Hong Kong shares gained ending at their 16-month highs on speculation that U.S. lawmakers will reach a deal to halt the so called fiscal cliff. Many HK shares inched higher amid foreign investors growing optimism on Chinese economy. The Hang Seng index inched 0.8% higher to 22,503.35 with gains spread across several sectors. The gauge is 22% up this year.
Japanese equities rose on growing optimism that the U.S. Federal Reserve will add more stimulus. The Fed is about to announce QE4 to supplement the Operation Twist that is expiring soon. The Nikkei Stock Average increased 0.6% to 9,581.46 moving closer to its highest level in eight months.All but two sectors within the index advanced Technology sector holding the leader
German stocks rallied to their highest level in five years on rising optimism the U.S. lawmakers in Washington will reach a budget deal and Fed will introduce measures to boost up the economic growth. The DAX index added 0.25%, or 18.50 points to 7,608.86, after earlier peaking at 7,612.62, highest level since January 2008. The index has gained 28% since
UK shares moved higher on speculation US Federal reserve would add more stimulus to support the world's biggest economy. Britain's top share FTSE index edged 0.23%, or 13.88 points, higher to 5,938.85 by 15:58 GMT, after earlier reaching its nine-month high at 5,941.89. The gains were mainly led by energy and basic materials. Five out of nine sectors within the
U.S. shares jumped, erasing earlier losses since November 6 in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, after German investor confidence improved unexpectedly in December raising hopes that the Europe's largest economy will recover next year. Meanwhile, policy makers in Washington began a meeting to decide whether to replace the mortgage bond-purchases of $40 billion a month with Treasury purchases as soon
U.S. stocks advanced as Germany's investor confidence rose more than expected in December and positive outlook for the federal budget talks in Washington. Optimism is rising for Germany to gather momentum in the year 2013. The S&P 500 index added 0.7% to 1,427.84, after earlier peaking 1.1% higher. The gauge is about 0.1% from erasing its loss since November 6
U.S. shares jumped, erasing earlier losses since November 6 in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, after German investor confidence improved unexpectedly in December raising hopes that the Europe's largest economy will recover next year. Meanwhile, policy makers in Washington began a meeting to decide whether to replace the mortgage bond-purchases of $40 billion a month with Treasury purchases as soon
Japanese equities rose on growing optimism that the U.S. Federal Reserve will add more stimulus. The Fed is about to announce QE4 to supplement the Operation Twist that is expiring soon. The Nikkei Stock Average increased 0.6% to 9,581.46 moving closer to its highest level in eight months.All but two sectors within the index advanced Technology sector holding the leader
Hong Kong shares gained ending at their 16-month highs on speculation that U.S. lawmakers will reach a deal to halt the so called fiscal cliff. Many HK shares inched higher amid foreign investors growing optimism on Chinese economy. The Hang Seng index inched 0.8% higher to 22,503.35 with gains spread across several sectors. The gauge is 22% up this year.
UK shares moved higher on speculation US Federal reserve would add more stimulus to support the world's biggest economy. Britain's top share FTSE index edged 0.23%, or 13.88 points, higher to 5,938.85 by 15:58 GMT, after earlier reaching its nine-month high at 5,941.89. The gains were mainly led by energy and basic materials. Five out of nine sectors within the
German stocks rallied to their highest level in five years on rising optimism the U.S. lawmakers in Washington will reach a budget deal and Fed will introduce measures to boost up the economic growth. The DAX index added 0.25%, or 18.50 points to 7,608.86, after earlier peaking at 7,612.62, highest level since January 2008. The index has gained 28% since
Core machinery orders in Japan rose for the first time in three-month period, though less-than-expected, climbing to a seasonally adjusted 2.6% in October to 704.4 billion yen, the Cabinet Office report showed on Wednesday. Year-on-year change of core machine orders recorded a 1.2% increase compared to projections of a 5.0% decline following a 7.8% contraction in September and a 6.1% drop in
U.S. import prices declined for the first time in a four-month period in November mainly due to a notable 3.0% step down in fuel prices the same month, the Labor Department reported on Wednesday. The report shows prices of import fell 0.9% in the eleventh month, more than initial projections of a 0.4% decrease, after a modest 0.3% gain recorded
Consumer price inflation in South Africa stayed at the highest level in four months in November equalling the level of inflation reached in the month before, the Statistics South Africa reported on Wednesday. The consumer price index increased annually by 5.6% in the eleventh and tenth month fulfilling economists projections, when climbing to the highest figure since a 5.7% gain in May.
U.K. jobless claims slipped by 3,000 in November, comparing with October data, to 1.58 million, as the Office for National Statistics announced on Wednesday in London. The actual number was better than a forecast, a 7,000 gain, but the jobless rate held unchanged at 7.8%. The current figure will provide a fresh stimulus for the Prime Minister, as the economy
Gold futures for February settlement were higher by 0.1%, or $2.30, to $1,711.90 an ounce in Asian trading hours on Wednesday. Investors showed preferences for this precious metal, as markets are expected to hear a Fed's commitment to expand asset purchases by 45 billion Dollar every month. That was the first drop in the last four trading sessions. Depreciation of
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index was lower by less than 0.1% in an early London trading session on Wednesday. European stocks slipped from an 18-month high, as investors awaited a decision from the Federal Reserves Bank on additional monetary easing measures. Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Fed, is expected to announced additional $45 billion purchases in every month in
The Sedlabanki keeps the seven day lending rate at 6% level, as announced on Wednesday. The maximum rate is for 28-day certificates of deposits at 5.75% and the overnight lending rate is at 7% benchmark. As the Central Bank said, indicators show that economic development is in a line with November forecast, together with an inflation data, and the Krona's
Netherlands unadjusted trade surplus expanded by 0.2 billion euros from last year to 3.6 billion euros in October, as the Central Statistics Bureau announced on Wednesday. Export of goods increased by 14% to 38.8 billion euros on an annual basis, which was mainly influenced by a noticeable increase in prices of mineral fuels and raw materials. Import stepped up by
France's harmonized inflation was 1.6% on an annual basis in November, comparing with 2.1% in the previous month, according to the statistical office Insee's report on Wednesday. The actual number was lower than a 1.8% forecast, as petroleum product prices slipped further. The harmonized consumer prices index was lower by 0.2% on a monthly base, while a forecast was
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was 0.5% higher to 126.97 points in the middle of Tokyo trading hours on Wednesday. That was a 10th consecutive gain of the main Asian stocks index, setting the longest winning streak in last three years. Asian markets traded on speculation that the Federal Reserve Bank will continue expansion of the monetary easing programme. The
The Dollar was slightly changed at $1.3006 per Euro in the very early morning at London time during Wednesday trading session. The Dollar remains lower after a 0.6% loss in the two previous days. Markets are awaiting for the final minutes from the Federal Reserve meeting, where Ben Bernanke is expected to announce an enhancement of the monetary easing programme, which
India's industrial output recovered in October, supported by electricity and manufacturing output, according to the data from the Central Statistics Office on Wednesday. Overall industrial production rose 8.2% from the previous year, while economists had a forecast of a 5.1% increase. The manufacturing sector recorded an annual expansion of 9.6 in October, while electricity output grew 5.5%.
Crude oil futures for January settlement were up by 11 cents to $85.90 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange during Asian trading hours on Wednesday. Crude oil inventories in the U.S. were 4.27 million barrels higher in last week, what was the best result since August, but commodities investors wait for an OPEC meeting, which is held today