U.S. stock futures rose as American jobless claims unexpectedly declined and manufacturing in the New York region expanded more than forecast.
Jobless claims dropped by 19,000 to 366,000 in the week ended Dec. 10, the fewest since May 2008, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of economists was 390,000.
Manufacturing in the New York region expanded more than forecast to the highest level in seven months in December, as measures of employment and new orders improved. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s general economic index rose to 9.5, from 0.6 in November.
World markets:
Nikkei 8,377 -141.76 -1.66%
Hang Seng 18,027 -327.59 -1.78%
Shanghai Composite 2,181 -47.63 -2.14%
FTSE 5,424 +57.43 +1.07%
CAC 3,015 +39.15 +1.32%
DAX 5,779 +104.24 +1.84%
Crude oil: $95.21 (+0,3%).
Gold: $1587,60 (+0,1%).