Business Today: Futures briefly tick higher after data

Click to View in Browser 05/10/2012 Futures briefly tick higher after data NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures briefly edged higher on Thursday after data showed new U.S. claims for unemployment benefits dipped last week, allaying some concerns about the slowing economic recovery. Jobless claims fall marginally last week WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New claims for unemployment benefits edged down last week, according to government data on Thursday that could ease concerns the labor market was deteriorating after April's weak employment growth. US trade gap widens more than expected in March WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit widened more than expected in March as imports surged to a record high, in another sign the government may have to scale back its estimate of first-quarter economic growth. US import prices muted as oil costs drop WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Import prices in April recorded their largest drop in 10 months as energy costs tumbled, according to a government report on Thursday that also showed tame underlying inflation pressures from imports. Sony sees return to profit, aims to halve TV losses TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp predicted a return to profit this year as it looks to halve the losses in its TV business that pushed the Japanese consumer electronics giant to a record loss of $5.74 billion in the year just ended. Merkel resists calls to put growth before reforms BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected calls from her centre-left opponents in Germany and Europe for economic stimulus policies that rely on new debt, warning parliament on Thursday that "growth on credit" would just tip Europe deeper into crisis. Bank of England stops QE as inflation worries weigh LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England voted not to give Britain's struggling economy another cash injection on Thursday as concerns over stubbornly high inflation outweigh the risk of a prolonged recession and renew dangers from the euro zone debt crisis. Cisco shares drop on tech spending concerns (Reuters) - Shares of Cisco Systems Inc fell 9 percent in premarket trading on Thursday, after the network equipment maker forecast weaker-than-expected quarterly results on growing worries about the European economy and enterprise IT spending. Apple, supplier Foxconn to share costs on improving factories SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Apple Inc and its key supplier Foxconn Technology Group will share the initial costs of improving labor conditions at the Chinese factories that assemble iPhones and iPads, Foxconn's top executive said on Thursday. Porsche plans new sedan to rival Mercedes: report BERLIN (Reuters) - German sports car maker Porsche will introduce a smaller version of its four-door Panamera sedan by 2017, at the latest, weekly magazine Auto Bild reported on Thursday, citing no sources. Related Video Market Pulse: What's Moving Today and Why Breakingviews: Markets unsure over Bankia deal Economic News Jobless claims fall marginally last week US import prices muted as oil costs drop A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend