Business activity leading index for South Africa advanced on a monthly basis in the month of July as six out of eleven indicators rose, the South Africa Reserve Bank reported on Wednesday. Month-on-month, the composite leading business cycle indicator gained 0.2% in July, while on an yearly basis the indicator jumped 1.5% in the same month after it added 1.8%
Consumer sentiment in the Europe's largest economy reached its strongest level in a six-year period at the end of September amid favourable outlook of the economy in general, a survey published by the research group GFK revealed on Wednesday. According to the survey, consumer confidence recorded 7.1 points in October, more than a level of 7 in September.
U.S. shares declined for a fourth straight day on worries over U.S. budget talks and economic growth as investors speculated that the Middle East tensions started to ease. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index retreated 0.3% to 1,697.42 as of 4 p.m. New York time, while the Dow Jones Average slipped 0.4% to 15,344.59.
Most European shares retreated as U.S. durable-goods and housing data were awaited by investors. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid 0.1% to 312.89 as of 8:07 a.m. London time; however, the equity-benchmark has gained 5.2% in September as the Fed did not start tapering its monetary stimulus programme.
Soybeans increased for the second straight session on Wednesday amid speculations that rains in west and central areas of the U.S., the world's biggest producer, will not be enough to aid crops, a report released by DTN showed today. Soybeans for delivery in November gained 0.3% an were traded at $13.165 a bushel as of 1:27 p.m. Singapore time.
Small businesses confidence in Japan advanced marginally in the month of September, according to a report released by the Shoko Chukin Bank on Wednesday. The index measuring confidence among small-scale industrial sector businesses moved up from 49.7 recorded in August to a level of 49.8 in September, while sentiment in manufacturing sector jumped from 48.4 to 50.4 in the same
South Korean currency declined on Wednesday snapping a two-day gain amid speculations that policymakers may intervene to reduce gains as global demand for regional stocks spurred the Won to its highest level in eight months. The Won dropped 0.3% to 1,075.70 per U.S. Dollar at 10:02 a.m. Seoul time after it touched the strongest since January 25 at 1,072.31 yesterday.
Gold futures fluctuated on Wednesday session due to concerns that the Federal Reserve will cut off its monthly bond-purchase programme before the end of 2013, however, the stimulus should stay intact until the end of this month. Gold for delivery in September rose 0.3% after it dropped 0.7% before it was traded at $1,325.65 an ounce as of 1:25 p.m.
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Wednesday snapping its four day losing streak before a data showed that inventories in the U.S., the world's largest consumer of the crude, declined 1 million barrels to the lowest level in 18 months last week. WTI futures gained as much as 0.6% after they dropped to their lowest level in a 8-week period
The Canadian currency dropped as the tensions in the Middle East started to ease and that led to a drop in the oil price, Canada's biggest export. The Canadian Dollar traded 0.2% lower at C$1.03 per U.S. Dollar as of 5 p.m. Toronto time; however, the currency appreciated 0.1% earlier and touched C$1.0182 per U.S. Dollar, the strongest since June.
Japan's corporate service prices moved up more than economists originally estimated in the month of August, according to a data released by the Bank of Japan on Wednesday. The data showed that the corporate service price index climbed 0.6% in August, standing at 96.1, compared to an initial forecast of a 0.5% rise, while it jump 0.6% in the previous
U.S. Treasuries snapped a 3-day advance on Wednesday before an auction selling $35 billion in 5-year notes, the second auction of three this week totalling $97 billion. The U.S. benchmark 10-year government bonds yielded at 2.66% at 6:49 a.m. London time, while the Bloomberg US Treasury Bond Index has gained 0.8% this month, but it is still down 2.5% in
Emerging-market stock futures declined for the second straight session on Wednesday led by export companies amid concerns that demand from the US may stagnate, at the same time Indonesian shares fell as the country's currency dropped to 4-yer low. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index shrank 0.4% to 1,006.30 at 2:30 p.m. Hong Kong time heading for the lowest close in
The Japanese Yen and the U.S. Dollar held gains against almost all of their most-traded peers as shares in Asia and the U.S. fell on worries over nation's budget talks, spurring demand for safe haven currencies. The greenback was at $1.3472 per Euro from $1.3474 on Tuesday, when it added 0.1%. The U.S. Dollar traded at 96.68 Yen, while the
European shares dropped on Wednesday as investors waited on reports showing that US new houses sales advanced by the most in 3 years and durable goods gain 1% in August after they dropped 0.8% in the prior month. The benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 has added 5.3% in the month of September and it has gained 9.9% in the Q3,
German 10-year government bunds rose on Wednesday extending its series of gain as data showed that consumer confidence in the Europe's largest economy advanced more than economists initially estimated. Benchmark 10-year yielded bonds slipped to the lowest level in a three-week period and were traded at 1.84% as of 7:18 a.m. in London.
Asian shares dropped for the second straight session on Wednesday reducing the local benchmark index's largest monthly gain since January last year after a report showed that US consumer confidence fell to its lowest level in four months. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index declined 0.2% to 140.24 at 2:20 p.m. Hong Kong time as 9 out of 10 companies tumbled.
The Kiwi declined versus all of its most-traded peers, prolonging yesterday's biggest monthly fall versus the U.S. Dollar, after nation's trade deficit surprisingly widened. The New Zealand currency slipped 0.7% to 82.26 U.S. cents at 4:45 p.m. Sydney time, while the Aussie dropped 0.3% to 93.59 U.S. cents after depreciating 0.4% on Tuesday.
The British currency was little changed against the greenback and the 17-nation currency ahead of U.K. economic data that are predicted to show a growth. The Sterling was little changed at $1.5989 at 7:48 a.m. in London after advancing to $1.6163 on September 18, the strongest since January 11, while the Pound traded at 84.24 pence per Euro.
European shares increased on Tuesday after they dropped two days in a row, when the increase was led by the telecommunication sector overshadowing consumer confidence in the US matching initial forecast. The benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.2% to 313.2 and it has advanced 5.3% in September and 12% so far this year.
US home prices in major metropolitan areas increased by a lower rate than economists initially estimated in July, the annual rate matched the expectations though, Standard & Poor's reported on Tuesday. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price Index added 0.6% on a monthly basis in July after it rose 0.9% in the month before.
West Texas intermediate oil declined to its lowest level in a six-week period on Tuesday on speculations that relations between US and Iran are improving and as concerns about American strike on Syria are decreasing. WIT for delivery in November dropped 0.7% to $102.86 a barrel as of 12:18 pm on the NYMEX after it touched its lowest level since
The People's Bank of China injected cash into the country's financial system in order to increase liquidity as long public holiday is approaching and as demand for short-term funds rises for shopping and travel. The Chinese central bank added CNY 88 billion using 6-day reverse repos, while the interbank market's borrowing costs increased in last few days.
The Standard & Poor's rating of South Korea stayed unchanged on Tuesday mainly due to a favorable policy environment, fiscal and net external creditor position, a report released by the rating agency revealed today. South Korean foreign-currency credit rating maintained at A+/A-1, while local-currency rating retained at AA-/A-1.