US jobless claims fall to pandemic low; UK factories strengthen – business live

US jobless claims fall to pandemic low; UK factories strengthen – business live

Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business.

Profits at Royal Mail have soared, as the pandemic drove a surge in demand for parcel deliveries from households during the lockdown.

But with uncertainty rife, the company has held back from providing a forecast for the current year, with parcel volumes dipping slightly last month compared to the first lockdown in April 2020.