Business confidence in Australia advanced at the beginning of 2014, according to a survey revealed by private company Dun & Bradstreet on Tuesday, with the barometer showing two for every three Australian businesses more optimistic about this year's growth compared to last year. The survey also showed that 18% of businesses are planning to grow their operation accessing new finance
South Korean currency declined on Tuesday slipping to the weakest level in eight weeks as commodities increased snapping a five-day drop as natural gas rose due to raising demand on cold weather in the U.S. The Won shed 0.3% to 1,070.72 a U.S. Dollar as of 2:45 p.m. Tokyo time, while the S&P GSCI Index jumped 0.3% as natural gas
Gold futures swung between gains and losses on Tuesday following an increase towards the strongest level in a three-week period as traders weighed the forecast of rising physical purchases in Asia against falling investment demand. Bullion for January delivery lost and added as much as 0.3% and traded at $1,243.13 an ounce by 2:18 p.m. Singapore time.
The Australian Dollar slipped on Tuesday trading session falling against all of its most-traded peers amid speculation that the recent growth against the U.S. Dollar was too rapid and as report showed investors bet on further decline of the commodity. The so-called Aussie shed 0.6% to 89.18 U.S. cents by 5:17 p.m. Sydney time after it touched the highest level
Emerging-market equities declined on Tuesday pushing the region's benchmark index towards the weakest level in a four-month period on concerns that the world's second largest economy may expand slower as the nation's government reduces lending. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index shed 0.2% to 970.70 as of 2:36 p.m. Hong Kong time.
The European benchmark Brent crude gained on Tuesday trading session after an industry report showed that inventories in the world's largest consumer of the commodity, U.S., advanced 2.5 million barrels last week. Brent for settlement in February added 53 cents to $107.26 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
German unemployment rate stayed flat in November on a monthly basis, however year-on-year the jobless rate declined on the month, a report published by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Tuesday. German jobless rate recorded 5.2% in November, the same level as in the previous month, while in November 2012 the rate stood at 5.4%.
Australia's recorded a deficit of trade in goods and services in the month of November, however the shortfall was lower than economists originally expected as imports dropped, the latest report published by National Bureau of Statistics showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the nation's trade in goods and services came in deficit of 118 million Australian Dollars.
Retail sales in the Europe's largest economy accelerated on a sequential basis in November following a drop in the previous two months, a report revealed by the statistical office Destatis showed on Tuesday. The country's retail sales grew 1.5% on a monthly basis in November following declines by 0.8% and 0.1% in October and September respectively.
A gauge of business activity in emerging-market countries accelerated at a weaker rate in the last month of 2013 mainly due to a slow-down in service sector especially in the world's second largest economy, a report published by Markit Economics and HSBC Bank showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the HSBC emerging markets service and manufacturing purchasing managers' index
The Japanese Yen held firm earlier on Tuesday trading session as investors focused on the U.S. Dollar after the country's government showed in a report that service sector slowed down in December. The Yen traded at 104.18 per U.S. Dollar after falling to the lowest level since 2008 at 105.45 and it traded at 141.50 per Euro, the highest in
U.S. shares closed lower on Monday session after the country's government reported that service industry eased in the last month of 2013 and new orders in manufacturing rebounded in December. The Dow Jones Industrial average slipped 44.89 points to 16,425.10, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index shed 4.60 points to 1,826.77 and the Nasdaq Composite index lost 18.226 to 4,1113.681.
The majority of Asia's stocks dropped on Tuesday trading session falling towards the lowest level in four months as the U.S. Dollar increased earlier today after it slipped overnight on data showing that service sector in the U.S. slowed down raising concerns about the nation's recovery. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific Index outside Japan lost 0.6% adding to Monday's 2.4% decline.
Car sales in Australia dropped a record 15% during the previous year, while the biggest car manufacturers in the country, General Motors and Ford Motor Company, announced closures of its plants in Australia by 2017. Currently, the car industry in the country employs more than 42,000 workers, while sales' decrease of Australia-made cars by 41% since 2006 may lead to
Head of the U.K. Treasury George Osborne announced on Monday that it will be necessary to cut additionally 25 billion pounds in welfare spending after the 2015 election, as the upcoming reduction in taxes will have a negative effect on the budget. At the same time, the government coalition partners, Liberal Democrats, disagree with such a decision and will oppose
Activity in the service sector of the U.K. unexpectedly slowed down in December of this year, however, the overall business optimism remained quite high. The benchmark PMI Index, which measures the activity in this sector, slipped to 58.8 points in December versus 60 a month ago. At the same time, the business confidence in the country hit the highest level
Gold rose to a three-week high amid speculation that metal's biggest annual retreat in 32 years raised its demand in Asia. The yellow metal for immediate delivery added 0.7% to $1,245.75 an ounce, making it the highest level since December 17, and was at $1,243.84 as of 11:21 a.m. Singapore time. Bullion had its biggest climb in three months last
German shares gained for a second straight day after Eurozone's service-industry expanded for a fifth straight month in the 18-nation area. The DAX rose 0.4% to 9,467.93 as of 12:33 p.m. Frankfurt time, after declining 1.6% previous week; however, the gauge jumped 25% last year as the ECB left its interest rates low. The HDAX Index climbed 0.3% today.
U.S. stock-index futures were little changed ahead of U.S. services and factory orders data release that will help to understand the strength of nation's economy. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures expiring in March gained 0.2% to 1,829.5 as of 7:32 a.m. New York time, while Dow Jones Industrial Average contracts climbed 0.2% to 16,438.
European shares were little changed ahead of services-industry data in the U.S. and as Chinese non-manufacturing index fell. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced less than 0.1% to 327.80 as of 1:24 p.m. London time and it has gained 5.8% from its December 13 low. The equity-benchmark jumped 17% previous year as central banks left interest rates low.
The Euro declined the most versus the greenback in two months on speculation that its six-month advance will end even as there were positive reports for European economy. The 18-nation currency added 1.2% to $1.3589 today, after rising to $1.3893 on December 27, the highest level in two years, while the Yen rose 0.6% to 142.48 per Euro.
The British currency depreciated for a third straight day versus the greenback after U.K. services growth slowed surprisingly in December. The Sterling slid 0.3% to $1.6376 as of 12:32 p.m. in London, after reaching $1.6603 on January 2, the strongest level in two years. The Pound declined 0.4% to 83.06 pence per Euro after touching 82.71 pence on January 2,
Australian Dollar appreciated versus majority of its most-traded counterparts ahead of nation's trade and retail sales data that are coming out later this week. The Aussie traded 89.46 U.S. cents at 5:03 p.m. Sydney time, after it was at 89.45 on January 3, while it added 0.2% to NZ$1.0838. The Kiwi slid 0.2% to 82.56 U.S. cents and slipped 0.7%
The Japanese Yen gained to the highest level in two weeks versus the greenback on a Chinese services slowdown and a decline in Asian shares. Japan's currency added 0.3% to 104.60 per Dollar as of 7:01 a.m. New York time, after strengthening to 104.08 last week. The Yen rose 0.1% to 142.29 per Euro, while the Euro appreciated 0.1% to