European shares retreated for a second straight day as some major companies posted worse than expected profits. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid 0.4% to 336.21 as of 9:25 a.m. London time, after its yesterday's fall as Credit Suisse Group AG sent banks lower. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures decreased less than 0.1%, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index
Brent crude retreated to a one-week low, narrowing its price WTI to the least in approximately five months. Brent for April delivery declined 71 cents to $108.81 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange, the lowest level since February 18. WTI for April settlement slipped 40 cents to $102.19 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Gold prolonged a retreat from more than four month high as better than expected U.S. housing data supported bets that the Fed will continue to scale back its monetary stimulus. The yellow metal for immediate delivery slid 0.2% to $1,327.32 an ounce as of 9:31 a.m. London time, after it advanced to $1,345.46 day earlier, making it the highest level
Canadian shares were little changed, reversing an earlier advance after trading near the highest level in three years, as uranium gains compensated gold and energy producers retreat. The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index slid less than 0.1% to 14,188.58 as of 4 p.m. Toronto time; however, the equity-benchmark has increased 3.6% in February and is trading 0.6% below its highest
German shares fell for a third consecutive day with Allianz SE as the biggest loser and ahead of statements from European and U.S. central bank officials. The DAX slid 0.8% to 9,581.58 as of 9:31 a.m. Frankfurt time; however, the equity-benchmark has increased 3% this months on the global economic optimism. The HDAX Index slipped 0.8% today.
The Japanese Yen gained for a fourth straight day versus the 18-nation currency as reports that Russian fighter jets are put on combat alert increased demand for safe haven assets. Japan's currency added 0.7% to 139.13 per Euro as of 10:05 a.m. in London, after appreciating 0.6% in the last three days. The Yen climbed 0.5% to 101.92 per U.S.
Gross domestic product for the last quarter in Spain was downwardly revised from an original level of 0.3% to 0.2%, the latest report revealed by the statistical office INE showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's economic growth measured on a sequential basis improved by 0.1% in the Q4, while for the whole year of 2013 the GDP
Consumer confidence in France decreased in the month of February reversing previous gains mainly due to rising unemployment in the country damping economic expectations, the latest data released by the statistical office INSEE showed on Thursday. The country's consumer confidence index dropped from January's level of 86 to 85 recorded in February.
Merchandise trade balance in New Zealand recorded a surplus at the beginning of 2014 mainly due to an advance in exports by 7.5%, a report released by the Statistics New Zealand showed on Thursday. The country's merchandise trade surplus rose more than expected to NZD306 million, while in December the surplus was NZD493 million.
Current account balance in South Korea came in surplus in January remaining in black figures for the twenty-fourth successive month, a report released by the Bank of Korea unveiled on Thursday. According to the report, the country's current account surplus recorded $3.61 billion in January compared to a surplus recorded in December of $6.43 billion.
Unemployment rate in Germany decreased further at the beginning of 2014, the latest report published by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Thursday. According to the report, the Europe's largest economy jobless rate fell from December's level of 5.1% to a level of 5% in January, while in January 2013 the figure stood at 5.4%.
Import price in the Europe's largest economy continued to decline at the beginning of 2014, however the pace of drop was lower than economists originally projected, the latest data revealed by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Thursday. German import prices slipped by 2.3% year-on-year in January, the same level measured in December.
Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Raghuram Rajan revealed that the bank's policy is rather to dis-inflate than ‘abruptly' and the benchmark interest rate will stay at current level, Rajan said in his Wednesday's speech in Mumbai. The RBI plans to push down the consumer price inflation by 2015 to a level of 8% and by 2016 to 6%.
Australia's private capital expenditures declined on a sequential basis in the last quarter of 2013, a report revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's private capital expenditures fell 5.2% in the Q4 totalling A$38.291 billion, while the figure was forecast to drop only by 1.3%.
The U.S. Dollar advanced earlier on Thursday and was traded close to its strongest level in a two-week period against the basket of its most-traded peers amid rising tension in Ukraine boosted demand for safe-haven assets. The U.S. Dollar index slipped modestly from Wednesday's 2-week high at 80.524 to a level of 80.405.
Wall Street shares closed flat on Wednesday trading session as investors awaited for big moves before today's speech of the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen, however, retailers' stocks advanced for the second straight day. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 0.04% to 1,845.16, the Dow Jones industrial average added 0.12% to 16,198.41 and the Nasdaq Composite index rose
The Chinese currency swung between gains and losses on Thursday session and was traded close to its lowest level in a seven-month period and below a level of fixing to U.S. Dollar at $6.1224 for the third successive day as the country's central bank injects volatility into local market. The Yuan was last seen at $6.1300 per U.S. Dollar, up
The majority of Asian stocks declined on Thursday trading session mainly due to escalating political tension in Ukraine forcing investors to look for safe-haven assets as the U.S. Dollar advanced together with Wall Street shares. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan remained flat earlier on today's session, while the Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 0.4%.
Asian stocks declined as Japanese shares dropped and decline in telecommunication and raw-material companies dragged the MSCI Asia Pacific Index lower. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.1% to 137.9 at 7:33 p.m. Hong Kong time, having almost reversed earlier losses. Japan's Topix index fell 0.7% as its trading volume was 29% lower than its last 30-day average.
U.K. shares retreated for a second straight day as Tesco Plc sent the regional FTSE 100 Index lower. The FTSE 100 Index fell 0.3% to 6,809.68 as of 12:10 p.m. London time; however, the equity-benchmark has still advanced 4.6% in February, making it the best performing month since July. The FTSE All-Share Index slid 0.3% as well, while Ireland's ISEQ
The European benchmark Brent crude decreased on Wednesday trading session with the WTI-Brent discount shrinking to the narrowest level since October before a report showed that inventories in the U.S. dropped for the 7th week. Brent for settlement in April lost 13 cents and was last traded at $109.38 on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Wednesday trading session before a government report showed that stockpiles in the world's largest consumer, U.S., decreased for the seventh straight week. WTI for settlement in April jumped 76 cents to $102.59 per barrel on the NYMEX and was last seen at $102.34 by 1:17 p.m. in London.
Emerging-market equities increased on Wednesday trading session after Hong Kong shares ended their six-day losing streak as the advance was led by technology companies rising towards their record highs. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index added 0.3% to 958.78 as of 11:45 a.m. London time, while the Hang Send China Enterprises gauge jumped 0.7%.
German benchmark government bunds slipped on Wednesday after the country announced an auction today and 30-year securities failed to meet their target as demand for safe-haven assets drops as the region's economy improves. The benchmark 10-year bunds yielded one basis point higher at 1.65% as of 12:31 p.m. in London.