Easing

The number of workers filing new claims for job less benefits dropped to a nine-month low last week. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 percent last month after increasing 0.4 percent in August.

IBM earns

IBM reported its third- quarter net profit rose to $3.2 billion, or $2.40 a share, from $2.8 billion, or $2.04 a share, a year earlier.

Hedge hires

Hedge funds are hir ing again, but multimil lion dollar payouts will be scarcer this year, a report from executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles said.

UBS informant

Bradley Birkenfeld, the key informant who helped US tax authorities build their groundbreaking case against UBS, is looking to the IRS for a potential multi-million dollar award when he gets out of prison. He is claiming the agency had no case against the Swiss banking giant — or against thou sands of American tax cheats — without him.

Merkin move

A Manhattan judge told Ezra Merkin’s law yers that he would likely reject a motion to dis miss New York Attorney General Andrew Cuo mo’s lawsuit accusing the financier of fraudu lently raising funds for Bernard Madoff’s fraud.

Mosler named

Cushman & Wakefield CEO and President Bruce Mosler yesterday was named co-chairman of the commercial prop erty broker, serving alongside current chair man John C. Cushman III.