Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Global stock markets were uneven today after weakness in U.S. economic data while investors waited for a European Central Bank meeting where further stimulus could be announced. Futures point to modest opening gains on Wall Street. Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell to just above $41.50 a barrel. The dollar gained against the yen and the euro.
WASHINGTON — A couple of economic reports are due out today. This morning, the Labor Department releases revised third-quarter productivity data. In the afternoon, the Federal Reserve will release its Beige Book, a snapshot of the economy that will be used by Fed policymakers when they meet later this month to set interest rates.
BRUSSELS (AP) — Inflation across the 19-country eurozone held steady in November at 0.1 percent over the year, reinforcing the case for the European Central Bank to deliver a further big stimulus for the region this week. The increase reported today by the European Union's statistics agency was below market expectations for a modest uptick to 0.2 percent. The ECB targets an inflation rate of just below 2 percent. Low inflation is the main reason why the ECB is expected to deliver another stimulus for the eurozone economy Thursday.
BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — Maine is known for the lobster industry but look out for seaweed. The state now supports more than 20 companies that grow or collect seaweed, about double from 10 years ago. Maine harvesters collected 17.7 million pounds of seaweed in 2014 — the most ever recorded for the state and more than four times the 2004 total. Rockweed is by the far the most commonly harvested type in Maine, and its uses include fertilizer, soil conditioner, nutrients for animal feed and extracts by commercial food processors.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — It's a $45 billion baby. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife say they'll devote nearly all their wealth — roughly $45 billion — to solving the world's problems in celebration of their new baby daughter, Max. Zuckerberg's wife, Priscilla Chan, gave birth to a 7-pound, 8-ounce daughter last week. But the couple just posted the news.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
