US employment unexpectedly declined in February and the jobless rate ticked higher, possibly bringing labor market conditions back in focus at a time when the US-Iran war threatens to fuel inflation. Nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 last month -- the biggest drop since October -- following a downwardly revised gain of 126,000 in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.
AM Best has assigned a Long-Term Issue Credit Rating of ?bbb-? to the $1 billion, 6.625% fixed rate junior subordinated notes, due 2056, of Humana Inc. (HUM) [NYSE: HUM]. The outlook assigned to this Credit Rating is stable.
* BANK OF ENGLAND GRILLS LENDERS OVER COLLAPSED MORTGAGE PROVIDER MFS - FT. * OFFICIALS AT BOE'S PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY HAVE REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION FROM BANKS, INCLUDING BARCLAYS REAGRDING MFS COLLAPSE - FT Source text: [https://tinyurl.com/5f4a9u8j]
U.S. business inventories edged up in December amid a rebound in stocks at retailers, government data showed on Friday. Inventories increased 0.1% after being unchanged in November, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said. Inventories are a key component of GDP and one of the most volatile. Inventories advanced 1.6% on a year-over-year basis in December.
Bolstering government economic reports with private data could improve Federal Reserve policymaking by helping officials better anticipate changes in jobs and inflation, a team of top economists has concluded.
U.S. business inventories edged up in December amid a rebound in stocks at retailers, government data showed on Friday. Inventories increased 0.1% after being unchanged in November, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said. Inventories are a key component of GDP and one of the most volatile. Inventories advanced 1.6% on a year-over-year basis in December.
Canadian economic activity expanded at a faster pace in February as inventories climbed, Ivey Purchasing Managers Index data showed on Friday. The seasonally adjusted index rose to 56.6 last month from 50.9 in January, posting its highest level since September. The Ivey PMI measures the month to month variation in economic activity as indicated by a panel of purchasing managers from across Canada.
* Indexes off: Dow 1.85%, S&P 500 1.57%, Nasdaq 1.4% * Dow at over three-month low as financials weigh. * Marvell Technology shares jump on strong 2028 forecast. * Fed's Waller: current oil price shock to not fuel persistent inflation. By Johann M Cherian and Ragini Mathur.
FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.---- Newrez, a top five mortgage lender and servicer, today announced it has been named a 2025 Fannie Mae Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards? Performer, marking its fourth consecutive year of recognition.
Following today?s release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showing a national decrease of 92,000 payroll jobs in February, Jersey Hired, the state?s leading hyper-local talent platform, is issuing a call for resilience among New Jersey?s workforce.
Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Friday as the conflict raging in the Middle East threatened to fuel inflation through higher energy costs and data showed the economy unexpectedly shed jobs in February.
The U.S. economy unexpectedly shed jobs in February and the unemployment rate increased to 4.4%, potentially hinting at a?deterioration in labor market conditions that could put the Federal Reserve in a difficult spot amid rising oil prices.
Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Friday as the conflict raging in the Middle East threatened to fuel inflation through higher energy costs and data showed the economy unexpectedly shed jobs in February.
The dollar held gains against major currencies on Friday, after data showed an unexpected decline in new jobs created in the world's largest economy last month, suggesting that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates sooner than expected.
* Futures off: Dow 1.21%, S&P 500 1.18%, Nasdaq 1.43% * Marvell Technology shares jump on strong 2028 forecast. * Gap shares drop after warning of pressure from tariffs. * Fed's Waller: current oil price shock to not fuel persistent inflation. By Johann M Cherian and Ragini Mathur.
San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly said Friday that a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report underscores her concern about the labor market, but does not mean the Fed should immediately cut rates in response, given the "two-sided" risks posed by still-too-high inflation coupled with a runup in oil prices amid the Iran conflict.
US nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly dropped last month, amplifying concerns about the health of the economy heading into?the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Nonfarm payrolls dropped by 92,000 jobs in February. MARKET REACTION:??. STOCKS: U.S. stocks fell at the open. BONDS: U.S. Treasury yields fell immediately after the payrolls report but then bounced back.
* Two-year Treasury yields set for biggest jump since April. * Two-year UK yields set for biggest weekly rise since 2024. * German 2-year yields see biggest weekly rise since 2023. By Dhara Ranasinghe.
* Weak jobs report shows nonfarm payrolls decreased by 92,000. * Yields fall as Fed rate cut expectations grow. By Chuck Mikolajczak. U.S. Treasury yields were lower on Friday, dropping sharply after a government payrolls report fell well short of expectations and boosted views that the Federal Reserve may need to cut interest rates at a quicker pace.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 6, 2026 Honeywell (HON) today announced that, in connection with the previously announced plan to spin-off Honeywell Aerospace Inc. from Honeywell (HON), Aerospace has commenced a private offering of up to $16 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes.
US retail sales fell by 0.2% in January, a smaller than the 0.3% decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg after it held steady in the previous month. Excluding a 0.9% decrease in motor vehicle sales, retail sales held steady compared with an expected flat reading.
