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
Industrial production in South Korea jumped in the last month of 2013 rising by more than economists initially expected, a report published by the Statistics Korea showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the country's industrial output rose on a monthly basis by 3.4% in December, while on an annual basis it advanced 2.6% from 0.8% in November.
A leading economic index in Australia dropped in the last month of 2013 suggesting that the performance of Australian economy may lose its momentum in 2014, the latest data revealed by Westpac and the Melbourne Institute showed on Wednesday. The country's index of economic activity fell from 1.12% in November to 1.06% in December.
Consumer confidence in the world's largest economy improved in January rising for the second successive month and on a faster rate than economists originally expected, a report published by the Conference Board showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the U.S. consumer confidence index added from December's 77.5 to a level of 80.7 recorded in the following month.
The U.S. Dollar advanced on Wednesday session rising against the Euro and the Japanese Yen after the Turkish national bank hiked its interest rates in a dramatic fashion easing concerns over less liquidity on emerging markets. The so-called Greenback added 0.4% to 103.34 yen after falling to the lowest level in seven weeks at 101.77, while it gained 0.1% to
U.S. shares closed higher on Tuesday session after pharmaceutical company Pfizer reported favourable earnings report bringing optimism on markets as the benchmark index Dow Jones fell for five straight session. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 0.61% to 1,792.50, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.57% to 15,928.56 and the Nasdaq Composite Index surged 0.35% to 4,097.96.
Turkey's national bank decided to increase all of its benchmark interest rates at an emergency policy meeting yesterday despite an opposition of the Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan defending the country's weak currency. The Turkish central bank raised lending rate in dramatic fashion from 7.75% to a level of 12%, while the one-week repo rate was increased from 4.5% to 10%.
The majority of Asian shares increased on Wednesday trading session after the Turkish national bank hiked its benchmark interest rates by 445 basis points to a level of 12% and as India's central bank decided to tighten its monetary policy few days ago too. The MSCI Asia- Pacific gauge outside Japan advanced 1.2% following a three-day slump.