TOKYO (AP) — International stock markets were mostly lower today as jittery investors played it safe ahead of a potentially pivotal Federal Reserve meeting and the referendum on Scotland’s independence on Thursday. Futures point to a lower opening on Wall Street. The dollar fell against the euro and was flat against the yen. Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell to just above $92.50 a barrel.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve policymakers begin a two-day meeting to set interest rates today, but today’s one major economic report isn’t likely to spur them to raise rates. Labor Department releases the Producer Price Index for August this morning. The index rose just 0.1 percent in July, and in the past year, prices at the wholesale level have risen just 1.7 percent, slightly below the Federal Reserve’s target.
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s currency has dropped to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar as it continues to suffer from the fallout of economic sanctions. The United States and the European Union last week imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine despite the cease-fire between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels that was brokered by Russia and a European security group. The ruble has lost over 2.7 percent in just two days.
PARIS (AP) — France’s prime minister faces a confidence vote in a parliament increasingly frustrated with unpopular President Francois Hollande’s (frahn-SWAH’ oh-LAWNDZ’) handling of the economy — including dissidents within his Socialist Party. The Socialists have a solid majority but they are split between leftists who think restraining government spending will hurt the economy and Hollande allies, who believe that reform is needed since government spending makes up 57 percent of annual gross domestic product.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Atlantic City is down to eight casinos this morning, from 12 at the beginning of the year. Trump Plaza is the latest to shut its doors. It goes out ranking last among the city’s gambling centers.
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