U.K. shares rose for a second straight day as interest rate decisions were awaited from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank by investors. The FTSE 100 Index gained 0.8% to 6,511.61 as of 11:20 a.m. London time; however, it has declined 5.7% since January 20. The FTSE All-Share Index added 0.68%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index climbed 1%
Natural gas traded in New York increased on Thursday session before a government data revealed that inventories in the U.S. declined last week exceeding the five-year average notable as cold weather in the U.S. stays at the beginning of February. Natural gas for settlement in March gained 4.4% to $5.253 a million British thermal units on the NYMEX and was
The European benchmark Brent crude traded in London increased on Thursday after the Energy Administration Department showed in a report that stockpiles in the world's largest oil consumer, U.S., rose by 505,000 barrels in the week ended on January 31. Brent for delivery in March added 13 cents to $106.38 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate oil were little changed on Thursday trading session fluctuated near the highest figures in a three-day period after a government report showed that inventories in the U.S. shrank as demand rises. WTI for settlement in March rose as much as 20 cents to $97.58 per barrel on the NYMEX by 3:45 p.m. Singapore time.
Treasuries has declined this week and become the worst-performing bonds in the week starting on February 3 after recording a rally in January before Friday's report showing that payrolls in the U.S. increased after recording a drop the week before. The benchmark 10-year government bonds yielded at 2.67% as of 8:08 a.m. London time.
Consumer confidence in Switzerland improved last month mainly due to an increase in household sentiment about the overall economic situation in the region, the latest data published by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs showed on Thursday. The country's consumer confidence advanced from October's -5 points to a level of 2 in December.
Merchandise trade balance in Switzerland came in surplus in the last month of 2013, however the figure was notably lower than economists originally expected, a report unveiled by the Federal Customs Administration showed on Thursday. The Swiss merchandise trade surplus recorded 0.5 billion franc in December after it was rose to 2.03 billion in the month before.
United Kingdom house price inflation slowed down in the month of January, however the rate of slow-down was lower than originally expected, a report published by the private company Lloyd Banking Group showed on Thursday. The U.K. house price index gained 7.3% year-on-year in January following an increase of 7.5% in the month before.
Manufacturing sector in France will likely to expand faster than originally expected in 2014 after showing a contraction in a survey revealed in October, the statistical office Insee unveiled in a survey on Thursday. The country's business investment is forecast to rise by 3% this year following a drop by 7% in 2013, while in October the same survey predicted
The central bank of Japan will likely to maintain its benchmark interest rates unchanged at a record lows until its inflation target of two percent is achieved, the BoJ Governor Kikuo Iwata claimed on Thursday. The Bank of Japan keeps the rates low even if the 2% inflation target is reached on an annual basis, unless the consumer prices stay
The U.S. Dollar index slightly fell on Thursday session after hitting the session highs on Wednesday after data published by the Institute for Supply Management showed that service sector in the country rose more than expected last month. The U.S. Index measuring its performance against most-traded peers gained from 81.065 to 81.240 reached earlier.
The Australia's Dollar advanced on Thursday rising versus the majority of its most-traded peers after bunch of recent favourbale reports signaled that the Reserve Bank of Australia may be done with interest rate cuts as the local economy improves. The so-called Aussie gained 0.6% to $0.8965 and it has added 2.5% this week.
The U.S. Dollar remained steady on Thursday trading session and traded above its eleven-week low against the Japanese Yen after recent economic data showed unfavourable results and as investors expect Friday's report to showed that payrolls rebounded last month. The Greenback traded at 101.47 yen gaining from its lowest level in almost 3 months at 100.76.
The 18-nation bloc currency held firm on Thursday trading session before the European Central Bank announced its decision to cut the benchmark interest rates further amid speculation of increasing deflation in the region. The Euro remained stable traded at $1.3528 rising from the lowest level in two months at $1.3477 reached on Monday session.
The European Central Bank may ease its monetary policy further on today's meeting as investors expect the bank to cut its interest rates by another 25 basis points, or 0.25%, after recent economic data revealed unfavourable results and slowing inflation. Investors bet on an interest rate of conventional 25 basis points, however, the cut may be lower of about 0.1-0.15%.
Asian equities increased on Thursday trading session rising from the lowest figures in five months as investors speculate that the European Central Bank may ease its monetary policy on the meeting today and as U.S. jobs data could ease a tension in emerging markets. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan added 0.8% following a five-day losing streak.
Australia's retail sales jumped in the last month of 2013 matching original economists' projections, a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's retail sales climbed 0.5% on a sequential basis in December easing from November's level of 0.7% as food retail sales added 2.5%, while other retailing slipped 3.1%.
Australian merchandise trade balance came in notable surplus in the last month of 2013 compared to a shortfall originally expected, the latest data revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The country's merchandise trade surplus recorded in December A$468 million, while it was forecast to came in a shortfall of A$200 million.
U.S. equities closed lower on Wednesday session mainly due to a technical support level offsetting recent economic data showing mixed results failing to increased optimism on markets after some reports from last week showed unfavourable figures. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.03% to 15,440.23, the S&P 500 Index slipped 0.20% to 1,751.64 and the Nasdaq Composite index slid 0.50%
Service sector in the world's largest economy increased last month with the activity index rising slightly faster than expected in January, a report published by the Institute for Supply Management revealed on Wednesday. The report showed that the U.S. ISM non-manufacturing indicator rose from December's 53.0 to a level of 54.0 recorded in the following month.
Private sector in the world's largest economy added less jobs than originally expected in the month of January, however the total employment increased, a report published by the ADP and Moody's Analytics showed on Wednesday. The U.S. employment gained 175,000 jobs last month after rising in December by 227,000 jobs.
German shares were little changed, following a lowest close in seven weeks, with ThyssenKrupp AG dropping and Volkswagen AG gaining. The DAX fell less than 0.1% to 9,122.32 as of 3:03 p.m. Frankfurt time, after earlier climbing 0.3% and sliding 0.5%; however, the index has declined 6.4% from January 17. The HDAX Index fluctuated today.
European shares were little changed, reversing earlier gains, as health-care and banks shares advanced and a private report showed that U.S. companies employed fewer workers than forecasted. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added less than 0.1% to 317.66 as of 1:19 p.m. London time; however, the equity-benchmark retreated 5.4% from January 22.
U.K. shares advanced, snapping a five-day streak of losses, as GlaxoSmithKline Plc climbed after forecasting that sales will rise as new medicine will be introduced this year. The FTSE 100 Index gained 0.1% to 6,458.54 as of 1:23 London time; however, it has declined 5.5% since January 20. The FTSE All-Share Index added 0.2%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index advanced 0.5%.