The Shanghai Composite Index was lower by 0.2% to 2,242.07 points by the midday in Shanghai's trading session on Monday. Investors were concerned about a current macro situation, which do not show any improvement. The government announced about a study to curb home prices in a long term. Also, traders wait for data on industrial production and retail sales.
The Australian Dollar slipped by 0.3% to 99.95 per U.S. Dollar in the second part of Sydney trading session on Monday. The currency touched a 99.61 level on 10th of May and it was the weakest level since 14 of June. Today a private report indicated a decrease in business confidence amid concern that the Reserve Bank will cut the key interest
Japanese Topix Index was higher by 1.4% in the second half of Tokyo trading session on Monday. Investors were positive on equity markets, as Group of Seven officially said that they will tolerate the weak Yen's exchange rate. The exports sector will be definitely beneficiary of that, since Japanese goods will be more competitive in global markets.
The Bank of England's nine-member Monetary Policy Committee led by Governor Mervyn King maintained the quantitative easing program at GBP 375 billion despite unsuccessful attempts to increase stimulus. The panel also decided to keep the benchmark policy rate unchanged at 0.50%, the lowest level since the central bank was established in 1694.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. edged down surprisingly in the week ended on May 4 falling to the lowest level in five years, a report released by the Labor Department showed on Thursday. According to the report jobless claims fell to 323,000 from 327,000 to 323,000 recorded last week, while economists expected an increase to 335,000.
On Thursday, Italian bond yields erased previous losses, which left the yield almost unchanged at the level of 3.84% by 8:44 a.m. in London. Earlier, yields hit the level of 3.81%. At the same time, yields on Spanish government debt witnessed an increase, following an auction with weak demand.
The Canada's Dollar fell on Thursday snapping a four-day streak of gains against its U.S. peer before a report showed that home prices in the country rose less in March than the month before adding to arguments that BoC may raise interest rates. The so-called Loonie dropped 0.1% to C$1.0037 per U.S. Dollar and it buys 99.63 U.S. cents.
The Australian and New Zealand's currency jumped against the majority of their counterparts on Thursday after both countries showed in reports that unemployment rate declined in the last three months of 2012. The Aussie climbed 0.7% to $1.0242 as of 4:47 p.m. Sydney time and it rose to 101.12 yen, while the Kiwi gained 0.7% to 84.63 U.S. cents and
The British Sterling appreciated the most in a week against the 17-nation bloc currency as industrial production in the U.K. increased in March and as the Bank of England maintained its stimulus policy program unchanged. The Pound rose 0.1% to 84.56 pence per Euro at 2:08 p.m. in London and it was traded at $1.5537 following an increase to $1.5606
West Texas Intermediate oil dropped on Thursday as the value of the U.S. Dollar rose against the Euro amid improving labour market in the U.S. recording the lowest number of initial jobless claims in a five-year period. June WTI futures decreased by 64 cents, or 0.7%, to $95.98 a barrel as of 9:29 a.m. on the NYMEX after they rose
On Thursday, Spanish government bonds declined, which pushed the yields on 10-year notes to the one-month high, amid low demand on the government debt auction. The yields on Spanish 10-year bonds increased by 11 basis points, and reached the level of 4.21% by 3:34 p.m. in London.
On Thursday, the US government bonds were traded lower, with the yields reaching the one-month high before the treasury is selling $16 billion worth of debt, amid decreasing inflation expectations. The yield on 30-year US government bonds was almost unchanged at the level of 2.99% by 9:57 a.m. in New York.
On Thursday, copper declined, following a rally of the commodity to a 3-week high fueled by expectations of stronger demand from China. On the London Metal Exchange, copper decreased to $7,344.75 per tonne, compared to the previous close at $7,419. Earlier, the metal hit its highest on April 12, reaching $7,480.
Hog futures declined to the lowest level in two weeks on Thursday amid speculation that supplies of U.S. pork are increasing amid weaker demand for the commodity, at the same time prices of cattle were little changed. Hog futures for June delivery dropped by 0.5% to 91.325 cents a pound as of 9:23 a.m. on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and
German shares were little changed on Thursday after the benchmark DAX Index recorded its all-time high yesterday as markets opened on a national holiday and volume dropped. The DAX gained 0.1% to 8,255.99 as of 3:51 p.m. Frankfurt time following a two-day period when it recorded a record high and it has increased by 8.5% this year, while the broader
European shares were little changed on Thursday after they rose on yesterday's session pushing the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index to the strongest level in almost five years. The Stoxx 600 Index fell less than 0.1% to 303.39 as of 3:28 p.m. London time after it recorded the highest level since June 2008 yesterday amid favourable earning results of some
The Council of Mortgage Lenders reported on Thursday that the amount of repossessions declined significantly compared to the first quarter of the preceding year. The number of repossession cases declined by 17% on year-over-year basis, reaching 8,000 during the first quarter of the year.
Statistics Portugal revealed on Thursday that the Portuguese jobless rate added significantly during the first quarter of the year. The unemployment rate increased to 17.7% from the reading of 14.9% in the first quarter of the preceding year. The figure for the preceding quarter was 16.9%. Youth unemployment hit the level of 42.1%.
The U.S. Dollar increased versus the Euro and the Yen after a report showed that first-time jobless claim in the U.S. declined surprisingly to the lowest level in five years suggesting that labour market may by improving. The so-called greenback added 0.4% to $1.3099 per Euro earlier on Thursday New York session and it advanced by 0.3% to 99.30 yen.
The Bank of England decided to continue its monetary easing at £375 billion through the asset purchase program. Earlier, it was raised by 50 billion in July, 2012. The Monetary Policy Committee also leaved key interest rate the same at the level of 0.50%, which is the lowest since 1694 when the bank was established.
German government bunds were little changed on Wednesday before an auction of 0.25% five-year securities totalling five billion euro and as industrial output declined by 0.1% in March. The benchmark 10-year yields were traded one basis point from the strongest level in more than a three-week period, when they yielded at 1.30% at 7:12 a.m. in London.
U.S. Treasuries stayed flat on Wednesday as the benchmark 10-year yields were about 25 basis points more than inflation in the country after they fell below the consumer price index in March and before an auction of securities today. U.S. 10-year yield were unchanged at 1.78% earlier on Wednesday London session after it jumped from this year's low at 1.612
Emerging-market shares advanced for the fourth straight day with the regional benchmark index erasing this year's losses after a report showed that imports and exports in China rose by more than estimated. The MSCI Emerging Market Index increased by 0.4% to 1,056.55 as of 12:20 a.m. Hong Kong time recording the highest closing price since March 12.
European stock futures recorded a modest increase earlier on Wednesday trading session pushing the regional benchmark index to the highest level in almost 5 years after companies from ING Groep to Deutsche Telekom AG reported better earnings than forecast. Euro Stoxx 50 Index gained 0.1% to 2,737 earlier on Wednesday, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced to the strongest