Quick Overview

• The Conference Board Index of Leading Economic Indicators fell 0.1 percent in July.
  
  

• The Labor Department reported that 312,000 workers applied for jobless benefits, down by 10,000 from the previous week.
  
  

• The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's regional index of business activity increased from 6.0 to 18.5 in August, more than expected.
  

• The U.S. Department of Energy said that underground supplies of natural gas were up 37 billion cubic feet last week at 2.800 trillion cubic feet.
  

• Retail sales in the U.K. were down 0.3% in July, weaker than expected.
  

• Taiwan's GDP was up 4.6% in the second quarter from a year ago, less than expected.
  

• Italy posted a current account deficit of 2.053 bln Euro in June against a deficit of 855 mln a year earlier.