U.S. private employers step up hiring, trade deficit narrows

By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. private employers hired more workers than expected in November, suggesting the labor market was improving enough for the Federal Reserve to start trimming its bond purchases. The economic outlook was further brightened by other data on Wednesday showing a narrowing in the trade deficit in October as exports hit a record high. Private employers added 215,000 new jobs to their payrolls last month, the ADP National Employment Report showed, beating economists' expectations for a gain of 173,000 jobs. That report is expected to show an increase of 180,000 in nonfarm payrolls, according to a Reuters poll of economists, down from 204,000 in October.