Fresh signs of labor weakness and oil-driven inflation concerns are cornering U.S. Federal Reserve officials into an uncomfortable choice: leave borrowing costs steady to ensure that inflation does not worsen or cut them to shore up a job market that is losing ground. For now, they look poised to wait, even as traders ramped up bets that rate cuts will start in June.
U.S. stock index futures extended declines on Friday as a softer-than-expected jobs report raised worries about the labor market and boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve could imminently cut interest rates. A Labor Department report showed the U.S. economy shed 92,000 jobs last month, compared with economists' estimate for a rise of 59,000.
The February employment report showed nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000, well below the 55,000 jobs increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, while January payrolls were revised down to a 126,000 increase and December payrolls were revised down to a 17,000 decrease for a net downward revision of 69,000 jobs.
The U.S. economy unexpectedly lost jobs in February and the unemployment rate increased to 4.4%, potentially hinting at a deterioration in labor market conditions that could put the Federal Reserve in a difficult spot amid rising oil prices.
* Nonfarm payrolls decrease 92,000 in February. * Decline in employment nearly across the board. * Unemployment rate rises to 4.4% from 4.3% in January. By Lucia Mutikani.
Rising gas prices following the U.S. launch of airstrikes against Iran may be a shock to the consumer, but the global jump in oil is not likely to lead to persistent inflation or warrant a change in monetary policy, U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Friday. "You're going to see a spike in gasoline prices.
Rising gas prices following the U.S. launch of airstrikes against Iran may be a shock to the consumer, but the global jump in oil is not likely to lead to persistent inflation or warrant a change in monetary policy, U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Friday. "You're going to see a spike in gasoline prices.
US equity futures were lower pre-bell Friday as traders looked ahead to the crucial monthly jobs report. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.7%, S&P 500 futures were 0.7% lower, and Nasdaq futures were down 0.9%. The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran entered its seventh day on Friday, with Tehran effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping chokepoint.
Industrial production in Brazil rose more than expected in January from December, government statistics agency IBGE said on Friday, despite high interest rates weighing on Latin America's largest economy. * Production rose 1.8% in January, IBGE said. * The median estimate in a Reuters poll projected a 0.7% increase.
The head of the House Financial Services Committee on Friday told Bloomberg TV that he hoped that the first of the twice-yearly updates to Congress from the chair of the Federal Reserve will occur soon.
The head of the House Financial Services Committee on Friday told Bloomberg TV that he hoped that the first of the twice-yearly updates to Congress from the chair of the Federal Reserve will occur soon.
* Middle East conflict stokes demand for the safest assets. * Oil surge raises inflation risks, affects central bank policies. * Fed rate cut bets pushed out, wagers rise for ECB hike this year. By Sophie Kiderlin. The U.S. dollar edged higher on Friday and was set for its steepest weekly gain in more than a year as the escalating conflict in the Middle East drove demand for safe-haven assets.
The benchmark US stock measures were down before the open Friday while oil prices continued to rise as investors monitor the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and await key employment data for February. The S&P 500 decreased 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.2% and the Nasdaq was off 0.4% in premarket activity.
Kazakhstan's central bank held the base rate steady at 18.00% on Friday, signaling patience despite slowing inflation, said ING. Domestic utility tariffs, fiscal and external risks call for an extended period of tight policy, wrote the bank in a note. ING expects year-end inflation to ease to around 10% year over year.
* German 2-year yields set for biggest weekly rise in almost 3 years. * Investors are awaiting remarks from ECB's Isabel Schnabel later in the session. * Strategists say it's too early to price additional rate hikes. By Stefano Rebaudo.
BEIJING, March 6, 2026 This is a report from China?SCIO: China has set an economic growth target of 4.5% to 5% for this year, while pledging to strive for better results as authorities aim to balance structural reforms, risk prevention, and long-term development goals. The goals are outlined in this year's government work report submitted Thursday to the national legislature for deliberation.
Aluminium soared to its highest in nearly four years on Friday and was set for its biggest weekly rise since early-2023 as supply concerns due to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran intensified. Benchmark three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange was up 3.4% at $3,408.50 per metric ton as of 1700 GMT.
* European stocks and U.S. futures slip. * Oil prices hit highest levels since mid-2024. * Qatar energy minister warns oil could hit $150. By Harry Robertson. European stocks slipped along with U.S. futures on Friday as the U.S.-Iran war drove fresh concerns about oil supplies, prompting traders to rethink their expectations for central bank rate cuts.
* Oil prices in focus as Brent crude tops $80 a barrel. * CPI on Wednesday to give February inflation view. * Higher inflation could temper rate-cut hopes. By Lewis Krauskopf. Investors will seek signs in the coming week of how sprawling the war in the Middle East will become and how much it will disrupt energy supplies, as they chew over fresh inflation data.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
Log In Required
Publication Date