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
Australian currency dropped on Wednesday falling towards the lowest level in a two-month period before a report showed that exports and imports in China advanced by more than expected , the largest trading partner of Australia. The so-called Aussie slid 0.1% to $1.0177 at 10:02 a.m. Sydney time following yesterday's decline to the lowest since March 4 at $1.0155.
The Chinese currency jumped to the highest level in 19 years on Wednesday after the People's Bank of China increased the daily fixing to a record high and as Chinese exports rose by more than economists expected on April. The Yuan gained 0.13% to 6.1460 per U.S. Dollar at 10:08 a.m. Shanghai time totaling the 2-day gain to 0.33%.
Canadian Dollar rose against the U.S. currency for the third straight day on Wednesday after the Reserve Bank of Australia lowered the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a historical low at 2.75% spurring a demand for higher-yielded assets. The so-called Loonie advanced 0.3% to C$1.0042 per U.S. Dollar at 5 p.m. and one Canadian Dollar buys 99.58
Gold fluctuated on Wednesday as investors bet on a drop in assets in the SPDR Gold Trust to the weakest level in a four-year period as the physical demand in China is increasing. Bullion for delivery in May climbed by 0.2% to $1,455.60 an ounce as of 12:10 p.m. Singapore time following an earlier drop to $1,447.75 and a 0.4%
Soybeans increased for the second straight day on Wednesday amid concerns that planting in the world's largest exporter of the commodity, the U.S., may be delayed as about 2% of U.S. crop were due on May 5 compared to 22% last year. Soybeans for July delivery added 0.6% to $13.90 a bushel and were traded at $13.895 at 11:13 a.m.
The Euro's volatility versus its U.S. counterpart was close to the weakest level in almost four months on Wednesday as investors expect that the European Central Bank will lower the benchmark interest rate further if the slump in the economy continues. The 17-nation bloc currency added 0.1% to $1.3092 from yesterday's level, while it was traded 0.4% lower at 129.53
Manufacturing orders in Germany advanced surprisingly in March as demand in the euro area rose suggesting that the Eurozone's economy might be recovering, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology reported on Tuesday. The report showed new orders gained 2.2% on a sequential basis on March, while it was forecast to fall by 0.5%, orders from the Eurozone climbed 4.2%
Exports in China increased by much more than economists originally expected in the month of April, according to a report released by the General Administration of Customs on Tuesday, at the same time imports rose beating a forecast. Shipments to the country climbed by 14.7% on an annual basis in April compared to an expected 9.2% growth, while imports advanced
U.S. consumer credit increased at a slower pace than preliminary estimated in March from the month before, a report released by the Federal Reserve showed on Tuesday. According to the report, consumer credit in the country moved up by $8.0 billion in March after it recorded a climb of $18.6 billion in February, while it was forecast to jump $15.0
Chinese stocks increased on Wednesday led by consumer-discretionary companies and trainmakers after a data showed that imports in China rose by 16.8% in April and the country's trade balance came in a $18.3 billion surplus. The Shanghai composite Index fell 0.2% to 2,239.67 as of 1:08 p.m. local time, while the CSI 300 Index gained 0.3% to 2,537.44.
West Texas Intermediate oil swung between gain and losses on Wednesday after it recorded its first fall in four days yesterday as the U.S. report showed that stockpiles rose for the second straight week. June WTI futures were traded 12 cents higher at $95.75 a barrel on the NYMEX as of 1:02 p.m. in Singapore after they dropped 54 cents
Business activity in the United Kingdom's small and medium-sized companies stood at a weaker-than-forecast level in a three-month period ended in April as new orders and output fell, the latest figure released by the Confederation of British Industry revealed on Tuesday. According to the SME survey, the fall of new orders and output was driven by weaker domestic and export
The European currency declined against the U.S. Dollar on Tuesday as President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi said that policy makers are ready to lower the benchmark interest rate further in case of the deterioration in the economy. The shared currency fell 0.3% to $1.3076 at 5 p.m. in New York, while it was at 129.88 yen.
The South Korean currency swung between gains and losses on Tuesday and was traded near its highest level in eight weeks against the U.S. Dollar on concerns that the country's lawmakers will try to slow its appreciation in order to protect exporters. The Won was traded at 1,094.45 per U.S. Dollar at 10:43 a.m. Seoul time after it touched 1,092.29
European stocks jumped on Tuesday as some companies including Commerzbank AG, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale reported quarterly results showing better-than-forecast earnings in the Q1. Benchmark Euro Stoxx 50 Index futures advanced by 0.3% to 2,724 as of 7:03 a.m. London time, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Index closed near a 5-year high yesterday.
Emerging-market shares increased on Tuesday to the highest level in seven weeks as the climb was led by materials and industrial companies, while Malaysian stocks advanced for the second straight day as new prime minister was elected. The MSCI Emerging Market Index gained 0.1% to 1,047.51 at 1:08 p.m. Hong Kong time set to close at the highest since March 14.