Verizon Strike Boosts Unemployment Aid Requests

By Christopher S. Rugaber

WASHINGTON -- Thousands of Verizon workers on strike pushed the number of people seeking unemployment benefits last week to its highest level in a month.

But excluding the work stoppage, layoffs likely fell. That should help ease fears that the economy is on the verge of a recession.

Investors appeared to overlook the report. Stock futures held most of their early gains.