France's trade balance came in deficit last year, however the shortfall was lower than in the previous year, according to the report revealed by the Ministry of Trade showed on Thursday. The country's trade balance recorded a deficit totaling 60 billion euros in 2013 compared to a level of 67 billion euros in 2012.
Inflation in the world's second largest economy measured as consumer price index eased more than economists originally expected in December despite the country's central bank's policy of reducing liquidity of local banks, a report revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. China's CPI slowed to 2.5% in December, the least in seven months.
The Euro strengthened on Thursday rising against the U.S. Dollar before a policy meeting of the European Central Bank that may show whether the policymakers take further steps in order to fight falling inflation in the area. The Euro rebounded from the lowest level in a month versus the Greenback and was last 0.24% higher at $1.3609.
The U.S. Dollar declined on Thursday falling against the Euro and the British Pound as investors awaited results of the European Central Bank and the Bank of England policy meetings forecast to maintain interest rates unchanged. The Greenback slipped against the Pound to $1.6469, while it declined 0.3% versus the 18-nation bloc currency to $1.3600.
Private employment in the U.S. in non-farm sector managed to increase its pace of growth to the largest level since 2012 in December of the last year, showing the overall optimist on the labor market. Payrolls surged 238,000 after revised 229,000 in November, while analysts expected them to drop to 200,000. The recovering labor market may lead to faster Fed
U.S. shares retreated, after equities bounced off from three straight day decline, as investors speculated on ADP payrolls that were better than previously expected. U.S. companies increased payrolls by 238,000 last month, according to ADP Research Institute. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index slipped 0.1% to 1,835.36 as of 9:33 a.m. New York time; however, the gauge rallied 30% in
The unemployment in the Eurozone remained unchanged in November of the previous year, as the recovery only starts to gain pace after the longest recession in the currency bloc. The jobless rate stayed at 12.1%, the Eurostat data showed on Wednesday, matching analysts' expectations. The lowest rate of 4.8% remained in Austria, while Greece struggled with the highest 27.4% jobless
The British currency appreciated to the strongest level in approximately four weeks against Eurozone's currency on bets that U.K.'s economic growth will outpace Euro area this year. The Sterling gained 0.4% to 82.72 pence per Euro as of 12:47 p.m. in London, after falling to 82.65 pence, the highest level since December 3. The Pound added 0.2% to $1.6428, after
The mortgage lender Halifax announced that property prices in the U.K. declined in December of 2013 for the first time in 11 months, losing 0.6% on a monthly basis. At the same time, the last quarter of the year showed a 1.9% increase in prices, while during 2013 they surged 5.7%. Halifax analysts predict the housing prices to increase 4-8%
Canada's currency dropped below C$1.08 per U.S. Dollar for the first time in approximately three years as Bank of Canada Governor Poloz stated that there is room to cut interest rates. The Canadian Dollar slid 0.5% to C$1.0818 per U.S. Dollar as of 8:18 a.m. Toronto time, after it declined to C$1.0829 per U.S. Dollar, making it the weakest level
The government of Spain plans to decrease its net bond issues during the current year, as the economic recovery may lead to decline in necessity to borrow as much money as it was before. Debt sales will probably equal to 65 billion euro in 2014, dropping from 66.1 billion in the previous year. The government holds its first 2014 bond
The U.S. Dollar prolonged its climb after ADP report showed that U.S. companies have added more workplaces than previously expected. The greenback gained for a second straight day as payrolls increased by 238,000 last month, according to ADP Research Institute; however, an increase by 200,000 were forecasted. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index added 0.2% to 1,028.14 as of 8:35 a.m.
The futures of natural gas dropped on the outlook for balmy weather after the cold, which would pull down the demand for the heating fuel. Natural gas slid 0.2% as the longer-term temperature forecast for the end of the month is above normal. Natural gas delivery for February slipped 0.7 cent reaching to $4.299 per million British thermal units after hitting as much as $4.43.
European stocks only slightly changed before the report by U.S. enterprises on hiring, which can help investors predict the Fed's intensity of stimulus reduction. While Sap AG gained 1.1%, Kion Group AG fell 2.8%, The Stoxx 600 slid less than 0.1% to 329.28 as well as Standard & Poor's 500. Yesterday the Managing Director Christine Lagade stated that the International
Emerging-market shares jumped on Wednesday rising for the first time in a six-day period together with an increase of the region's currencies after the International Monetary Fund revealed its forecast for global growth. The MSCI Emerging-Markets Index added 0.4% to 974.94 by 4:04 p.m. Hong Kong time after falling for five straight sessions.
The British Sterling fluctuated on Wednesday against the U.S. Dollar and the 18-nation bloc currency before a report showed that house prices in the United Kingdom increased at a slower rate in December. The Pound last stood at $1.6416 by 7:38 a.m. in London after rising to the highest level since August 2001 on January 2 at $1.6603.
South Korean currency increased on Wednesday rising by the most in five days and extending its rebound from the weakest level since November amid speculation that exporters are selling U.S. Dollars after the currency's recent drop. The Won added 0.4% to 1,064.54 per U.S. Dollar Seoul time after falling to 1,070.15 earlier on the session.
U.S. Treasuries increased in the first week of this year and were little changed on Wednesday session with the benchmark 10-year yields rising to the strongest level in over two years and investors' appetite rose. The U.S. 10-year bond yields were traded at 2.95% by 3:24 p.m. Tokyo time after the yields rose to the highest level since July 2011
The greenback climbed for the second day versus the Yen, before the Fed releases minutes of the meeting in December specifying the intensity of stimulus reduction. The Dollar strengthened 0.4% to 104.98 against the Yen in London at 8:23 a.m. after hitting 105.44 on January 2, the five-year high. After the last meeting in December, the Fed decided to reduce its unprecedented monetary stimulus from $85 billion a month to
The European benchmark Brent crude gained on Wednesday trading session after a survey showed that stockpiles in the world's largest oil consumer, U.S., are forecast to have advanced by 2.5 million barrels last week. Brent for settlement next month rose 41 cents to $107.76 a barrel on the London's ICE Futures exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Wednesday rising for the second straight session amid speculation that a report this week may show inventories in the U.S. dropped for the sixth week. WTI for delivery in February gained 40 cents to $97.07 per barrel on the NYMEX and traded at $93.97 by 3 p.m. in Singapore.
The Australian Dollar declined on Wednesday falling against the majority of its most-traded peers on speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve may continue to trim its stimulus measures reducing liquidity in emerging markets. The so-called Aussie added 0.3% to 93.66 yen and it was little changed versus the U.S. Dollar at 89.24 U.S. cents as of 5:56 p.m. Sydney time.
Australia's job vacancies declined on an annual basis in November as the total number dropped 14.9% totaling 140,000, a report revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the country's job vacancies fell 0.3% in the three months to November after gaining by 3.1% in the August-October period.
Construction sector activity in Australia accelerated for the third successive month in December with the construction index reaching a level of 50.8, however the figure fell sharply compared to the previous month, a report revealed by the Australia Industry Group showed on Wednesday. According to the report, Australia's construction activity fell from November's 55.2, but stayed above a level of