Asia shares declined on Wednesday falling to the weakest level in a six-week period after the Federal Reserve officials signaled that the U.S. central bank may scale back its bond-buying program sooner than expected. The broadest MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan fell 1.4% recording its fifth successive drop, when slipped to the least in more than a month.
According to Canadian government's plan, the federal budget will report the first budget surplus in the financial year, which starts in April 2015. The renewed fiscal plan forecasts the surplus to reach $3.7 billion instead of $800 million that was predicted before. The government projects a decrease in both revenues and expenses by 2016. The free money will be spent
Economic growth in Russia slowed to 1.2% in July-September quarter of this year on the annual basis, showing the same pace of increase as a quarter ago. The result matched forecasts of the Ministry of Economy, but fell short of economists' predictions for a 1.4% expansion. Analysts say that the lack of investment into Russian economy started to negatively affect
Starbucks Corp., the biggest coffee-shop chain in the world, will cover $2.76 billion of costs to terminate the contract of with Mondelez International Inc., the intermediate to sale Starbucks' products. The payment consists of $527 million as attorneys' fees and interest, and $2.23 billion as damages. Yesterday, Starbucks Corp. lost 0.46% to $80.61 per share during the trading session in
According to the Australian Statistical Bureau data, the cost of employing labor in Australia increased 0.5% in July-September quarter of the current year. Meanwhile, experts forecasted the wage cost index to add 0.7%, the same as a quarter ago. Moreover, the wage costs jumped 2.7%, comparing with the same period of the previous year, and that also came below predictions
Number of orders for machinery in Japan decreased 2.1% in September of this year on a monthly basis, while analysts expected them to lose only 1.4%. Such a decline follows a 5.4% advance a month earlier. At the same time, the government officials say that machinery orders, in general, are growing, as the total number of them jumped 4.3% in
UniCredit SpA, the largest bank in Italy, expects the fourth-quarter profit to be almost the same as July-September net income of 204 million euros. Bank's CEO Federico Ghizzoni said on Tuesday that the economic decline in Italy will negatively continue to weigh on the demand for new loans. Today, UniCredit SpA shares are trading up 0.09% to 5.47 euros per
Consumer prices in Sweden returned to decline in October of this, as the annual deflation reached 0.1%, while analysts forecasted the prices to add 0.2%. The Riksbank's target for inflation is 2%. At the same time, economists do not expect the monetary policy of Riksbank to change rapidly in the nearest future, as the central bank holds the main interest
Consumer price index in the United Kingdom fell to 2.2% in October of the current year from 2.7% in September, as analysts expected the inflation to slower to 2.5%. At the same time, the core inflation dropped to 1.7%, which excludes tobacco, alcohol, food and energy. Statistical Office said that a decrease in inflation was mainly driven by air fares,
Platinum is likely to increase in a period of the next six months after London-based Johnson Matthey Plc forecast that demand for the metal will exceed supply as carmakers are expected to purchase less platinum for the first time in four years. November platinum contract has declined 6.8% to $1,435.30 an ounce this year in London and is set to
European equities swung between gains and losses on Tuesday after the prices extended a five-week increase yesterday as traders weighed companies earning reports followed by a 2.1% advance of Henkel AG and a 1% rise of UniCredit SpA. The benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 dipped 0.2% to 322.89 as of 8:09 a.m. London time.
German government bonds and U.S. Treasuries declined on Tuesday on concerns that recent positive reports from the world's largest economy may add to speculation Fed scales back its stimulus sooner than forecast damping demand for bunds. German benchmark 19-year yields advanced three basis points to 1.78% as of 8:34 a.m. in London, the most since October 23.
The Australian Dollar slipped on Tuesday falling towards the lowest level in six weeks together with a drop of government bonds as investors weighed for growth prospects in China, the country's largest trading partner, before a 4-day policy meeting of Communist Party. The so-called Aussie fell 0.3% to 93.36 U.S. cents by 5:09 p.m. Sydney time after reaching the lowest
The British Sterling dipped on Tuesday falling for the third straight session against the U.S. Dollar before a government report showed that the United Kingdom inflation increased at a slower rate than last month. The Pound slipped 0.1% to $1.5968 as of 7:35 a.m. in London following a drop to $1.5951, the least since November 5, and it traded at
The Canadian currency increased on Tuesday rising versus the majority of its most-traded peers after reports from Canada and the U.S. signaled that the North America economy may expand faster than the rest of the world. The so-called Loonie fluctuated at C$1.0476 per U.S. Dollar as of 5:00 p.m. Toronto time, while one Canada's Dollar buys 95.46 U.S. cents.
South Korea's currency increased on Tuesday snapping a three-day decline amid speculation the recent Won drop was used by exporters to repatriate sales proceed and as the country's government bonds stayed flat. The Won jumped 0.1% to 1,071.45 per U.S. Dollar Seoul time following a decreased to the lowest level since October 14 at 1,072.53 yesterday.
Trade deficit of Portugal decreased in July-September quarter of this year, reaching 2.663 billion euro against 2.801 billion euro in the previous year. Exports added 5.8% on the annual basis, while imports advanced 3.6%. Trade with EU countries, in turn, increased to 2.019 billion euro. At the same time, for the first nine months of 2013 exports jumped 4% with
Consumer sentiment in Japan declined the most since the earthquake of 2011 in October of the current year, while the benchmark index dropped to 41.2 points from 45.4 in September. Analysts, in turn, expected the indicator to add 0.9 points to 46.3. Economists say that despite the monetary and economy stimulus, the government should make more efforts to keep the
The consumer price index in the largest economy of the Eurozone declined 0.2% in October of the current year on a monthly basis, while the annual inflation reached 1.2% versus 1.4% in September. Last time the lower inflation was seen in August 2010. The decrease of the CPI was influenced by energy and heating oil prices. Excluding them, the annual
The sovereign long-term credit rating of Cyprus was confirmed by the Fitch rating agency at the previous level of B-, while the rating in the local currency was affirmed at CCC. At the same time, the ratings' outlooks remained negative. However, Fitch points on the positive implementation of the IMF/EU bailout program. Cyprus economy is expected to shrink 7% this
Business confidence in Australia recorded a steep decline in the month of October as companies outlined their plans in an environment with weak operating conditions and changed political climate, a survey published by the National Australian Bank showed on Tuesday. Australia's business confidence index slipped from a level of 12 points to 5 in October.
China's equities advanced on Tuesday as liquor and shipping companies increased, while oil-equipment stocks tumbled and as Communist Party outlines its economic agenda for the next decade on this week's four-day policy meeting. The Shanghai composite Index jumped 0.5% to 2,119.18 by 1:06 p.m., the CSI 300 Index gained 0.6% to 2,329.60 and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell
The European benchmark Brent crude slipped on Tuesday after a report showed that crude stockpiles advanced to 385.9 million barrels a week, the most since June 21, while gasoline inventories dipped by 500,000 barrels recording the fifth weekly drop. December Brent futures traded 28 cents lower at $106.12 a barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude declined on Tuesday falling from the highest level recorded this month on speculation that inventories in the world's largest consumer, U.S., advanced to the strongest level since June. December WTI futures slipped 34 cents to $94.80 a barrel on the NYMEX while the prices were at $98.84 as of 12:56 p.m. in Sydney.