Hong Kong shares plunged on Wednesday giving up early gains led by Wall Street, where the U.S. shares reached new record highs. The Hang Seng Index retreated 0.1% to 22,337.49 on turnover HK$52.28 billion. Losses in the index were also led by Chinese energy sector where oil prices fell. Downward trend in the gauge was restricted by utility group that
Japanese shares advanced, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average snapping is biggest jump in nearly two months, as U.S. factory orders surged on higher demand for motor vehicles and a two-day policy meeting of BOJ started. The Bank of Japan is forecast to increase its monthly bond purchases by around 50% at the meeting ending on April 4. The Nikkei
Most U.S. blue chips advanced on Tuesday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a record high level, as the Cypriot government finished bailout talks with the so-called troika that granted additional two years for implementing necessary international bailout measures. The Dow Jones Index jumped 0.6% to 14,662.01. Health care providers surged the most among all groups in the index,
U.S. stocks closed higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 Index trading at its record high, as concerns over the Eurozone's debt crisis faded and report showed factory orders climbed in February due to increasing demand for motor vehicles and aircraft. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rallied 0.5% to end at 1,570.25. Seven out of ten groups in the
Farm commodities finished in red on Tuesday as bearish USDA report released last week continued to weigh on the commodity group. Moreover, prospects of sufficient global supplies added pressure on rural commodities. Wheat extended losses as sentiment remained weak after the USDA report showed inventories totaled 1.23 billion bushels in the beginning of March compared to expectations of 1.17 billion bushels.
Energy futures were mixed on Tuesday amid ideas that the EIA weekly supply report scheduled on Wednesday may show an increase in the US inventories. Furthermore, disappointing manufacturing numbers from the US and China weighed on global energy demand prospects. Crude oil inched down as investors expected the EIA report to show an increase in inventories by 1.8 million barrels last
Industrial metals were bearish on Tuesday tracking weak manufacturing data from the US and China released on Monday. China's manufacturing PMI reached 50.9 last month compared to a forecast of 51.6, while US final manufacturing PMI hit 54.6 versus an estimate of 55.0. China's property sector curbs coupled with instability in the Eurozone also put pressure on the base metals. Aluminum
Precious metals retreated on Tuesday as broadly stronger US Dollar amid dismal Eurozone's data releases pushed the commodity group lower. Moreover, easing worries over Cyprus bailout dampened safe haven appeal of precious metals. Gold approached a three-week low amid signs of improvement in the US economy. Strength in the US Dollar and soft investment demand also weighed on the yellow metal. Silver
Manufacturing sector activity in the U.K. continued to shrink in March, but the pace of contraction was lower than the month before, a survey revealed by the Markit Economics and CPIS showed on Tuesday. The report said the manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index advanced from its 4-month low at 47.9 recorded in February to 48.3 in March, the reading stayed
Unemployment in Italy decreased modestly in the month of February with the jobless rate falling on a sequential basis by 0.1% from 11.7% in January to 11.6% the month before, a report released by the statistical office Istat showed on Tuesday. The jobless rate among people between the age of 15 and 24 was 37.8% in February compared to 38.6%
Manufacturing activity in Germany shrank less than expected in the month of March, while the volume of new jobs declined for the first time this year and the level of output stayed flat in March, the Markit Economics reported on Tuesday. The Markit/BME Purchasing Managers' Index decreased from 50.3 in February to 49 in March, while it was forecast to
Copper declined to its weakest level since August 2012 after a report showed that manufacturing in the U.S. and China, the largest consumers, advance at the slower pace than expected, while aluminium fell to its lowest level since October. Copper for July delivery slid 1.3% to $7,440 a metric ton in London and it was traded at $7,493 in Tokyo,
Hong Kong shares rose on Monday, despite the contraction in U.S. manufacturing sector. The Hang Seng Index added 0.3%, or 68.19 points, to 22,367.82. 30 out of 50 companies included in the gauge registered advance in price of share, while 18 companies declined. Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp jumped 2.5% to HKD20.75, recovering from the biggest decline since August. Wharf
West Texas Intermediate oil decreased for a second straight day on Tuesday amid concerns that inventories in the U.S. advanced by 2.3 million barrels last week to its highest level in more than 22 years. May WTI futures dropped by 45 cents to $96.62 a barrel on the NYMEX and were $96.81 at 3:23 p.m. in Singapore, following a yesterday's
U.S. Treasuries were little changed on Tuesday as the Federal Reserve's inflation projections decreased to its weakest level in one month before a report showed that job positions in the U.S. are increasing without driving hourly earnings higher. The benchmark 10-year yields were at 1.83% earlier on Tuesday and they may rise to 2.31% by the end of 2013, according
Government bonds of Germany advanced on Tuesday before meeting of the Cypriot government and representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the European Union in order to seek easier bailout terms for Cyprus. The benchmark 10-year yields dropped 0.02% to 1.27% earlier on Tuesday after they fell close to its lowest level in 8 months at 1.25% on March 28.
Japanese stocks fell on Monday, as the U.S. manufacturing index decreased more than estimated and the yen strengthened. The Nikkei 225 Index lost 1.1%, or 131.59 points, to 12,003.43. Only 49 out of 225 companies included in the gauge posted gains and 2 out of 10 sectors advanced. Tokyo Tatemono Co Ltd, a real-estate and financial company, surged the most,
The British Sterling was little changed versus the U.S. Dollar and the shared currency before a data that is expected to show that banks in the U.K. approved lower number of loans for homes in February and before report saying that manufacturing sector fell on the month. The Pound was traded at 84.49 pence per Euro earlier on Tuesday after
The Chinese currency reached the strongest level in nineteen years after the People's Bank of China increased its fixing by 0.14%, the highest since February 8, to 6.2586 per U.S. Dollar and as the purchasing managers' index climbed to its highest figure since April 2012. The Yuan advanced 0.1% to 6.2016 per U.S. Dollar earlier on Tuesday Shanghai session, its
The European currency depreciated to its weakest level in five weeks against the Yen ahead of a report that might show that the jobless rate in the 17-nation bloc recorded 12% in February, a record high level. The Euro decreased by 0.3% to 119.44 yen earlier on Monday London session after it dropped to 119.16 yen and it also rose
U.S. equities declined on Friday, as the American manufacturing index from ISM fell less than forecasted. The S&P 500 Index lost 0.45%, or 7.02 points, to 1,562.17, and traded slightly below its historical highest value. Humana Inc surged 8.6% to USD75.02, pushing the health care sector into the green zone, as the government announced an increase in a Medicare payment
Australian national bank decided to maintain its cash rate at the same level unchanged at 3% for the third successive time on Tuesday as the global economy is showing signs of recovery and consumption in the country is improving as well. The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to keep the inflation target at a level of 2-3% providing a
House prices in Australia accelerated at the strongest pace in almost three years in the first three month of this year, a report unveiled by the property research company RP Data-Rismark showed on Tuesday. The report said that dwelling values grew by 2.8% in the Q1 taking the cumulative capital advance to 4.7% since May 2012, while house prices rose
U.S. blue chips decreased on Friday, as the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index fell to 51.3 in March, down from 54.2 in February. The Dow Jones Index lost 0.04%, or 5.69 points, to 14,572.85, close to its highest level since 1896. Health care and telecommunications sectors advanced the most, adding 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively. UnitedHealth Group surged 3.1% to