Weekly jobless claims fell by 5,000 to 388,000 on a week-over-week basis, while housing starts retreated slightly on October , falling 0.3%, the Commerce Department reported.
Gold futures weakened in early-morning activity
In notable corporate news, Mosaic Co. said it would buy back stock for a total value of $1.2 billion.
Indications: U.S. stock futures drop on euro-zone worries
U.S. stock futures erased declines in the wake of weekly-jobless-claims data and new housing starts.
Indications
Europe Markets: Europe stock losses deepen after Spanish auction
European stocks pushed deep into negative territory after a pricey auction of Spanish government bonds and soaring bond yields for Spain and Italy, while a prior-day warning from Fitch over crisis contagion added to gloom.
Europe Markets
London Markets: U.K. stocks drop; Glencore shares gain
Britain’s benchmark stock index declined on, tracking losses in other European markets after Fitch Ratings warned that U.S. banks could be affected if the euro-zone crisis continued to spread.
London Markets
Asia Markets: Asia stocks trade mostly higher
Asian stocks moved off opening losses, with many indexes finishing in positive territory, though the Hong Kong market ended solidly lower as European debt concerns depressed financials.
Asia Markets
Asia Stocks to Watch: Where you stand on China depends on where you sit
Hedge-fund managers in Asia are more upbeat toward China than their counterparts in the U.S. and Europe, according to industry insiders, who see a growing correlation between China outlooks and where clients are based.
Asia Stocks to Watch
Currencies: Dollar edges lower ahead of economic data
The dollar was slightly lower against most other major currencies ahead of U.S. economic data, while the euro was little changed after the French and Spanish governments saw their borrowing costs rise at debt auctions.
Currencies
Futures Movers: Oil futures retreat in electronic trading
Crude-oil futures retreated in electronic trading, after surging more than 3% in the North American session.
Crude-oil futures
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