U.K. shares were little changed, with the regional benchmark FTSE 100 Index set for its 14 year high, as Unilever's sales growth topped analysts' estimates. The FTSE 100 Index rose 0.1% to 6,853.72 as of 8:46 a.m. London time and this would be the highest close in 14 years. The FTSE All-Share Index added 0.1%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index jumped
U.S. shares gained as the International Monetary Fund increased its global growth estimate and as corporate earnings topped analysts' expectations. The Standard & Poor's 500 added 0.4% to 1,846.88 as of 10:09 a.m. New York time, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed less than 0.1% to 16,460.12. Equity trading restarted today after yesterday's national holiday.
Canada's currency depreciated to C$1.10 for the first time in approximately four years on bets that the Fed will slow its bond-buying programme. The Canadian Dollar fell 0.2% to C$1.0968 per U.S. Dollar as of 9:27 a.m. Toronto time, after it approached C$1.1019, the lowest level since September 4, 2009. The Loonie reversed declines after Canadian factory sales grew 1%
The British currency rose against the greenback, before Wednesday's jobs data and latest monetary policy minutes release from nation's central bank. The Sterling gained 0.2% to $1.6463 against the U.S. Dollar as of 9:49 a.m. EST, while it climbed 0.3% to 0.8222 versus Eurozone's currency and depreciated 0.5% to 171.94 versus the Japanese Yen.
Gold dropped from a six-week high due to investors' evaluation of rally's impact on demand when the Dollar appreciated. The futures of gold for immediate delivery fell 0.2% to $1,252.82 an ounce at 9:49 a.m. after reaching $1,265.35 yesterday, the strongest level in six months. Gold's 12-year appreciation ended in 2013, when the Fed decided to reduce its unprecedented monetary stimulus, forcing a rally in
U.S. stock-index futures rose as the equity markets open after a national holiday and as investors speculate on earnings data from major companies. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures expiring in March added 0.3% to 1,840 as of 7:40 a.m. New York time, while contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.4% to 16,461 today.
German shares advanced to a record high after the People Bank of China pumped fund to the financial system. The DAX Index climbed 0.4% to 9,757.06 as of 12:23 p.m. Frankfurt time, increasing above index record high close of 9,742.96 last week and the equity-benchmark rallied 25% in 2013. The HDAX Index added 0.4% today.
European shares gained to a six-year high, as Unilever led food and beverage producers higher. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.3% to 336.56 as of 11 a.m. London time, making it the highest level in approximately six years. It is expected that the profits among Stoxx 600 companies will raise 13.4% on average in 2014, after 5.3% decline last
Unilever NV, the Anglo-Dutch multinational consumer goods company, reported on Tuesday an increase in fourth-quarter sales, beating economists' forecasts, while the emerging markets continues to rebound. Revenue rose 4.1%, as the quantity of products sold added 2.7%. Today, Unilever NV equities are surging 3.85% to 29.95 euro per share by 11:40 GMT in Amsterdam.
The kiwi continues to gain since yesterday's report showed inflation progressing and pushing the case for the central bank to increase interest rates. New Zealand's currency added versus most of its major currencies, due to the stocks rise and Chinese money-market rates rollback, and changed only at 83.26 U.S. cents at 5:13 p.m. after hitting 0.9% yesterday in Sydney. Interest rate swap amount in New Zealand
Investor confidence in Germany unexpectedly decreased in January of this year for the first time since July, pointing on the moderate perspectives of country's economy. The ZEW economic sentiment index dropped to 61.7 points in January versus 62 points a month ago, while economists predicted a rise to 64 points. The Index aims to forecast the economic development for next
The government of Sweden may change already in September of this year, as parliamentary elections approach. Despite the significant decrease in taxes, the current conservative government has not enough support to win the elections. Since 2006, they managed to keep the budget deficit lower than 3% of GDP, however, the jobless rate of 8% is the highest in Scandinavia.
Alstom SA, the largest French producer of power equipment and trains, announced cuts of a forecast concerning the operating profit margin for the current year, as sales of power equipment drop. Now, Alstom expects the operating profit to be 7% from sales, while the previous forecast was 7.2%. Based on these news, Alstom SA shares are today plunging 11.4% to
Consumer price index in Hong Kong remained unchanged in December of the previous year, comparing with a month before, as the result matched analysts' predictions at 4.3% on the annual basis. Meanwhile, in October-December quarter inflation reached 1.1%. The CPI was mostly affected by a 4.1% increase in food prices, while housing costs added 5.9% and transportation became 2.6% more
European shares advanced on Tuesday trading session with the benchmark index Europe Stoxx 600 rising after reaching its six-year peak as the People's Bank of China injected funds to the local financial system. Euro Stoxx 50 Index futures expiring in March jumped 0.5% to 3,166 as of 7:15 a.m. London time, while the FTSE 100 Index added 0.4%.
Natural gas traded in New York declined on Tuesday trading session falling for the second straight day after the trading floor was closed yesterday due to a national holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Natural gas for February settlement dropped 2.8% to $4.203 a million British thermal units on the NYMEX and were last seen at $4.313 as of 3:30
The European benchmark Brent crude declined on Tuesday as hedge fund managers reduced bullish bets on the commodity, according to the data published by the ICE Futures exchange, the second weekly cut of net long positions. Brent for March delivery fell 7 cents to $106.28 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Teas Intermediate oil declined on Tuesday trading session on speculation that fuel demand in China, the world's second largest oil consumer, may be reduced as the country's economy eased in the last quarter of 2013. WTI for settlement in March dropped 94 cents to $93.65 per barrel on the NYMEX and was last seen at $94.26 as of 2:32
U.S. Treasuries declined on Tuesday completing a three-week increase, their longest streak of gains since September, amid speculation that the economic recovery of the country may have gained its momentum after demand for bonds improved. The benchmark 10-year government bonds added two basis points to 2.84% by 6:52 a.m. London time.
The Japanese currency declined on Tuesday falling against the majority of its most-traded peers after the Bank of Japan began its policy meeting possibly bringing more stimulus this year as it cancelled its plans to increase sales-tax. The Yen slipped 0.3% to 104.53 a U.S. Dollar as of 6:47 a.m. London time and it fell 0.3% to 141.64 a Euro
Japanese stocks advanced on Tuesday trading session led by exporting companies after the Bank of Japan started its two-day policy meeting and as investors awaited for an result of the meeting as the corporate tax rate may be cut. The region's benchmark index gained 0.2% to 1,295.95 in Tokyo, while the Nikkei 225 Index surged 1% to 15,795.96.
Jobless rate in Finland advanced on an annual basis in the last month of 2013 rising more than economists originally forecast, the latest figures published by the Statistics Finland showed on Tuesday. According to the report, Finland's unemployment rate jumped 7.9% in December after rising 6.9% in the same month of 2012, when the total number of people without job
Inflation measure as consumer price index in New Zealand increased on a sequential basis in the last quarter of 2013 rising above economists' expectations and suggesting that the Reserve Back may raise interest rates soon, the Statistics New Zealand reported on Tuesday. The country's consumer price index added 0.1% in the Q4 compared to a 0.9% drop initially forecast.
A leading economic index in South Africa decreased on a monthly basis in November mainly due to a drop in the 6-month real money supply growth rate and residential building plans, a report published by the South African Reserve Back showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's leading index fell 0.2% on the month, while the composite coincidence