The Australian Dollar advanced to a 4-year high against the Yen and 3-week high versus the U.S. Dollar as China's data indicated imports increased to a record in the country's biggest overseas market. The Aussie rose as much as 0.3% to $1.0552 after fetching $1.0555, the strongest level since December 18. Australia's currency appreciated 0.7% to 93.03 yen, the most
Japan's currency fell for a second successive day and approached the lowest level in more than two years versus the U.S. Dollar as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for the Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa to increase the inflation target. The Yen lost 0.3% to 88.15 per U.S. Dollar from a day earlier, when it weakened 0.9%.
German shares advanced after Alcoa Inc. started its earnings season in the U.S. with sales beating the analysts' estimates, offsetting the lower-than-expected-industrial production in November. The DAX index gained 0.34% to 7,722.41. Six out of nine sectors advanced. Deutsche Telekom rose 3.96% to its highest price level since October 2012, pacing gains in the telecommunications group that posted the biggest
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
German shares advanced after Alcoa Inc. started its earnings season in the U.S. with sales beating the analysts' estimates, offsetting the lower-than-expected-industrial production in November. The DAX index gained 0.34% to 7,722.41. Six out of nine sectors advanced. Deutsche Telekom rose 3.96% to its highest price level since October 2012, pacing gains in the telecommunications group that posted the biggest
U.K. stocks advanced to the highest since May 2008, Alcoa Inc. started the new earnings session in U.S. by posting higher-than-expected sales. The FTSE 100 index gained 0.9% to 6,106.57, reaching its highest level in 4 years. All but one sector edged higher. Lloyds Banking group was the best-performing company, as its shares surged 6.2% to 54 pence, followed by
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 two 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
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. 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
U.K. stocks advanced to their highest since May 2008, as Alcoa Inc. started the new earnings session in U.S. by posting higher-than-expected sales. The FTSE 100 index gained 0.9% to 6,106.57, reaching its highest level in 4 years. All but one sector edged higher. Lloyds Banking group was the best-performing company, as its shares surged 6.2% to 54 pence, followed
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