Business Today: Futures point to sharp decline at open after payrolls

		Click to View in Browser 04/5/2013 Futures point to sharp decline at open after payrolls NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a drop of more than 1 percent at the open on Friday, following a payroll report that was much weaker than expected, the latest in a series of reports to indicate that economic growth may be losing momentum. Weak job gains cast shadow on U.S. economic outlook WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American employers hired at the slowest pace in nine months in March, a sign that Washington's austerity drive could be stealing momentum from the economy. U.S. trade deficit narrows in February as crude oil imports drop WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade gap narrowed unexpectedly in February as crude oil imports fell to their lowest level since March 1996 and overall exports increased slightly, a U.S. Commerce Department report on Friday showed. Exclusive: UBS was mystery lender for Thai group's Ping An deal - sources HONG KONG (Reuters) - The mystery lender behind a Thai billionaire's $9.4 billion purchase of a stake in China's No.2 insurer was UBS, which offered the region's fourth largest bridge loan ever and a complex financing package known to only a few involved, people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Labor "scarring" a reason to keep buying bonds: Fed's Rosengren (Reuters) - A "scarring" of the labor market calls for the Federal Reserve to continue buying bonds through this year, and even more aggressive policies may be warranted if unemployment remains persistently high, a top Fed official said on Friday. ECB's Coeure sees euro zone inflation straying off course PARIS (Reuters) - The European Central Bank will monitor euro zone inflation carefully over the next 18 months as it threatens to sink further below the ECB's 2 percent target, Executive Board member Benoit Coeure said on Friday. HP Chairman Lane resigns, Whitworth takes over for now SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co Chairman Ray Lane, who has come under fire from shareholders for his role in the acquisition of software company Autonomy Plc, has relinquished his post in the No.1 personal computer maker's latest board shake-up. Lawmakers urge executive bans for "colossal" HBOS failure LONDON (Reuters) - Bailed-out British lender HBOS was so badly run it would have failed even without the 2008 financial crisis and the regulator should consider banning its former bosses from the industry, UK lawmakers said in a damning report. Germany says confident France will meet deficit obligations BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is confident France will stick to European Union rules on targets to cut its public deficit, a German finance ministry spokesman said on Friday, a day after Paris urged Berlin to grant it more time to hit the goal. Daimler's Mercedes enjoys monthly sales record in March FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Solid volume growth in its new range of compact cars helped propel sales of Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand upwards to 139,920 vehicles, its single highest monthly tally ever. Related Video Reuters Breakingviews: HBOS reap what they sowed In the Boardroom: HBOS - Goodbye Crosby, hello reality? Economic News Weak job gains cast shadow on U.S. economic outlook Labor "scarring" a reason to keep buying bonds: Fed's Rosengren 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