By Commodity News Service Canada
WINNIPEG, February 18 – The following is a glance at the news moving markets globally.
US JOBLESS CLAIMS MOVE LOWER MID-FEBRUARY
US jobless claims for the week ended February 13 fell by 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 262,000, according to the country’s labour department on Thursday.
The figure came in lower than analysts had expected, and some market watchers say the data indicates market strength, which could encourage the US Federal Reserve to introduce further interest rate hikes.
CANADA’S EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RATE STAYS LITTLE-CHANGED
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According to StatsCan, There were more EI beneficiaries in Alberta, with 2.2 per cent, and Saskatchewan, with 1.6 per cent in December, extending the upward trend for these provinces that began in September 2014.
CANADA’S WHOLESALE SALES INCREASE
Wholesale sales rose two per cent to C$57.2 billion in December. Gains were recorded in four of seven subsectors, accounting for 66 per cent of wholesale sales, and were led by the motor vehicle and parts subsector. Excluding this subsector, wholesale sales edged up 0.1 per cent, Statistics Canada said in a report on Thursday.
In volume terms, wholesale sales increased 1.8 per cent in December.
