But PriceStats' methods are based on solid, peer-reviewed research and have proved an impressive match for (dependable) official figures in countries such as Brazil and Venezuela.

ECONOMIST: Why we are removing a figure from our indicators page

In corporate news, Target edged up 0.1% on solid quarterly figures, as Wal-Mart fell 0.4% on concerns about its profit forecast and expansion of an internal bribery probe past Mexico to Brazil, China and India.

FORBES: Avoid The Conspiracy Theories About Last Week's Abnormal Jump In Jobless Claims