Switzerland's retail sales growth decelerated in February, said Federal Statistical Office on Monday. The growth of Swiss retail turnover slowed rapidly from annual 4.7% in January to 0.8% in February. Sales in nominal terms shed 2.2% on year-on-year basis. Eliminating gasoline, the retail industry posted a yearly advance in real turnover of 0.4%. Food, tobacco and drinks added 0.3% while non food sector
Australia's central bank decided to leave its key interest rate unchanged on Tuesday meeting citing stabilization in Europe and better macroeconomic data from U.S. RBA kept the benchmark rate at 4.25%, matching analyst expectations. RBA board leaves constant rate for a third straight round after two cuts in 2011.
German DAX index fluctuated between gains and losses on Monday lifted by technology and health care shares. Deutsche Post AG advanced 1.0% after Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock from hold to buy. BMW AG jumped 1.7% after Barclays Capital confirmed car maker's overweight rating. Banks weighed on index with Deutsche Bank dropping 1.7% and Commerzbank declining 1.3%. At the moment
FTSE 100 faced a choppy session on Monday despite better than expected PMI data. Banks put negative pressure on the index after Financial Times reported several leading European lenders prepare to return the money borrowed via the ECB long-term refinancing operation. Barclays PLC lost 2.1%, Lloyds Banking Group PLC fell 2.2% while HSBC Holdings PLC slipped 1.3%. On the upside
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index extended losses on Monday giving up 0.16% or 33.2 points to 20,522.26 . The index still was negatively affected by property shares as the arrests of two Sun Hung Kai Properties executives on Friday put downward pressure on the whole index. The company fell 3% on Monday trade. New World Development Co shed 3.5%. Meanwhile
Asian stocks performed differently on Monday as South Korea's credit rating was upgraded by Moody's and data showed Japanese producer confidence fell in the first quarter. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index lost 0.1%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined 0.2% and Taiwan's Taiex fell 0.9%. South Korea's Kospi advanced 0.8% and Japanese Nikkei Stock Average soared 0.3%. Chinese mainland markets were closed
Agricultural commodities advanced on Friday along with broadly lower US Dollar and stronger equities. Grain commodities gained a spree after USDA reported the grains' stockpiles declined to seven-year low level in March on a yearly basis. Concerns that corn inventories will run to a record low until the fall harvest are likely to provide long-term support for the commodity. Corn
Energy markets apart from natural gas moved higher on Friday on the increased optimism over the Euro Zone as its finance ministers agreed on boosting the bailout fund to a record high level of 700 billion Euros. From the supply side, the upswing is likely to be spurred as tensions between South Sudan and Sudan as well as between Iran
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average finished higher on Monday though gains were limited as data showed Japanese producer sentiment stayed steady in March at minus 4. Nikkei 225 index added 0.26% or 26.31 points and closed at 10,109.87. On the upside Japanese benchmark was supported by car makers as Honda Motor climbed 2%, Mazda Motor added 0.7% and Suzuki Motor gained
Dow Jones Industrial Average index traded higher on Friday lifted by US consumer confidence index which surged to a 13-month record high in March. Blue chip index climbed 0.5% or 66.22 points and closed at 13,212.04, advancing 8.1% on quarterly basis. Three stocks of 20 posted minor losses. Pfizer Inc jumped 3.8% after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analyst predicted the
S&P 500 index retreated and ended higher on Friday as Ben Bernake confirmed Fed will continue boosting economy and Europe approved larger firewall. US index added 0.37% or 5.19 points and finished at 1,408.47, gaining 12% for the quarter. Health sector extended gains with Wellpoint Health advancing 3% and Tenet Healthcare gained 2.9%. Energy stocks also posted gains as oil
EUR/USD slowed near the support level around $1.3341, and formed an ascending triangle pattern on the 30m chart. The formation has 68% quality along with 64% magnitude within 81 bars.The price was capped twice around $1.3376 level before the formation appeared. The Stochastic indicator is recovering from its oversold area, which leads to the possible price rebound. If the pair
UK home prices soared last month first time in almost two years as purchasers rushed to take an advantage of expiring property tax exemption. The average value of a housing in Whales and England climbed 0.2% compared to February. On March 24 expired the property tax exemption for first home purchasers who buy a house or an apartment for less than GBP
17-country FMs voted in favour of a firewall package adding EUR 500 billion (USD 667 billion) fresh rescue cash to EUR 300 billion already provided to bailout programs. The overall firewall size now totals USD 1 trillion plus about EUR 1 trillion ECB aid to the region's lenders. Europe has met the requirements and now awaits talks with IMF on
Japanese Yen fell against all of its peers on Monday after data showed Japanese manufacturers sentiment remained unchanged at minus 4 in the first quarter. Japan's currency gave up 0.2% versus US Dollar to JPY 83.04 and also lost 0.2% against Euro to JPY 110.76. Currently USD/JPY is trading at JPY 82.95 and EUR/JPY is trading at JPY 110.67.
Japanese producer sentiment stayed steady in March as managers forecast the Yen may recover against greenback, harming exporter turnover. The Tankan index, measuring manufacturing sentiment remained unchanged from December at minus 4. Analysts expected the gauge to improve to minus 1. A reading below zero indicates that pessimists outnumber optimists.
Precious metals rallied on Friday after the Euro Zone's finance ministers agreed on boosting the lending facility to 700 billion Euros. Broadly weaker US Dollar after lower than expected Chicago PMI data and stronger equities also lifted the precious metals group. Gold was the driver for the commodity group. However, the upside of the yellow metal was capped as India
Industry metals were mixed on Friday with soaring nickel and copper and falling zinc and aluminium. Weaker US Dollar and firm European and US equities lent some support to the base metals pack. However, softer than expected German retail sales and Chicago PMI data limited the upswing. Traders also were cautious ahead of China's PMI data release that was due
US shares mostly gained on Friday supported by better than predicted consumer confidence data in March and closed the first quarter of 2012 with a substantial gains. S&P 500 added 0.37% or 5.19 points and finished at 1,408.47, gaining 12% for the quarter. Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5% or 66.22 points and closed at 13,212.04, advancing 8.1% on quarterly
Ben Bernanke, chairman of Fed, hinted that the central bank of the US is likely to continue its economy-stimulating measures, citing overall weakness of the US job market despite increased hiring in the last three months. He also claimed that Fed has to 'remain cautious', which was interpreted by many analysts as a sign of maintaining record low interest rates
Moody's has upgraded the credit rating of South Korea from stable to positive, announced South Korea's finance ministry. The credit agency has revised its outlook on the country's economy to A1 due to healthy external liquidity and fiscal balance as well as positive prospects of further economic growth. The move followed Fitch's revision of South Korea's credit rating from stable
Weaker inflation rate in March are likely to inspire the Reserve Bank to reduce the interest rates in the nearest future. The inflation rate accelerated by 1.8% on an annualized rate last month as compared to 2% in February. The March reading indicated that the inflation rate falls into the 2-3% range targeted by the RBA for determining further monetary
Crude oil futures climbed during Asian session on Monday, being supported by China's factory data, which showed expansion last month. Light, sweet crude oil futures for May delivery traded at 103.40 US Dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, appreciating by 0.37% from the last session's low of 103.27 US Dollars per barrel.
US car sales are likely to have remained strong last month, say auto producers. The sales are likely to have climbed at the fastest pace in the last four years in the March quarter amid improved outlook on the US economy. Strong US sales are likely to have offset weak demand from the Euro Zone, the auto makers added.