Economic News
Norwegian court dismisses Greenpeace's Arctic oil lawsuit against state
An Oslo court has granted Norway permission to undertake further oil exploration in the Arctic on Thursday, dismissing a lawsuit filed by Greenpeace and the Nature and Youth Group that claimed they were in violation of the people's right to a healthy environment.
US oil inventories fall sharply as refineries ramp-up production
US crude oil inventories dropped sharply sharply last week, albeit alongside big increases in product stockpiles as refineries ramped-up production.
Sessions rumours knock marijuana stocks off their high
Cannabis stocks came down from their high on Thursday as rumours emerged that US attorney general Jeff Sessions planned to rescind federal marijuana legislation.
Fed funds futures rise after FOMC minutes
Rate-setters in the US continue to see a need for a "gradual" pace of monetary policy tightening, but are also in agreement that the behaviour of prices and of the shape of the government bond yield curve need monitoring, the minutes of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting revealed.
Oil prices reach two-year high as Iranian tensions panic market
Political unrest in Iran helped oil hit its highest price in more than two years on Thursday as OPEC-led output cuts and cold weather in North America boosted demand for the fossil fuel.
US services sector growth slows to 7-month low in December - IHS Markit
Activity in the US services sector slowed less than initially estimated in December, according to figures out on Thursday.
Friday preview: US payrolls and earnings to increase Fed 'head scratching'
Friday is US non-farm payrolls day, with the numbers coming hot on the heels of news of a split in the Federal Reserve over the pace of interest rate rises this year.
Rising UK minimum wage 'puts jobs at risk of robot replacements'
Further increases to the national living wage could lead to a number of positions being replaced by robots and computerised systems as an alternative to paying higher wages, an economic research group warned on Thursday.
US initial jobless claims unexpectedly rise
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, according to figures released by the Labor Department on Thursday.
US private sector adds 250,000 jobs in December
Private sector employment in the US unexpectedly rose in December, according to data released by ADP on Thursday.
Economists divided after November UK consumer credit, mortgage data
The pace of lending to individuals picked-up slightly in November on the back of stronger mortgage approvals, but remained below the average for over the previous six months, leaving economists divided on the implications of the data for the economy.
China's services sector improves, Caixin survey shows
China's services sector grew at its fastest pace in more than three years in December, according to a survey released overnight.
Services PMI beats forecast, but new business slows and inflation rises
UK services firms reported slightly stronger growth than expected in December but growth in new orders fell to a 16-month low, a survey on the dominant sector of the economy revealed on Thursday.
Trump's lawyers hit Steve Bannon with cease-and-desist over tell-all book
Lawyers representing Donald Trump have issued former chief strategist Steve Bannon a cease-and-desist notice, accusing him of having violated a non-disclosure agreement when speaking to author Michael Wolff.
Eurozone economic growth hits highest level since early 2011 - IHS Markit
Business activity in the eurozone accelerated more than initially estimated in December, with economic growth hitting its highest level since early 2011, according to figures released on Thursday.
UK house price growth slows in 2017 - Nationwide
House price growth in the UK slowed in 2017, according to the latest survey from mortgage lender Nationwide.