Australian export prices declined in the last quarter of 2013 in comparison to the prior quarter and the prices decreased at a faster rate than originally expected, a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. Australia's export prices fell 0.5% in the Q4 after they climbed 4.2% in the Q3, while the prices were forecast to
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced on Wednesday it will reduce its massive bond purchases further as originally expected after the economy showed some favourable results, the Fed published in a statement from its two-day policy meeting yesterday. Fed reduces the stimulus by $10 billion a month totaling $65 billion of bond purchases a month.
The Japanese Yen held steady on Thursday against its U.S. counterpart after dropping in the previous session as investors started purchasing the currency as safe-haven and after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced it will scale back its stimulus measures. The Yen gained versus the U.S. Dollar to a level of 102.13 yen after falling 0.7% in the prior session.
U.S. shares closed lower on Wednesday trading session with the benchmark stock indexes reaching the session low after falling by more than 1% as the U.S. Federal Reserve trimmed its bond purchases despite the fact that emerging markets are struggling. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 1.19% to 15,738.79, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 1.02% to 1,774.20 and
Asian stocks declined on Thursday trading session after emerging markets increased yesterday as the Turkish national bank raised its interest rates and the U.S. Federal Reserve cut its stimulus measures as the economy improves. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan dropped 0.6%, the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.5% and the Japan's Nikkei fell 2.7% to its 2-month low.
Japanese shares gained, with the regional Topix index climbing the most in approximately five months and bouncing off after declining four days, as the Japanese Yen slipped versus the greenback. The Topix added 2.6% to 1,256.18 in Tokyo, the biggest advance since September 3. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 2.7% to 15,383.91, while the Yen depreciated 0.4% to 103.34
U.S. stock-index futures were little changed, after equities bounced off from a three straight day retreat, as the Fed will decide whether to cut its stimulus again. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures expiring in March rose less than 0.1% to 1,789.1 as of 11:03 a.m. London time. Dow Jones Industrial Average contracts added 0.1% to 15,890 today.
U.K. shares gained for a second consecutive day as Germany's consumer confidence is expected to increase to the highest level in more than six years. The FTSE 100 Index added 0.2% to 6,582.73 as of 11:54 a.m. London time and the gauge snapped its five straight day streak of losses. The FTSE All-Share Index gained 0.2%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index
Gold is set for the longest slump in approximately six weeks on bets that Fed's monetary stimulus programme will be cut again as the officials meet today. Gold for immediate delivery slid 0.1% to $1,255.15 an ounce as of 10:09 a.m. London time, making it the third straight retreat and longest decline since December 19. Platinum fell 0.3% to $1,406.13
Nordea Bank AB, the largest bank in Scandinavia, decided to increase its dividend payments by 26% for 2013, from 0.34 euro per share to 0.43 euro. Alongside, the bank is struggling with declining profit and implemented the major spending cuts program, as it already eliminated 2,500 jobs since 2011. Nordea Bank AB shares are dropping 0.6% to 89.45 kronor by
Apple Inc. posted an October-December quarter financial results, showing an increase in EPS ratio to $14.50, while the total net profit was unchanged from Q3 at $13.1 billion. At the same time, sales rose 5.7% to $57.6 billion. Meanwhile, iPhone sales reached 51 million, missing estimates at 54.7 million. Yesterday, Apple Inc. shares plummeted 8% to $506.50 per share in
Irish retail sales advanced faster than usually in December of the last year, as they added 0.6% on a monthly basis after a 0.2% increase a month ago. Moreover, sales jumped 3% from a year ago. The biggest rise in sales volume of 4.2% was registered in newspapers, books and stationery, while sales of medical equipment and drugs inched up
European commercial vehicle sales advanced 1% to 1.711 million units during the previous year, as German and French sales went down 2% and 3.7%, respectively, while sales in the U.K. surged 14.5%. At the same time, sales in December climbed 34.7% to 169,744 units, as deliveries in France rose 16.6%, in Italy 16.8% and in Germany 27%, while the U.K.
The unemployment level in Hungary decreased unexpectedly, taking into account the average rate in October-December, while analysts predicted the jobless rate to climb. The unemployment rate fell to 9.1% from 9.3% in November and 9.8% a month before that. At the same time, among young people the jobless rate is 24.1%, however, it decreased from 24.7% a month ago.
West Texas Intermediate crude declined on Wednesday trading session falling from the strongest level in a four-week period after a report showed that inventories in the U.S., the world's largest consumer of oil, advanced last week. WTI for settlement in March slipped 40 cents to $97.01 per barrel on the NYMEX and was last seen at $97.07 as of 3:51
The Spanish benchmark government bonds increased on Wednesday trading session rising for the third straight day after a rally on emerging markets boosted demand for riskier assets. The Spanish benchmark 10-year government bond yields fell three basis points to 3.67% as of 8:22 a.m. in London following a fall to 3.64% on January 20, the lowest level since September 2006.
The Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc fell on Wednesday dropping against the majority of its most-traded peers after the Turkish central bank decided to notably hike its interest rates on a midnight policy meeting in order to stop sell-off of lira currency. The Yen lost 0.3% to 103.26 a U.S. Dollar as of 8:36 a.m. in London, while the Franc
The British Starling fluctuated on Wednesday trading session as traded flat against the U.S. Dollar and the shared currency after a private report revealed that house prices in the United Kingdom rose for the thirteen successive month in January. The Pound was last seen at $1.6588 by 7:31 a.m. in London following a drop to $1.6579 yesterday, while it traded
European shares increased on Wednesday rising for the second straight session after the Turkish national bank hiked its interest rates notably in order to stop a sell-off of the country's currency. The benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 jumped 0.8% to 326.79 as of 8:09 a.m. London time and it has dropped 4.2% from January 22 through January 27.
Property prices in the United Kingdom increase already for a 13th consecutive month, as in January they reached the largest level since 2008, the Nationwide Building Society data showed on Wednesday. This month, home prices added 0.7% on a monthly basis to an average of 176,491 pounds. On the annual basis, prices jumped 8.8%, posting the highest rise in almost
Emerging-market shares jumped on Wednesday together with a rally of emerging currencies after the Turkish national bank decided to hike its interest rates notable on an emergency policy session yesterday. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index gained 1.4% to 946.69 as of 3:33 p.m. Singapore time and was set to record its largest gain since November 18.
Consumption indicator in Switzerland improved in the last month of 2013 pushed up by notable growth in retail and automobile trade activity, the latest figures published by the UBS bank showed on Wednesday. The Swiss consumption index gained from November's 1.4 points to a level of 1.81 points recorded in the following month.
Consumer confidence in the Europe's largest economy improved in February rising for the fifth successive month as domestic demand recovered and as the economy may have gained a momentum, a survey published by the GFK group showed on Wednesday. German consumer confidence indicator rose from 7.7 points recorded in January to a level of 8.2 in the following month.
Retail sales in Spain declined in December falling for the second time in a period of three months, the latest data revealed by the statistical office INE showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the country's retail sales fell 1% on an annual basis in December after falling 1.8% in the previous month, while on a sequential basis retail sales