Hong Kong Jitters Return

After a brief rest, Hong Kong investors are back to worrying about interest rates, reports Money Daily. Following a relatively upbeat 99-point loss yesterday, the blue-chip Hang Seng index Thursday tumbled 269.19 points, or 2.5 percent, to close at 10412.56.

Japan's markets, meanwhile, blew hot and cold in Thursday's trading. The Nikkei 225 index bumped up 85.82 points, or 0.5 percent, recovering after Wednesday's 52.05-point drop. But losers outnumbered winners 4 to 1, and other major market indexes closed lower.

Meanwhile, back in the U.S., the Labor Department reported today that first-time filings for jobless benefits rose by 16,000, to 350,000, for the week ending November 1 double the increase that analysts had expected. Claims for the week of October 25 shocked Wall Street by falling to 297,000, after a rise of around 310,000 in previous weeks. The current level is still a sign of a particularly tight labor market.