[Spalax]

Initial unemployment claims jumped above expectations, increasing by 13,000 to 380,000, new data out of the Department of Labor shows.

Economists polled by Bloomberg were looking for a 355,000 reading. The prior week's reading was revised higher by 10,000 to 367,000.

Pennsylvania and Illinois logged more than 1,000 more first time filers than a week earlier. Both states attributed the increase to layoffs in the construction sector.

However continuing claims substantially beat forecasts, falling by 98,000 to 3.251 million. Expectations were for a 3,000 person decline.

ORIGINAL:

Weekly initial unemployment claims are set for release at 8:30 a.m. today, with expectations for a slight decline from last week.

Economists polled by Bloomberg forecast 355,000 first time claims were filed with the government for the week ending April 7.

The last report showed 357,000 initial claims.

Economists also see a continued decline in continuing claims, falling 3,000 to 3.335 million for the week ending March 31.

http://www.businessinsider.com/initi...#ixzz1rpTPAw00

[Optipitle]

the other big economic news is that later today, after US markets are closed - when it's Friday in China, since they're on the other side of the international date line - they announce their first quarter results.

sounds like the expectation is approx. 7 1/2 %.

if they announce 7% or less, it should give world markets a chance to pull back.

i keep wondering if silver will break into the 30's and gold down to $1620'ish.

of course i'm not complaining about today's price action