U.S. companies' inventories jump above expectations

© Scanpix\AFP

Despite worries on the Federal Reserve's future decision about stimulus tapering, U.S. companies stockpiles inched up for the third time this year. Inventories of U.S. businesses rallied 0.4% in July, overshooting analysts' expectations of a 0.2% rise. Manufacturers' reserves increased 0.2% in July, while shipments of their products rallied 1.1%.