Japan's Nikkei Stock Average lost 1.39% or 120.82 points on Tuesday and closed at 8,575.16 amid worries created by Standard & Poor's that European countries may face downgrading. Most Japanese financials weighted down on the index as Nomura Holdings Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. both traded down 1.9%. Metal-sector companies also contributed to Nikkei 225 depreciation as Sumitomo Metal Mining declined 1.8% while JFE Holdings
Swiss franc edged down against the greenback following the data on more than expected fall in the country's CPI. The CPI fell by 0.5% annualized rate in November as compared to expected 0.3%. At the moment the pair USD/CHF is trading at 0.9271, or 0.7% up.
Crude oil prices declined following the downgrading of the credit ratings in 15 euro-zone countries by the rating agency Standard & Poor's. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude oil futures for due January were traded at USD100.75 a barrel at the early European trade, losing 0.25% since opening. However, analysts claim the decrease might have been higher as Iranian issue limited losses.
China's real estate pieces are expected to fall by 20% by the end of 2012 from their peak during the property boom in 2011, reported Credit Suisse. The tightening measures implemented by the government are likely to prolong a slump thus worsening the country economic outlook, the bank added.
European sovereign bond yields increased after Standard & Poor's Ratings Services downgraded the credit rating of 15 euro-zone countries. Italian 10-year bond yield increased by 20 basis points to 6.05%, those of Spain edged up to 5.17%, while German 10-year bond yields gained 2 basis points to 2.33%, French similar bonds now yield 3.19%.
Swiss CPI decreased in November for the second moth in line, according to official data. The CPI, main gauge of inflation, dropped by 0.2% last month as compared to 0.1% decline in October, reported the Swiss Federal Statistics Office. Consumer prices declined by 0.5% on annual basis in November and 0.1% in October. Experts previously projected the yearly rate to fall by 0.3%.
China Vanke Co, the top property developer in China by the market share, experienced the largest yearly decrease in sales in November signaling the real estate market requires easing of the government's tightening policies. The sales figures indicated a 36% decline last month. The report on lower sales followed China's central bank announcement about essential drop in real estate investments, as well as decline in
The Asian Development Bank downgraded growth forecast for East Asia for 2012 citing recession in the developed economies such as US and Europe. The bank projects 14 countries in the Asia to expand growth by 7.2% as compared to 7.5% expected earlier. The decrease in growth forecast was caused mainly by low export prospects, the bank added.
On Tuesday Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) announced Olympus Corp still might be delisted from public trading even if it will manage to announce earnings by December 14. Announcement was released after issue of independent report depicting false accounting schemes. TSE's report is likely to push down Olympus share price which has recovered since November 8.
Europe's stocks opened lower on Tuesday after S&P placed 15 euro-area countries on watch negative. Stoxx Europe 600 index lost 0.74% reaching 240.97, Germany's DAX 30 index edged down 1.61% at 6,008.11. French CAC-40 index declined by 0.92% at 3,170.59 and UK's FTSE 100 index dropped by 0.6% to 5,532.98.
Democrats in US Senate will propose another vote to extend payroll tax cut in 2012. Legislature offered by Democrats would lower employee payroll tax from current 4.2% to 3.1% next year. Officials plan to compensate $185 bn cost by a new 1.9% surtax on annual revenue exceeding $1m as well as by increasing charges to financials owned by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The new proposal is
Demand for one week Japan's US dollar loans have rocketed 25 times as six central banks reduced greenback borrowing costs, reported Bank of Japan (BOJ). Japanese central bank announced it has approved all the offers for one-week dollar loans amounting to $25 m, and will demand fixed rate at 0.6%. To compare, on November 29 BOJ provided same maturity dollar loans at 1.08% totalling $1m.
BP, oil giant, has accused Halliburton, the world's second largest oilfield services corporation, in destroying the evidence of the last year oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico where 11 people died. Two companies participate in legal battles before an official court hearing on damages in 2012. Former partners are looking for the highest pre-trial advantages, reported Steve Kingstone from BBC.
The pace of Australian growth is expected to decline in Q3 as compared to Q2. Analysts claimed the decrease was caused by a drop in public sector spending, inventories and net exports; however, investments in business and consumption are projected to remain strong. The expected growth rate is 0.8% on a quarterly basis while on a yearly basis the economic performance of the country is likely to have
Dependence on the continuous energy supplies leads to seeking for alternative sources of power. Enough sunlight strikes our planet in 90 minutes to generate enough energy to meet whole population needs for one year, said International Energy Agency. The Agency believes the shift towards alternative energy sources like solar power is needed to decrease energy dependence and pollution; however, the shift likely to happen not
Emerging Asian markets are exposed to liquidity outflow being as vulnerable to global recession as in 2008, said the Asian Development Bank. There is a high risk of deep crisis in the developed economies followed by slow recovery, the organization added. Policy makers have to be ready to handle the impact of the global slowdown to support emerging markets in their countries, said Iwan Azis
Libya has restarted its oil production after war and the move will have a strong impact on the oil markets in the next months, said Abdullah Al-Badri, OPEC Secretary. The Libyan oil production is expected to hit the pre-war level in the second part of 2012. At the moment Libyan oil output reached 840,000 bpd being about 50% of prewar level of 1.6 million
China's government has started to focus on the lowering impact of the developed economies recession rather than on domestic inflation rate. Fine-tune of polices indicate the shift; the government decreased the reserve requirements for banks and is expected to cut taxes further to stimulate country's economic growth. China has to focus on providing adequate money supply thus inspiring economic development, said Yuan Gangming, researcher at Tsinghua
The difference between wages is getting bigger in almost all leading economies in the world, according to OECD. The survey researched 22 countries and indicated that the wage inequality between reach and poor essentially increased in 17 of these countries. The most unequal countries are Chile, Mexico, Turkey and the United States. Even in more egalitarian nations like Germany, Denmark and Sweden the gap is
Gold futures experienced essential losses falling below three-day low following the meeting of Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, and Nicolas Sarkozy, French President that added optimism for progress in combating with the euro-zone crisis. On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange gold futures for delivery in February were traded at USD1,748.15 a troy ounce at the early U.S. trade, easing down by 0.18% since opening.
Central bank of Australia decreased the key interest rate for the second consecutive month amid concerns about deteriorating global economic situation and lower domestic inflation worries. The Reserve Bank of Australia cut the key cash rate to 4.25% while some analysts expected the rate to remain unchanged.
Japan's Q3 growth of the GDP is going to be downgraded to an annual increase of 5.1% from 6.0% expected. Experts explain the decrease as a result of lower capital investment, reported Market New International. However, preliminary data of the GDP indicated the country's economy increased 1.5% on a quarterly basis indicating the first increase in the last four quarters.
Research in Motion, Blackberry producer, announced it is going to cooperate with Indonesian government to investigate Blackberry sales promotion in Indonesia that turned violent. The stampede appeared after the company promised to sell new device with 50% discount to first 1,000 customers; thousands of people started queuing before the midnight. Many people were injured when the crowd run out of control. The company suspects Andrew
Natural gas futures tumbled on Monday to two-week low as investors were put off by mild weather forecast limiting the heating demand. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas futures for delivery in January were traded at USD3.487 per million British thermal units at the early U.S. trade, losing 2.69% since opening.