Quick Overview

The number of U.S. workers filing for initial unemployment benefits fell 36,000 in the week ended April 16, the third consecutive reported decline, the Labor Department said Thursday

Manufacturing in the Philadelphia area rose to 25.3, a Federal Reserve report said Thursday. Orders and shipments also accelerated.

The Bank of Japan said on Thursday the economies of most of Japan's regions are in a mild recovery trend.

The Conference Board reported Thursday that its Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators fell 0.4 percent last month to 115.1. The decline was slightly larger than that expected.

Retail sales in the U.K. were down 0.1% in March, weaker than expected.

China's president on Thursday urged Asian and African leaders to pursue free trade agreements and open their markets to each other to overcome economic woes plaguing countries on the two continents.

China imported 2.7 million barrels of oil per day in March, up 23% from a year ago

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned on Thursday that unless lawmakers come to grips with spiraling U.S. deficits, the economy was at risk of stagnation "or worse."

Retail sales in Canada were up 1.7% in February to C$30.4 billion.

The U.S. Department of Energy said that underground natural gas supplies were up 50 billion cubic feet to 1.343 trillion cubic feet. YoY supplies are up 25%.