The British currency reached its highest level versus the greenback after the Bank of England left its monetary policy unchanged. The Pound traded at $1.6459 as of 12:06 p.m. in London, after advancing to $1.6603 on January 2, the strongest level in two years. U.K.'s currency slid 0.1% to 82.63 pence per Euro after strengthening to 82.42 pence on Wednesday.
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Thursday rebounding from the lowest level in six weeks after the U.S. currency fell against the Euro before the European Central Bank revealed its decision about interest rate cuts on today's policy meeting. WTI for delivery next month jumped 52 cents and traded at $92.71 on the NYMEX by 9:39 a.m. in London.
The European benchmark Brent crude rose on Thursday after an industry report revealed by the Energy Information Administration showed that inventories in the U.S., the world's largest consumer of the commodity, increased more than projected. Brent for delivery in February gained as much as 0.6% to $107.74 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
Government bonds in Spain increased on Thursday with 2- and 5-year yields falling to all-time lows after the country's auction yesterday totalling 3.53 billion euros in five-year securities with the lowest yields ever. Spain's 2-year bond yields declined six basis points to 0.98% as of 10:02 a.m. in London following a drop to 0.969%.
Economic confidence in the euro-area improved by more than economists originally expected in the last month of 2013, a report revealed by the European Commission showed on Thursday. According to the report, the confidence index recorded a level of 100 in December, rising from November's 98.4, while it was projected to grow to 99.1.
European equities swung between gains and losses on Thursday and traded near the highest level in more than five years with investors waiting for a result from the European Central Bank policy meeting showing whether it takes action in order to fight low inflation in the euro-area. The pan-European FTSEEurofirst 300 index held at 1,321.49 as of 8:03 a.m. London
France's trade balance came in deficit last year, however the shortfall was lower than in the previous year, according to the report revealed by the Ministry of Trade showed on Thursday. The country's trade balance recorded a deficit totaling 60 billion euros in 2013 compared to a level of 67 billion euros in 2012.
Inflation in the world's second largest economy measured as consumer price index eased more than economists originally expected in December despite the country's central bank's policy of reducing liquidity of local banks, a report revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. China's CPI slowed to 2.5% in December, the least in seven months.
The Euro strengthened on Thursday rising against the U.S. Dollar before a policy meeting of the European Central Bank that may show whether the policymakers take further steps in order to fight falling inflation in the area. The Euro rebounded from the lowest level in a month versus the Greenback and was last 0.24% higher at $1.3609.
The U.S. Dollar declined on Thursday falling against the Euro and the British Pound as investors awaited results of the European Central Bank and the Bank of England policy meetings forecast to maintain interest rates unchanged. The Greenback slipped against the Pound to $1.6469, while it declined 0.3% versus the 18-nation bloc currency to $1.3600.
Private employment in the U.S. in non-farm sector managed to increase its pace of growth to the largest level since 2012 in December of the last year, showing the overall optimist on the labor market. Payrolls surged 238,000 after revised 229,000 in November, while analysts expected them to drop to 200,000. The recovering labor market may lead to faster Fed
U.S. shares retreated, after equities bounced off from three straight day decline, as investors speculated on ADP payrolls that were better than previously expected. U.S. companies increased payrolls by 238,000 last month, according to ADP Research Institute. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index slipped 0.1% to 1,835.36 as of 9:33 a.m. New York time; however, the gauge rallied 30% in
The unemployment in the Eurozone remained unchanged in November of the previous year, as the recovery only starts to gain pace after the longest recession in the currency bloc. The jobless rate stayed at 12.1%, the Eurostat data showed on Wednesday, matching analysts' expectations. The lowest rate of 4.8% remained in Austria, while Greece struggled with the highest 27.4% jobless
The British currency appreciated to the strongest level in approximately four weeks against Eurozone's currency on bets that U.K.'s economic growth will outpace Euro area this year. The Sterling gained 0.4% to 82.72 pence per Euro as of 12:47 p.m. in London, after falling to 82.65 pence, the highest level since December 3. The Pound added 0.2% to $1.6428, after
The mortgage lender Halifax announced that property prices in the U.K. declined in December of 2013 for the first time in 11 months, losing 0.6% on a monthly basis. At the same time, the last quarter of the year showed a 1.9% increase in prices, while during 2013 they surged 5.7%. Halifax analysts predict the housing prices to increase 4-8%
Canada's currency dropped below C$1.08 per U.S. Dollar for the first time in approximately three years as Bank of Canada Governor Poloz stated that there is room to cut interest rates. The Canadian Dollar slid 0.5% to C$1.0818 per U.S. Dollar as of 8:18 a.m. Toronto time, after it declined to C$1.0829 per U.S. Dollar, making it the weakest level
The government of Spain plans to decrease its net bond issues during the current year, as the economic recovery may lead to decline in necessity to borrow as much money as it was before. Debt sales will probably equal to 65 billion euro in 2014, dropping from 66.1 billion in the previous year. The government holds its first 2014 bond
The U.S. Dollar prolonged its climb after ADP report showed that U.S. companies have added more workplaces than previously expected. The greenback gained for a second straight day as payrolls increased by 238,000 last month, according to ADP Research Institute; however, an increase by 200,000 were forecasted. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index added 0.2% to 1,028.14 as of 8:35 a.m.
The futures of natural gas dropped on the outlook for balmy weather after the cold, which would pull down the demand for the heating fuel. Natural gas slid 0.2% as the longer-term temperature forecast for the end of the month is above normal. Natural gas delivery for February slipped 0.7 cent reaching to $4.299 per million British thermal units after hitting as much as $4.43.
European stocks only slightly changed before the report by U.S. enterprises on hiring, which can help investors predict the Fed's intensity of stimulus reduction. While Sap AG gained 1.1%, Kion Group AG fell 2.8%, The Stoxx 600 slid less than 0.1% to 329.28 as well as Standard & Poor's 500. Yesterday the Managing Director Christine Lagade stated that the International
Emerging-market shares jumped on Wednesday rising for the first time in a six-day period together with an increase of the region's currencies after the International Monetary Fund revealed its forecast for global growth. The MSCI Emerging-Markets Index added 0.4% to 974.94 by 4:04 p.m. Hong Kong time after falling for five straight sessions.
The British Sterling fluctuated on Wednesday against the U.S. Dollar and the 18-nation bloc currency before a report showed that house prices in the United Kingdom increased at a slower rate in December. The Pound last stood at $1.6416 by 7:38 a.m. in London after rising to the highest level since August 2001 on January 2 at $1.6603.
South Korean currency increased on Wednesday rising by the most in five days and extending its rebound from the weakest level since November amid speculation that exporters are selling U.S. Dollars after the currency's recent drop. The Won added 0.4% to 1,064.54 per U.S. Dollar Seoul time after falling to 1,070.15 earlier on the session.
U.S. Treasuries increased in the first week of this year and were little changed on Wednesday session with the benchmark 10-year yields rising to the strongest level in over two years and investors' appetite rose. The U.S. 10-year bond yields were traded at 2.95% by 3:24 p.m. Tokyo time after the yields rose to the highest level since July 2011