Stock investors position for Friday's unemployment report

Date: Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Stock investors position for Friday's unemployment report

With Friday's unemployment report looming large, equities investors
are sifting for advance clues to what is widely expected to be another
dreary reflection of an ongoing recession.

ECONOMIC REPORT: PRIVATE SECTOR CUT RECORD 697,000 JOBS IN FEBRUARY, ADP SAYS

U.S. private-sector firms cut 697,000 jobs in February, according to
the ADP employment index, which is based on millions of company
payroll records.

FUTURES MOVERS: OIL FUTURES SOAR 7% AFTER INVENTORIES DATA

Oil futures surge 7% to near $45 a barrel, as government data show a
surprising decline in U.S. crude inventories and as China, the
world's second-biggest oil consumer, is expected to release a new
stimulus plan.

METALS STOCKS: GOLD EDGES LOWER AS CRUDE, STOCKS RISE

Gold futures erase earlier gains, falling slightly as rising crude oil and U.S.
stocks increase investors' risk appetite and reduce the metal's investment
appeal.

UBS TAPS FORMER FINANCE MINISTER AS NEXT CHAIRMAN

UBS says Wednesday that its Chairman Peter Kurer will step down after just a
year in the role and will be replaced by former Swiss finance minister Kaspar
Villiger at its next annual meeting in April.