Quick Overview

• U.S. Jobless claims rose 11,000 last week to 444,000 -- more than expected.
  

• U.S. retail sales fell 0.3% in December.
  

• US inventories rose 0.4% in November -- more than expected.
  

• Australia's unemployment rate fell from 5.7% to 5.5% in December
  

• EU industrial production rose 0.9% in November, but fell 6.4% YoY
  

• Japan’s machinery orders fell 11.3% in November -- weaker than expected.
  

• (Bloomberg) India surpassed China as the world’s biggest buyer of palm oil as rising incomes increased demand for fried and processed foods and drought reduced domestic cooking oil production, according to a processor group.

• Intel's net income totaled 40 cents a share, in the three months ended December -- beating expectations for 30 cents.

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