CNN on the 27th, citing a US Navy official, reported USS Theodore Roosevelt and about 5,000 shipboard personnel will deploy to the Middle East in the coming weeks to relieve USS Washington and is expected to undertake at least a seven-month deployment. USS Washington only relieved USS Abraham Lincoln on the 20th; Lincoln had been at sea for more than 200 days.

US initial jobless claims fell 4,000 to 203,000 in the week ended Aug. 22, seasonally adjusted, versus 208,000 expected, the US Department of Labor said Thursday. Claims remain in a low 189k–230k range this year, suggesting layoffs are limited despite softer hiring. Continuing claims fell 18,000 to 1.778 million, a reference point for hiring. The unemployment rate slipped to 4.1% last month; if the labor market stays stable, the Fed could continue to prioritize bringing inflation down — US inflation has exceeded the Fed’s 2% target for 65 months.

South African sugar industry seeks to raise price to $905/tonne.