Natural gas was down on Friday after a survey published by the KPMG LLP Global Energy Institute showed that the prices of the commodity are expected to stay below $4 per million British thermal units for the rest of 2013 and should range from $3 to $4. Natural gas for delivery next month was traded at $3.932 yesterday completing a
West Texas Intermediate oil fluctuated on Friday following an increase to the highest level in a week as OPEC was predicted to increase its oil exports in May to meet rising demand from refiners in Asia. WTO for next month's settlement was traded 10 cents higher at $95.26 a barrel on the NYMEX as of 2:12 p.m. Singapore time after
Asian shares increased on Friday heading towards the second straight weekly gain after the Japanese benchmark Topix Index rebounded close to its highest level recorded in 2008 amid increase of leasing companies and as the country's Prime Minister encourages practices to revive capital spending. The MCSI Asia Pacific Index was traded at 142.99 at 1:44 p.m. Tokyo time.
Soybeans increased on Friday heading to its largest weekly gain in four months amid signs of sustained demand for the U.S. crop from the world's largest user of the commodity, China. July soybeans futures jumped by 0.6% to $14.36 a bushel on the CBOT, the strongest level for the most-active futures contract since March 28, and it was traded at
Gold traded in Mumbai is set to extend its losing streak heading towards the lowest level since August 2011 as technical indicators signal further declines, Motilal Oswal from Commodity Broker Pvt said on Friday. Bullion traded in London entered a bear market in April and it has lost 18% since the beginning of the year, while futures are expected to
The U.S. Dollar continued to grow against the majority of its 16 counterparts on Friday and advanced to the highest level in six weeks versus the Euro before a government report showed that the U.S. economy showing signs of improvements. The greenback was traded at 102.32 yen at 6:39 a.m. London time and it gained 0.1% to $1.2864 per Euro
Consumer prices in the U.S. decreased in April mainly due to a sharp decline in energy prices falling by 4.3% after they slipped 2.6% in the month before and a 8.1% contraction of gasoline prices, the Labor Department reported on Thursday. According to the report, consumer price index edged down 0.4% in April following an 0.2% slide in the previous
Manufacturing activity in Philadelphia's area surprisingly contracted on May largely due to a notable 7.9% fall in new orders and a 8.5% drop in shipments, a survey revealed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed on Thursday. The diffusion Philly Fed index of current activity dropped from 1.3 in April to a negative 5.2 in May, while it was
Japan's core machinery orders climbed notably, gaining for the fifth month out of six in March, when they surged 14.2% standing at 793.1 billion yen, a report released by the Cabinet Office unveiled on Friday. The report also showed that on an annual basis core machinery orders jumped 2.4% in March beating expectations of a 4.9% decline after falling 11.3%
Producer prices in New Zealand increase in the first three months of 2013 from the quarter before beating a forecast of economists, the Statistics New Zealand reported on Friday. The report showed that producer price index rise by 0.8% in the Q1 compared to a 0.1% decline originally expected, while input producer prices advanced by 0.8% in the Q1 topping
Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. bounced back by more than originally expected in the week ended on May 11, the latest figures released by the Labor Department unveiled on Thursday. First-time jobless claims increased from 328,000 estimated for the previous week to 360,000 recorded in the last week, while the figure was forecast to jump to 330,000
China's leading economic indicator measuring current activity advanced in April as four of the six main components contributed positively to the result on the month, the Conference Board reported on Friday. The report showed the leading economic index rose 1.5% in April standing at 260.8 following a 0.6% drop recorded in the month before and a 1.3% jump in February.
The British Sterling depreciated against the U.S. Dollar heading to the weakest level in six-weeks as investors awaited today's auction of 30-year government bonds totalling 2.5 billion pounds. The Pound dropped 0.2% to $1.5210 at 7:33 a.m. in London following a yesterday's slide to the lowest level since April 4 at $1.5174, while it was at 84.57 pence per Euro.
The Canadian currency advanced against its U.S. counterpart for the first time in a five-day period after a report showed that industrial production in the U.S. decreased by the most in 8 month is April. The so-called Loonie added 0.2% to C$1.0157 per U.S. Dollar as of 5 p.m. following a decrease to C$1.0219, the lowest level since April 25.
Copper traded in London decreased for the third straight day on Thursday amid concerns that demand from the world's biggest users of the metal, China, U.S. and Germany, is weakening. Copper for August settlement fell by 0.6% to $7,155 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange and was traded at $7,193.25 as of 10:21 a.m. Shanghai time.
India's government bonds increased on Thursday pushing the benchmark 10-year yields towards the lowest level in a three-year period amid speculations that the Reserve Bank of India reduces the policy rate further in order as inflation slows down. Indian 10-year yields declined three basis points to 7.44% at 9:44 a.m. Mumbai time, the lowest since June 2010.
Emerging-market shares increased to the strongest level in a week on Thursday amid gains of technology sector companies as they reported favourable quarterly results beating economists' expectations by 7.4%. The MSCI Emerging Market Index advanced by 0.3% to 1,049.67 as of 12:52 p.m. Hong Kong time heading for the highest closing price since May 10.
Chinese shares advanced by the most in a two-week period on Thursday led by financial companies and property developers after the regional benchmark was traded at the lowest level in more than three years. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.2% to 2,251.81 paring this year's fall to 0.8%, while the CSI 300 Index rose 1.8% to 2,552.71.
Gold was traded close to the lowest level in a month after filings showed that Blackrock Inc. and George Soros reduced their exchange-traded products backed with the metal suggesting that demand is weakening as U.S. stocks rally to records. Bullion for delivery in May was little changed at $1,391.10 an ounce as of 3:04 p.m. Singapore time after falling to
The 17-nation bloc currency depreciated versus the U.S. Dollar for the sixth session, the longest streak of losses in a year as investors awaited a report showing slower-than-expected April's inflation in the region. The Euro lost 0.2% to $1.2861 as of 8:13 a.m. London time following a fall to $1.2843 yesterday, the lowest level since April 4.
Soybeans increased for the first time in a three-day period amid signs that demand in the world's largest consumer, China, is rising and as Chinese investors are waiting for a new crop from the U.S. to come on stream. Soybeans for July delivery advanced by 0.5% to $14.1925 a bushel on the CBOT and ware traded at $14.18 as of
Confidence among Japan's consumers dropped surprisingly in April, when the seasonally adjusted consumer confidence index declined from 44.8 in March to 44.5, a survey published by the Cabinet Office unveiled on Wednesday. The survey also showed that the index measuring opinion of consumers about their overall livelihood slipped from 43 to 42 in April.
Manufacturing production in New Zealand grew in April largely due to continued improvements in new order, a data revealed by the Bank of New Zealand and BusinessNZ showed on Thursday. According to data, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index accelerated from 53.4 in March to 54.5 recorded in April and it stays above reading of 50 signaling expansion in the sector.
Industrial production in the U.S. decreased together with a slow-down in manufacturing output in April indicating that the country's economy remains sluggish, the latest data published by the Federal Reserve showed on Thursday. Mines, utilities and factory production dropped 0.5% in April after it rose 0.3% in March, while the manufacturing output slipped 0.3% in March.