as it pivots away from worries about high inflation toward concerns about the impact of a strong currency on exporters.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 26, 2024 13:15 ET (17:15 GMT)

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