There were 803,000 initial claims for unemployment benefits in the US during the week ending December 19, the data published by the US Department of Labor (DOL) revealed on Wednesday.

Durable Goods Orders in the United States expanded by 0.9%, or $2.2 billion, on a monthly basis to $244.2 billion in November, the US Census Bureau reported on Wednesday. This reading came in higher than analysts’ estimate for an increase of 0.6%.

Gold prices rose slightly on Wednesday, December 23, after US President Donald Trump threatened not to sign the pandemic relief bill, sparking a drop in the dollar. The spot price of gold was up 0.1% to $ 1860.81 an ounce, while US gold futures fell 0.3% to $ 1864.60 an …

In November, data showed that China’s gasoline exports fell from record highs, while liquefied natural gas imports hit a new peak in light of increased demand at the start of the heating season. China’s General Administration of Customs said gasoline exports in November fell to 1.26 million tons from 1.84 …

The euro resumed its rise towards the level of $1.22 and the dollar fell on Wednesday, December 23, as currency dealers did not stop much at US President Donald Trump’s threat not to approve a $ 892 billion aid package linked to Covid-19. Trump said the long-awaited stimulus package should …

Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Wednesday that they will be supplying the US with 100 million additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as reported by Reuters. All 200 million doses purchased by the US is expected to be delivered by July 31, 2021, the statement revealed.

China’s Finance Ministry said the country will reduce import duties on 883 goods from January 1, including some aviation equipment, paper products and wood. The ministry said in a statement on its website that it would also reduce import duties for some information technology products, starting from July 1. The …

Oil prices fell by more than 1% Wednesday, December 23, after a sector report showed an unexpected increase in US crude oil inventories, while US President Donald Trump shocked the markets after he threatened not to sign a long-awaited aid package linked to Covid-19. Brent crude futures fell 71 cents, …

US President Trump has urged Congress to amend a $900bn coronavirus relief package to more than triple its stimulus payments to Americans. In a video message posted on Twitter, he said the package “really is a disgrace”, full of “wasteful” items. “It’s called the Covid relief bill, but it has almost …

European stocks rallied on Wednesday, December 23, as investors encouraged a report indicating the possibility of signing a trade deal later in the day for the post-Brexit phase, amid concerns about the long-awaited passage of a coronavirus-related aid package in the United States. The European Stoxx600 index rose 0.4% after …