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Yields, expectations for rate hike rise after jobs report

NEW YORK (AP) — Yields rose in the U.S. bond market Friday following a highly anticipated report on the U.S. job market. The U.S. stock market was closed in observance of Good Friday, as were many markets across Europe. That left the U.S. bond market as one of the few open to react to the latest jobs update, which showed hiring lost a bit more momentum than expected last month but largely remained resilient. The data was so anticipated because it could offer a big clue for the Federal Reserve, which faces a tough decision on interest rates that will affect the entire economy. ...

Washington shutters pot businesses due to old and dangerous pesticide

SEATTLE (AP) — Cannabis regulators have halted operations at several outdoor pot farms and processing facilities on a stretch of former fruit orchards in north-central Washington state after testing found high levels of chemicals related to a dangerous pesticide used decades ago. The sweeping action announced Thursday night by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board renewed concerns about pesticides in marijuana and put dozens of people at least temporarily out of work just as they were preparing for spring planting. “We are very concerned about the jobs and businesses, but we felt ...

Jobs report hints that Fed policy is paying off ; growth recession awaits

The Conversation The latest jobs report is in, and the good news is Federal Reserve policy on inflation appears to be working. The bad news is Fed policy on inflation appears to be working. The March 2023 jobs report reveals that the U.S. economy added 236,000 jobs during the month – roughly in line with expectations. A trend does appear to be emerging as the U.S. central bank’s efforts to slow the economy down and tame inflation appear to finally be working on the labor market, with some companies feeling the effect of increased business costs. While that will calm the nerves ...

Stocks tick higher to lose out trading week

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks ticked higher on Wall Street Thursday, offering a quiet end to a shortened trading week dogged by worries about a slowing economy. The S&P 500 rose 14.64 points, or 0.4%, to 4,105.02. It ended with a 0.1% loss for the week, its first down week in the last four. The U.S. stock market will be closed in observance of Good Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by 2.57 points, or less than 0.1%, to 33,485.29, while the Nasdaq composite gained 91.09, or 0.8%, to 12,087.96. A report on Thursday morning showed that fewer U.S. workers filed for ...

Asian shares mostly fall amid worries about slowing economy

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mostly lower Thursday as investors turned their attention to upcoming earnings reports and other economic indicators. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 1.1% in morning trading to 27,507.65. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3% to 7,214.90. South Korea’s Kospi fell nearly 0.8% to 2,476.08. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was virtually unchanged, inching up less than 0.1% to 20,277.01. The Shanghai Composite slipped less than 0.1% to 3,312.22. While efforts to cool inflation by raising interest rates are designed to slow overheated economies, the ...

Lamb Weston, SeaChange rise; Costco, Levi fall heavily

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Thursday: Costco Wholesale Corp., down $11.15 to $485.98. Investors were disappointed by the warehouse club operator’s March sales report. Levi Strauss & Co., down $2.89 to $15.14. Higher costs weighed on the jeans maker’s first-quarter profit margin. RPM International Inc., down $3.14 to $81.19. The specialty chemicals company warned investors that sales will likely flatten during its fiscal fourth quarter. Vaalco Energy Inc., down 49 cents to $4.44. The oil and natural gas explorer’s ...