By Commodity News Service Canada
WINNIPEG, August 18 – The following is a glance at the news moving markets globally.
CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS MOSTLY UNCHANGED
Regular Employment Insurance (EI) beneficiaries in Canada totalled 545,900 in June, essentially unchanged from May. Compared with 12 months earlier, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits was up by 8,000 or 1.5 per cent, Statistics Canada said in a report on Thursday.
In June, the number of EI beneficiaries increased in Prince Edward Island, gaining 6.5 per cent, New Brunswick, gaining 5.5 per cent, and Nova Scotia, gaining one per cent, while it fell in British Columbia, declining 2.1 per cent and Manitoba, declining 1.3 per cent. There was little change in the remaining provinces.
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US JOBLESS CLAIMS DECLINE
US jobless claims in the week ending August 13 fell 4,000 to 262,000, according to data out of the country on Thursday.
The US labour market has been considered strong for more than a year and a half, analysts say, as jobless claims in that time have been less than 300,000, a number which indicates market strength.
CANADA’S WHOLESALE SERVICES PRICE INDEX GAINS
The Wholesale Services Price Index (WSPI) was up 0.2 per cent in the first quarter compared with the previous quarter. Five of the eight subsectors reported increases, two reported decreases and one was unchanged, Statistics Canada said in report on Thursday.
The gain in the first quarter was led by building material and supplies wholesalers, with a 1.7 increase, which were up mainly as a result of increases in metal service centres, which gained 6.6 per cent.
