Market and Exchange

Falling gas prices caused U.S. consumer prices to drop at the fastest rate in four years. The Labor Department said on Thursday its Consumer Price Index slipped 0.4 percent. Analysts had expected a more modest 0.2 percent decline in last month's prices....

* Mid-Atlantic factory activity contracts in May * U.S. jobless claims rise sharply in latest week * Housing starts drop more than expected in April * Inflation data points to softer demand in economy By Jason Lange WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - The U....

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy showed fresh signs of slower growth in the second quarter, with factory activity slipping in the mid-Atlantic region while groundbreaking declined at home construction sites. Other data on Thursday showed a spike...

* Nikkei turns negative as momentum stalls * Chinese and South Korean shares push higher * Japan's Q1 growth beats forecasts * Euro in doldrums after dour euro zone economic data By Ian Chua SYDNEY, May 16 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in Asia edged...

* U.S. manufacturing data puts brake on dollar's rise * Euro steady after slumping to six-week low as euro zone economy contracts * Kiwi gains 0.3 pct, pressure from dollar eases By Sophie Knight TOKYO, May 16 (Reuters) - The dollar moved away from...

SINGAPORE, May 16 (Reuters) - London copper slipped on Thursday after Europe's shrinking economy and a drop in U.S. factory output underlined a dimming demand outlook for metals, although a softer dollar limited losses. FUNDAMENTALS * Three-month...

* Nikkei turns negative as momentum stalls; firmer elsewhere * Japan's Q1 growth beats forecasts * Euro in doldrums after dour euro zone economic data By Ian Chua SYDNEY, May 16 (Reuters) - Some stock markets across Asia edged up on Thursday after...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Factory output dropped in April and manufacturing activity in New York state contracted this month, a sign that slowing global demand is weighing on the economy. The anemic growth picture was highlighted by another report on...

* Asian stocks open up, Nikkei hits fresh 5-1/2 year high * Japan's Q1 growth beats forecasts * Euro nurses losses after dour economic data By Ian Chua SYDNEY, May 16 (Reuters) - Asian shares got off to a positive start on Thursday after data showed...

* U.S. factory output shrinks in April * New York state manufacturing activity contracts in May * Producer prices fall 0.7 percent in April * Wholesale price drop largest in three years By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) - U.S. factory output...

* Disappointing U.S., euro zone data fuels hope of stimulus * U.S. bond yields slip; stock rise offsets earlier dip * Dollar rises against most currencies except yen * Oil reverses from earlier drop, gold stuck in losing streak By Richard Leong NEW...

* Disappointing U.S., euro zone data fuel hope of stimulus * U.S. bond yields slip; stock rise offsets earlier dip * Dollar rises against most currencies except yen * Oil, gold stuck in losing streaks amid strong greenback By Richard Leong NEW YORK, May...