Energy futures apart from natural gas declined on Friday after disappointing U.S. labour market numbers. Weak jobs data fuelled fears that the U.S. economic recovery is losing momentum that may weigh on the energy demand prospects. Moreover, a recent bearish EIA inventory report added pressure on oil prices. Crude and Brent oil finished in red on concerns over jobs market in
Industrial metals except for aluminum ended the week in the negative area after U.S. jobs data fell short of forecasts, spurring worries over the recovery of the world's largest economy. At the same time, rising cancelled warrants at the LME restricted a downward trend of the commodity group. Aluminum was the only gainer amid increasing cancelled warrants and falling inventories at
Precious metals rallied on Friday after weak U.S. jobs data indicated that the Fed is likely to keep its monetary policy loose to boost economy. U.S. payrolls rose 88,000 last month, defying expectations of an increase of 198,000. Moreover, broadly softer greenback was supportive for the commodity sector. Gold was bullish on optimism that the Fed will leave its growth-boosting
U.S. shares dropped on Friday, with the Standard & Poor's 500 Index snapping the biggest plunge on week this year, as U.S. employers added less than expected jobs in March. Payrolls advanced by 88,000 workers, less than one half of the number forecast by economists. The S&P 500 Index slipped 0.4% to 1,553.28. Only two out of ten groups edged
Retail sales in the 17-nation bloc declined in February following a month of gain as consumers spent less amid ongoing recession in the euro area, a data revealed by the statistical office Eurostat showed on Friday. The data said retail sales dropped 0.3% on a monthly basis in February after they rose 0.9% the month before, while they were predicted
Property prices in the U.K. advanced for the second successive month in March and is set to increase through the whole year of 2013, a report released by the Halifax showed on Friday. The report said that the house price index improved by 0.2% on a sequential basis in March compared to expectations of a 0.3% gain, while it added
Canada's international merchandise trade deficit widened in the month of February as merchandise exports led by the non-metallic mineral products declined by 0.6% and imports advanced by 0.1%, a report released by the Statistics Canada unveiled on Friday. The report said that the country's trade deficit rose from C$746 million in January to C$1.0 billion in February.
The world's eleventh largest economy recorded the biggest decrease in employment in February since the depression four years ago together with an increase of the country's trade deficit as a result of weak global demand, the Statistics Canada reported on Friday. The report showed that a loss of 54,500 positions offset a 50,700 increase, while the jobless rate rose from
New car registration in the U.K. moved up for the thirteenth consecutive month in March amid rising demand in private registrations, a data revealed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed on Friday. The report said that car sales rose 5.9% in March with 394,806 new registrations, while car sales in the Q1 edged higher by 7.4%.
Sweden's service output increased on an annual basis in February with the art, entertainment and recreation production having the biggest impact within the sector, when they added 10.9%, while the human health and social work sector gained 6.4%, the Statistics Sweden reported on Friday. Service production moved up 2.1% in February, while in the December-February period it rose by 0.5%.
Initial jobless claims in the U.S. increased for the third week in a row in the week ended on March 30 offsetting the previous downward trend, according to a report released by the Labor Department. Claims for U.S. unemployment benefits advanced by 28,000 from a level of 357,000 to 358,000 last week, while economists expected claims to rise to 350,000.
Factory orders in Germany advanced by much more than forecast in February mainly due to an increase of domestic and foreign demand suggesting that factory sector has improved in the Q1, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology reported on Friday. Factory orders gained 2.3% on a monthly basis in February, more than a 1.1% rise initially estimated, after they
U.S. payrolls increased below economists' expectations in the month of March mainly due to a decline of new jobs in retail sector and a fewer number of jobs provided by government, a data released by the Labor Department showed on Friday. The report said that non-farm payrolls rose by 88,000 compare to an originally projected gain of 190,000 in March.
The Australian and New Zealand's currencies reached their strongest levels since the summer 2008 versus the Yen as the Bank of Japan's new Governor decided to add more stimulus measures, which boosted demand for riskier assets. The Aussie fell 0.2% to 100.36 yen following a climb to 101.13, while the Kiwi dropped 0.2% to 80.99 yen after it touched 81.61
Cocoa traded in London decreased falling for a third straight day on Friday amid speculation that rain in the Daloa region in Ivory Coast, the world's largest producer of the commodity, is helping to boost prospects of the crop in the country. July Cocoa futures declined by 0.9% to 1,439 pounds a metric ton earlier London's NYSE Liffe today, while
Gold futures were traded close to the lowest level in 10 months on Friday as investors are seeking for higher return assets amid an improving global economy and before U.S. report showed a less-than-expected job growth in the country. Bullion for immediate delivery fell 0.2% to $1,551.48 an ounce on Friday after it touched its lowest level since May 30
West Texas Intermediate oil contracted on Friday after the U.S. government data unveiled that the country's employers hired fewer number of workers than expected in March. WTI for delivery in May dropped 1.5% to $91.91 a barrel on the NYMEX after it was traded at $92.55 earlier on Friday, while Brent crude traded in London edged down 1.3% to $104.92
The Canadian currency continued to decline against its U.S. counterpart after a report showed an unexpected drop in jobs, the largest since June 2012, as the unemployment rate rose from 7% to 7.2% last month. The so-called Loonie edged lower 0.8% to C$1.0212 earlier on Friday recording the biggest decrease since June 28, one Canadian Dollar buys 97.92 U.S. cents.
U.S. Treasuries continued to rise on Friday after a local report showed that the country's payroll increased by 88,000 workers in March recording the lowest gain in nine months bringing up concerns that the world's largest economy is slowing. The benchmark 10-year yields decreased 0.06 percentage points to 1.70% after it reached its lowest since December 12 at 1.68.
The Dollar Index dropped on Friday after it was near its highest level in an eight-month period after the U.S. report showed that employers in the country hired fewer workers than forecast in the month of March signalling that the U.S. economic growth is slowing. The Dollar Index edged lower 0.2% to 82.529 earlier on Friday after it touched its
European equities were little changed on Friday after it recorded its biggest two-day drop in four months before a report showed that U.S. employers hired 190,000 people in March and the jobless rate stayed flat at 7.7%. The benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index decreased 0.1% to 291.33 earlier on Friday London session following a 2% fall in the previous two
Japanese equities surged on Friday amid the Bank of Japan's announcement about its new stimulus programme to end a two-decade deflation of the economy. The BOJ plans to double the monetary base in the next two years. The Nikkei 225 added 1.6%, or 199.10 points, to 12,833.64, reaching its highest value since September 2008. 138 out of 225 companies included
Emerging-market shares dropped to its lowest level in four months pushing the MSCI BRIC Index down by 10% from this year's high as concerns about bird flu infection having an impact on Chinese airlines widened and as conflict between South and North Korean spurred capital outflows from South Korea. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined 0.9% to 1,007.80 falling for
U.S. blue chips advanced on Thursday, as central banks started talks on new stimulus programs to boost the economic growth. The Dow Jones Index rose 0.4% to 14,606.11 points, despite disappointing data on the U.S. economy. Eight out nine sectors in the index increased with telecommunications and financials adding 1.1% and 0.9% for the two biggest increases on Dow. 24