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.
Producer prices in France declined at a slower pace than originally expected in November, the latest report revealed by the nation's statistical office showed on Friday. According to the report, the country's producer price index dropped 0.6% on an annual basis in November compared to 1.2% fall initially projected, while on a sequential basis the index added 0.5% on the
Emerging-market equities jumped on Friday mainly due to a rebound of China's shares rising from the lowest level in four months and as Turkish stocks fell together with local currency dropping to historical low on political tension in the country. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index rose 0.3% to 996.51 as of 12:18 p.m. London time, while the Istanbul benchmark Index
The European currency strengthened on Friday rising towards the highest level since October 2011 versus the U.S. Dollar after Governing Council of the European Central Bank Jens Weidman said that keeping interest rates at record low may slow down political reforms. The Euro climbed 1.1% to $1.3845 as of 7:40 a.m. New York time following a gain to $1.3893, the
U.S. Treasuries declined on Friday trading session with the benchmark 10-year yields rising to the strongest level in over two years amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve may trim its bond-purchasing program more as the economy improves. 10-year bonds yielded two basis points higher at 3.01% as of 7:45 a.m. in New York, the most since July 2011.
U.K. shares gained for a sixth consecutive day after U.S. unemployment data dropped more than expected and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index reached a record high. The FTSE 100 climbed 0.5% to 6,727.36 as of 9:23 a.m. London time and it has rallied 14% this year. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.4%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index added 0.8% today.
U.S. stock-index futures declined slightly after the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index reached record high on economic recovery optimism. S&P 500 futures expiring in March dropped 0.2% to 1,834.10 as of 10:52 a.m. London time, while Dow Jones Industrial Average contracts retreated less than 0.1% to 16,416.
European shares gained, with the regional benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index advancing for a sixth straight day, after U.S. unemployment data fell more than expected. The Stoxx 600 added 0.5% to 325.87 as of 8:21 a.m. London time, after the index completed its biggest weekly advance since July on December 24.
Brazil's currency rose to the highest level in one week after nation's officials removed a tax that was paid on selling stocks in global markets. The Brazil Real added 0.2% to 2.3536 per U.S. Dollar, reversing its quarterly retreat to 5.8%, making it the second worst performance after Japan's currency.
The British currency advanced to its two-year high against the U.S. Dollar on increasing sentiment in U.K.'s economic recovery. The Pound added 0.5% to $1.6486 as of 9:18 a.m. in London, after it rose to $1.6505, the strongest level in approximately two years. The Sterling slid 0.3% to 83.69 pence per Euro, after reaching 82.54 pence on December 2.
Metals from platinum to silver increased on Friday trading session with the silver futures heading to record their best week in a month after it has fallen 34% this year, while Platinum climbed the most in a 10-week period yesterday. Silver for December settlement added 1% to $19.9779 an ounce, Platinum jumped 0.5% to $1,365.80 an ounce and palladium rose
Gold was little changed on Friday traded near the highest level in a week and headed for a quarterly and monthly drop after the U.S. Federal Reserve trimmed its stimulus as the country's economy improved. Bullion for delivery in December gained and lost 0.3% before trading at a level of $1,213.39 an ounce as of 3:42 p.m. in Singapore.
South Korean currency strengthened on Friday completing the largest advance in a week since October 18 after a report showed that local business confidence advanced and amid speculation that policymakers may curb exchange-rate appreciation. The Won gained 0.5% to 1,054.39 per U.S. Dollar in Seoul today and it has added 0.7% this week.
Manufacturing sector in the Asia's second largest economy advanced at the steepest rate in more than seven years in December as output and new businesses grew strongly, a report unveiled by Markit Economics and the Japan Materials Management Association showed on Friday. Japan's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for manufacturing sector added from November's 55.1 to 55.2 in the following month.
Consumer confidence in Finland advanced in December mainly due to an improvement in savings of households, at the same time, business confidence in the country stayed unchanged in the same month, a report published by the Statistics Finland showed on Friday. According to the report, the Finnish consumer confidence index gained from November's 6.4 to 7.2 in the following month.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in France advanced November after falling sharply in the month before rising concerns that an unemployment aim of the country's President Francois Hollande may not be achieved, the Labour Ministry showed in a report on Friday. France's jobless claims rose by 17,800 totalling 3.293 million in the month of November.
Industrial profits in the world's second largest economy advanced in the January-November period rising by 13.2% on an annual basis standing at 5.33 trillion yen, a report revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Friday. According to the report, the headline figure was down from a level of 13.7% recorded in the January-October period.
The Japanese Yen weakened on Friday falling against the U.S. Dollar and the 17-nation bloc currency towards the five-year low as investors' risk appetite increased after Wall Street shares record new highs yesterday and amid favourable economic data in the U.S. The Yen slipped to 105.05 yen before trading at 104.86 yen, while it slid to 143.915 yen, the least
The majority of Asian stocks inched up on Friday trading session as the U.S. equities increased to record highs on Thursday after a government report showed that Japan's factory output advanced and as the U.S. Dollar strengthened above a level of 105 yen. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan gained 0.8% and Shanghai index added 1.7%.
Japanese automobile production advanced for the third consecutive time in November with the overall vehicle production rising 10.2% on an annual basis totaling 846,151 units, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association showed in a report on Friday. Japan's passenger car production grew by 10.3% and trucks production added 11.4%, while production of buses fell 9.9%.
Consumer confidence in South Korea stayed firm in December following a modest advanced recorded in the month before, the latest figure revealed by the Bank of Korea showed on Thursday. According to the report, the South Korean consumer confidence index stayed at 107 in the month of December, while inflation expectations of households remained at 2.9%.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in the world's largest economy declined at a steeper pace than economists originally expected in the week to December 21, reflecting higher volatility on the labour market during the holidays. The U.S. jobless claims dropped from 380,000 to 338,000 last week, while it was forecast to record 340,000.