Copper was traded close ещ its highest level in a month after it completed a third weekly gain as investors bet that demand in China, the largest consumer of the commodity can be sustained. Copper for delivery in August increased as much as 0.6% to $7,417 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange as of 10:16 a.m. Shanghai time.
Rubber increased on Monday after it fell into a bear territory on April 1 amid weaker Yen, which dropped to the lowest level since October 2008 versus the U.S. Dollar and as Chinese imports were boosted for restocking. Rubber for delivery in four months climbed 1.8% to 299 yen a kilogram and it has gained 22% since the lowest level
West Texas Intermediate oil dropped for a third day extending its losing streak to the longest one in a four-week period as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries spurred production to the strongest level since November. WTI for delivery in June declined 97 cents to $95.07 a barrel on the NYMEX following a gain to $95.28 as of 2:21 in
U.S., Australian and Japanese government bonds declined on Monday amid speculation that demand for relative safe government notes will be boosted by unprecedented efforts of central banks to add more stimulus measures in order to spur the economy. Treasuries 10-year rates rose 0.02 percentage points to 1.92%, Japan's 10-year yield climbs 0.11% to 0.8% and 10-year Australian yields jump 0.02%
German government bunds were little changed on Monday before an auction of Italian debt totaling 8 billion euros, or $10.4 billion, and before a report showed that investor confidence in Germany improved in May. Benchmark 10-year bund yielded at 1.38% as of 7:10 a.m. in London following an increase to 1.39% on May 10, the strongest since March 25.
Gold declined for the third straight session on Monday extending its losing streak to the biggest drop in a week since April as the metal entered a bear market after holdings continued to decrease and as U.S. Dollar appreciated. Bullion for delivery this month slipped 1.5% to $1,426.16 an ounce and was traded at $1,435.72 as of 2:24 p.m. Singapore
The Japanese Yen was traded lower by 0.3% at 101.96 per U.S. in the second half of Tokyo session on Monday. Today the currency touched a 102.15 level, which was the weakest since October 2008. Investors were willing to sell the Yen, as Group of Seven officials indicated that they will tolerate the weak Yen, as they are more focused on
The Shanghai Composite Index was lower by 0.2% to 2,242.07 points by the midday in Shanghai's trading session on Monday. Investors were concerned about a current macro situation, which do not show any improvement. The government announced about a study to curb home prices in a long term. Also, traders wait for data on industrial production and retail sales.
The Australian Dollar slipped by 0.3% to 99.95 per U.S. Dollar in the second part of Sydney trading session on Monday. The currency touched a 99.61 level on 10th of May and it was the weakest level since 14 of June. Today a private report indicated a decrease in business confidence amid concern that the Reserve Bank will cut the key interest
Japanese Topix Index was higher by 1.4% in the second half of Tokyo trading session on Monday. Investors were positive on equity markets, as Group of Seven officially said that they will tolerate the weak Yen's exchange rate. The exports sector will be definitely beneficiary of that, since Japanese goods will be more competitive in global markets.
The Bank of England's nine-member Monetary Policy Committee led by Governor Mervyn King maintained the quantitative easing program at GBP 375 billion despite unsuccessful attempts to increase stimulus. The panel also decided to keep the benchmark policy rate unchanged at 0.50%, the lowest level since the central bank was established in 1694.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. edged down surprisingly in the week ended on May 4 falling to the lowest level in five years, a report released by the Labor Department showed on Thursday. According to the report jobless claims fell to 323,000 from 327,000 to 323,000 recorded last week, while economists expected an increase to 335,000.
On Thursday, Italian bond yields erased previous losses, which left the yield almost unchanged at the level of 3.84% by 8:44 a.m. in London. Earlier, yields hit the level of 3.81%. At the same time, yields on Spanish government debt witnessed an increase, following an auction with weak demand.
The Canada's Dollar fell on Thursday snapping a four-day streak of gains against its U.S. peer before a report showed that home prices in the country rose less in March than the month before adding to arguments that BoC may raise interest rates. The so-called Loonie dropped 0.1% to C$1.0037 per U.S. Dollar and it buys 99.63 U.S. cents.
The Australian and New Zealand's currency jumped against the majority of their counterparts on Thursday after both countries showed in reports that unemployment rate declined in the last three months of 2012. The Aussie climbed 0.7% to $1.0242 as of 4:47 p.m. Sydney time and it rose to 101.12 yen, while the Kiwi gained 0.7% to 84.63 U.S. cents and
The British Sterling appreciated the most in a week against the 17-nation bloc currency as industrial production in the U.K. increased in March and as the Bank of England maintained its stimulus policy program unchanged. The Pound rose 0.1% to 84.56 pence per Euro at 2:08 p.m. in London and it was traded at $1.5537 following an increase to $1.5606
West Texas Intermediate oil dropped on Thursday as the value of the U.S. Dollar rose against the Euro amid improving labour market in the U.S. recording the lowest number of initial jobless claims in a five-year period. June WTI futures decreased by 64 cents, or 0.7%, to $95.98 a barrel as of 9:29 a.m. on the NYMEX after they rose
On Thursday, Spanish government bonds declined, which pushed the yields on 10-year notes to the one-month high, amid low demand on the government debt auction. The yields on Spanish 10-year bonds increased by 11 basis points, and reached the level of 4.21% by 3:34 p.m. in London.
On Thursday, the US government bonds were traded lower, with the yields reaching the one-month high before the treasury is selling $16 billion worth of debt, amid decreasing inflation expectations. The yield on 30-year US government bonds was almost unchanged at the level of 2.99% by 9:57 a.m. in New York.
On Thursday, copper declined, following a rally of the commodity to a 3-week high fueled by expectations of stronger demand from China. On the London Metal Exchange, copper decreased to $7,344.75 per tonne, compared to the previous close at $7,419. Earlier, the metal hit its highest on April 12, reaching $7,480.
Hog futures declined to the lowest level in two weeks on Thursday amid speculation that supplies of U.S. pork are increasing amid weaker demand for the commodity, at the same time prices of cattle were little changed. Hog futures for June delivery dropped by 0.5% to 91.325 cents a pound as of 9:23 a.m. on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and
German shares were little changed on Thursday after the benchmark DAX Index recorded its all-time high yesterday as markets opened on a national holiday and volume dropped. The DAX gained 0.1% to 8,255.99 as of 3:51 p.m. Frankfurt time following a two-day period when it recorded a record high and it has increased by 8.5% this year, while the broader
European shares were little changed on Thursday after they rose on yesterday's session pushing the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index to the strongest level in almost five years. The Stoxx 600 Index fell less than 0.1% to 303.39 as of 3:28 p.m. London time after it recorded the highest level since June 2008 yesterday amid favourable earning results of some
The Council of Mortgage Lenders reported on Thursday that the amount of repossessions declined significantly compared to the first quarter of the preceding year. The number of repossession cases declined by 17% on year-over-year basis, reaching 8,000 during the first quarter of the year.