Manufacturing sector in France will likely to expand faster than originally expected in 2014 after showing a contraction in a survey revealed in October, the statistical office Insee unveiled in a survey on Thursday. The country's business investment is forecast to rise by 3% this year following a drop by 7% in 2013, while in October the same survey predicted
The central bank of Japan will likely to maintain its benchmark interest rates unchanged at a record lows until its inflation target of two percent is achieved, the BoJ Governor Kikuo Iwata claimed on Thursday. The Bank of Japan keeps the rates low even if the 2% inflation target is reached on an annual basis, unless the consumer prices stay
The U.S. Dollar index slightly fell on Thursday session after hitting the session highs on Wednesday after data published by the Institute for Supply Management showed that service sector in the country rose more than expected last month. The U.S. Index measuring its performance against most-traded peers gained from 81.065 to 81.240 reached earlier.
The Australia's Dollar advanced on Thursday rising versus the majority of its most-traded peers after bunch of recent favourbale reports signaled that the Reserve Bank of Australia may be done with interest rate cuts as the local economy improves. The so-called Aussie gained 0.6% to $0.8965 and it has added 2.5% this week.
The U.S. Dollar remained steady on Thursday trading session and traded above its eleven-week low against the Japanese Yen after recent economic data showed unfavourable results and as investors expect Friday's report to showed that payrolls rebounded last month. The Greenback traded at 101.47 yen gaining from its lowest level in almost 3 months at 100.76.
The 18-nation bloc currency held firm on Thursday trading session before the European Central Bank announced its decision to cut the benchmark interest rates further amid speculation of increasing deflation in the region. The Euro remained stable traded at $1.3528 rising from the lowest level in two months at $1.3477 reached on Monday session.
The European Central Bank may ease its monetary policy further on today's meeting as investors expect the bank to cut its interest rates by another 25 basis points, or 0.25%, after recent economic data revealed unfavourable results and slowing inflation. Investors bet on an interest rate of conventional 25 basis points, however, the cut may be lower of about 0.1-0.15%.
Asian equities increased on Thursday trading session rising from the lowest figures in five months as investors speculate that the European Central Bank may ease its monetary policy on the meeting today and as U.S. jobs data could ease a tension in emerging markets. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan added 0.8% following a five-day losing streak.
Australia's retail sales jumped in the last month of 2013 matching original economists' projections, a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's retail sales climbed 0.5% on a sequential basis in December easing from November's level of 0.7% as food retail sales added 2.5%, while other retailing slipped 3.1%.
Australian merchandise trade balance came in notable surplus in the last month of 2013 compared to a shortfall originally expected, the latest data revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The country's merchandise trade surplus recorded in December A$468 million, while it was forecast to came in a shortfall of A$200 million.
U.S. equities closed lower on Wednesday session mainly due to a technical support level offsetting recent economic data showing mixed results failing to increased optimism on markets after some reports from last week showed unfavourable figures. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.03% to 15,440.23, the S&P 500 Index slipped 0.20% to 1,751.64 and the Nasdaq Composite index slid 0.50%
Service sector in the world's largest economy increased last month with the activity index rising slightly faster than expected in January, a report published by the Institute for Supply Management revealed on Wednesday. The report showed that the U.S. ISM non-manufacturing indicator rose from December's 53.0 to a level of 54.0 recorded in the following month.
Private sector in the world's largest economy added less jobs than originally expected in the month of January, however the total employment increased, a report published by the ADP and Moody's Analytics showed on Wednesday. The U.S. employment gained 175,000 jobs last month after rising in December by 227,000 jobs.
German shares were little changed, following a lowest close in seven weeks, with ThyssenKrupp AG dropping and Volkswagen AG gaining. The DAX fell less than 0.1% to 9,122.32 as of 3:03 p.m. Frankfurt time, after earlier climbing 0.3% and sliding 0.5%; however, the index has declined 6.4% from January 17. The HDAX Index fluctuated today.
European shares were little changed, reversing earlier gains, as health-care and banks shares advanced and a private report showed that U.S. companies employed fewer workers than forecasted. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added less than 0.1% to 317.66 as of 1:19 p.m. London time; however, the equity-benchmark retreated 5.4% from January 22.
U.K. shares advanced, snapping a five-day streak of losses, as GlaxoSmithKline Plc climbed after forecasting that sales will rise as new medicine will be introduced this year. The FTSE 100 Index gained 0.1% to 6,458.54 as of 1:23 London time; however, it has declined 5.5% since January 20. The FTSE All-Share Index added 0.2%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index advanced 0.5%.
The Japanese yen gained versus most major peers on worries of U.S. growth slowdown and emerging markets are slowing increased demand for the safe haven currency. Japan's currency advanced 0.5% to 101.11 per Dollar as of 8:17 a.m. in New York, after declining 0.7% on Tuesday. The Yen added 0.4% to 136.87 versus the 18-nation currency, while the Euro traded
The common currency dropped to the lowest level in 10 months versus the Yen since the latest data show that retail sales declined and speculations regarding the European central bank proving more stimulus through monetary easing persist. The Euro was almost unchanged against the Dollar while the Yen appreciated versus most of its major counterparts. The shared currency fell 0.5% to 136.68 against
U.K. services development unexpectedly slowed to the lowest level in seven months in January, as growth of new business is cooling due to wet weather. Today's report showed services growth dropped to 58.3 from 58.8 in December albeit the average forecast was for an advance to 59. The Pound weakened versus the Euro and the Dollar, slid 0.3% to $1.6279 and fell 0.2% to
Retail sales in the Eurozone registered the largest decline in more than two years in the most important for retailers month of December. The Eurostat data showed a 1.6% decrease on a monthly basis, while analysts predicted them to drop only 0.5%. Moreover, the increase in November was revised negatively from 1.4% to 0.9%. Data will put additional pressure on
Activity in the service industry of the United Kingdom expanded further in January of this year, although the growth rate decreased slightly amid extremely rainy weather in the country. Moreover, analysts say that the correction is also possible due to strong growth some time ago. The benchmark PMI Index slipped to 58.3 points versus 58.8 in December, while analysts predicted
Service industry in Italy showed a slight decrease in activity in January of the current year, dropping already for a third consecutive month, while the benchmark PMI Index, which shows the activity level in this particular sector, surged to 49.4 points from 47.9 in December. Therefore, the break-even point of 50 may be reached in upcoming months and the recovery
Japanese labor cash earnings jumped 0.8% in December of the previous year on the annual basis, however inflation level in the country exceeds 1%, indicating that the real wages' growth in negative. In November, salaries advanced 0.6% annually. Therefore, wages in Japan rise for the second month in a row. At the same time, the downward trend persisted during the
Activity in the service industry of Spain rose to the highest level in almost seven years, as the economy is recovering and labor market in this sector improved slightly. Moreover, new orders in the sector grew as well. The benchmark PMI Index, which measures the activity, increased to 54.9 points in January of this year from 54.2 a month ago,