Spanish gross domestic product advanced 0.4% in the first quarter as the Prime Minister Mario Rajoy asked the European Central bank to support recovery threatened by the Euro appreciation and deflation. Further growth of the economy is expected as consumer confidence and industrial production increases, the Bank of Spain forecasts the economy to grow 1.2% this year.
The majority of European stocks declined earlier on Thursday trading session snapping their three day winning streak after a report showed that new houses sales in the world's largest economy slipped in March and as investors weighed PMI data from China to the U.S. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index tumbled 0.6% to 335.05 and it had advanced 3.2% in the
The European benchmark Brent crude dropped on Thursday session after the Energy Department reported that stockpiles in the U.S. may have gained to the highest level since 1931 and as tension between Ukraine and Russia eased. Brent for delivery in June advanced as much as 19 cents to $109.30 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude declined on Thursday trading session and was trade close to the weakest level in two weeks as inventories in the U.S., the world's largest oil consumer, advanced to the strongest level in a period of 83 years. WTI for settlement in June was traded 25 cents higher at $101.69 per barrel on the NYMEX as of
The Japanese currency advanced on Thursday trading session rising versus the U.S. Dollar amid speculation that tomorrow's inflation report released by the Bank of Japan may show a slow-down suggesting further stimulus in the country. The Yen gained 0.2% to 102.32 a U.S. Dollar as of 6:26 a.m. London time and it was last traded at 141.43 a Euro.
Order expectations among British manufacturers improved for the second quarter of this year as expectations for output and domestic orders growth hit the strongest levels since 1973, a report released by the Confederation of British Industry unveiled on Wednesday. According to the report, the country's order book balance gained to 21% in the Q1, the most since 1995, while general
Rate of expansion of gross domestic product in South Korea accelerated in the first three months of 2014 rising by more than economists originally expected, the latest data published by the Bank of Korea showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's GDP advanced by 0.9% in the Q1 compared to a 0.8% gain initially estimated.
Service prices of corporate sector in the Asia's second largest economy advanced on an annual basis in March matching initial economists' expectations, a data released by the Bank of Japan showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's index measuring service prices in a corporate sector gained by 0.7% in March remaining unchanged from February.
Private sector in the 18-nation bloc recorded an increase in the month of April rising at the fastest rate in almost three years despite deflation fears across the area, a report released by the Markit Economics showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the euro-area private sector grew from a level of 53.1 points in March to 54.0 in the
Government deficit of the Eurozone narrowed last year matching the European Union's target for the period, however public debt in the area increased and stayed above the EU official ceiling, the latest report published by Eurostat showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the 18-nation bloc deficit shrunk to 3% in 2013 from a level of 3.7% in 2012.
A leading index of economic activity in the world's second largest economy advanced in March with the pace of growth exceeding gains in the first two months of this year, the latest data published by the Conference Board showed on Thursday. The nation's leading economic index inched higher 1.2% on a sequential basis in March following 0.9% jump in February
Car production in the United Kingdom notably advanced in the month of March mainly due to a robust demand coming from Europe, a report revealed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders unveiled on Thursday. According to the report, the nation's car manufacturing gained 12% on an annual basis in March totaling 142,000 units.
The U.S. Dollar swung between gains and losses earlier on Thursday trading session after the U.S. Dollar index measuring its performance against most-traded peers ended close to the weakest level in one week on Wednesday. The U.S. Index was last seen at 79.845 as the Greenback was traded at a level of $1.3820 against the European currency.
The New Zealand's currency advanced on Thursday trading session rallying against its U.S. counterpart after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand signaled that it may lift its benchmark interest rates again this year as the economy improves. The so-called Kiwi added to a level of $0.8611 as the bank said it may hike the rates from 2.75% to 3.00% soon.
Wall Street shares closed lower on Thursday trading session snapping their streak of gains lasting for six straight days as drop of AT&T and biotech shares overshadowed increase of Boeing and Gilead. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index slipped 0.22% to 1,875.39, the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.83% to 4,126.967 and the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 0.08% to 16,501.65.
Asian shares swung between gains and losses on Thursday trading session with the South Korean benchmark falling despite an 0.6% increase of Samsung Electronics and as Japan's Nikkei 225 Stocks average lost 0.6%, while the Singapore's gauge advance as much as 0.5% on the session. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan inched higher 0.1%.
The European benchmark Brent oil decreased on Tuesday after a report showed that inventories in the world's largest oil consumer, U.S., advanced 3 million barrels in the week ended on April 18 after the supplies gained to the highest level in 9 months in the week before. Brent for delivery in June slipped $0.54 to $109.41 per barrel on the
West Texas Intermediate crude fell on Tuesday trading session dropping from the strongest level in a seven-week period as the WTI-Brent discount widened further after a report showed that inventories in the U.S. jumped last week. WTI for settlement in May expiring today lost as much as 1.5% to a level of $102.81 a barrel as of 10:28 a.m. on
Emerging-market stocks dropped on Tuesday trading session falling for the second successive day amid concerns that the European Union and the U.S. may put more sanctions on the Russian Federation as the geopolitical tension with Ukraine continues. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index lost 0.2% to 1,008.50 as of 11:18 a.m. New York time.
Unemployment in Sweden declined in March with the jobless rate falling from a level of 8.8% in March 2013 to 8.6% in the same period this year, while in February 2014 the rate recorded 8.5%, the latest report released by the Statistics Sweden unveiled on Tuesday. The report also showed that the country's employment rate rose to 65.4% in March.
Construction output in the euro-area advanced slightly in the month of February, however the pace of growth weakened more than forecast, a report published by the statistical office Eurostat unveiled on Tuesday. The Eurozone's construction output gained by 0.1% on a monthly basis in February following an increase by 1.6% in the previous month.
Inflation measured as consumer price index in Hong Kong remained unchanged in March staying below an average rate since the beginning of this year, a report released by the Census and Statistics Department unveiled on Tuesday. According to the report, the CPI of the city state gained by 3.9% on an annual basis in March compared to an average figure
Australian leading index measuring current economic activity advanced in the month of February rising for the seventeenth successive month, the latest data published by the Conference Board unveiled on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's leading index gained 0.3% in February following an increase by 0.2% in the prior month.
A leading economic index in the Asia's second largest economy decreased in February falling by less than economists initially estimated and remaining at the weakest level in six months, a data revealed by the Cabinet Office showed on Tuesday. The Japanese leading index slipped from January's level of 113.5 to 108.9 points in the following month.