Before the Bell: Jobless claims fall in positive sign for labor market

	Click to View in Browser 12/26/2013 Jobless claims fall in positive sign for labor market WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in nearly a month, a hopeful sign for the labor market. Stock futures point to slight gains at open NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to slight gains at the open on Thursday, suggesting the market's upward movement will continue, although trading was expected to be light following the Christmas holiday. Surge of holiday packages delays UPS shipments NEW YORK (Reuters) - A high volume of holiday packages overwhelmed shipping and logistics company UPS, the company said on Wednesday, delaying the arrival of Christmas presents around the globe and sending angry consumers to social media to vent. Court rejects BP bid to require proof of Gulf oil spill losses (Reuters) - BP Plc has failed to persuade a federal judge to require businesses seeking to recover money over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill to provide proof that their economic losses were caused by the disaster. SoftBank in talks to acquire T-Mobile, discussing funding: sources TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's SoftBank Corp is in talks to acquire U.S. wireless carrier T-Mobile US Inc and is discussing funding for a deal with financial institutions, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday. Slowdown in growth a concern for some BOJ policymakers: minutes TOKYO (Reuters) - Bank of Japan policymakers broadly agreed the economic recovery will remain on track as an improving job market fuels consumer spending, but some expressed worry about the pace of growth, the minutes of the central bank's November meeting showed. Japan's Mizuho chairman to step down over mob loans scandal TOKYO (Reuters) - Mizuho Financial Group chairman Takashi Tsukamoto will quit in March to take responsibility for a scandal over loans to organized crime, and the bank will restructure its board to improve governance, it said on Thursday. China cabinet report sees 2013 economic growth at 7.6 percent: Xinhua SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's economic growth is likely to come in at 7.6 percent this year, according to a cabinet report cited by the official Xinhua news agency, just above the government's target of 7.5 percent and slightly below last year's 7.7 percent. Slovenian beer turns sour as state fire sale looms LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - A decade ago, with Slovenia cruising towards membership of the European Union, a local brewery called Union caught the eye of Belgian beer giant Interbrew. Exclusive: Target hackers stole encrypted bank PINs - source BOSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The hackers who attacked Target Corp and compromised up to 40 million credit cards and debit cards also managed to steal encrypted personal identification numbers (PINs), according to a senior payments executive familiar with the situation. Related Video Turkish ministers quit Housing market holds up Global Investing Jobless claims fall in positive sign for labor market Hot 2014 investing tip: Don't chase 2013 A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend