On Thursday, the Department of Labor released its fresh figures for the week ended April 16. The number of people who applied for unemployment benefits dropped to 247,000, reaching its lowest level since November 1973 and exceeding analysts' forecast of an increase to 263,000 from 253,000 filings registered in the previous seven days.
The European Central Bank decided Thursday to keep its interest rates at current or even lower levels and proceed with its current QE plan, until the inflation rate improves. Moreover, Mario Draghi, President of the ECB, highlighted economic slowdown in emerging markets, a relatively meagre public investment and the need for structural reforms.
On Wednesday, the Energy Information Administration's weekly report revealed that crude oil inventories in the US increased by 2.1 million in the period ended April 15, following a 6.6 million surge seen in the previous seven days. The results exceeded analysts' forecasts for a 2.4 million barrels rise.
Sales of existing homes in the US improved in March after a February fall. The National Association of Realtors reported on Wednesday that US home sales grew 5.1% to 5.33 million in the previous month, following February's 7.3% drop to 5.07 million and surpassing analysts' forecast of a rise to 5.30 million sales.
Britain's Office for National Statistics announced that the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1% in the three months to February, while the number of jobless claims unexpectedly grew 6,700 in March, compared to analysts' expectations of a 11,300 fall, and following a revised 9,300 drop posted in February.
Europe's largest stock markets closed Tuesday's trading session higher. The Euro Stoxx 600 Index gained 1.4%, with all sectors in the green zone. Britain's FTSE 100 Index added 0.8%, helped by a rally in UK-listed mining shares. France's CAC Index increased 1.2%, whereas Germany's DAX Index rose 2.2% after the ZEW released its promising Investor Confidence Index for April.
The Kiwi gained 1.3%, trading at $0.7040 against the US Dollar on the New York Stock Exchange by 14:30 GMT, as soon as New Zealand's Fonterra released its fortnightly auction. According to the latest Global Dairy Trade data, the average price jumped 3.8% to $2,263 per metric tonne, compared to the 2.1% rise to $2,188 per metric tonne posted on
The number of building permits and housing starts in the US dropped more-than-expected in March. Both indicators fell to almost 1.09 million units, compared to February's 1.17 million building permits and 1.18 million housing starts. Until today, economists expected building permits decrease to 1.20 million and housing starts decline to 1.17 million units.
The ZEW Economic Institute announced on Tuesday that the Investor Confidence Index in Germany jumped to 11.2 in the fourth month of the year, following March's 4.3 and surpassing analysts' forecast of 8.0 points. Meanwhile, the actual situation sub-index went down to 47.7 in April from 50.7 in the previous month, whereas economists expected a score of 50.8 points.
Europe's major stock markets closed Monday's trading session higher, erasing earlier losses triggered by the failed Doha meeting. Germany's DAX 30 Index grew around 0.7%, trading at 10,124.00, Britain's FTSE 100 Index added 0.1%, finishing at 6,352.00, and France's CAC 40 Index gained almost 0.3%, closing at 4,506.30 points. Meanwhile, the Euro Stoxx 50 Index increased 0.4%, ending at 3,066.00
According to the data released by Statistics Canada on Monday, foreign investors purchased a net C$15.9 billion worth of Canada's securities in February, following January's C$11.4 billion and registering the largest increase in the level of foreign investment into the country since October 2015.
Britain's Rightmove property portal announced on Monday that the UK's average property prices grew 1.3% month-on-month in April. Meanwhile, the annual rate declined to 7.3%, following March's 7.6%. Nevertheless, the average UK property prices reached a record high in terms of cash in April, at 307,033 pounds.
The major European stock markets closed Friday's trading session in red. Germany's DAX Index lost around 0.4%, finishing at 10,051.94, and Britain's FTSE 100 Index fell 0.3%, ending at 6,345.23 points. Meanwhile, France's CAC 40 Index dropped 0.4% and the Euro Stoxx 50 Index declined 0.2%, closing at 4,494.70 and 3,053.72 points respectively.
The observed indexes had another dynamic week, packing the second half of the period with wide moves. One of the most hectic currencies was the Loonie, whose index surged to a one year high due to skyrocketed oil prices which managed to grow by 4%. The Aussie Index was another active measure, as it suffered downslide on Monday, fueled by
The University of Michigan's preliminary Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 89.7 in April, following March's 91.0 points and registering the worst result since September 2015. Until today, analysts expected the Index to improve to 92.0 points. Meanwhile, the survey's barometer of actual economic conditions fell from 81.5 to 79.6 and the gauge of current conditions declined from 105.6 to 105.4
China's industrial production grew 5.8% year-on-year in the Q1 2016, according to the data released on Friday. Moreover, March's industrial output jumped 6.8% year-over-year, posting the largest increase since June and surpassing analysts' forecast of a 6.0% rise. Meanwhile, the country's GDP increased 6.7% in the Q1, following the previous quarter's 6.8% growth.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced on Friday that the country's industrial production dropped less-than-expected. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, Japan's industrial output declined 5.2% in February, compared to the 6.2% drop originally reported. Meanwhile, the annual IPI decreased 1.2%, compared to the same period in the previous year.
Iranian crude exports grew by 600,000 barrels per day in the fourth month of the year. According to Bloomberg's tanker-tracking data, about 28.8 million barrels of crude oil, or 2 million per day, left Iran's ports during the first two weeks of April, following March's daily rate of 1.45 million barrels.
European equity markets closed Thursday's trading session on a positive note. The Stoxx 600 Index gained 0.3%, whereas France's CAC Index and Germany's DAX Index added 0.5% and 0.7% respectively. Meanwhile, Britain's FTSE 100 Index finished flat, after the BoE's latest decision to keep interest rates on hold.
On Thursday, the US Department of Labor presented its data for the week ending April 9. The number of applications for unemployment aid dropped from 267,000 to 253,000, exceeding analysts' expectations of 269,000. It was the 58th consecutive week that initial jobless claims remained below 300,000, registering the longest period since 1973.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Thursday that the US CPI increased 0.1% on a monthly basis in March, whereas analysts expected a 0.2% reading. Meanwhile, the annual Index grew 0.9% in March, surpassing the forecast off a 1.0% jump and following the previous month's 1.0% result.
Europe's major stock markets closed Wednesday's trading session higher, buoyed by a rise in mining and banking stocks. Germany's DAX 30 Index gained 2.7%, Britain's FTSE Index increased 1.9% and France's CAC added 3.3% by the end of today's session. Moreover, the Euro Stoxx 50 Index and Italy's FTSE MIB Index grew 2.3% and 4.1% respectively.
China's Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday that the country's exports showed a surprising 11.5% year-over-year increase in the third month of the year, registering the first rise since June and the largest percent increase since February 2015. Nevertheless, analysts remained cautious about China's recovery.
The Greenback was seen trading at $1.1325 against the Euro on the NYSE on Wednesday, as soon as the US Census Bureau released its slightly disappointing figures for the previous month. Nevertheless, the US Dollar improved its situation on the market by 15:00, touching its new intraday high of $1.1280.