U.S. hiring accelerates, jobless rate hits six-year low

(Reuters) - U.S. employers ramped up hiring in September and the jobless rate fell to a six-year low, bolstering bets the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in mid-2015.

Canada Posts Surprise August Employment Decline

Canadian employment unexpectedly fell in August led by a record drop in private-sector jobs, undermining policy makers’ optimism about Canada’s economic recovery.

BOJ unruffled by Japan's weak machinery orders, quells stimulus hopes

(Reuters) - Japan's economy took another knock as a gauge of business investment weakened, but the Bank of Japan remained unperturbed and is expected to release optimistic inflation projections as a swing voter on its board turned more confident about the growth outlook.

Spanish bank debt to ECB at lowest for 18 months: bank

MADRID: The net debt owed by Spanish banks to the European Central Bank fell in September to the lowest level for 18 months, data from the Bank of Spain showed on Monday.

Federal Reserve should keep rates low until unemployment hits 6.5%, says Charles Evans

TORONTO/BERLIN: Deep divisions at the Federal Reserve were on display on Tuesday, just two weeks before the US central bank's next policy-setting meeting, with one top Fed official pushing for more easing, and another advocating limits.

Obama, Romney take aim at key Midwestern swing states

HILLIARD, Ohio (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney made late pitches in the political battlegrounds of the upper Midwest on Friday, a region likely to decide the winner in next week's closely fought election for the White House.

Fed says economy may need help, keeps policy on hold

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve stopped short of offering new monetary stimulus on Wednesday even as it signaled more strongly that further bond buying could be in store to help a economic recovery that it said had lost momentum this year.

Jobless claims fall, manufacturing holds up

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of Americans claiming new jobless benefits fell back to a four-year low last week and manufacturing in the Northeast held up in March, providing more signs the economy was firmly on a self-sustaining growth path.