NEW YORK/LONDON, June 21 (Reuters) – Business activity
across the euro zone shrank for a fifth straight month in June
and Chinese manufacturing contracted, while weaker overseas
demand slowed U.S. factory growth, surveys showed on Thursday.

The data darkened the outlook for the world economy, adding
to fears that Europe’s debt crisis and slower growth in the
United States and Asia would cause downturns around the globe.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Manufacturing grew in June at its slowest pace in 11 months and hiring in the sector slowed as overseas demand for U.S. products waned, an industry survey showed on Thursday.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits was also little changed last week, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. manufacturing grew in June at its slowest pace in 11 months and hiring in the sector slowed as overseas demand for U.S. products waned, an industry survey showed on Thursday.

Financial information firm Markit said its U.S. “flash” manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index fell to 52.9 from 54.0 in May. The June reading was the lowest since last July although it stayed above 50, indicating expansion in activity.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Major stock indexes ended a choppy trading session flat to slightly lower on Wednesday while Treasuries trimmed losses after the Federal Reserve extended monetary stimulus to keep the U.S. economic recovery from stalling.

Analysts said investors had expected the U.S. central bank to extend its bond-buying program – dubbed “Operation Twist” – but noted some were disappointed that it stopped short of more aggressive measures to boost growth in the face of slower U.S. hiring and a festering European debt crisis.

NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) – Major stock indexes ended a
choppy trading session flat to slightly lower on Wednesday w hile
Treasuries trimmed losses after the Federal Reserve extended
monetary stimulus to keep the U.S. economic recovery from
stalling.

Analysts said investors had expected the U.S. central bank
to extend its bond-buying program – dubbed “Operation Twist” –
but noted some were disappointed that it stopped short of more
aggressive measures to boost growth in the face of slower U.S.
hiring and a festering European debt crisis.

NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) – Major stock indexes ended a
choppy trading session flat to slightly lower on Wednesday w hile
Treasuries trimmed losses after the Federal Reserve extended
monetary stimulus to keep the U.S. economic recovery from
stalling.

Analysts said investors had expected the U.S. central bank
to extend its bond-buying program – dubbed “Operation Twist” –
but noted some were disappointed that it stopped short of more
aggressive measures to boost growth in the face of slower U.S.
hiring and a festering European debt crisis.

NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) – Major stock indexes fell on
W ednesday while Treasuries trimmed losses after the Federal
Reserve extended monetary stimulus to keep the U.S. recovery
from stalling.

Analysts said investors had expected the U.S. central bank
to extend its bond-buying program – dubbed “Operation Twist” –
but said some were disappointed that it stopped short of more
aggressive measures to boost growth in the face of slower U.S.
hiring and a festering European debt crisis.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Major stock indexes and the euro fell and then mostly recovered on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve extended its monetary stimulus program known as “Operation Twist” in an effort to keep the U.S. economic recovery from stalling.

Analysts said investors had expected the U.S. central bank to extend its bond-buying program – dubbed “Operation Twist” – but said some were disappointed that it did not commit to more aggressive measures to boost growth in the face of slower U.S. hiring and a festering European debt crisis.

NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) – Major stock indexes and the
euro fell and then mostly recovered on Wednesday after the
Federal Reserve extended its monetary stimulus program known as
“Operation Twist” in an effort to keep the U.S. economic
recovery from stalling.

Analysts said investors had expected the U.S. central bank
to extend its bond-buying program – dubbed “Operation Twist” –
but said some were disappointed that it did not commit to more
aggressive measures to boost growth in the face of slower U.S.
hiring and a festering European debt crisis.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury prices fell while major stock markets and the euro were little changed on Wednesday as investors waited to see if the U.S. Federal Reserve would announce new stimulus measures to revive a flagging economy.

But uncertainty over the outcome of the Fed’s two-day meeting kept many traders on the sidelines, fearing it might make no announcement of any new stimulus.