Consumer confidence in Japan rose for the third consecutive month in March with the seasonally adjusted consumer confidence index rising from 44.2 points in February to 44.8 points in March, a data released by the Cabinet Office revealed on Wednesday. The data also showed that on an unadjusted basis it was up 45 in March from 44.2 in February.
The British Sterling depreciated on Wednesday recording its largest drop in six weeks against the U.S. Dollar after the government report unveiled that the jobless rate in the U.K. gained and wage increase eased in March. The Pound fell 0.9% to $1.5220 as of 3:16 p.m. in London and it edged down 0.1% to 85.80 pence per euro after it
Housing starts in Australia decreased in the last three months of 2012 after recording a steep advance in the Q3, the report released by the Housing Industry Association showed on Wednesday. According to the report new housing starts fell 2.3% on a sequential basis in the Q4 reversing an increase recorded in the previous quarter of 7.4%.
U.S. Treasuries advanced on Wednesday pushing the benchmark 10-year rates close to the lowest level in a four-month period after demand for safer assets was boosted by decreasing prices of stocks and commodities on markets. The U.S. 10-year yields were down three basis points at 1.69% as of 10:39 a.m. in New York following a drop to 1.67% on April
The total number of British people claiming for jobless benefits declined surprisingly in March, while the unemployment rate advanced in the three months ended in February, the Office for National Statistics reported on Wednesday. According to the report there were 7,000 less people claiming unemployment benefits standing at 1.53 million in March, however, the jobless rate jumped from 7.7% in
Construction output in the 17-nation bloc declined at the slower rate in February than in the month before, when the production fell in Poland, Germany and Portugal, while it remained flat in Spain, the statistical office Eurostat reported on Wednesday. The report showed that construction production slipped 0.8% on a monthly basis in February compared to previous month's decrease of
West Texas Intermediate oil decreased for the fourth time in last five days on Wednesday after the U.S. government reported that production increased to the strongest level since 1992 and as demand for gasoline weakened. May WTI futures dropped by $1.42 to $87.30 a barrel earlier on the NYMEX after the contracts closed at the lowest since December 24 on
Spanish leading indicator of economy decreased for the first time in a six-month period in February, the latest data released by the Conference Board unveiled on Wednesday. The data showed that the leading economic index dropped by 0.3% on a sequential basis falling to 104.8 in February, while the coincidence economic index of current situation fell 0.3% to 93.9 in
The Thailand's Bath gained 0.2% to 28.96 per U.S. Dollar from 12th of April in the morning trading session of Bangkok on Wednesday. The local financial market was closed for two days amid holiday for the Thai New Year. The currency strengthens towards a 16-year high, as the IMF improved Japan's growth perspectives, which is the biggest provider of foreign investments and the second-biggest market of Thailand's exports.
The Indonesian Rupiah advanced 0.1% to 9,720 per U.S. Dollar in the morning of Jakarta trading hours on Wednesday. The Rupiah performs the largest gain in a previous week on speculation that domestic exports will strengthen, as the International Monetary Fund improved forecast for Japanese economic growth from 1.2% to 1.6%.
The Japanese Yen weakened by 0.7% to 97.19 per U.S. Dollar by midday trading session in Tokyo on Wednesday, extending a 0.8% yesterday's loss. The main Asian currency strengthened 3% in previous two session before that, what was the sharpest gain since May, 2010. Investors prefer to riskier assets, on speculation that Yen's depreciation will not be the key theme in the upcoming G-20
The Russian Rubble edged lower by less than 0.1% to 35.7682 per Bank Rossii's currencies basket in the second part of Moscow trading session on Tuesday. The Rubble extended yesterday's drop of 1% and set a fourth straight loss, as Brent oil in London market slipped below a $100 a barrel benchmark for the first time since July.
The Brazilian Real gained by 0.8% to 1.9860 per U.S. Dollar and swap rates on contracts to January 2014 slipped by four basis points, 0.04 parentage points, to 8.17 percent in the morning of Sao Paulo trading hours on Tuesday. Swap rates changed direction for the first time in last seven days, on data of a consumer-price report indicating a slowing inflation,
Consumer prices in the world's largest economy recorded a modest drop in March mainly due to a steep decline in energy prices, a report released by the Labor Department showed on Tuesday. According to the report consumer price index fell 0.2% in March reversing a 0.7% increased recorded the month before, while it was expected to stay flat in March.
U.S. housing starts increased by much more than preliminary estimated in March as new construction of multi-family properties recorded a substantial increase, a data unveiled by the Commerce Department showed on Tuesday. According to the data, housing starts climbed 7% to 1036 million in March after it recorded 968,000 in February.
Employment in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development area increased modestly in the last three months of 2012, according a report released by the organization on Tuesday. The report showed that employment rose from 65% recorded in the Q3 to 65.1% in the Q4, while the level of employment in the Q4 of 2011 was 64.9%.
The British Pound weakened by 0.5% to 85.74 per pence to Euro in the second part of London trading session on Tuesday. The pair was slipped to a 85.82 pence level, which was the lowest since 20th of March. Investors trade the Pound with negative sentiments, as a consumer price report indicated a 2.8% inflation in March, what was above
Inflation in the 17-nation bloc slightly declined matching the preliminary estimates in March, when it dropped to 1.7% from 1.8% recorded in February, the latest data revealed by Eurostat showed on Tuesday. Month-on-month consumer prices added 1.2% in March, while core inflation excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco rose 1.5% from a level of 1.3% in February
Italian government bonds advanced pushing the 10-year yield down close to its weakest level in seven weeks as the Treasury decided to close its books for retail investors after demand reached 9 billion euro. Italy's 10-year yields dropped three basis points to 4.31% as of 11:28 a.m. in London following a fall to the lowest since February 25 at 4.26%
Japanese equities retreated on Tuesday amid fears that the global economic growth may slow down. At the same time, the weaker Yen made export-oriented companies to advance. The Nikkei 225 Index lost 0.4%, or 54.22 points, to 13,221.44. Among the best performers, Credit Saison Co Ltd climbed 6.2% to 2,724 yen, capping further losses in the financial sector. Shionogi &
American shares declined on Monday as Chinese economy advanced at a slower rate than predicted. The S&P 500 Index fell 2.3% to 1,552.36 points, the biggest decrease since November. Sprint Nextel Corp, a telecommunications company, surged 13.5% to $7.06 on news that Dish Networks, a satellite television operator, offered a $25.5 billion bid to buy the company. Furthermore, Life Technologies
U.S. blue chips plunged on Monday amid weak national and China's data. The National Bureau of Statistics in China announced a 7.7% GDP advance, less than 8% expected. The Dow Jones Index retreated 1.8% to 14,599.20 points. All the companies included in the gauge posted losses with Caterpillar Inc declining 3.3% to $82.27 as decelerating growth in China raised concerns
Asian equities decreased on Tuesday with the regional benchmark index falling for the second straight day mainly due to a fall of raw-material producers amid concerns that China's slower growth will curb the global economic recovery. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.3% to 136.62 at 3:41 p.m. Tokyo time following a fall from the strongest level in a 20-month
China's rating outlook was downgraded by the Moody's Investors Service from positive to stable as the country did not match expectations in making a progress in reducing latent risk associated with government debt and notable credit growth. However, the rating agency affirmed the Aa3 bond rating for the economy despite a downgrade of Fitch Ratings made last week.