Permanent employees accounted for most of the quarterly increase, while inactivity among people aged 15 to 64 fell by 185,000.

Bank of Japan data showed the producer price index at 136.1, with annual inflation easing only slightly to 7.6% after July was revised higher.

Services output rose 0.4% as administrative support and information technology led gains, while production and construction also edged higher.

Energy prices drove most of the goods increase, while PPI excluding food, energy and trade services rose 0.3% and was up 4.7% from a year earlier.

Existing-home sales slowed to a 3.98 million annual pace in August, while 4.9 months of available supply gave buyers more room to negotiate despite higher prices.

Merchant wholesalers held $958.9 billion of inventory at month-end, while the inventories-to-sales ratio stood at 1.20 versus 1.28 a year earlier.

Norway’s headline inflation rate rose as a childcare-related base effect lifted the annual CPI reading, while a narrower measure excluding administered prices, energy and tax changes held at 3.0%.

Alcoa said two wholly owned subsidiaries plan to issue notes due 2034 and 2036 to help fund the cash portion of its pending purchase of South32’s bauxite, alumina and aluminum assets.

OFAC also designated SafeW Technology and Anwen Technology, while Justice said two Xinbi wallets holding about $12 million were seized and 47 additional wallets were targeted for restraint.

Circle8 has until Oct. 7 under the U.K. Takeover Code to make a firm offer or walk away, with no price or other financial terms disclosed.