Business Today: Stock futures retreat, tracking losses in Europe, Japan

		Click to View in Browser 08/30/2012 Stock futures retreat, tracking losses in Europe, Japan NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell on Thursday, tracking a retreat in overseas shares, amid scant domestic catalysts to drive trading ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech Friday at a symposium of central bankers. Jobless claims unchanged last week WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits was unchanged last week, pointing to a labor market that was treading water. July consumer spending posts strongest rise in five months WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer spending got off to a fairly firm start in the third quarter, rising by the most in five months, offering hope economic growth could pick up this quarter. Barclays names retail boss Jenkins as CEO LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays named retail banker Antony Jenkins as chief executive on Thursday, signaling a shift of emphasis from investment banking after the interest rate-setting scandal that brought down his American predecessor Bob Diamond. More U.S. firms may shift some business from China to ASEAN: survey SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A growing number of U.S. companies plan to shift some operations from China to Southeast Asia in the next two years as confidence in countries such as the Philippines improves, a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore showed. ECB action prospects underpin Italian bond auction MILAN/BEIJING (Reuters) - A successful Italian bond auction on Thursday pointed to growing confidence among investors that the European Central Bank will live up to its words and take measures to change the course of the currency bloc's debt crisis. Retailers fare well in August, sales beat estimates (Reuters) - Most retailers, including Costco Wholesale Corp and Limited Brands Inc , posted better-than-expected sales gains at existing stores in August, in what is expected to be a healthy month as parents and students wrapped up back-to-school purchases. Merkel says "absolute political will" to stabilize euro BEIJING (Reuters) - The euro zone has an "absolute political will" to stabilize the single currency, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday after talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing. Weak UK lending shows challenge for BoE credit scheme LONDON (Reuters) - Lending to British businesses and consumers weakened further last month after the biggest fall in credit card borrowing in almost six years, highlighting the challenge faced by the Bank of England as it readies a new scheme to boost credit. Volvo to cut car production by 10 percent: union STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish carmaker Volvo, owned by Chinese Zhejiang Geely, is to cut production in Sweden about 10 percent and axe 200-300 jobs due to slower than expected sales, a union said on Thursday. Related Video In the Boardroom: Director Contagion Breakingviews: Barclays' new chief Economic News Jobless claims unchanged last week July pending home sales touch two-year high A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend