The unemployment rate in the United Kingdom unexpectedly decreased in October of this year, reaching 7.4%, the lowest in more than four years. At the same time, analysts expected no change in the jobless rate from 7.6% in September. Now, economists predict that the Bank of England may raise the main interest rate earlier, namely in 2014, as the current
European benchmark Brent crude slightly gained on Wednesday trading session after a report unveiled that inventories in the world's largest oil consumer, U.S. dropped last week by 481,000 barrels and as Fed is forecast to reduce its bond-purchases to $45 billion per month. Brent for delivery in February added 0.1% to $108.59 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe
West Texas Intermediate crude gained on Wednesday trading session after an industry report revealed that stockpiles in the U.S., the world's largest consumer of the commodity, fell for the third successive week before the Fed's meeting today. WTI for delivery in January expiring tomorrow added 21 cents to $97.43 a barrel on the NYMEX and traded at $97.38 as of
Gold increased on Wednesday rebounding from a notable loss recorded yesterday on speculation that the Federal Reserve may refrain from curbing its aggressive bond-purchasing program on today's policy meeting. Bullion for December settlement advanced 0.4% to $1,235.68 a ounce and traded at $1,232.48 as of 1:15 Singapore time after falling 0.8% yesterday.
Australian equities dropped on Wednesday trading session and were set to record their worst quarter in comparison to global shares in a two-year period after manufacturers from General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. exit the country and as consumer confidence index fell. The S&P/ASX 200 Index slipped 2.2% from September through yesterday, while the MSCI Emerging Market Index rose
UBS AG, the largest bank in Switzerland, will most likely have problems with paying dividends to its shareholders, as country's regulators ask banks to increase capital with leverage rules tightening. It makes UBS shares less attractive, as its dividend yield of 1.3% is less than competitors' ones. Yesterday, UBS AG shares lost 1.16% to 16.17 francs per share in Zurich.
The majority of China's shares increased on Wednesday mainly due to a notable advance of brokerages and drugmakers and after a government report showed that foreign investments and home prices in the country rose in November. The Shanghai Composite Index jumped 0.1% to 2,152.84 as of 1:11 p.m. and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index added 0.9%.
U.S. Treasuries stayed flat earlier on Wednesday session after recording the largest advanced in one month amid speculation that the Federal Reserve may trim its stimulus measures on today's policy meeting as the economy improves. The U.S. benchmark 10-year government bonds yielded at 2.85% by 2:13 p.m. Tokyo time and it has gained from 1.76% recorded in December 2012.
Finance ministers of the Eurozone came to an agreement to support Greece's economy with another financial aid package totalling one billion euros, the 3rd review of the nation's economic adjustment program. According to the Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Eurogroup President, Greece reached all four milestones in order to receive the package from the European Financial Stability Facility.
The U.S. Dollar weakened earlier on Wednesday trading session falling against the 17-nation bloc currency and the Japanese Yen as investors awaited a result from the Federal Reserve policy meeting possibly bringing less stimulus by the U.S. central bank. The so-called Greenback traded at $1.3772 earlier on Asian trading session and the U.S. Dollar Index stayed flat at 80.02, down
Wall Street inched lower on Tuesday as investors stayed away from big bets before on outcome of the Federal Reserve policy meeting suggesting whether the central bank curbs its stimulus measures. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index slipped 0.31% and closed at 1,781, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.06% to 15,875.26 and the Nasdaq Composite Index closed at 4,023.68,
The Reserve Bank of India decided to keep the main interest rate unchanged, even though the country faces a significant increase in consumer price index, as it reached more than 11% last month. The benchmark rate was held at 7.75%, while economists predicted it to rise, on average, to 8%. The CB officials explain their decision by the necessity to
The total amount of foreign direct investment into Chinese economy surged 5.5% in January-November of this year, comparing with a year ago, as the total sum of the investment reached $105.5 billion, the data from the Ministry of Commerce shows. In November, however, the indicator rose 2.35%. The most significant increase of the investment was registered from the EU –
The negative trade balance in Japan soared 35% in November on the annual basis, totaling as much as 1.29 trillion yen. The result is the worst for November month. Moreover, the trade deficit in the country is registered for 17th consecutive month. The exports' rise was overshadowed by energy imports' surge, as Japan closed its nuclear power plants after Fukushima
The confidence level among New Zealand's businesses jumped to its largest value in more than 14 years, showing the positive attitude towards economic development of the country. The corresponding index from the ANZ Bank climbed to 64.1 points against 60.5 in November. Moreover, the rise of index was noticed in activity outlook, profits and inflation expectations, and manufacturing.
The Minister of Finance of New Zealand announced that his country will be able to show an operating budget surplus in the financial year 2014-2015, as it will reach as much as NZ$86 million. Moreover, the positive balance of budget will surge to NZ$1.67 billion in the year 2015-2016. The previous outlook estimated the budget surplus to be NZ$75 and
The current account deficit of the U.S. dropped in the third quarter of this year to its lowest value since 2009, as the rise in trade deficit was overshadowed by the significant jump in investment earnings. The current account finished the Q3 with a $94.8 billion deficit, declining from $96.6 billion in the previous quarter. The deficit of goods' trade
The property prices in the United Kingdom continued to advance in October of the current year, adding as much as 5.5% on the annual basis, as the lack of supply pushed prices up. Moreover, the housing prices in London climbed 12%, while excluding it and South East, the prices rose only 3.1%. By country, the most considerable increase in prices
According to Statistics Canada data, the total amount of manufacturing sales in the country advanced surprisingly in October of 2013, as it reached the largest level in 19 months. The sales jumped 1% after a 0.6% rise a month ago, while economists expected them to go down slightly, decreasing by 0.2%. By industries, 13 of 21 showed a rise, as
U.S. stock-index futures rose slightly, after Monday's advance for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, as investors speculated on inflation data before Fed's policy meeting. S&P 500 futures expiring in March added less than 0.1% to 1,780.8 as of 9:09 a.m. New York time, while Dow Jones Industrial Average contracts gained 0.2% to 15,853.
European shares fell, after their biggest advance in eight weeks, as the outcome of the Fed policy meeting was awaited by investors. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 0.3% to 312.59 as of 11:57 a.m. London time, after the gauge gained 1.3% on Monday. However, the equity-benchmark has retreated 3.9% monthly as better than forecasted data in U.S. led to
U.K. shares declined, after the FTSE 100 Index advanced the most in two months on Monday, as BP Plc sent oil and gas stocks lower. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.3% to 6,500.09 as of 11:51 a.m. London time as the Fed two-day policy meeting is awaited by investors and the equity-benchmark has retreated 4.1% from an October 30 highmark has
Gold dropped in London as the Fed starts its meeting today and officials may come to agreement, when to start scaling back its monetary stimulus programme. The Yellow metal for immediate delivery slid 0.2% to $1,238.33 an ounce as of 10:16 a.m. London time, while bullion for February delivery retreated 0.6% to $1,237.60 in New York on low volume.
The Australian Dollar declined to the lowest level in five years versus its New Zealand counterpart after central bank's statement that they will maintain to loosen policy further. Australia's currency traded at 89.47 U.S. cents, after falling to 89.10 on December 13, lowest level since August 30. The Aussie depreciated 0.3% to NZ$1.08 at 5:18 p.m. Sydney time, after sliding