U.S. pending homes sales recorded a modest advance in the month of November, however the increase was shy of a forecast, a report published by the National Association of Realtors revealed on Monday. According to the report, the U.S. pending home sales added 0.2% from 101.5 recorded in October to a level of 101.7 in the following month.
The U.S. Dollar advanced against the Japanese Yen on the last trading session of 2013 and it has increased 21% against its Japan's counterpart as the Asian currency weakened on super-easy monetary policy implemented by the Bank of Japan. The so-called Greenback traded near 105.41 Yen, the most since October 2008 and last stood at 104.89.
Wall Street closed firm on Monday with the benchmark index Dow Jones average setting a fresh high and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index slid modestly after a report showed that home sales declined last month. The Dow Jones industrial average added 0.16% to 16,504, the S&P 500 Index slipped 0.02% to 1,841.07 and the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.06%
Global equities increased on the last session of this year as monetary policies all over the world are loosen and the global economic outlook improves, however the minority of emerging-market stocks dropped as liquidity flows to rich-world assets. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan rose 0.23%, while South Korean, Singapore and Philippines's index remained flat.
The current account surplus of Switzerland advanced slightly in the previous quarter of the current year from a year earlier, the data from the National Bank of Switzerland showed on Monday. The positive current account balance rose to 19.7 billion francs from 13.7 billion francs a year ago. On the other hand, comparing with the Q2 of 2013, the surplus
Business confidence in Italy advanced in December of this year, however, the pace of increase did not reach the expectations of economists. The corresponding indicator, which measures the sentiment, rose to 98.2 points in the manufacturing sector of the country's economy from 98 a month ago and 97.3 points in October. At the same time, analysts predicted the confidence index
The British Sterling was little changed on Monday trading session against the U.S. Dollar and the Euro after a report showed that the average asking price in the United Kingdom advanced for the eleventh straight month in December. The Pound last stood at $1.6495 by 7:48 a.m. in London after it traded at $1.6578 on December 27, the most since
The 17-nation bloc currency stayed firm on Monday traded near the strongest level in two years against the U.S. Dollar after the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi commented that there's no need for interest rates cuts. The Euro increased to 145.675 yen, the most in 5 years and it last stood at 144.82, while it traded at $1.3765 following
Gold declined on Monday falling for the first time in a five-day period and was set to record its largest yearly drop in 30 years as holdings in ETF backed by the precious metal slipped 33% and recorded the biggest slump since 2009. Bullion for December settlement slid 0.5% to $1,206.81 an ounce and last stood at $1,207.69 as of
West Texas Intermediate crude slipped on Monday traded above a level of $100 per barrel for the second straight session after a government report showed that stockpiles in the world's largest consumer, U.S., declined more than projected to the weakest level since September, WTI for delivery in February traded 2 cents lower at $100.30 a barrel on the NYMEX.
The majority of Asian equities increased on Monday with the local benchmark index setting a ten-day gain after the Japanese benchmark index Nikkei 225 rose 57% this year, the largest annual advance since 1972.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index jumped 0.3% to 140.73 by 5:11 p.m. Tokyo time, the South Korean Kospi added 0.5%, Australian S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.6% and New
Property prices in the U.K. will most likely continue to increase during the next year, while the rise will be led by Southeast England and London regions. Economists point out that demand in the year 2013 surged 25%, while supply added only 6%, and the situation will not change a lot in 2014. At the same time, the BoE analysts
The Constitutional Court of France approved an increase of the income tax to 75% for people earning above one million euros. Therefore, the proposal of country's president Francois Hollande got the official permission to be introduced. Companies will pay a 50% tax on wages that exceed one million euros, but together with other social charges the amount will rise to
European shares swung between gains and losses on Monday with the benchmark stock index Europe 600 jumping towards the strongest level in more than five-and-half year. The Stoxx 600 gauge slid 0.1% to 327.49 as of 8:11 a.m. London time and it has advanced 0.7% in December, while last week the index gained 2% after the IMF signalled it may
German government bunds fluctuated on Monday before a today's auction of Italy's debt totaling 5.5 billion euros of 5-year and 10-year securities and before a euro-area report showing that manufacturing in the Eurozone rose more than forecast in December. German benchmark 10-year yields traded at 1.96% by 7:20 a.m. in London, the most since September 23.
South Korea's industrial production maintained flat in the month of November on a sequential basis staying below economists' expectations of an increase, a report published by the Statistics Korea showed on Monday. The country's industrial output was forecast to rise 0.4% after gaining 2.1% in the prior month, while year-on-year the production slipped 1.3% in November.
Service sector in Russia accelerated in December rising at the fastest rate in a nine-month period, the latest data revealed by the Markit Economics and HSBC Bank showed on Monday. According to the data, the country's service sector purchasing managers' index added from 52.9 points recorded in November to 53.6 in the following month.
The Prime Minister of China's government Li Keqiang claimed that policymakers maintain reasonable liquidity in the next year in order to ensure economic stability in the country, according to the report published by Xinhua during the weekend. The report also showed that the nation will apply prudent monetary policy in 2014 to keep stable price levels.
Current account balance in South Korea came in surplus in the month of November staying in black figures for the twenty second successive time, a report published by the Bank of Korea showed on Monday. According to the report, South Korean current account surplus recorded $6.03 billion following a surplus of $9.51 billion in October.
House prices in the United Kingdom increased in December from the previous month with the average asking house price rising 0.5% on the month following a 0.5% gain in November, a report revealed by the Hometrack unveiled on Monday. The report also showed that prices jumped 4.4% on an annual basis in December after climbing 3.8% in the prior month.
The Japanese benchmark stock average increased on Monday rising towards the highest level in six years and completing this year's gain to 57%, the largest advance in 40 years, as the Bank of Japan may add more stimulus. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.7% to 16,291.31 as Mazda Motor Corp gained 213% in 2013, the best performer of the gauge, while
The Japanese currency declined on the last trading session of 2013 on Monday hitting the weakest level in five years and extending this year's losses to over 17% amid signs that global economy is improving and as traders expect more stimulus by the Bank of Japan. Yen dropped to the lowest since October 2008 at 105.415 per U.S. Dollar and
Australian and Japanese stocks increased on Monday completing a stellar year in the last session of 2013 with the Japan's benchmark stock index hitting the highest level in six years after the local currency fell to its new record low. Australian shares gauge advanced 0.6% and it gained 15% this year, while Nikkei 225 Index added 0.7%.
Current account balance in Spain came in surplus in the month of October mainly due to improvements in services, goods and current transfers trade balances, a data published by the Bank of Spain unveiled on Friday. The report showed that Spain's current account surplus rose annually from 422.7 million euros to 1.714 billion euros in October.