Business Today: Jobless claims fell last week, labor market firming

		Click to View in Browser 01/9/2014 Jobless claims fell last week, labor market firming WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week fell slightly more than expected, pointing to an economy that was continuing to gain steam. Futures rise ahead of claims data; Macy's jumps NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday ahead of labor market data, with Macy's raising the bar for retailers after a stellar holiday season. U.S. December planned layoffs plunge to lowest since 2000: Challenger NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of planned layoffs at U.S. firms plunged by 32 percent in December to the lowest monthly total in more than 13 years, a report on Thursday showed. U.S. retailers' sales rise in December, but discounts slam margins NEW YORK (Reuters) - Many U.S. retailers had to ramp up promotions last month as shoppers continued to watch their spending during the holiday season, hitting profits at several chains. Yellen hopeful for 3 percent GDP growth in 2014: Time magazine (Reuters) - Janet Yellen, set to take over as head of the Federal Reserve next month, is "hopeful" that U.S. economic growth will accelerate in 2014 to reach 3 percent or more and persistently low inflation will move up toward the central bank's target, according to a Time magazine interview released Thursday. Barnes & Noble holiday comparable sales fall 5.5 percent NEW YORK (Reuters) - Barnes & Noble Inc on Thursday reported a 5.5 percent decrease in comparable sales at its bookstores and on its website over the holiday period, caused largely by a drop in the number of Nook e-reader devices sold. BlackRock agrees to end analyst surveys (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc , the world's largest asset manager, agreed to end its analyst survey program worldwide, as part of an agreement reached Wednesday with the New York Attorney General's office. Family Dollar results show lower-income shoppers still pressured (Reuters) - Family Dollar Stores Inc reported a weaker-than-expected quarterly profit and gave a tepid outlook for the current period after it discounted more than it had originally planned to win shoppers in the key holiday shopping season. ECB holds rates, assesses inflation 'danger zone' FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank left interest rates at a record low on Thursday, holding off fresh action for now while it assesses whether it needs to respond to cost-of-living numbers weak enough to raise concerns about deflation. Canon to haul capacity back home as yen continues slide TOKYO (Reuters) - Canon Inc is shifting capacity back to Japan in an apparent vindication of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's yen-weakening policies, which have made it more profitable for some Japanese manufacturers to produce and export from home. Related Video Panama row over costly canal contract A Rolls-Royce SUV? Definitely maybe – CEO Economic News Jobless claims fell last week, labor market firming U.S. December planned layoffs plunge to lowest since 2000: Challenger 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