The Korean Won rose for the first time this week as the nation's current-account surplus expanded to $2.25 billion in January from $2.14 billion a month earlier and consumer confidence reached the highest level since May 2012. The Won gained 0.1% to 1,086.45 versus the U.S. Dollar at 10:24 a.m. in Seoul. One-month implied volatility fell 0.07 percentage point to
The Australian Dollar stayed lower amid concern Italy's election deadlock will worsen the Eurozone's debt crisis, sapping investors' appetite for higher-yielding assets. The Aussie fell 0.1% to $1.0216 as of 4:15 p.m. in Sydney from a day earlier, when it traded at $1.0201, the weakest level since October 10. The currency slid 0.4% to 93.71 yen.
U.S. blue chips edged higher on Tuesday after reports showed the housing and consumer confidence grew more-than-expected. New home purchases in January rallied to their highest since July 2008, boosted by stronger consumer confidence in February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8%, or 115.96 points, to 13,900.13. All nine groups in the index edged higher. Home Depot led gains
Wall Street was green on Tuesday, rebounding from the lowest levels since November 2012, as housing and consumer confidence data topped the estimates. The S&P 500 Index climbed 0.6% to close at 1,496.94. All sectors edged higher. PulteGroup Inc. posted biggest gains in the index, as its shares were 5.72% up at $19.05 by its close, adding to the 0.5%
Hong Kong shares dropped, erasing their earlier gains in 2013 on speculation China might reduce their monetary stimulus activity and impose more measures to cease property prices. In addition, the investors are rather cautious with risky assets due to political instability in Italy. The Hang Seng Index retreated 1.3% to close at 22,519.69, the lowest level since December 2012. Only
Japanese blue chips were bearish on Tuesday, dragging down the Nikkei 225 Index from its more than four and a half year low, as concerns hovered over the Europe's debt crisis due to on-going Italian parliamentary election. The Nikkei 225 slid 2.3% to 11,398.81, pairing the biggest decline since 2008. All but one sector in the index slumped. Toyo Seikan
Significant China's economic growth and boosting demand for commodities, push prices higher, especially copper. This December China needed 4.2 million kilometers of cooper cables, what is enough to circle the globe 100 times. The metal price has surged by 4.4% in 2012 and outperformed the world's equity index, which increased by 3.2%, and main commodities, which gained by 1.3%.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index was lower by 1.3% in the beginning of London trading session on Tuesday. Investors were pessimistic on European stocks, as Italian election increased concern that region's debt crisis might get worse after a potential Silvio Berlusconi reelection. Italian 10-year maturity bond yields surged by 35 basis points.
The Shanghai Composite Index plummeted by 1.4% to 2,293.34 points in the end of Asian trading session on Tuesday. The major Chinese equity benchmark dropped to the lowest level since 25th January. Investors had concerns that the government would introduce new tools to curb property prices and cool the real estate market.
U.S. equities tumbled on Monday, heading the indexes towards their biggest decline in three months after partial parliamentary election results in Italy hovered concerns about the European debt crisis. The S&P 500 Index declined 1.8% to 1,487.85. All sectors in the gauge inched lower. F5 Networks paired biggest losses in the index, as it fell 3.1% to $89.55 adding
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 0.4% and dropped to 133.65 points in the end of Asian trading session on Tuesday. Investors were concerned about Italian elections, which might reignite European debt crisis. Also, China's government announced that it may introduce more tools to curb real estate prices and cool the market, what potentially may hurt total domestic growth.
Farm commodities except for corn finished in the red territory on Monday amid improving weather conditions in the US and South America. Sending rural commodities lower, speculators continued to reduce net long positions after the USDA at its Outlook conference expressed optimism about this year's harvest. Wheat plunged to an eight-month low as the second snowfall brought a relief to US
Energy futures apart from natural gas were steady on Monday on weak demand for risky assets amid elections in Italy. Solid greenback and caution ahead of the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testimony due on Tuesday also put pressure on the commodity complex. Crude oil retreated amid appreciation in the US Dollar. Pushing the commodity lower, China's manufacturing activity expanded at
Industrial metals were mixed on Monday amid elections in Italy and concerns over recession in the Eurozone. Stockpiling at the LME warehouses and weaker-than-expected HSBC flash manufacturing PMI data also put heavy selling pressure on the base metals complex. China's manufacturing PMI reached a four-month low of 50.4 in February, compared to expectations of 52.2. Aluminum prolonged its slump after
Precious metals were mixed on Monday on speculation the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will support continuation of the growth-boosting measures at his testimony on Tuesday. Moreover, precious metals regained their safe-haven appeal amid uncertainty over Italian elections. Gold jumped on signs of rising demand in China. Daily volumes for spot gold on the Shanghai Gold Exchange have more than doubled
U.S. blue chips were red on Monday amid speculation Berlusconi's victory in the Italian parliamentary election would favour political instability in Italy and worsening debt crisis in Europe. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 1.6% to 13,784.17 at its close. All sectors in the gauge paired losses and only two companies among all blue chips posted positive results. McDonald's Corp.
The Australian Dollar rose versus most of the major counterparts, halting earlier losses, as increase in metal prices boosted demand for the currency of the South Pacific country. The Aussie added as much as 0.1% to $1.0271 as of 4:36 p.m. in Sydney from a day earlier, when it fell 0.6%. The Currency climbed 0.3% to 94.43 yen, jumping form
South Korea's Won declined for a second straight day as Italy's election results boosted concerns the Eurozone debt crisis is deepening. The Won fell 0.1% to 1,087.73 per U.S. Dollar at 10:17 a.m. in Seoul. One-month implied volatility increased 11 basis points to 7.47%. Government bonds climbed, pushing 3-year yield to a record low.
Japan's currency declined versus the U.S. Dollar amid speculation the BOJ will expand monetary stimulus further to boost economic growth in the world's third-largest economy. The Japanese Yen lost 0.1% to 91.90 per greenback at 1:45 p.m. in Tokyo after touching 90.88 yesterday, the highest level since January 31. The Yen traded at 119.88 per Euro, after sliding 1.2%.
German shares edged higher, extending their gains for a second consecutive day on speculation the nominee for the BOJ governor's position is likely to extend monetary stimulus and Pier Luigi Bersani might win the parliamentary election of Italy. All but one group in the benchmark gauge advanced. The DAX Index rose 1.18% to 7,750.65 by 17:36 p.m. in Frankfurt. Deutsche
U.K. equities extended their gains for a second straight day, sending higher the FTSE 100 Index at the beginning of the session, yet pairing losses later in the session. However, the index is heading towards its longest winning steak in fifteen years, as BP Plc. and Anfogasta Plc. Shares rallied, offsetting the downgrade of country's credit rating. The FTSE
Hong Kong equities advanced on Monday, rebounding from their Friday's 2013 low, as city government announced more stimulus to cool the market and strong results of HSMC Holdings offset the local developers' weakness. The Hang Seng index rose 0.2% to 22,280.1. All but two groups edged higher. The property sector of Hong Kong shrank after the city government introduced higher
Spot price of gold was higher by 0.6% to $1.590.89 an ounce in the morning of London trading session on Monday. Prices slipped by 1.8% last week and reached $1,555.55 on 21 February. Today gold increases for the third day, as data indicated that central banks in Russia and Kazakhstan extended their bullion stocks last month.
Wheat futures for May settlement were lower by 0.5% to $7.1225 per one bushel in the very beginning of Chicago trading session on Monday. Wheat dropped to an eight month low as investors speculate that snowstorm will help to ease drought situation in the U.S. Great Plains, before crops arise from dormancy. Currently the winter wheat are very poor condition as drought period was