Latest Economy News

South Korea's central bank cuts rates in a bid to boost the economy

Oct. 11, 2024 04:47 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s central bank on Friday cut its policy rate for the first time in more than four years as pressure to revive a sluggish economy outweighed concerns about the country’s level of household debt. The Bank of Korea lowered its key interest...

Texas lawmakers signal openness to expanding film incentive program

Oct. 10, 2024 14:24 PM EDT

During a legislative hearing that featured clips of television shows filmed in Texas and testimony from movie stars like Dennis Quaid, lawmakers considered whether to overhaul a film incentive program that has lured hit productions like “Yellowstone” and “Friday Night Lights” to the state....

Germany's economy is on track to shrink for a second straight year

Oct. 09, 2024 13:20 PM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's government said Wednesday that its economy, Europe's biggest, is on track to shrink for a second consecutive year — underlining the unpopular administration's troubles as it heads into a difficult election year. The new forecast that gross domestic product...

China announces more support for economy but holds back on major spending package

Oct. 08, 2024 02:47 AM EDT

HONG KONG (AP) — China’s economic planning agency outlined details of measures aimed at boosting the economy on Tuesday but refrained from major spending initiatives. The piecemeal nature of the plans announced Tuesday appeared to disappoint investors who were hoping for bolder...

Stock market today: Dow rallies to a record after a blockbuster jobs report

Oct. 04, 2024 17:06 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rallied Friday after a surprisingly strong report on the U.S. job market raised optimism about the economy. The S&P 500 climbed 0.9% and got close to its all-time high set on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 341 points, or 0.8%, to set...

How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 10/4/2024

Oct. 04, 2024 16:23 PM EDT

U.S. stocks closed higher after a surprisingly strong U.S. jobs report raised optimism about the economy. The S&P 500 added 0.9% Friday and neared its all-time high set on Monday. The Dow climbed 0.8% and reached its own record. The Nasdaq rose 1.2%. Banks, cruise-ship operators and other...

US adds a robust 254,000 jobs and unemployment dips to 4.1% in sign of still-sturdy labor market

Oct. 04, 2024 12:36 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added a surprisingly strong 254,000 jobs in September, easing concerns about a weakening labor market and suggesting that the pace of hiring is still solid enough to support a growing economy. Last month’s gain was far more than economists...

Stock market today: Oil prices jump again on worries about the Middle East as Wall Street fades

Oct. 03, 2024 16:20 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Crude prices jumped Thursday on worries that worsening tensions in the Middle East could disrupt the global flow of oil, while U.S. stocks pulled back further from their records. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% amid a shaky week that’s knocked the index off its all-time...

US job openings rise to 8 million as labor market remains sturdy

Oct. 01, 2024 18:03 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in August as the American labor market continued to show resilience. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that employers posted 8 million vacancies in August, up from 7.7 million in July. Economists had expected openings to be...

Inflation in Europe falls below 2% and opens the way for faster rate cuts

Oct. 01, 2024 06:31 AM EDT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro fell to 1.8% in September, below the European Central Bank's target of 2% for the first time in more than three years as falling energy prices give consumers relief from a burst of inflation that at one point reached into...