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U.S. economy created just 115,000 jobs in April, well below the consensus which was reported between 163,000 and 170,000. Revisions to payrolls data for the past two months, however, added another 53,000 jobs.

Retail employment increased by 29,000 after a 21,000 decline in Continue reading…

BNP Paribas, France’s biggest bank, reported a better than expected rise in first-quarter profit after the sale of shares in real estate investment company Klepierre.

All-in-all this was a strong performance both in terms of banking revenues and net result. Those are the strongest results throughout Europe in the banking industry in the first quarter Continue reading…

Wayne Shannon, whose quirky “What’s It All Mean” commentaries were a staple in the early years of CNBC, was found dead at the age of 64.
Family members had reported Shannon missing in September and his body was found this week in woods near Lewiston, Idaho, according to his son, Chris Schetzle. Continue reading…

German car and truck maker Daimler has reported a sharp rise in profits thanks in part to record sales at its Mercedes-Benz division.

Net profit for the first three months of the year was $1.42bn euros ($1.87bn; £1.15bn), up 20% on a year earlier. Revenue rose almost 10% to 27bn euros. Continue reading…

Holding company of Championship club Birmingham City FC has failed for a fourth time to file its financial results for the year to 30 June 2011.

Cayman Island-registered Birmingham International Holdings (BIH) says the results will be published by 31 July and its annual report Continue reading…

Olympic organisers have yet to decide on a date for the sale of the remaining football tickets for the 2012 Games as online systems are still being tested.

The football ticket sales will precede the final batch of sales of one million tickets for other Olympic sports, which was delayed Continue reading…

An 11-year-old boy’s plan to save the eurozone has been commended in a major competition that has attracted some of the world’s top economists.

Schoolboy Jurre Hermans from the Netherlands gets a special mention and a 100-euro gift voucher. Continue reading…

Kia Motors America said Tuesday that its U.S. sales jumped 30 percent as buyers snapped up its Optima midsize sedan.

BY THE NUMBERS: Kia sold a total of 57,505 vehicles in March, up from 44,179 in the same month last year. Continue reading…

Fragrance firm Coty has offered $10bn (£6.2bn) for beauty firm Avon Products. Coty said it was not making a hostile bid, although Avon’s management has refused to discuss the offer.

The bid represents a 20% premium on Avon’s closing share price on Friday, but Avon said it “seriously undervalued” the firm and was Continue reading…

Hutchison Whampoa, owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing, has seen its annual profits more than double after spinning off its container port business.

The Hong Kong conglomerate said it made a profit of 56bn Hong Kong dollars ($7.2bn; £4.5bn) in 2011, compared with HK$20.2bn a year earlier. Continue reading…