Bonds & Stocks
Wall Street traders rushed out of riskier corners of the market, with stocks sliding amid a renewed wave of tech selling while bonds climbed after weak jobs data. Bitcoin briefly tumbled below $70,000. Silver plunged.
Economy
Applications for US unemployment benefits rose by more than forecast last week, when severe winter weather gripped much of the country. Initial claims increased by 22,000 to 231,000 in the final week of January, according to Labor Department data released Thursday. Claims exceeded all estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists.
World
US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China discussed trade and geopolitical flashpoints, including Taiwan, during a Wednesday call ahead of a planned face-to-face meeting in April.