The majority of Asian shares edged lower on Wednesday with the local benchmark gauge falling together with Shanghai index as traders took their profits after previous gains on weaker U.S. currency dropping amid speculation of stimulus scale back. The broadest Asia-Pacific Index outside Japan slipped 0.7% and the Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.1%.
European shares dropped, snapping two-day winning streak, after China's industrial report missed the forecasts. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid 0.3% to 316.08 as of 1:16 p.m. in London; however, the equity-benchmark has jumped 13% this year. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures slipped 0.1%, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index was little changed today.
U.S. stock-index futures declined, after the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained to a record high, as budget talks were watched by investors. S&P 500 futures expiring this month slid 0.3% to 1,803.70 as of 8:52 a.m. New York time, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell 0.3% to 15,975. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2% on Monday reaching a
The Australian currency declined on Tuesday falling against the U.S. Dollar and traded near the lowest level in five years versus its New Zealand's counterpart on speculation that the Australian Reserve Bank may require further stimulus. The so-called Aussie slipped 0.2% to 90.91 U.S. cents by 11:13 a.m. Sydney time, it slid 0.2% to 93.88 yen and traded at NZ$1.0980.
The South Korean currency advanced on Tuesday jumping to the strongest level in two years after a government report showed that the South Korean largest trading partner, China, increased exports suggesting that the local economy is improving. The Won fluctuated at 1,052.62 per U.S. Dollar by 10:23 a.m. Seoul time following a touch at the most since August 2011 at
The British Sterling increased on Tuesday jumping to the strongest level in two years against the U.S. Dollar after a government report showed that house prices in the United Kingdom advanced to the highest figure in more than 10 years last month. The Pound strengthened 0.1% to $1.6453 as of 7:41 a.m. in London following a jump to $1.6466, the
The Canadian currency weakened on Tuesday falling towards the lowest level in three years on speculation that the Federal Reserve may tapper off its monetary easing next week on the central bank's policy meeting. The so-called Loonie declined 0.3% and added 0.1% to C$1.0627 per Greenback as of 5 p.m. Toronto time.
Predictions of economists for the U.S. government bond yields at the end of next year are the strongest since July amid speculations that the U.S. Federal Reserve may begin tapering off its bond-purchasing program on the next week's policy meeting. Yields of government securities may climb to 3.41%, the Bloomberg survey showed today.
The European benchmark Brent crude advanced on Tuesday rising for the second successive month in November after output in Libya, the African largest oil holder, was curbed by unfavourable weather in the region. Brent for delivery next month gained 47 cents to $109.86 a barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe Exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude advanced on Tuesday before an industry report showed that inventories in the world's largest consumer of the oil, U.S., dropped for the second straight week. WTI for delivery in January increased 36 cents to $97.70 a barrel on the NYMEX and traded at $97.66 as of 1:13 p.m. in Singapore, while it dropped 31 cents on
Chinese stocks swung between gains and losses after the People's Bank of China raised its rate on the local currency against the U.S. Dollar and after an industry report showed that factory output in the country advanced 10% in November. The Shanghai Composite index added 0.1%, the Hang Seng index fell 0.2% and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index slipped
Canada's equities increased on Tuesday rising for the second straight session and recording the largest two-day advance in a month as commodity producers climbed on rising copper and gold prices. The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index increased 32.06 points to 13,312.78 as of 4 p.m. Toronto time and it gained 0.9% in the last two days.
Gold swung between gains and losses on Tuesday amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve may scale back its aggressive monetary easing on the next policy meeting on December 17 and 18 on signs of economic improvement. Bullion for December delivery advanced 0.2% at $1,242.55 an ounce as of 12:20 Singapore time.
Business sentiment in the Asia's second largest economy declined in the last three months of 2013 as the performance of Japan's economy weakened notably in the previous quarter, a survey published by the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet Office revealed on Tuesday. The large-company sentiment index slipped from 12 points to 8.3 points in the Q3 and it is
The euro-area currency advanced on Tuesday reaching the strongest level in five years against the Japanese Yen and a six-week high versus the U.S. Dollar after the last week's ECB policy meeting signaled no more stimulus by the area's central bank. The Euro was seen at 141.95 yen following an increase to 142.085, the most since October 2008, and it
The Wall Street shares closed higher with the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 reaching its new record high on Monday as investors weighed prospects of the U.S. economy speculating whether the Fed scales back on the next policy meeting. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 0.18% to 1,808.37, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.03% to 16,025.53 and the Nasdaq Composite
Most of Asia's shares increased on Tuesday ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting and as stricter Eurozone's money market conditions pushed the 17-nation bloc currency towards the highest level in five years versus Yen and six-week peak against the Greenback. The broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan advanced, while the Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slid 0.4%.
James Bullard, the St.Louis Fed's President, said on Monday that the improving U.S. economy and its labor market increase the probability that the Federal Reserve will reduce stimulus soon. At the same time, he pointed out that the tapering amount should be limited due to very low inflation in the U.S. This year, James Bullard is the FOMC member. Also,
Retail sales in the second biggest economy of the world surged annually 13.7% in November of this year, as the stable recovery in China continued to increase the pace. At the same time, the manufacturing production in the country added 10% on the annual basis after a 10.3% advance a month ago. It is worth pointing out that all the
The consumer confidence index in Japan advanced in November, however, the pace of increase was much lower than analysts forecasted. The unadjusted index of consumer confidence in the country jumped to 41.9 points versus 41.2 a month ago. Meanwhile, economists expected the index to reach 44 points. At the same time, the evaluation of personal finances in Japan climbed to
The total number of new loans for buying property in Australia rose 1.0% in October of the current year, while the pace of increase declined from a month ago, when the indicator added 3.5%, being revised down from 4.4%. Therefore, the number of loans reached 52,305 in November. Analysts say that the total value of issued loans was $16.185 billion,
According to the Ministry of Economy data, the activity in the tertiary industry of Japan declined in October of this year, as the overall economic recovery in the country continues to be weak. The corresponding index, which measures the activity level, was down 0.7% in October. Experts, in turn, predicted the service sector in Japan to rise 0.1% after a
The manufacturing production in the largest economy of the Eurozone surprisingly dropped in October of 2013, marking the second consecutive month of a decrease. The indicator lost 1.2% on a monthly basis after a 0.7% fall in September. At the same time, analysts predicted the manufacturing production add 0.7% in October. On the annual basis, the output showed a 1%
Activity in the construction sector of Ireland continued to increase in November of this year, while new orders advanced as well. The benchmark PMI Index from the Ulster Bank, which measures the activity level in this particular sector of Irish economy, decreased to 58.8 points in November against 59.4 a month ago. At the same time, the reading above 50