Finance

U.S. productivity grew at a strong 3.4% rate in the January-March quarter, the best showing in more than four years, the Labor Department reported Thursday. It was an encouraging sign that productivity may finally be improving after a long stretch of weakness. The first quarter gain was more than double the 1.3% increase in the […]

The Latest on the trade dispute between China and the United States, and related developments (all times local): 2:32 p.m. President Donald Trump says he’ll make a decision about ramping up tariffs on China after he speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit this month in Japan. Speaking Thursday in France, Trump said:

Gold is shining again as investors scramble for safety amid the widening global trade war. The price of gold has climbed nearly 5% since May 21, while markets around the world fell. Last week was the best of the year for gold after President Donald Trump surprised markets by threatening to raise tariffs on Mexico.

June 6 (Reuters) – Former U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn has dismissed the lawyers who represented him in his guilty plea and cooperation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller and retained new counsel, according to a court filing on Thursday. While no reason was given for the termination of Robert Kelner and Stephen Anthony of

U.S. long-term mortgage rates fell for the sixth consecutive week, with the key 30-year loan average running below 4% and at its lowest point since September 2017. The declining rates have been a boon to potential purchasers in the spring home buying season, and the number of homeowners seizing the opportunity to refinance mortgages jumped

The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local): 11:50 a.m Stocks are mostly higher at midday Thursday as investors wait for developments in U.S. trade talks with Mexico. Energy companies and makers of household products led the gainers while manufacturers were the steepest decliners. Occidental Petroleum rose 2.7% while Exxon gained 1.6%. Cigarette

U.S. stocks swayed between small gains and losses in morning trading on Wall Street Thursday as investors closely watched for any developments in U.S. trade disputes. The muted trading follows two days of gains driven by investors betting that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates this year. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday that

China’s Commerce Ministry will release a list of “unreliable” foreign companies in the near future, a spokesman said Thursday, without giving a specific date. Interested in China? Add China as an interest to stay up to date on the latest China news, video, and analysis from ABC News. The decision to create the list, announced

World stocks climbed Thursday on expectations that the European Central Bank may signal stronger support for the economy even if it leaves key policies unchanged. France’s CAC 40 jumped 0.7% to 5,330.57 and the DAX in Germany added 0.5% to 12,044.43. Britain’s FTSE 100 was 0.6% higher at 7,262.65 in early trading. Wall Street was

India’s central bank on Thursday cut its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.75% with immediate effect to fortify the economy as consumer spending and corporate investment falter. The benchmark interest rate is what the Reserve Bank of India charges on lending to commercial banks. In a bimonthly review of