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Novos pedidos de subsídios ao desemprego sobem pela segunda semana consecutiva

20/05/2004 14:14

Novos pedidos de subsídios ao desemprego sobem pela segunda semana consecutiva
O número de americanos a efectuarem novos pedidos de subsídio ao desemprego aumentou para 345 mil na semana passada, na segunda subida consecutiva, revelaram hoje dados do governo dos Estados Unidos da América.

Os registos aumentaram em 12 mil para os 345 mil, na semana passada, contra os 333 mil pedidos ao subsídio de desemprego da semana anterior, disse o Departamento do Trabalho em Washington.

Estes resultados não corresponderam às expectativas dos economistas consultados pela Bloomberg, que apontavam para uma queda para os 328 mil pedidos.

Algumas empresas, como a Timken e a US Airways, ainda estão a cortar a sua força de trabalho para reduzirem custos e estimularem o crescimento nos lucros. Até agora, a média semanal destes pedidos tem sido de 347 mil, abaixo dos 415 mil registados em igual período do ano anterior.

Os economistas esperam que os despedimentos continuem a cair nos próximos meses, uma vez que as empresas estão a reter mais trabalhadores para enfrentarem a procura. J.Alfred Broaddus, presidente do banco da Reserva Federal dos Estados Unidos da América disse que a expansão está a criar «um significativo emprego adicional».

O número de pessoas que continuam a beneficiar dos subsídios de desemprego do Estado caiu em 23 mil para os 2,943 milhões na semana que terminou dia 8 de Maio, contra os 2,966 milhões da semana anterior.

A média dos pedidos para continuarem a beneficiar do subsídio de desemprego das últimas quatro semanas caiu de 2,973 milhões para os 2,957 milhões, o valor mais baixo desde Junho de 2001.

8:29am 05/20/04 U.S. WEEKLY JOBLESS CLAIMS UP 12,000 TO 345,000
8:30am 05/20/04 U.S. 4-WEEK AVG JOBLESS CLAIMS DOWN 2,750 TO 333,500
8:30am 05/20/04 U.S. 4-WEEK AVG JOBLESS CLAIMS LOWEST SINCE NOV 2000

U.S. new jobless claims rise as 4-week average falls By Corbett B. Daly

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- The average number of initial claims over the past four weeks fell to its lowest level since Nov. 2000 even as the number of people filing for unemployment insurance for the first time rose for the second consecutive week, the Labor Department said Thursday.
First-time claims in the week ended May 15 rose by 12,000 to 345,000, while the average number of initial claims over the past four weeks fell by 2,750 to 333,500, the department said.
Economists prefer the four-week average to the more volatile weekly number, which is subject to large revisions.


U.S. jobless claims rise in latest week
Four-week average falls to lowest since November 2000
By Corbett B. Daly, CBS Marketwatch
Last Update: 8:36 AM ET May 20, 2004

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- The number of people filing for unemployment insurance for the first time rose for a second consecutive week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

At the same time, the average number of initial claims over the past four weeks fell to a level not seen since the month of the last presidential election.

First-time claims in the week ended May 15 rose by 12,000 to 345,000, while the average number of initial claims over the past four weeks fell by 2,750 to 333,500, the department said. That's the lowest four-week average since the week ended Nov. 18, 2000.

A consensus forecast of Wall Street economists had expected claims to fall by 3,000, to 328,000, in the latest week.

Economists say the four-week average provides a better gauge of the job-loss side of the labor market than the more volatile weekly number, which is subject to large revisions and can be skewed by one-time factors such as weather or holidays.

Meanwhile, the total number of unemployed workers receiving state benefits fell by 23,000 to 2.94 million in the week ended May 8. The four-week average of continuing claims fell by 15,500 to 2.96 million. That's the lowest four-week average of total claims since June 2001.

The nation's insured unemployment rate fell to 2.3 percent from 2.4 percent in the previous week.

Euro debt-Bund futures rise after U.S. jobless claims data

20/05/2004 13:39

LONDON, May 20 (Reuters) - The June Bund future extended earlier gains on Thursday after U.S. data showed the number of Americans filing initial claims for jobless aid grew by more than expected last week.

First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose 12,000 to 345,000 in the week ended May 15, the Labor Department said. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a median total of 326,000 new filings compared with 331,000 in the prior week.

The rolling average, however, again fell and stands at a 3-1/2 year low.

"It is two weeks in a row now that jobless claims have come in higher-than-expected and this is a bit of a support for the market but it doesn't change the bigger (down) trend," said Nathalie Fillet, bond strategist at BNP Paribas in London.

"Trade remains very quiet because of the European holidays and there is more focus on the Philadelphia Federal Reserve's survey later on."

At 1334 GMT, the June Bund future was up nine ticks on the day at 112.85 and also above pre-data levels of 112.80.

Many European countries are celebrating Ascension Day Holiday.

Focus will now shift to other U.S. data releases.

The Conference Board releases its report on April leading economic indicators at 1400 GMT. Analysts polled by Reuters forecast a median 0.2 percent rise compared with a 0.3 percent increase in the prior month.

The Philadelphia Fed's index of manufacturing conditions in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region is due at 1600 GMT. Economists polled by Reuters expect the index to slip to 32.0 in May from 32.5 in April. ((Reporting by Sabrina Ghani and Dhara Ranasinghe, Reuters Messaging: sabrina.ghani.reuters.com@reuters.net; +44 20 7542 8675))

US jobless claims up more than expected last week

20/05/2004 13:34

WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing initial claims for jobless aid grew by more than expected last week, government data showed on Thursday, but the rolling average again fell and stands at a 3-1/2 year low.

First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose 12,000 to 345,000 in the week ended May 15, the Labor Department said.

Wall Street analysts had forecast a slight decline in claims to 326,000 from a revised 333,000 the previous week. This was initially reported at 331,000.

While initial claims rose, the four-week moving average of filings, which smooths weekly fluctuations to provide a better picture of underlying trends, fell 2,750 to 333,500.

The previous low was 321,750 in the week ended Nov. 18, 2000, before the technology stock market bubble burst and the country slipped into recession.

The number of unemployed on the benefit rolls after claiming an initial week of aid also fell, declining 23,000 to 2.943 million in the week ended May 8, the latest for which figures are available

The numbers compliment the country's increasingly encouraging jobs picture after the U.S. economy added 625,000 new jobs in April and March.

Financial markets see these stronger-than-expected gains as evidence the economy has shifted into a higher gear and bet the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates in June from their current 1958-low of 1.00 percent.

Markets also await the Philadelphia Federal Reserve's May business activity survey, due out at 12:00 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT). Forecasts are for a 32.0 reading compared with 32.5 in April in evidence that the economy is moderating from its red-hot pace. ((Reporting by Alister Bull, editing by Andrea Hopkins; Washington newsroom 202-354-5820, alister.bull@reuters.com))