Oil rises above $68 in Asia as investors watch for US jobs report

SINGAPORE — Oil prices peaked above $68 a barrel Friday in Asia as investors looked to a U.S. unemployment report later in the day for signs of economic recovery.

Oil hovers near $68 in Asia as investors eye US jobs report

SINGAPORE — Oil prices hovered near $68 a barrel Friday in Asia as investors looked to a U.S. unemployment report later in the day for signs of economic recovery.

Asian markets gain cautiously ahead of US jobs report; Hang Seng gains 0.4 percent

CANBERRA, Australia — Most Asian markets rose in cautious trading Friday as investors looked ahead to a key U.S. jobs report for clues about the outlook for the world’s largest economy — an important export market for Asia.

Unemployment rate expected to rise, even as economy recovers from deep recession

WASHINGTON — The economy is showing consistent signs of improvement, but probably not enough to stop employers from cutting jobs or to keep the unemployment rate from rising.

Dollar mixed as new jobless claims dip, continuing claims rise; ECB keeps interest rate steady

NEW YORK — The dollar edged up against the euro but fell versus the pound Thursday after the European Central Bank left its key interest rate unchanged, while new U.S. jobless claims dipped less than expected but continuing claims rose.

Summary Box: New jobless claims dip less than expected, weak labor market may hinder recovery

JOBLESS CLAIMS ELEVATED: The Labor Department said the number of laid-off workers applying for benefits dipped to 570,000 from an upwardly revised 574,000 the previous week. The number of Americans continuing to receive benefits rose unexpectedly to 6.23 million.

New jobless claims dip less than expected, sign that weak labor market will hinder recovery

WASHINGTON — New claims for jobless aid fell less than expected last week, and the number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits rose — further signs that any economic recovery will be hindered by a weak job market and flat incomes.

Meltdown 101, by the numbers: Labor market collapse has reshaped the US work force

When Labor Day arrives Monday, it will be celebrated by a work force that has changed radically since the same holiday in 2008.

Stocks carve modest gains after 4 days of losses; investors await August employment data

NEW YORK — Investors moved back into stocks after a four-day slide on hopes that a key government report on unemployment will confirm that the economy is gaining strength.

Stocks bounce up after recent losing streak, gain in early going on jobs and retail sales data

NEW YORK — Stocks moved higher in early trading Thursday, breaking a four-day losing streak after the latest reading on the jobs market and mixed retail sales reports.

Stocks rise at opening after latest report on jobs market, retail sales

NEW YORK — Stocks are rising in early trading, breaking a four-day losing streak after the latest reading on the jobs market and mixed retail sales reports.

Stock futures point to higher opening after latest report on jobs market, retail sales

NEW YORK — Stocks are looking to break a four-day losing streak Thursday after the latest reading on the jobs market and mixed retail sales reports.

Stock futures hold on to most of their early gains after latest report on jobs market

NEW YORK — The latest reading on the labor market is giving investors some hope that the economy is healing.

New jobless claims dip less than expected to 570,000; continuing claims rise to 6.2 million

WASHINGTON — New jobless claims fell slightly last week while the number of people receiving unemployment benefits rose, a sign the job market’s recovery will be long and bumpy.

Economy flashing more signals that recovery is beginning but worries remain over durability

WASHINGTON — Productivity and factory orders are up as the economy continues to flash signals that the longest recession since World War II is coming to an end. However, worries remain about how durable the rebound will be given lingering problems in the labor market.

Productivity jumps in spring on cost cuts, but stronger consumer demand needed for recovery

WASHINGTON — Companies managed to boost their workers’ productivity and their own profits in the spring mainly by slashing costs and capping their employees’ pay.

Stocks fall to extend slide as investors worry that unemployment will short-circuit recovery

NEW YORK — The stock market extended its slide to a fourth day as investors worried that a weak job market will trip up a recovery in the economy.

Investors continue push into safe-haven assets as unemployment fans worries about the economy

NEW YORK — Treasury prices rose Wednesday, supported by concerns over unemployment and the strength of the economy’s recovery.

Ireland’s unemployment rate reaches 12.4 percent, a 14-year high and second-worst in euro zone

DUBLIN — Ireland’s unemployment rate has reached a 14-year high of 12.4 percent as the economy continues to unravel amid the recession, a property market depression and runaway debts, the Central Statistics Office reported Wednesday.

Stocks trade flat after slide as investors worry that unemployment will short-circuit recovery

NEW YORK — Stocks zigzagged a day after a big slide as investors worried that a weak job market will trip up a recovery in the economy.

European, US stocks trading flat ahead of jobs data later in week

LONDON — European stocks closed mostly flat and Wall Street zigzagged in a narrow range Wednesday as more positive economic data didn’t ease fears that stocks may have run ahead of realistic prospects for economic recovery.

Stocks trade mostly flat after steep drop as investors shrug off improved economic reports

NEW YORK — Stocks zigzagged Wednesday, a day after a big slide, as improved reports on factory orders and jobs did little to ease worries about the economy.

Stocks edge lower, extending weakness, as market shrugs off better economic reports

NEW YORK — Stocks edged lower early Wednesday, a day after a big slide, as positive reports on factory orders and jobs did little to ease worries about the economy.

Stocks extend prior day’s sell-off after factory orders report fails to ease concerns

NEW YORK — Stocks are moderately lower as orders to factories fall short of expectations.

Stocks extend prior day’s sell-off after jobs report fails to ease concerns

NEW YORK — The stock market lost more ground Wednesday after a private sector report on unemployment failed to ease investors’ concerns about job losses.

Stocks fall at open, extending prior day’s sell-off after jobs report fails to ease concerns

NEW YORK — The stock market is losing more ground after a private sector report on unemployment fails to ease investors’ concerns about job losses.

US stocks look to extend prior day’s sell-off after jobs report fails to ease concerns

NEW YORK — Stock futures lost ground Wednesday after a private sector report on unemployment failed to ease investors’ concerns about job losses.

Productivity rises at fastest pace in nearly 6 years, while labor costs plunge in spring

WASHINGTON — Worker productivity, the single biggest factor determining living standards, grew at the fastest pace in nearly six years in the spring while labor costs fell by the most in nine years, as companies slashed costs to survive the recession.

Data due out Thursday expected to show rise in July durable goods orders, productivity

NEW YORK — New signs of economic recovery keep emerging, but with the American consumer still hamstrung by flat wages and job losses, it’s unclear those signs will last.

Poll finds Japanese voters chose opposition because of dissatisfaction with ruling party

TOKYO — Most Japanese voters chose the opposition in historic weekend elections because they were fed up with a half century of rule by the governing conservatives, not because they were enthused by what the opposition had to offer, a poll said Wednesday.