TOP STORIES 
 
U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS FALL FOR SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK 

The number of Americans applying for unemployment checks fell last week, suggesting employers continue to expand modestly and the labor market in the world's largest economy remains strong.

DURABLE GOODS ROSE 3.4%, BUT DEMAND STILL SOFT 

Orders for long-lasting goods increased a sizeable 3.4% in April due to a 64.9% surge in the volatile civilian-aircraft category. But underlying data still showed soft demand for other manufactured products.

ENERGY SHARES RISE, AS OIL TOPS $50 

U.S. stocks inched higher Thursday, buoyed by the energy sector, as crude-oil prices topped $50 a barrel.

WENDY'S MAKES NEW CEO OFFICIAL 

Wendy's officially tapped finance chief Todd Penegor to become the fast-food chain's chief executive, part of a previously announced succession plan.

FED'S BULLARD SEES MORE FACTORS FAVORING GRADUAL U.S. INTEREST RATE INCREASES 

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said he sees more factors in favor of a gradual pace of U.S. interest-rate increases.

DOLLAR GENERAL TOPS VIEWS AMID CONTINUED SALES IMPROVEMENT 

Dollar General posted earnings for the most recent quarter well above market views as sales at the discount retailer continued to climb and margins improved.

EU CLEARS HEIDELBERGCEMENT'S DEAL TO BUY 45% STAKE IN ITALCEMENTI 

The European Union approved HeidelbergCement's $1.86 billion deal to acquire a 45% stake in Italcementi, on the condition the merged company divests all of the Italian cement-maker's business in Belgium.

GM RECALLS 2.16 MILLION CARS IN CHINA 

General Motors Co. and its Chinese partner will recall 2.16 million cars in China because of faulty crankcase valves, the country's quality regulator said.

TD BANK PROFIT CLIMBS 10% 

Toronto-Dominion Bank on Thursday reported a better-than-expected 10% increase in its fiscal second-quarter profit, helped by stronger earnings from its retail operations in both Canada and the U.S.

SIGNET GIVES MOSTLY WEAK OUTLOOK; PROFIT RISES 24% 

Signet Jewelers Ltd. issued guidance for the current quarter mostly below Wall Street's expectations as the retailer reported that its earnings rose 24% in the April quarter.

CHICO'S UNVEILS MORE COST-CUTTING EFFORTS 

Chico's, under pressure from an activist investor, reported quarterly results that missed expectations and said it had stepped up its cost-cutting efforts.

SEARS EYES OUTSIDE DEALS FOR KEY BRANDS AS REVENUE FALLS 

Sears Holdings Corp. reported narrow improvement in its bottom line in the first quarter as the retailer trimmed expenses, though revenue continued to slide and margins contracted.

OIL PRICES RISE ABOVE $50 A BARREL 

The price of both Brent crude and WTI rose above $50 a barrel on Thursday, as declines in U.S. crude stocks boosted the price of a commodity that is suffering from a yearslong supply glut.

IONIS'S SHARES FALL AFTER CO-DEVELOPER OPTS AGAINST STARTING LATE-STAGE TRIAL 

Ionis Pharmaceuticals said partner GlaxoSmithKline has opted against initiating a phase-three study of a treatment for a rare, potentially fatal organ condition.

ABERCROMBIE'S SALES SLIP AS FEWER SHOPPERS VISIT ITS STORES 

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.'s turnaround efforts were derailed last quarter as fewer shoppers visited its stores and the teen retailer tried to hold the line on discounts.

BURLINGTON STORES RAISES OUTLOOK, PROFIT RISES 46% 

Burlington Stores raised it guidance for the current year as the off-price apparel retailer reported that its earnings rose 46% for the three-month period ended in April.

SONY PLAYSTATION 4 SALES TOP 40 MILLION 

Sony said it has sold more than 40 million units of its flagship videogame console PlayStation 4, highlighting strong momentum at the company's the fastest-growing unit.

GE TO SUPPLY ENGINES FOR SOUTH KOREA'S NEW FIGHTERS 

General Electric's deal to supply engines for South Korea's next-generation fighter jets is estimated to be valued at $3.5 billion.

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA POSTS BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED PROFIT 

Royal Bank of Canada reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that increased 3% from a year earlier even as it set aside more money to cover soured loans.

OPEC ZEROES IN ON NEW LEADER 

OPEC is likely to choose a new secretary-general at its meeting next week, the only concrete action the cartel is expected to take, said national delegates of the group.

 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Markets Main 
BIS UNVEILS GLOBAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR FOREIGN-EXCHANGE TRADING 
 

A body of global standards-setters Thursday laid out new principles for the safer and more transparent functioning of the world's foreign-exchange markets, aiming to restore trust in currency trading following incidents of misconduct in recent years.

 
Technology 
EU PRIVACY CASE ADDS NEW THREAT TO DATA FLOWING TO U.S. 
 

One of the last legal methods that companies have to store Europeans' data on servers in the U.S. was thrust deeper into limbo when a privacy regulator said it would ask Europe's top court to review its legality.

 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 26, 2016 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT)

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