South Korea's consumer confidence accelerated in January and it improved from the month before, the latest survey revealed by the Bank of Korea showed on Monday. According to the survey, the South Korean consumer sentiment index advanced from 107.0 recorded in December to a level of 109.0 in the first month of 2014.
New Zealand's business activity in service sector accelerated in the last month of 2013 and increased on a sequential basis on the month, a report published by the Business New Zealand unveiled on Monday. The country's purchasing managers' index advanced from November's 56.4 to a level of 57.5 in the following month, recording the 8th straight month of expansion.
Japan merchandise trade balance came in a deficit in the last month of 2013 recording its seventeenth successive posted deficit, a report published by the Ministry of Finance showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's merchandise trade deficit stood at 1,302.11 billion yen on the month, while it was forecast to record 1,280.0 billion yen.
This Friday the Eurostat will publish the fresh data on the unemployment in the Eurozone, as experts predict no changes in the jobless rate of 12.1% or 19 million people. At the same time, some analysts explain that the official data excludes people, who are not registered as unemployed, but still are searching for a job. Therefore, the real number
Business confidence in Germany increased more than forecasted in January of this year, reaching the largest level in more than two years. The benchmark Ifo Index, which measures the sentiment of 7,000 German companies in all the main sectors of the economy, surged to 110.6 points versus 109.5 in December. Analysts expected the index to improve to 110 points in
International service outsourcing in China aggregated last year $62.34 billion, according to a report published by the Commercial and Trade Services Department on Monday, making it a 42.2% advanced from the previous year. The country's international service outsourcing contents contracts from the U.S. totaling $11.75, $7.14 from the EU, $5.18 billion from Japan and $5.4 billion from Hong Kong.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to shrink its monthly bond purchases known as quantitative easing on this week's policy meeting responding to an improvement in the country's economic conditions, however fueling sell-offs in emerging markets. The Fed's meeting is taking place between January 28-29 and it is forecast to result in stimulus cut by $10 billion a month.
The U.S. Dollar declined on Monday falling towards the weakest level in seven weeks against the Japanese Yen after a sell-off on emerging markets continued before the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting this week and as China's economic slow-down may continue as credit conditions tightened. The Greenback slipped to 101.77 yen, the least since December, and it last traded at
Asian equities swung between gains and losses on Monday trading session with emerging-market shares falling before this week's policy meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve possibly resulting in further cuts of its stimulus program and as China's credit conditions tightened. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific Index outside Japan dropped 1.5% to the weakest level in more than four months.
U.K. shares dropped, with the regional benchmark FTSE 100 Index set for its biggest one-week fall in a month. The FTSE 100 Index slid 0.7% to 6,724.24 as of 11:02 a.m. London time, and is set for 1.5% retreat weekly, after two straight weeks of gains. The FTSE All-Share Index declined 0.8%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index slipped 0.8% today.
German shares retreated for a third straight day and are set for their biggest one-week decline in more than a month on weaker emerging-market currencies. The regional benchmark DAX Index fell 1.3% to 9,508.53 as of 12:46 p.m. Frankfurt time, reversing previous gains of 0.3% and the gauge has slipped 2.4% weekly. The HDAX Index slid 1.4%.
U.S. stock-index futures fell, with the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index set for a second straight week of declines, on weaker emerging-market currencies. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures expiring in March dropped 0.6% to 1,813.5 as of 7:40 a.m. New York time. Dow Jones Industrial Average contracts slipped 0.6% to 16,062 today.
The British currency gained to more than two year high as Bank of England Governor Carney unsuccessfully damped speculation on increasing lending rates sooner than expected. The Sterling traded at $1.6618 at 10:59 a.m. in London, after reaching $1.6668, the strongest since May 2011. The Pound added 0.1% to 82.31 pence per Euro after advancing to 81.68 pence on January
Natural gas futures traded in New York increased on Friday trading session and were set to reach the largest weekly advanced since September 2012 after a weather forecast showed that temperatures in the U.S. may stay below normal through the end of January. Natural gas for February settlement added 3.5% to $4.896 a million British thermal units on the NYMEX.
West Texas Intermediate oil increased on Friday trading session rising for the fifth successive day and was set to record the largest weekly gain since December as distillate-fuel stockpiles in the U.S. dropped according to the EIA report. WTI for March settlement jumped 38 cents to $97.70 per barrel on the NYMEX and last traded at $97.58 as of 3:55
U.S. Treasuries advanced on Friday and were set to record their fourth weekly gain, the longest streak since last April, after a report showed that jobless claim in the country rose and manufacturing output rose less than forecast last month. The benchmark 10-year government bonds yields traded at 2.77% by 8:12 a.m. in London following a drop to 2.76% yesterday.
The U.S. Dollar increased on Friday session rising against the majority of its most-traded peers on speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve may decide to trim its stimulus program as soon as the next policy meeting the following week as the country's economy improves. The Greenback added 0.1% to $1.3682 a Euro by 7 a.m. London time and it advanced
China's equities advanced on Friday session with the benchmark stock index rising towards its strongest level in a three-week period as property companies increased after showing favourable earnings prospects. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.6% to 2,054.39 completing this week's advanced to 2.5%, while the CSI 300 Index surged 0.6%.
Gold declined on Friday trading session falling from the highest level in six weeks and paring its longest weekly gain since late 2012 as investors speculate whether the U.S. Federal Reserve scales back on the next policy meeting. Bullion for January delivery lost 0.5% to $1,258.36 an ounce and was last seen at $1,260.01 at 3:14 p.m. Singapore time.
European equities were little changed on Friday trading session with the benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 heading towards a weekly fall after falling by the most in seven weeks yesterday after a report showed a slow-down in China's manufacturing activity. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.1% to 332.99 as of 8:06 a.m. London time.
Germany's government bunds increased on Friday trading session with the benchmark 10-year yields recording the weakest level in almost three months as turmoil in some emerging markets boosted demand for safe-haven assets. The benchmark 10-year yields dropped two basis points to 1.69% as of 8:11 a.m. in London following a slide to 1.68%, the least since November 7.
Spain's producer prices increased on an annual basis in December rising for the first time in a three month period, a report published by the statistical office INE showed on Friday. According to the report, the country's producer prices rose 0.6% in December after recording drops in November and October of 0.5% and 0.2% respectively.
Finland's retail sales decreased on an annual basis in December as the sales volume slipped by 1.5%, a report published by the Statistics Finland showed on Friday. According to the report, the country's retail sales fell 0.9% year-on-year in December after rising by 0.2% in the previous month, while consumer goods sales advanced 0.2% in December.
House price sentiment among households in the United Kingdom improved in January with the price sentiment index rising towards the highest level all-time, a report published by the Markit Economics and Knight Frank showed on Friday. The U.K.'s sentiment of future house prices jumped from December's level of 70.5 to a level of 72.3 in January