Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. increased in the week ended on March 29 rebounding by much more than economists originally expected as the figure fell in the week before, the Labor Department unveiled on Thursday. The U.S. jobless claims advanced by 16,000 from 310,000 to a level of 326,000 last week.
Service sector in the world's largest economy accelerated in March rising at a faster pace than in the month before, a report released by the Institute for Supply Management showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's service sector index jumped from 51.6 points in February to 53.1 points in March, while it was seen to climbing to 53.5.
Wall Street equities swung between gains and losses earlier on Thursday session with the benchmark stock index Standard & Poor's 500 trading close to its record high after economic data from the world's largest economy missed forecast. The S&P 500 Index was traded 0.1% lower at 1,888.72 as of 10:36 a.m. New York time and the Dow Jones industrial average
European stocks stayed almost the same after a seven-day advance, since investors wait for the ECB's decision related to the interest rate. Asian shares and U.S. stock-index futures were little changed as well. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid less than 0.1% to 336.9 as of 8:09 a.m. London time, Nokian Renkaat Oyj lost 5.7 percent, Deutsche Bank AG slipped
The U.S. treasuries declined on Thursday with the benchmark 10-year government yields rising towards the highest level in eight years against the German benchmark bonds ahead of the European Central Bank policy meeting today. The U.S. 10-year notes yielded at 2.79% by 6:59 a.m. London time as it has gained by 1.81% from a year ago.
China's equities dropped on Thursday falling for the first time in a three-day period as declines of the financial sector companies overshadowed the country's government measures built to support economic growth. The benchmark index Shanghai Composite slipped as much as 0.6% to 2,046.74 as of 1:41 p.m. following an advanced by 0.3%.
Emerging-market equities declined on Thursday trading session following the longest gain since January 2013 amid investors' speculation that the rally was too rapid and as China's stocks dropped after the PBOC signals it may support the local economy. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index lost 0.2% to 1,003.43 as of 1:35 p.m. Hong Kong time.
The European benchmark Brent crude was traded lower on Thursday trading session, however the WTI-Brent spread narrowed for the sixth successive day as oil production in the Africa's largest crude supplies, Libya, fell to 250,000 barrels per day. Brent for delivery in Mat lost as much as 26 cents to $104.53 per barrel on the London's Ice Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude declined on Thursday trading session falling for the fourth straight day and extending its losing streak to the longest in three months on concerns that the economic growth of the U.S. and China is easing, reducing oil demand. WTI for settlement in May fell 45 cents to $99.17 per barrel on the NYMEX and it was
Private sector in the city state Hong Kong remained almost unchanged in the month of March following a series of gains in the five previous months, as orders and output both fell, a report published by the Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The Hong Kong's purchasing managers' index dropped from a level of 53.3 in February to 49.9 in the
Merchandise trade balance in Australia came in a surplus in February, however on a sequential basis the surplus shrank by 14%, a report published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The country's merchandise trade surplus recorded A$1.20 billion in February, while it was forecast to record only A$850 million on the month.
Australia's retail sales advanced in February rising by less than economists originally expected and the gain was at a slower rate than in the month before, the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed in a report on Thursday. According to the report, the country's total retail sales volume jumped by 0.2% totaling A$22.972 billion, while in January it grew by 1.2%.
Gold prolongs its gain from the lowest level in seven weeks on speculation that metal's physical demand will increase. The yellow metal for immediate delivery added 0.3% to $1,293.36 an ounce at 2:26 p.m. Singapore time, after rising 0.9% on Wednesday. Gold for June delivery climbed 0.2% to $1,293.30 an ounce in New York, after snapping a five-day decline.
The Chinese service sector advanced in March rising at a faster rate than in the month before and reaching the highest level in four months, a report unveiled by the HSBC and Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The China's purchasing managers' index for services rose from a level of 51.0 recorded in February to 51.9 points in March.
Private sector job growth in the U.S. increased significantly last month and the labour market also showed an increase in new jobs created, a report published by the payroll processor ADP unveiled on Wednesday. According to the report, the world's largest economy added 191,000 new jobs in March after rising by 178,000 in the month before.
Manufacturing new orders in the world's largest economy rebounded surprisingly in February following a series of drops in the previous months, a report released by the Commerce Department showed on Thursday. According to the report, the U.S. new orders in a factory sector gained 1.6% in February after slipping by 1.0% and 2.0% in January and December respectively.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to maintain its current monetary policy and the level of quantitative easing unchanged until the second half of 2015 and it should keep the level of borrowing costs below normal levels into 2017, John William from the San Francisco Federal Reserve said on Thursday. The Fed's official also said that the rates should maintain
The majority of Asian stocks increased on Thursday session with the gauge measuring performance of the equities traded near the highest level in almost a month as risk appetite of investors boosted after U.S. data showed an improvement in local economy. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 0.1% and the Nikkei 225 benchmark index jumped 1.2%.
The New Zealand's currency notably declined on Thursday trading session following a week of gains and as it traded close to the highest level in two-and-a-half year as, the drop was caused by profit taking on Wednesday. The so-called Kiwi slipped from $0.8702 recorded on Wednesday session to $0.8543 today as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is forecast to
The Japanese currency held steady on Thursday trading session, however it was traded near its lowest level in four weeks against the Euro and it reached a fresh 10-week low versus the U.S. Dollar before today's policy meeting of the ECB. The Yen fell 0.1% to 103.97 per U.S. Dollar after it slipped to 104.07, the least in ten weeks,
The Aussie and Kiwi are expected to fall against the U.S. Dollar and to lose this year's gains as U.S. is poised for a recovery. The Australian and New Zealand Dollars have been among the three best performing major currencies against the greenback over the previous month and this year in a whole. The Kiwi gained to 83.02 U.S. cents
The Wall Street equities closed higher on Wednesday trading session with the benchmark stock index Standard & Poor's 500 reaching the highest level all-time on signs that the country's economy is building its momentum as series of recent reports showed. The S&P 500 Index added 0.29% to 1,890. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 0.24% to 16,573 and the Nasdaq
The U.S. Dollar gained to the highest level in two months versus the Japanese Yen ahead of U.S. service industry data and nonfarm payrolls that are expected to grow. The greenback traded at 103.87 Japanese Yen at 7 a.m. London time, after reaching 104.07, the strongest level since January 23, while it was at $1.3759 per Euro, after Wednesday's 0.2%
The European currency opened lower earlier on Thursday trading session as traders awaited a result from the European Central Bank policy meeting taking place today and expected to bring no change in monetary policy of the bank. The Euro slipped as much as 0.1% to $1.3758 following an advanced to the highest in a week at $1.3820 in the session