Spanish economy accelerated in the last quarter of 2013 rising for the second successive time signaling that the labour market may bring more job positions, a report published by the statistical office INE showed on Thursday. According to the report, Spain's gross domestic product advanced 0.3% in the Q4 after rising by 0.1% in the prior quarter.
U.K. shares dropped, the regional benchmark FTSE 100 Index retreated for the seventh day out of last eight, after the Fed cut its bond buying programme for a second consecutive meeting. The FTSE 100 slid 0.2% to 6,532.36 as of 8:39 a.m. London time and it has declined 4.5% since January 20. The FTSE All-Share Index slipped 0.2%, while Ireland's
Economic confidence in the 18-nation bloc accelerated in January extending the series of gains to nine months and reaching the highest level in thirty months, a report published by the European Commission unveiled on Thursday. The report showed that the economic confidence index advanced from December's 100.4 to a level if 100.9 in the following month, the most since July
The U.S. Dollar appreciated after the Fed winded down its monetary stimulus programme that has weakened the greenback in the past and emerging-market currencies prolonged retreats. The U.S. Dollar added 0.5% to $1.3593 per Euro as of 7:30 a.m. in New York, while the currency rose 0.1% to 102.41 Japanese Yen. The Euro slid 0.4% to 139.22 Yen.
U.K. house prices will likely remain in an uptrend in the following months with a moderate slowdown expected to be seen in the long-term period, a statement released by Capital Economics showed on Thursday. A private report this week revealed that house prices in the nation advanced 0.7% in January recording the 12th successive increase.
The British currency dropped for a third straight day against the U.S. Dollar as the Fed officials yesterday cut its monetary stimulus after the BoE Governor Carney stated that he will keep interest rates low. The Sterling slid 0.5% to $1.6480 as of 12:38 p.m. in London, after it advanced to $1.6668 on January 24. The British Pound was at
Economic growth in Poland slowed during the last quarter of the previous year, as domestic demand rose less than expected and investment plummeted. GDP advanced 1.6% against 1.9% in 2012, while analysts expected the economy to grow 1.5% in 2013. Private consumption increased 0.8%, less than 1.2% a year ago. Fixed investment dropped 0.4%, but the pace of decline slowed.
Banco Santander SA, the largest bank in Spain, announced a significant increase in its profit for the last quarter of 2013, as the bank accumulated fewer funds for bad loans. The net income jumped to 1.06 billion euro against 423 million euro in Q4 2012. Analysts, however, waited for a 1.2 billion euro profit. Today, Banco Santander SA shares are
The FOMC decided to decrease its bond purchases additionally by $10 billion per month, as American economy recovers and labor market improves. Policy makers are concerned about record $4.1 trillion Fed's balance sheet, as they will now buy only $65 billion of bonds and mortgage securities monthly. Meanwhile, this meeting was last with Ben Bernanke as the Chairman of the
Private lending in the United Kingdom advanced more than predicted in December of 2013, pointing on worsening credit conditions, as individuals want to borrow with still quite low interest. The Bank of England report showed a 2.3 billion pounds rise in lending after a 1.8 billion pounds surge in November. Analysts, in turn, expected the indicator to add 1.9 billion
Japanese retail sales increased 2.6% in December of the last year on the annual basis, while economists forecasted the indicator to pick up 3.9% after a positively revised 4.1% rise in November. However, sales among large retailers added only 0.1% annually. Month on month, sales surged 0.8% after a 2% jump a month ago. Analysts predicted them to show an
Economic growth in Spain gained pace in the last quarter of the previous year, as the GDP added 0.3% on a quarterly basis, matching analysts' expectations. Therefore, it is the second consecutive quarter of economic growth after a two-year long recession. On the annual basis, economy declined 0.1%, as the increase in internal spending was overshadowed by weak exports.
Unemployment rate in Denmark dropped in December of the previous year, while the total number of people without a work decreased slightly. The jobless rate in the country reached 5.6% versus 5.7% a month ago. Moreover, Denmark is one of those countries, where the jobless rate among young people is lower than the general unemployment rate – only 4.7%, decreasing
The unemployment rate in the European largest economy held firm in the last month of 2013 with the total figure of employed people rising modestly, a report unveiled by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's unemployment rate came in a score of 5.1% in December, while in December 2012 it was at 5.4%.
Consumer confidence world-wide remained unchanged in the last quarter of 2013 despite a drop in spending and as economies around the world struggle, the latest survey published by a private company NH showed on Wednesday. The global indicator of consumer confidence recorded a score of 94 in December quarter, while in the year before it was 91.
Manufacturing activity in the world's second largest economy came in a contraction in the first month of 2014, the latest data published by the HSBC Bank and Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The country's purchasing managers' index recorded 49.5 in January falling from December's 50.5, while the score below 50 signals contraction in the sector.
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