Browsing: Business

NEW YORK / Content Syndication Services / – The U.S. dollar moved lower on Friday after June employment data showed slower job growth in the United States. The dollar index, which tracks the currency against six major peers, traded near 100.70 in Asia. It fell about 0.2 percent on the day after dropping 0.5 percent on Thursday. The index stood about 0.6 percent lower for the week, its largest weekly decline since early April. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June. The unemployment rate stood at 4.2 percent. The agency revised April and May…

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / Content Syndication Services / – The European Investment Bank and Airbus have signed a first €1 billion loan to support aerospace research and development in Europe. The loan forms part of a wider €3 billion financing envelope for Airbus. The package supports work in commercial aviation, defence aviation, security systems and space. The EIB described the envelope as the largest corporate financing package it has ever approved. The financing will support Airbus investments planned through 2030. The projects cover advanced technologies and integrated systems for commercial aircraft, security and defence uses. The work will take place across France, Germany and Spain.…

NEW YORK / Content Syndication Services / – U.S. stock indices closed higher on Monday, as Wall Street recovered from recent losses and technology shares led a broad market advance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 306.63 points, or 0.59 percent, to 52,182.74. The S&P 500 gained 86.41 points, or 1.18 percent, to 7,440.43. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 522.53 points, or 2.07 percent, to 25,820.14. The gains marked a strong start to the final trading sessions of June. The Dow closed above 52,000 for the first time. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each ended five-session losing streaks. The advance…

WASHINGTON / Content Syndication Services / – The World Bank Group said the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region needs higher investment in water-efficient irrigation and agricultural innovation to strengthen food security. Its new report, Building Food Security, Creating Jobs, links food systems, nutrition, water use and employment across a region facing rising demand and tight natural resources. The report says 18 percent of people in the region face some level of food insecurity. It also says 42 percent cannot afford a nutritious diet. Food demand across the region will rise 67 percent by 2050, according to the…

NEW YORK / Content Syndication Services / – Oil prices opened the week higher on Monday, with Brent crude futures rising to $72.49 a barrel in late trading. The global benchmark gained 50 cents, or 0.69 percent, by 2204 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also advanced, adding 73 cents, or 1.05 percent, to $69.96 a barrel. The move kept crude oil prices in focus for energy traders, refiners, airlines and fuel buyers. Brent had earlier settled at $73.34 a barrel, keeping the contract above the $70 level after a volatile period for global energy markets. WTI also traded near…

NEW YORK / Content Syndication Services / – The U.S. stock market closed lower Friday as the Nasdaq Composite fell for a fifth straight session, extending a week of losses for technology shares. The Nasdaq dropped 60.99 points, or 0.2%, to 25,297.62. The S&P 500 slipped 3.47 points, or less than 0.1%, to 7,354.02. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 44.51 points, or 0.1%, to 51,876.11. The latest decline followed a fourth straight Nasdaq loss on Thursday, when the technology-heavy index fell 0.5%. Friday’s close moved the story beyond that earlier mark and left the Nasdaq down 4.6% for the…

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / Content Syndication Services / – Apple and Microsoft are raising prices on major consumer devices as AI data center growth tightens global supply of memory and storage chips. The increases affect MacBooks, iPads and Xbox consoles, adding fresh pressure to buyers of computers and gaming hardware. Both companies linked the changes to higher costs for components used in everyday electronics. Apple raised prices on selected MacBook and iPad models by as much as $300. The MacBook Neo rose to $699 from $599. The 512GB MacBook Air moved to $1,299 from $1,099. The 1TB MacBook Pro increased to…

BRUSSELS / Content Syndication Services / – The Council of the European Union approved two tariff regulations on June 25, completing the bloc’s legislative process for commitments made with the United States in 2025. The measures implement tariff terms set out in the EU-US Joint Statement of August 21, 2025. They cover industrial goods, selected seafood and agricultural products, and lobster imports. The Council said the laws keep safeguards in place for European economic interests. The main regulation removes the remaining EU customs duties on US industrial goods. It also gives certain US seafood and non-sensitive farm goods access through…

WASHINGTON, D.C. / Content Syndication Services / – U.S. Congress has approved a broad housing bill that includes a ban on a Federal Reserve digital dollar through Dec. 31, 2030, placing central bank digital currency policy inside a wider package on home supply and affordability. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act cleared both chambers this week and now awaits final presidential action after a planned signing ceremony was canceled. The bill passed the Senate 85-5 and the House 358-32, giving the measure wide bipartisan support. Its central bank digital currency section bars the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC…

NEW YORK / Content Syndication Services / – Bitcoin traded near $61,486 on Thursday, June 25, slipping below the $62,500 level that had framed the latest bout of pressure across the crypto market. The largest cryptocurrency fell 2.1% on the day, with an intraday low near $59,102 and a high near $62,955. Ether traded near $1,643, down 1.7%, after moving between about $1,557 and $1,680. The move kept bitcoin close to the $60,000 area after a sharp decline from earlier June levels. The token had traded near $62,600 a day earlier, extending losses as major digital assets weakened. The wider…