US productivity rises 0.9% in Q2 as labour costs softened

U.S. worker productivity rose more than expected in the second quarter amid an increase in hours, but the trend remained weak, suggesting that robust economic growth could remain elusive, CNBC reports. The Labor Department said on Wednesday nonfarm productivity, which measures hourly output per worker, increased at a 0.9 percent annualized rate in the April-June […]

Payroll gain of 209,000, wage rise show U.S. labour strength

The U.S. labour market hit its stride in July, as employers added workers at a solid clip, the jobless rate matched a 16-year low and monthly wage growth picked up. Job gains were broad-based during July, led by the largest jump in leisure and hospitality employment since September 2015, a move driven by gains at […]

Qatar Airways reverses decision to buy into American Airlines

Qatar Airways will not proceed with its proposed financial investment in American Airlines Group Inc, reversing an earlier decision to build a stake of up to 4.75 percent in the U.S. carrier, according to a Reuters report monitored by Businessamlive. “Further review of the proposed financial investment, taking into account the latest public disclosure of […]

US Fed faces prospect of global monetary policy tightening

Prospects for tighter monetary policy in Europe and other countries could pose a fresh problem for the Federal Reserve when it meets next week to ponder its plan to reduce its $4.2 trillion bond portfolio purchased after the 2008 financial crisis. The Fed bought U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) for about six years in […]

BlackRock CEO Fink sees U.S. falling short of 3 percent growth

BlackRock Inc Chief Executive Larry Fink on Monday said it will be hard for the United States to reach the 3 percent annual growth target set by President Donald Trump. Fink has repeatedly sounded a cautious note on the economy this year even as stock markets have risen, citing uncertainty over the restructuring of U.S. […]