Business Today: Labor market data suggest economy strengthening

	Click to View in Browser 01/9/2014 Labor market data suggest economy strengthening WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week fell and planned layoffs hit a 13-1/2 year low in December, adding to a range of data that have suggested the economy is gaining steam. Bernanke gives upbeat assessment of economy to U.S. senators WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday offered an optimistic view on the U.S. economy's prospects to Democratic senators, but warned that "tough decisions" were ahead on dealing with long-term budget deficits and healthcare costs, according to lawmakers present. Wall St. ends mostly flat before U.S. payrolls data NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended little changed on Thursday in a choppy session ahead of Friday's payrolls report, which may provide insights into whether the Federal Reserve may announce another cut to quantitative easing at its meeting this month. SAC's Martoma faced discipline at Harvard, documents show NEW YORK (Reuters) - Years before he went on trial for insider trading, former SAC Capital Advisors portfolio manager Mathew Martoma faced disciplinary action while at Harvard Law School, according to court records unsealed on Thursday. Exclusive: Goldman Sachs miner halts coal exports from Colombia BOGOTA (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs -owned miner Colombian National Resources (CNR) has halted coal exports from Colombia because CNR cannot comply with a new environmental law governing port operations, a company source told Reuters on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase plans to exit prepaid card business NEW YORK (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co plans to sell or exit over time its business of issuing prepaid cards for corporate payrolls and government tax refunds and benefits, the company said on Thursday. Discounts slam U.S. retailers' holiday season profits NEW YORK (Reuters) - Many large U.S. retailers slashed their earnings forecasts on Thursday because of steep discounts they offered during the holidays to persuade reluctant consumers. U.S. airline shares jump on strong December results (Reuters) - Shares of United Continental Holdings rose as much as 12 percent on Thursday as the airline sector was buoyed by strong December traffic reports that some analysts said boded well for upcoming earnings. U.S. ICSC retail sales 3.7 percent in December NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. comparable chain store sales rose 3.7 percent in December from a year earlier after increasing 2.1 percent in November, the International Council of Shopping Centers said in a report on Thursday. Alcoa to pay $384 million to settle Bahrain bribery charges (Reuters) - Alcoa Inc and a joint venture it controls have agreed to pay $384 million to resolve charges of bribing officials of a Bahraini state-controlled aluminum smelter, marking one of the largest U.S. anti-corruption settlements of its kind. Related Video Breakingviews: Backward bonuses Nano-engineers produce liquid-repellent paper Economic News Labor market data suggest economy strengthening Bernanke gives upbeat assessment of economy to U.S. senators 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