Home mortgages in Spain recorded a steep decline in August on a monthly basis, when the total number of residential mortgages slipped 11.8% standing at 12,147, the statistical office INE reported on Monday. The report also showed that the total value of capital loaned on transactions fell 15.8% to 1.16 million Euro, while the average amount of mortgage slid 4.5%
An economic activity leading indicator in the 17-nation bloc continued to increase in the month of September suggesting that the area's economy may grow moderately in 2014, a data unveiled by the Conference Board showed on Monday. The leading economic index added 0.5% on a monthly basis to 109.6 in September following a 1% advance in the month before.
Business sentiment in Italy deteriorated in the month of October following an increase recorded in previous months, a report published by the statistical office Istat revealed on Monday. The report showed that Italy's business sector confidence index measuring sentiment in manufacturing, construction, retail trade and market services fell from 82.8 in September to 79.3 in October.
High street sales in the United Kingdom stalled in the month of October after it increased three months in a row, while retailers expected a solid advance, the latest survey released by the Confederation of British Industry showed on Monday. According to the survey, about 42% retailers claimed the volume of sales was up, while 39% said they were down.
U.S. pending home sales surprisingly declined in September as pending sales decreased to their weakest level in a nine-month period, a data released by the National Association of Realtors revealed on Monday. The association's pending home sales indicator slipped 5.6% to a level of 101.6 in September after it recorded a downwardly revised 107.6 in August.
The government 10-year bonds climbed to 4.20% on Thursday, the highest level since November 2007, as China's gross domestic product growing at its fastest pace since July with 7.8% in Q3, which is 0.3% more comparing with Q2. The manufacturing activity index, HSBC Manufacturing PMI, advanced to 50, 9 in October, comparing with final reading of 50.32 last month.
US industrial output climbed 0.6% in September, after adding 0.4% two month earlier, against economist expectations of 0.4% increase, according to Federal Reserve releases. Utilities production advanced 4.4%, while manufacturing performance added 0.1% and mining extraction gained 0.2%. Meanwhile Capacity utilization jumped to 78.3% in September, which is 0.3% more than it was expected.
The Canadian currency fluctuated at C$1.0443 per greenback as of 7:50 am in Toronto, as Federal Reserve will delay tapering of its quantitative easing programme until March 2014, which reduces the currency's value . Last week the so-called loonie dropped the most since June after the Bank of Canada signaled to keep interest rates at current level. Canadian Dollar traded at 95.76
Russian gold holdings decreased nearly 0.37 metric tons to 1,015.1 tons in September as Mexico continuously reduce its assets for one year and a half, International Monetary Fund revealed. Meanwhile spot gold traded at $1,349.51 an ounce at 3:28 pm in Singapore, after reaching $1,350.80 on October 25.
The British Sterling was little changed on Monday trading session against the U.S. Dollar and the Euro after a report showed that house prices in the United Kingdom advanced to the highest level in October. The Pound traded at $1.6177 by 7:47 a.m. in London following an increase to $1.6257 on October 23, the strongest level since October 1, while
European shares increased on Monday as the benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 is set to extend its three-week rally before a data showed that industrial production in the world's largest economy, U.S., increased in September. The Euro Stoxx 50 Index futures with settlement in December gained 0.4% to 3,039 by 7:10 a.m. London time, while the Stoxx 600 Index jumped
Consumer confidence in Finland declined in October following an increase in the month before cause by a negative assessment of development of unemployment, a survey published by the Statistics Finland revealed on Monday. According to the survey, Finnish consumer confidence fell from 6.3 recorded in September to 3.8 in October, while in August it scored 5 points.
Emerging-market equities increased on Monday rising for the first time in a four-day period mainly due to gains in technology sector companies led by Samsung Electronics Co. rallying 2.2% and Delta Electronics Inc. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index climbed 0.4% to 1,031.39 by 1:57 p.m. Hong Kong time and it was set to record the largest jump in a week.
A gauge measuring the U.S. Treasury market volatility declined to the lowest level in five months amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve decides to maintain its aggressive monetary easing totalling $85 billion a month on today's policy meeting. The 10-year interest-rate swaps three month implied volatility was 75.22, while the average in last years is 81.41.
The South Korean currency rose on Monday heading for the strongest level in two years amid speculation that exporters are selling dollars to cover month-end expenses and as consumer confidence in the country increased in September. The Won advanced 0.1% to 1,061.23 per U.S. Dollar by 10:02 a.m. Seoul time following a gain to the highest level since August 2011
The Australian currency advanced against the majority of its most-traded counterparts on Monday before the U.S. Federal Reserve begins its policy-setting meeting expected to signal further bond purchases in order to boost the economy. The so-called Aussie rose 0.2% to 96.06 U.S. cents by 5:09 p.m. Sydney time following a 1% drop recorded last week.
The Japanese currency dropped on Monday extending its series of losses to three weeks versus the shared currency after the Bank of Japan's Governor Kikuo Iwata confirmed that the central bank is committed to continue its monetary easing. The Yen fell 0.2% to 134.68 per Euro at 6:55 a.m. London time after it declined 0.5% last week, while it slipped
Gold swung between gains and losses on Monday traded close to the strongest level in a five-week period before the Federal Reserve's policy-setting meeting signalling a possible scale back of the U.S. central bank's stimulus. Bullion for delivery in October fluctuated 0.2% up and down and was at $1,351.8 an ounce as of 10:42 a.m. Singapore time.
Wheat decreased on Monday falling to the weakest level in more than seven days extending its weekly drop as production outlook was boosted amid drier weather in Ukraine and Russia. Wheat for delivery in December fell 0.6% to $6.865 a bushel on the CBOT, the least since October 18 and traded at $6.89 by 12:25 p.m. Singapore time.
Industrial production in the world's largest economy gained in the month of September on a sequential basis, a survey released by Bloomberg revealed on Monday. According to the survey, U.S. industrial output advanced by 0.4% month-on-month in September after recording the same result in the previous month, while manufacturing added 0.3% on the month following a 0.7% rise in August.
West Texas Intermediate crude fluctuated on Monday before a government data were released signalling that the Federal Reserve may start scaling back its monetary stimulus policy in the world's largest oil producer. WTI for settlement in December slipped 24 cents and traded at $97.61 a barrel on the NYMEX as of 1:5 p.m. in Singapore.
Chinese equities decreased on Monday falling for the fifth straight session and heading for the longest series of losses in a four-month period mainly due to drops of health-care and liquor companies offsetting jumps in energy producers. The Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.2% to 2,128.37 as of 1:07 p.m., while the CSI 300 Index fell 0.4% to 2,358.96.
The U.S. Dollar stayed steady versus the majority of its most-traded counterparts on Monday after falling to the lowest level in 2 years last week as investors awaited result from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting. The U.S. Dollar index measuring its performance against basket of counterparts stayed at 79.205, close to a nine-month low at 78.998 touched on Friday.
Asian shares increased on Monday as the Australian benchmark index recorded the highest level in five years after stocks on Wall Street advanced to all-time high offsetting worries about China tightening its monetary policy. The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index outside Japan rose 0.8% after it fell 1.1% last week, while the Japan's Nikkei Index jumped 2.2%.