Business Today: Jobless claims decline for second straight week

		Click to View in Browser 07/3/2013 Jobless claims decline for second straight week WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell for a second straight week last week, pointing to a steady pace of job gains. Trade deficit widens sharply as imports rise WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The trade deficit widened sharply in May, as stronger U.S. demand pulled in more imports from China and the rest of the world and sluggish growth abroad pushed exports lower, a U.S. government reported showed on Wednesday. Rise in mortgage rates cut into homebuyer demand last week NEW YORK (Reuters) - Expectations the Federal Reserve will slow its economic stimulus program by the end of the year continued to push mortgage rates higher last week, sapping demand from potential homebuyers, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday. Stock futures pare losses after claims data NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pared losses on Wednesday after data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell for a second straight week last week, pointing to a steady pace of job gains. Swiss agree framework to help banks avert U.S. tax charges ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss government agreed on Wednesday on a framework to allow the country's banks to pass data to U.S. authorities in a bid to save them from criminal charges for helping wealthy Americans evade taxes. Big shareholder Crest ends battle with Sprint over Clearwire (Reuters) - Crest Financial, which owns a big stake in Clearwire Corp, said on Wednesday it is backing Sprint Nextel Corp's purchase of the rest of Clearwire, ending a protracted and noisy fight over the wireless service provider. U.S. private sector adds 188,000 jobs in June: ADP NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. private employers added 188,000 jobs in June, exceeding economists' expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday. Analysis: Portugal, Greece risk reawakening euro zone beast BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A teetering Portuguese government has underlined the threat that the euro zone debt crisis, in hibernation for almost a year, may be about to reawaken. Analysis: Euro zone survival? Depends on where you work LONDON (Reuters) - Three years into an unresolved euro zone crisis, Reuters polls show a marked split on the future depending on whether forecasters are based inside or outside the currency bloc. Mercedes-Benz sales up 8.3 percent in June to 131,609 cars FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German carmaker Daimler said sales of its Mercedes-Benz luxury division rose 8.3 percent in June to 131,609 cars, the best-ever level recorded for that month, powered by demand from China and the United States. Related Video U.S. Morning Call: Dell founder told to raise the stakes Market Pulse: Portugal dead cat, UK bounce? Economic News Jobless claims decline for second straight week Rise in mortgage rates cut into homebuyer demand last week 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