Reuters US Business

TORONTO (Reuters) -Bank of Montreal (BMO) closed out Canadian banks’ results season with better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on Friday, and announced the industry’s biggest dividend increases and share buyback. Canada’s fourth-largest lender said adjusted profit rose 38%from a year earlier, beating estimates on lower-than-expected loan-loss provisions and expenses, with higher income from a year ago in …

BMO ends Canadian bank results season with earnings beat, dividend boost Read More »

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government could fall behind on its bills this month – and even default on its debt – if Congress doesn’t raise a $28.9 trillion cap on government borrowing, a failure that could trigger economic calamity and panic on global financial markets. In years past, Congress has come …

What happens if Washington falls behind on its bills? Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – New orders for U.S.-made goods increased more than expected in October and businesses spending on equipment appeared to rebound after declining in the third quarter. The Commerce Department said on Friday that factory orders increased 1.0% in October. Data for September was revised higher to show orders gaining 0.5% instead of 0.2% …

U.S. factory orders rise more than expected in October Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A measure of U.S. services industry activity unexpectedly rose in November, hitting a fresh record high as businesses boosted hiring, but there was little sign that supply constraints were easing and prices remained high. The Institute for Supply Management said on Friday its non-manufacturing activity index increased to 69.1 last month, the …

U.S. service sector activity gauge hits record high in November – ISM survey Read More »

(Reuters) – The number of Americans not looking for jobs over the previous four weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic dipped in November but remained well above one million people, a Labor Department survey showed on Friday. The survey period reflects a month in which cases of the coronavirus rose again following a fall in …

Fewer Americans staying on job sidelines due to COVID, survey shows Read More »

By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund on Friday warned of intensifying inflationary pressures, especially in the United States, and new uncertainties caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and said U.S. central bankers should focus more on inflation risks. In a blog published Friday, IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath and Tobias …

IMF says U.S. monetary policy should focus more on inflation risks Read More »

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. employment increased far less than expected in November, likely as millions of unemployed Americans remained home despite companies boosting wages, generous jobless benefits expiring and schools fully reopening. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 210,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls advancing …

Instant view: US November payrolls rise falls far short Read More »