US stocks sinks as Apple leads selloff

US  stocks  sank  as  Apple  Inc.  sank  on  complaints  related  to  its  new smartphone and amid signs of worsening conflict in Russia and the Middle East.  The  S&P  500  Index  fell  by  1.6%  to  1,965.99.  The  Dow  plunged 264.26 points (1.5%) to 16,945.80.

Jobless claims in US climbed less than forecast last week

Applications  for  unemployment  benefits  in  the  US  increased  less  than forecast last week as an improving economy prompted employers to retain staff.  Initial  jobless claims climbed 12,000 to 293,000 in the  week ended September  20,  the  Labor  Department  reported.  The  median  forecast  of economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 296,000.

Capital goods orders point to US investment gain

American  factories  received  more  orders  for  machinery,  communications gear  and  electrical  equipment  in  August  as  an  improving  economy  gave companies the confidence to expand.  New  orders for  non-military capital goods excluding aircraft rose 0.6% in August followed by 0.2% decrease in July,  according  to  data  from  the  Commerce  Department.  The  median forecast in a Bloomberg survey called for a 0.4% gain.

Fed’s Lockhart says rate increase likely mid- to later 2015

Federal  Reserve  Bank  of  Atlanta  President  Dennis  Lockhart  said  an improving labor market and rising inflation are likely to create conditions for an initial interest-rate increase in the middle of 2015 or later in the  year. Raising interest rates as early as the 1Q15  would amount to “rushing to a judgment”  when  more  time  is  needed  to  show  the  economy  is  on  a  3% growth track, Lockhart said.

Brazil’s August unemployment rate at record low for the month

Brazil’s unemployment rate in August hit a record low for the month, as the labor market remains strong in the face of a recession in the  1H14. The jobless rate rose to 5% in August  from 4.9%  in July, the national statistics agency  said.  That  was  higher  than  forecast  by  economists  surveyed  by Bloomberg, whose median estimate was 4.9%.

Taiwan says monetary policy has tightened in 2014 as rates held

Taiwan’s central bank said that  its monetary policy has turned neutral from “adequately  loose”  after  it  held  the  benchmark  interest  rate,  signaling  a shift  in  stance  to  tackle  rising  prices.  The  territory’s  monetary  conditions have  tightened  this  year  compared  with  2013,  Governor  Perng  Fai-nan said.  Taiwan  also  held  its  discount  rate  on  10-day  loans  at  1.875%,  a decision forecast by economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Stevens signals RBA considering ways to curb home lending

Reserve  Bank  of  Australia  (RBA)  Governor  Glenn Stevens signaled  he’s considering steps to limit home loans to investors, who are distorting the housing market. “I have certain skepticism about macro-prudential tools as a panacea, but I remain open to using them if it seems sensible to do so and that’s the kind of thing we have in mind right now,” Stevens said.

WTI gains to one-week high as US supplies drop

WTI    rose to the highest level in a week as crude inventories shrank in the US,  the  world’s  biggest  consumer.  Brent  for  November  settlement increased US$0.05 to US$97 a barrel.

Source: Bloomberg