Swiss jobless rate saw modest increase in December, according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. The rate edged up to 3.1% seasonally adjusted last month from 3% in the preceding month. The increase is basically in compliance with forecast of 3.2% rise. The number of people seeking for job jumped by 8,025 on a monthly basis, approaching 185,706 in December.
Hong Kong Airlines placed order for 10 Airbus A380 aircraft amounting about $3.8bn.The order might have been derailed by the tensions between the EU and China. China has refused to pay tax on carbon emissions imposed by the EU that essentially decreases the profits and competitiveness of foreign air carries in the EU.
Sales of General Motors Co. and company's joint venture in China increased by 8.3% to 2,547,171 units in 2011. Shanghai GM sales advanced 16.2% to 1,200,355 units, the GM announced on Monday. During December the auto producer sold 196,797 vehicles that is 9.8% more than in December 2010.
South Korean biggest pension fund, the NPS, has got an approval from officials to invest in China's securities. The NPS announced it is the first pension fund worldwide to win the QFII status. The company will be allowed to trade Yuan-denominated bonds and stocks. The approval was given by Lee Myung-bak, South Korean President.
US grain futures saw decline during the last Friday trade on firmer US Dollar while weather forecasts in South America limited losses. Soybeans, wheat and corn futures for delivery in March lost 1.48%, 4.35% and 0.55% over the week, respectively, on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Trade balance of New Zealand decreased more than expected in December. The trade balance tumbled to -308M seasonally adjusted from -228M in November, reported Statistics New Zealand. Experts had projected trade balance to decline to -300M in December.
Crude oil declined as market focused more on the fresh concerns over the spreading Euro Zone crisis than on possible supply disruptions from Iran. Light, sweet crude oil futures for February delivery traded at USD101.28 a barrel during the US trade, on the New York Mercantile Exchange, easing down 0.27%.
Loonie depreciated for a third consecutive day against greenback after data showed country's employers hired fewer than expected new employees in December while unemployment level surged to 9-month record high. Canadian dollar lost 0.8% reaching C$1.0284 in Toronto evening trade. Currently USD/CAD is trading at C$1.0304.
China's economy is expected to expand at a slower pace in the Q4 of 2011. The GDP may grow by 8.5% in Q4 of 2011 and by the same rate in 2012, economists claimed. However, slower expansion will allow the government to concentrate on problems in China's economic structure. But the country still has to ease its prudent policies to prevent hard landing.
Canadian jobless level unexpectedly soared for a third consecutive month in December. According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment level surged to 7.5% compared to 7.4% increase in November and 7.1% in September. Economists questioned by Bloomberg earlier predicted unemployment rate to stay steady at 7.4%.
Philippines vehicle sales decreased by 4% in 2011 on the supply disruptions caused by floods in Thailand and earthquake in Japan, according to industry report. Overall sales in 2011 amounted 141,616 vehicles as compared to 147,488 in 2010, announced Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers. December's total sales of vehicles lost 14% while sales of the passenger cars saw 23% increase due to sales promotions.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced 31% increase in car sales to 3,538 units over 2011. However, the growth pace was sharply lower than in the previous year when sales saw 150% expansion. The most successful was BMW luxury marque that hit a new record in 2011. We should take momentum and continue UK success story, said Torstein Muller-Otvos, company's CEO.
Australian retail sales stayed at the same level in December, according to official data. The country's retail sales for the month showed 0% seasonally adjusted increase from November while November's retail sales saw 0.2% monthly growth, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics. Analysts had expected the indicator to rise by 0.4% in December.
Yuan lending approached 7.47 trillion Yuan in 2011 as compared to 7.8 trillion Yuan in the preceding year, reported China's central bank. The outstanding Yuan deposits amounted 80.94 trillion Yuan in the end of the last year, indicating yearly increase by 13.5% and deceleration of the deposits growth pace by 6.7%. Meanwhile, other currencies denominated deposits totaled 275.1 billion USD, signaling 19% yearly increase.
European stocks showed various performance on Friday as German and Italian markets fell while UK experienced an increase. Stoxx Europe 600 Index was slightly up gaining 0.06% or 0.14 points to 247.53 while Italian FTSE MIB stock index fell 0.8% or 121.58 points at 14,645.64 after UniCredit shares plunged. German DAX index lost 0.6% or 38.07 points to 6,057.92 after drop of Deutsch Bank stocks
The Australian domestic currency depreciated against its major counterparts on Monday after data showed national retail sales suddenly decayed in November. Meanwhile Kiwi extended a 3-day decline after country reported its trade deficit increased. Aussie lost 0.5% to $1.0173 while Kiwi was nearly flat at $0.7802. Currently AUS/USD is trading at $1.0188 while NZD/USD is trading at $0.7814.
German Chancellor Merkel and French President Sarkozy meet today in Berlin to create a dominant plan for saving the Euro in upcoming three months. Both officials prepare to stretch out a rulebook determining the fiscal discipline discussed during summit on December 9. Rulebook is supposed to provide guidelines for fiscal regulations across the Euro Zone.
17-nation currency reached 11-year record low against Japanese domestic currency and traded 0.3% from the lowest reading in 16 months before French and German leader meeting today in Berlin. Officials are planning to come up with a rulebook promoting fiscal discipline. Euro lost 0.2% reaching ¥97.74 and dropped 0.1% against US Dollar to $1.2704. EUR/USD currently is trading at $1.2717 while EUR/JPY is trading at
US stocks mostly fell on Friday as the sharp drop of Euro against the greenback offset gains from better than expected US employment data. Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.5% or 55.78 points at 12,359.92. S&P 500 Index gave up 0.3% or 3.25 points to 1,277.81. On Nasdaq Composite Index managed to break the trend and closed higher 0.2% or 4.36 points higher at 2,674.22.
Most Asian stocks traded lower on Monday as renewed concerns about the Euro Zone debt trouble weighted on Euro, pushing it down to $1.2687. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.8%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.1% while South Korea's Kospi declined 1.3%. Only Shanghai Composite Index retreated and gained 1.6%. Japanese markets are closed today for a holiday.
US employers managed to exceed expectations in creating new jobs adding more than 200,000 new jobs in December. The unemployment rate declined to 8.5%, hitting three-year low while the salaries and working hours jumped. Better than expected results follow increase in manufacturing activities and improved consumer confidence thus signaling on economic recovery of the US.
Canadian unemployment rate increased more than expected in December. The rate hit 7.5% on the seasonally adjusted basis as compared to 7.4% in November, reported Statistics Canada. Experts predicted the unemployment rate to stay unchanged at 7.4% in December.
Spanish and Italian 10-year bonds saw an increase in yields by 5 basis points to 5.63% and by 16 basis points to 7.11%, respectively as traders await bond auction of both countries due next week. Costs of borrowing above 7% are considered unsustainable.
Deutsche Bank AG cut the forecast for metals' prices for this year citing negative economic outlook and high probability of firmer dollar. Industry metals faced the most essential cuts with nickel's expected price was decreased by 19% to $18,625/ton, copper by 18.8% to $7,350/ton and aluminium by 17.8% to $2,138/ton. Precious metals are also likely to fall with gold falling by 3.9% to $1,825/oz, silver