Business Today: U.S. jobless claims edge higher, still point to labor market healing

		Click to View in Browser 10/3/2013 U.S. jobless claims edge higher, still point to labor market healing WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits edged higher last week but remained at pre-recession levels, a signal of growing strength in the labor market. Stock futures imply losses at the open on government uncertainty NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Thursday amid lingering market uncertainty as a partial U.S. government shutdown extended to a third day and leaders in Congress showed no sign of progress towards resolving the stalemate. Exclusive: Intellectual Ventures curbs patent buying amid fund-raising effort SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intellectual Ventures, a multi-billion-dollar firm that virtually invented a new market for patents and inventions, has curtailed its patent buying in the past few months, according to sources familiar with its patent market activity, as it seeks to raise new funds. Daimler mulls new North America plant: magazine FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Daimler AG may build a new factory in North America if demand for compact cars picks up, the head of production and procurement at Mercedes-Benz Cars was quoted saying by a German car magazine. Fiat CEO hopes IPO process will give clear valuation of Chrysler L'AQUILA, Italy (Reuters) - The process of selling Chrysler shares on the New York Stock exchange should shed light on the U.S. carmaker's value, Fiat and Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said on Thursday as he tries to seal a deal for the group. U.S. planned layoffs fall 20 pct in September: Challenger NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of planned layoffs at U.S. firms fell 20 percent in September, even as cuts in the healthcare sector more than doubled from the prior month, a report on Thursday showed. Vodafone CFO Halford to leave next year LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Vodafone said on Thursday its chief financial officer Andy Halford will leave the group next year after the completion of its $130 billion deal to sell its U.S. wireless business to Verizon Communications Inc . Mercedes-Benz sales jump 16 percent to all-time high in September: paper FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Daimler's luxury brand Mercedes-Benz sold the most cars in one month in its history in September, German paper Bild reported on Thursday. For Lego, rising wealth means more play - and business SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The boss of Lego Group carries two business cards - one the usual kind and the other a Lego mini-figure in his likeness, complete with beard and glasses, with contact details on the back. Italy police seize 15 million euros at Merrill Lynch in fraud probe ROME (Reuters) - Italy's financial police said on Thursday they had seized 15 million euros from Merrill Lynch in Milan as part of a probe into alleged fraud against the city council of Verona. Related Video Sports Spread: London, Liverpool set Premier pace What's next after Satyam? We ask Tech Mahindra's CEO Economic News U.S. jobless claims edge higher, still point to labor market healing Obama, congressional leaders still deadlocked on shutdown 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