NEW YORK-- Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday that it obtained a $1 billion, 5- year revolving credit arrangement this week. Southwest said that rates will be based on either the London interbank offered rate, known as Libor; or the highest of the prime rate, the 1- month Libor plus 1 percent, or the federal funds effective rate plus 0.5 percent.
NEW YORK, April 4- Gold fell for a third straight session on Thursday, hitting a 10- month low as unprecedented monetary stimulus from the Bank of Japan and hopes for another European Central Bank rate cut failed to stem heavy selling of bullion by funds.
DAYTON, Ohio, April 4- A second Federal Reserve official has suggested that U.S. interest rates may have to remain near zero until the unemployment rate falls as low as 5.5 percent, lower than the 6.5 percent threshold the U.S. central bank has in mind.
*Gold on track for biggest three-day drop since June 2012. NEW YORK, April 4- Gold fell sharply for a third session on Thursday, as hopes of another interest rate cut by the European Central Bank and new monetary stimulus offered by the Bank of Japan failed to stem heavy selling of bullion by funds.
WASHINGTON _ Commerce Department releases wholesale trade inventories for February, 10 a.m. Eastern; Labor Department releases job openings and labor turnover survey for February, 10 a.m.. WASHINGTON _ Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m..
April 4- Here is a list of economic questions that have something in common. In a recession, should governments reduce budget deficits or increase them? Do zero percent interest rates stimulate economic recovery or suppress it?
*ECB keeps interest rates at 0.75 pct. FRANKFURT, April 4- European Central Bank President Mario Draghi opened the door on Thursday to an interest rate cut as soon as next month, saying his bank stands "ready to act" to boost the recession-hit euro zone economy.
NEW YORK, April 4- The euro dropped to its lowest in more than four months against the dollar on Thursday after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi highlighted the downside risks to the euro zone economy, suggesting the bank could further slash interest rates.
FRANKFURT, April 4- The European Central Bank expects a gradual economic recovery later this year but will monitor incoming data very closely and is ready to cut interest rates if necessary, its president said on Thursday.
NEW YORK, April 4- U.S. stock index futures turned flat on Thursday, with the S&P 500 dropping into negative territory after data showed an unexpected rise in weekly jobless claims. S&P 500 futures fell 0.2 point but remained above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract.