Sweden's manufacturing sector contracted in December at a slower pace than expected, according to data published by the Swedbank on Monday. The seasonally adjusted PMI increased to 44.6 in December from 43.2 in November, with a reading below 50 indicating a contraction. The reading stayed below the 50 mark for the fifth straight month.
Harmonized inflation in Spain remained unchanged at 3% in December, according to flash data from the statistical office INE on Wednesday. The inflation rate also was in line with economists' expectations. Consumer price inflation was at 2.9% year-on-year. Final data is due to be published on January 15. Elsewhere, inflation in the Euro bloc cooled to 2.2% in November from
Oil advanced in New York as the U.S. lawmakers passed a budget bill that averts spending cuts and tax increases that threatened to drag the world's biggest economy into recession. Crude for February settlement climbed $1.02 to $92.84 a barrel and was at $92.84 at 3:04 p.m. in Singapore. Brent for February delivery gained 97 cents, or 0.9%, to $112.08
European stock futures and Asian shares advanced, prolonging last year's 13% global rally, metals pushed commodities higher, while the Japanese Yen and the U.S. Dollar fell as U.S. lawmakers approved a budget bill, which prevented spending cuts and tax hikes. Futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 Index climbed 2.5%, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index outside Japan gained 2%, poising
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced as U.S. lawmakers approved the ‘fiscal cliff' bill seeking to avoid tax increases and as manufacturing sector in China expanded for a third consecutive month. The Hang Seng Index rose 2% to 23,103.97 at 1:11 p.m. in Hong Kong, exceeding 23,000 for the first time since June 2011.
Stocks in U.K. fell for the second time in a row on Monday as concerns about not reaching a deal in fiscal cliff talks between U.S. lawmakers and the White House overshadowed acceleration in Chinese manufacturing and improvement of British business sentiment index. The FTSE 100 Index dropped 0.5% to 5,897.81, while the broader FTSE All-Share Index also added 0.4%.
The U.S. currency appreciated against its major counterparts on Monday as the President Barack Obama and lawmakers launched another round of negotiations to avoid $600 billion tax hikes and spending cuts and as the Bank of Japan came closer to starting its stimulus program in January. The U.S. Dollar rose 0.2% to $1.3191 per Euro and it added 0.2 %
U.S. stock futures went up on Monday snapping a five-straight-day losing streak, as talks to avert the $600 billion tax increases and spending cuts between the White House and legislators continued in Washington. The benchmark S&P 500 index futures added 3 points on Monday after recording a fall of 1.9% last week, while Dow Jones Industrial average futures rose 25
German equities slumped as investors expected further developments in the budget talks. The U.S. President Barack Obama summoned the lawmakers to a White House meeting three days prior to a budget deal deadline to decide on a plan to avert the so called "fiscal cliff". The DAX index slid 0.7% to 7,604.53, showing a weekly drop of 0.4%. The gauge
U.K shares inched lower as Barack Obama and the U.S. lawmakers appointed a session on December 30 to discuss steps to halt the automatic tax increases and spending cuts in the year 2013. The FTSE index dropped 0.6%, or 37.94 points, to 5,916.36 by 1 p.m. London time. However, the gauge has advanced 6.2% this year, as the ECB launched
Hong Kong equities reached their highest level in eighteen months as investors switched to Chinese non-financial sectors right after Beijing raised optimism on quicker sector reforms. The Hang Seng index advanced 0.2% to 22,666.59. All but one group in the index edged higher with consumer goods advancing the most by 0.75%, followed by technology and utilities that gained 0.57% and
Japanese shares advanced sending up the Nikkei 225 Stock Average. The index surged to the highest level in 21 months and reached its best annual gain 5 years, as weakening yen has boosted up exporters. Investors became very optimistic as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushed for strong monetary stimulus. The prime minister has called on the BOJ to set a
U.S. equities dropped for a fourth day on Thursday, yet recovering their earlier losses, after the House of Representatives announced it would meet this weekend to finally agree on the next year's budget. Investors search for any hint that would indicate that the "fiscal cliff" would be averted. Equities in the basic materials and financial sectors declined the most b
U.S. blue chips pared their earlier losses during the last trading hour on rising optimism among investors over the budget deal, as the House of Representatives appointed a session on Dec.30. The S&P 500 index slid 0.1% to 1,418.10, after declining 1.3% earlier in the session. All but one group in the gauge edged slightly lower with consumer goods being
The economic output of France was lowered from 0.2% to 0.1% in the Q3 from the quarter before, the French statistical office Insee reported on Friday. Expenditure front showed a 0.2% rise in house-holding spending and a 0.3% decline in investment, while on the trade balance front imports slipped 0.5% following a 1.6% rise the prior month, and exports grew 0.6% from
Industrial production of Asia's second largest economy declined more than projected in November, when it reversed gains from the month before, the Ministry of economy, Trade and Industry said on Friday. Japan's industrial output dropped a seasonally adjusted 1.7% in November, while forecast figure was a 0.6% lost. Year-on-year, the decline was 5.8%, also more than initial forecast of 4.6%.
Oil rose to its biggest weekly gain in four-month period in New York as U.S. legislators are launching a new round of "fiscal cliff" talks scheduled on Sunday to avoid tax increases and spending cuts. West Texas Intermediate added 0.7% on Friday, extending its biggest weekly advance since August. February WTI jumped 62 cents to $91.49 a barrel, while Brent
U.S. shares recorded losses on Friday as President Barack Obama and legislators are ready to return to Washington on Sunday in order to continue with talks to avoid tax hikes and spending cuts which could bring the U.S. economy back to recession. The benchmark S&P 500 index futures fell for a fifth time this week, when lost 4.9 points, while
Hong Kong equities reached their highest level in eighteen months as investors switched to Chinese non-financial sectors right after Beijing raised optimism on quicker sector reforms. The Hang Seng index advanced 0.2% to 22,666.59. All but one group in the index edged higher with consumer goods advancing the most by 0.75%, followed by technology and utilities that gained 0.57% and
Labour cash earnings in Japan fell for a third successive month in November, according to data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on Friday. Total labour cash earnings dropped 1.1% on an annual basis in November, following a 0.4% decline in October and 0.5% fall in September. Contractual cash earnings increased 0.3% after a 0.3% drop in a
Japanese shares advanced sending up the Nikkei 225 Stock Average. The index surged to the highest level in 21 months and reached its best annual gain 5 years, as weakening Yen has boosted up exporters. Investors became very optimistic as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushed for strong monetary stimulus. The prime minister has called on the BOJ to set a
U.S. equities dropped for a fourth day on Thursday, yet recovering their earlier losses, after the House of Representatives announced it would meet this weekend to finally agree on the next year's budget. Investors search for any hint that would indicate that the "fiscal cliff" would be averted. Equities in the basic materials and financial sectors declined the most b
U.S. blue chips pared their earlier losses during the last trading hour on rising optimism among investors over the budget deal, as the House of Representatives appointed a session on Dec.30. The S&P 500 index slid 0.1% to 1,418.10, after declining 1.3% earlier in the session. All but one group in the gauge edged slightly lower with consumer goods being
Asian shares rose, with Japanese stocks advancing the most since 2005, as data showed that the Japan's consumer prices declined, fanning speculation the BOJ will step up cash infusions. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.4% to 129.36 at 3:26 p.m. Tokyo time. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 23% this year, the biggest annual rise since 2005. Hang Seng