Quick Overview

• The number of workers filing initial unemployment claims fell 5,000 last week to a five-year low, the Labor Department reported Thursday
  

• Australia's unemployment rate improved from 5.2% to 5.0% in March, the lowest in 29 years.
  

• Japan's Cabinet Office said that its leading index dropped from 81.8% to 80.0% in February, still a sign of growth.
  

• Mexico Sugar Growers Union sees 05-06 sugar crop down 8.8% YoY at 5.288M MT
  
  

• The DoE said that underground supplies of natural gas were down 10 billion cubic feet to 1.695 trillion cubic feet. YoY supplies are up 36%.
  
  

• A swan in Scotland was confirmed with H5N1.