IGI Logo

US weekly jobless claims edge lower

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits slipped last week, while the jobless rate appeared to have held steady in March. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 224,000 for the week ended March 22, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 225,000 claims for the latest week.

US pending home sales rebound in February

Contracts to buy U.S. previously owned homes rebounded marginally in February amid a decline in mortgage rates but rising economic uncertainty could limit momentum. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on Thursday its Pending Home Sales Index, based on signed contracts, rose 2.0% to 72.0. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast contracts, which become sales after a month or two, rebounding 1.0%. Pending home sales decreased 3.6% from a year earlier.

US corporate profits hit record high before Trump’s tariffs

U.S. corporate profits surged to a record high in the fourth quarter amid strong demand and pricing power, but an uncertain economic outlook due to tariffs is creating a challenging environment for businesses that economists say could force companies to lay off workers to protect margins. The report from the Commerce Department on Thursday also showed the economy grew at a slightly more solid clip last quarter than previously estimated, driven by preemptive buying of big-ticket items like motor vehicles ahead of import duties.

U.S. economic growth cools in fourth quarter, final GDP revision shows

U.S. economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter, according to a final revision of government data on Thursday that followed two earlier estimates. Gross domestic product increased at an annualized rate of 2.4% during the period, compared to a rise of 3.1% in the July-September quarter, figures from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis showed.

Brazil posts slightly wider-than-expected February budget deficit

Brazil’s central government recorded a slightly wider-than-expected primary budget deficit in February, Treasury data showed on Thursday, although the result improved sharply from a year earlier, mainly due to lower expenditures. Latin America’s largest economy posted a deficit, excluding interest payments, of 31.673 billion reais ($5.52 billion) for the month, while economists polled by Reuters had expected a 30.4 billion reais shortfall.

Nifty : In the process of higher bottom formation at the immediate supports. Further upside from here could pull Nifty towards the hurdle at 23800.

Nifty PSU Banking : In an uptrend continuation pattern after a small dip. Frontline PSU Banking stocks could be in limelight.

Please refer disclaimer at https://www.hdfcsec.com/article/disclaimer-1795

SEBI Registration number is INZ00017133