A sour economic signal: Wal-Mart misses expectations, cuts outlook

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, cut its outlook for the rest of the year after reporting second-quarter earnings that fell below expectations.
The disappointing performance, coupled with pessimistic forecasts from Macy’s Inc. and Kohl’s Corp. this week, seems to indicate that Americans are stuck in an economic holding pattern, analysts said.
“The retail environment remains challenging in the U.S. and our international markets, as customers are cautious in their spending,” said Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley in a statement. Read more...

Jobless Claims in U.S. Decline to Lowest Level Since 2007

Claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly dropped last week to the lowest level in almost six years, signaling the U.S. job market continues to mend.
The number of applications for unemployment insurance payments declined by 15,000 to 320,000 in the week ended Aug. 10, the fewest since October 2007, from a revised 335,000, a Labor Department report showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 44 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 335,000. There was nothing unusual in...Read more

Don't be fooled, today's women rarely victims of salary discrimination

Women make only 77 cents per each dollar made by males. Outrageous! Sex discrimination! So say advocates of government-enforced “equality.”
But they are wrong. Women today are...Read more

Apple plans new iPhone launch for 10 September, say reports

Apple CEO Tim Cook: expected to announce fingerprint-detecting technology with update to the iPhone 5. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Apple is thought to be planning the release of two new phones on 10 September, including a much-anticipated cheaper iPhone, dubbed the iPhone 5C.
As well as a...Read more »»»

What Is The Right Age To Introduce Your Kids To Mobile Technology?

My boys love to play with their iPad. My oldest who is 4 ½ spends an average of about 45 minutes each day playing a variety of games. Some like Endless Alphabet are educational while others like Fruit Ninja, are not so much. Like many in the preschool age bracket, Angry Birds has become this generation’s version of Mickey Mouse or Scooby Doo.
As a technologist, I want to expose my kids to technology early. Maybe it’s in the vain hope that my kids take after me, or...Read more »»»

Producer Prices in U.S. Little Changed as Car Costs Decline

Wholesale prices in the U.S. unexpectedly were little changed in July, reflecting the biggest drop in auto costs in four years.
The steady reading in the producer price index followed a 0.8 percent gain in June, a Labor Department report showed today in Washington. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of 73 economists projected a 0.3 percent rise. The so-called core measure, which excludes volatile food and fuel, climbed less than forecast.Read more»»»

Euro zone growth lifts European shares, pound jumps after jobs data

By Richard Hubbard

LONDON | Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:00am EDT

(Reuters) - European shares inched up on news that the euro zone had emerged from recession on Wednesday, while sterling jumped against the dollar as robust jobs data cast doubt on the Bank of England's pledge to keep interest rates low.
Financial markets though were mostly subdued and confirmation that the euro zone's 18-month-long recession was finally over had been widely expected, limiting share market gains.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Wall Street. .EU.N
Sterling was the main mover, hitting a high of $1.5507 when new data showed a sharp drop in jobless benefit Read more»»»