Hong Kong shares rebounded from their lowest level in one week with Chinese banks edging higher after a brokerage upgrade. The Hang Seng Index added 0.5% to 23,218.5. All but three sectors in the benchmark index edged higher. Chinese banks led gains in the financials sector that was 0.76% up, as New World Development added 3.19% to HK$12.94. China Resources
The Bank of Thailand kept the key interest rate unchanged at 2.75% benchmark, according to announcement in Bangkok on Wednesday. The key interest was left the same for the second straight meeting, as economy signals about improvements and better future outlook for exports and stronger domestic demand. The Thai baht, the Thailand's currency, was affected gently by the decision, as
German 10-year bond yields increased by one basis point to 1.50% in early London trading session on Wednesday. German yields were dropping by last two days, as the rate reach a high on January 4 at 1.56%. Investors wait for a report, which will indicate German industrial production. According to economists, industrial output in November should expand for the first
Malaysia's overseas shipments advanced by 3.3% comparing with a year earlier in November, following a 3.2% decline in October, as the Trade Ministry announced on Wednesday. Exports accelerated faster than economists predicted, as shipment of electronics and petroleum increased. Imports also increased by 4.3% in November, after a 5.7% improvement in October and the trade surplus widened to $3.1 billion.
Iron ore made the biggest gain in the final quarter of 2012 and it is very likely to see an extension of the last 14-month high, as China's iron industry restocks. After that, the iron market might turn into a bearish market, as Deutsche Bank analysts say. The price might reach $170 a ton benchmark, before falling to $120, as
Crude oil futures for February settlement were slightly lower, as the price decreased by 11 cents to $93.04 a barrel on New York Mercantile Exchange in Asian trading session on Wednesday. Commodity investors were waiting for a report from the American Petroleum Institute about crude oil and fuel stockpiles in the U.S, the biggest oil consumer in the world.
The Shanghai Composite Index was lower less than 0.1% to 2,275.34 points in the end of trading session after changing direction more than 20 times on Wednesday. The majority of Chinese equity lost value, as declines of industrial and utility companies overshadowed gains of liquor firms. Analysts say, that traders took profits as market has generated good returns and project
The Euro Stoxx 50 futures, the benchmark for the Euro area, was higher by 0.3% to 2.693 points in early London trading session on Wednesday. European stock markets rallied last week to the highest level since February, 2011, as the U.S. governors found an agreement on the budget for 2013. Today, European equities advance on optimism, that the U.S. earning
Britain's shop price index remained unchanged for the third successive month in December, according to the British Retail Consortium, but the food price index went down notably, when it fell down 0.5% from November's 4.6% to 4.1% in the last month of 2012. Year-on-year, the shop price inflation stayed at 1.5% in December compared to analysts forecast of rise to
Profitability of the U.K. companies rose marginally in the Q3, the Office for National Statistics reported on Wednesday. The net rate of return of private companies in non-financial sector was 12.2%, higher than prior estimate of 12.1%, while service companies recorded 16.9% compared to the revised estimate of 16.5%. Manufacturing companies improved their profitability as well to 4.7% in the
The Eurozone economy shrank in the third quarter of 2012 in line with economists' expectations, according to the official data by Eurostat on Wednesday. The Euro bloc's GDP contracted 0.1% in the July to September period, compared to a 0.2% decline in the second quarter. On annual basis GDP fell 0.6%. "The danger of the eurozone's split is over. But we
Consumer credit of the world's largest economy increased above economists expectation in November as non-revolving credit rose notably, the Federal Reserve reported on Tuesday. U.S. consumer credit went up by $16.1 billion in the month of November following an increase of $14.0 billion after revision the month before, when students and car loans surged $15.2 billion in November.
Japanese shares rallied, capping a two-day drop, as the Yen depreciated against its 16 counterparts, supporting exporters. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 0.5% to 10,555.01 after earlier tumbling 1%. Seven out of ten groups inched higher. Tokyo Dome Corporation shares added 8% to 353 yen, leading gains in the consumer services sector, that was only 0.03% up. IHI corporation
U.S. blue chips were down for the second day prior to beginning of the new earnings session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average erased 0.4% to 13,328.85. Three out of nine sectors advanced. Verizon Telecommunications and AT&T were pacing losses in the telecommunications group, as companies slumped 3.6% and 2.9%, respectively. Boeing Co. erased 2.6% to $74.13 after BB&T Capital Markets'
U.S. shares dropped on Tuesday, as investors were still waiting for the new earnings season to begin, dragging down the S&P 500 index for a second day. The S&P 500 slumped 0.3% to 1,457.15. All sectors in the index edged lower, with telecommunications posting biggest losses in the industry, down 2.69%. Game stop Corp. shares lost 6.3% on lower sales
Spot gold price was up by 0.3% to $1,664.10 an ounce in Asian trading session on Wednesday. The price of commodity rose by 0.8% yesterday, that was the biggest gain since the 2nd of January, as data indicated the highest level of imports to China from Hong Kong in seven months ahead of the Lunar New Year. Volumes in the
Brazil swap rate on contract for January 2015 increased by 0.09% or 9 basis points to 7.79%, the highest level since the 21st of December. Investors are concerned about the insufficient government efforts to reach energy price targets, forcing to increase borrowing costs to control inflation. Reserves in country's hydroelectric dams reached a multi-year low, what increases the risky of
Australia's retail sales fell in November on substantial reduction at department stores and in household goods category, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retail sales decreased 0.1% on a monthly basis to A$21.5 billion, while economists expected a 0.3% growth. Sales of household goods fell 0.9% in November and trade at department stores declined 0.4%.
Asian shares rose, snapping two days of losses, as Japan's Nikkei 225 Stocks Average reversed 1% losses after the Yen fell. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.4% to 131.28. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 0.4% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.2%, whereas China's Shanghai Composite Index slid 0.6% and South Korea's Kospi Index slipped 0.3%.
Farm commodities, excluding corn, finished Tuesday's session in the red territory, being pressured by solid US Dollar. Increased caution ahead of the USDA monthly report on global supplies also weighed on rural commodities. Wheat edged lower ahead of the key USDA report due on Friday. However, the grain may seek support on US winter crop concerns and lower Argentina's harvest.
Energy futures were mixed on Tuesday amid expectations of the US inventory buildup this week. Firmness of the US Dollar and dismal economic reports from the Eurozone also pushed energy prices lower. Moreover, concerns over looming debt limit dispute in the US added to losses of the commodity group.Crude oil eased as investors bet on an increase in the US
Industrial metals apart from zinc went higher despite weak data from the Eurozone. German factory orders dropped 1.8% in November compared to a forecast of a 1.4% decrease. However, expectations of strong China's data due on Thursday supported base metals.Aluminum jumped on positive outlook on global demand. Alcoa predicts global aluminum consumption to grow 7% in 2013 as economic recovery
Precious metals rebounded on Tuesday ahead of the closely-watched ECB meeting due on Thursday. Hopes that the Fed will stick to its stimulus measures amid weak state of the jobs market lent support for precious metals. Meanwhile, investors continued to monitor developments across the US debt ceiling talks. Gold erased some of the previous losses on strong physical demand from
The Canadian Dollar, also called Loonie, fell by 0.1% to 98.67 cents per U.S. Dollar in the end of Toronto trading session on Tuesday. The Loonie depreciates the first time in three days or after gaining 0.2%. Investors changes their preferences for currency, as global risk appetite notably ebbed. The Loonie maintains strong correlations for equities and commodities, which have