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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, continuing to signal persistently tight labor market conditions. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 192,000 for the week ended Feb. 18, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had …

U.S. weekly jobless claims fall ; fourth-quarter growth trimmed Read More »

By James Oliphant WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will host an event for top donors and social-media influencers this weekend, the latest in a flurry of moves that suggest he’s ramping up to battle former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination. About 150 guests are expected to attend the three-day event …

DeSantis to host donors ahead of likely 2024 White House bid Read More »

By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Shanna Hayes in 2007 became the first member of her immediate family to attend college. She did not realize she was setting off on a path toward another, less-welcome family first – racking up more than $150,000 in student debt. “At no point did I actually have that conversation,” …

U.S. Supreme Court’s ‘major questions’ test may doom Biden student debt plan Read More »

(Reuters) -Switzerland’s biggest bank UBS Group AG is looking to apply for a mutual fund license in China, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Swiss bank is in informal talks with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) about its intention to apply, the report said. UBS plans …

UBS set to apply for China mutual fund license – WSJ Read More »

By Joice Alves LONDON (Reuters) – Europe’s banks, which enjoyed a stellar fourth-quarter that yielded a surge in earnings growth to 15-year highs, are still looking cheap and could have more room to rally. Economic data hasn’t been as bad as many had feared. The euro zone is expected to stagnate rather than contract, while …

Analysis-Boom in European bank earnings hints at a rally with legs Read More »

By Lawrence White, Iain Withers and Sinead Cruise LONDON (Reuters) – British banks face a tougher battle for mortgage customers and business borrowers in 2023, as rising costs and deposit rates paid to long-suffering savers threaten to outpace flatlining profit margins, senior industry executives and analysts said. The 2022 annual results from the country’s four …

Analysis-Competition hots up as British banks fight to keep earnings rising faster than costs Read More »

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration will unveil on Thursday a long-awaited overhaul of arms export policy with increased emphasis on human rights, three State Department officials familiar with the new Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) policy told Reuters. The CAT policy covers review of security assistance, government-to-government weapons transfers and …

Exclusive-U.S. to vet human rights more closely before approving arms deals – officials Read More »

By Lananh Nguyen NEW YORK (Reuters) – Bank of America Corp (BofA) amassed $1.2 billion in expenses for litigation and regulatory investigations last year including fines and settlements, according to a company filing on Wednesday. The cost is a major jump from $164 million recorded by the second-largest U.S. lender in 2021 and $823 million …

Bank of America racked up $1.2 billion in penalties, settlements in 2022 Read More »