Chinese stock prices rose for the forth day out of the last five lead by property developers, commodity producers and consumer discretionary companies. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.6% to 2,006.10 lead by materials producer gauge, which jumped 2.4%. The CSI 300 Index increased 0.8% to 2,221.98, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index jumped 1.5%.
The U.S. Dollar Index declined from the strongest level in over a month, as traders weighed whether the U.S. employment data for June will improve enough to signal that the Federal Reserve may move closer to tapering purchases. The U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.4% to 83.211, following a rise to 83.717. The greenback retreated 0.2% to $1.3009 versus the common
European shares rose, stopping a two-day retreat, before the European Central Bank and the bank of England decisions. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.6% to 287.22 as of 8:06 a.m. London time, reversing the equity-benchmark's decline from its highest level in 2013 on May 22. S&P's 500 Index futures gained 0.2% today, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed
The Canadian currency gained from almost the lowest level in 21 month as crude oil surged above $100 per barrel and on concerns that Egypt's political problems might influence imports from the Middle East. The Canadian Dollar rose 0.4% to C$1.0505 per U.S. Dollar as of 5p.m. Toronto time after it slipped to C$1.0578 on Wednesday, the lowest since October,
Asian shares excluding Japan rose after the better-than-expected U.S. labor market data, which showed that companies added more jobs than was predicted. The MSCI Asia Pacific Excluding Japan Index increased 0.9% to 424.46, while Japan's Topix gauge decreased 0.3%. South Korea's Kopsi index advanced 0.3% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 0.9%.
The Sterling depreciated versus the U.S. Dollar, heading towards the weakest level since May, ahead of the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney's first decision as the leader of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee. The U.K. currency dropped 0.3% to $1.5244 and was at 85.23 pence versus the Euro.
The 17-nation currency was 0.6% from its lowest level in more than four weeks ahead of the ECB's meeting today, when Mario Draghi recently said that they will continue with monetary policy. The Euro fell 0.1% to $1.30 at 6:32 a.m. London time, while it dropped 0.1% to 129.84 Japanese Yen after slipping 0.5% on Wednesday.
The Australian Dollar rose after reaching the lowest point since September 2010 as investors speculated that the currency dropped to fast. The Aussie increased 0.2% to 91.10 U.S. cents after it reached 90.37, the lowest level in almost 3 years. The currency was almost unchanged against the Yen and traded at 90.79. The yields on Australia's 10-year government bonds rose
The South Korea's Won advanced today due to Finance Minister's comments that the government will interfere with some areas in the economy to increase competitiveness, employment and economic growth. The currency jumped 0.5% to 1,138.45 per U.S. Dollar, while Goldman Sachs predicts that the Won will rise to 1,110 in three months,.
Developing countries' stocks rose after the U.S. reported that companies hired more workers than experts predicted and after China said it would use funds to improve infrastructure in order to stabilize economic growth. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index increased 0.6% to 917.86, where all industry groups comprising the gauge advanced.
Crude oil inched up, with West Texas Intermediate rising above $100 per barrel for the first time in nine months, amid declined in U.S. stockpiles and worries that political unrest in Egypt may ruin Middle Eastern supply. The August WTI contract jumped $2.58 to $102.18 per barrel and Brent for August delivery gained 1.6% to $105.61 per barrel.
Hong Kong shares declined, with the Hang Seng Index falling for the second day in a row, after its retail sales were against the expectations and China's services industry's growth was slower than expected. The Hang Seng Index slid 1.4% to 20,379.48 at 9:51 a.m. Hong Kong time, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 2.3% to 8990.34.
Portugal's bonds declined, sending 10-year note yields over 8% for the first time since November, as two of Portugal's ministers resigned from the government. Portuguese 10-year bond yield advanced to 7.94% and the 4.95% note maturing in October 2023 decreased 7.65 to 79.45. Spanish 10-year security yields jumped to 4.75%.
German shares retreated the most in approximately seven days after Portugal's lawmakers lost the coalition partner's leader, restoring concern that Portugal will stop its plan to cut spending. The DAX fell 1.7% to 7,776.74 as of 11:51 a.m. Frankfurt time; moreover, the equity-benchmark has declined 8.9% since May 22. The HDAX Index also slipped 1.7%.
The South Korean Won retreated the most in two weeks after weaker Yen threatened South Korean overseas sale outlook and the report indicated that Korean foreign-exchange reserves declined. The South Korea's Won depreciated 0.9% to 1,143.75 versus the U.S. Dollar, the biggest decline since June 20.
Retail sales in the Euro block advanced in May, following a decline in sales for three consecutive months, and the rate of economic expansion overshot expectations. Retail sales inched up 1% in May, rebounding from April's 0.2% declined. Sales of drinks, food and tobacco jumped 0.9% in May, and trade in the non-food area also rose 0.9%.
Treasury 10-year bonds climbed for the third day after investors looked for the safest investments as two of Portuguese ministers resigned from the government, boosting worries the European debt crisis is going downhill. The benchmark 10-year note yield declined three basis points to 2.44% and the 1.75% bond maturing in May 2023 climbed to 94. The 30-year bond yield fell
The Yellow metal price moved a lot between gains and losses as investors speculated on its growing physical demand versus monetary stimulus reduction, while silver advanced. Spot gold was at $1,246.32 an ounce as of 2:47 p.m. Singapore time compared to $1,243.50 on Tuesday. The bullion dropped to $1,180.50 on June 28, the weakest since August 2010. Silver for immediate delivery
The Euro declined against the U.S. Dollar for a second consecutive day as yields on Portuguese bonds rose above 8% due to resignation of two ministers, which lead investors to speculate that debt-crisis in Europe is getting worse. The 17-country bloc's currency dropped 0.4% to $1.2931 after yesterday's decline of 0.7%. The Euro also declined 1% against the Yen to
Shares in Switzerland slid for a second straight day as S&P downgraded its second-largest bank and on increasing oil prices. The Swiss Market Index fell 1.4% to 7,622.58 as of 9:54 a.m. Zurich time; moreover, the gauge has dropped 9.3% since the Fed's Bernanke statement on May 22. The Swiss Performance Index slipped 1.3% today.
China's share prices decreased after 4 days of surging lead by industrial and financial companies amid slowing economic growth, which was indicated by worse-than-expected service industries' data. The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.6% to 1,994.27 after 2.9 three-day rally. The CSI 300 Index slid 0.8%, while Hang Seng China Enterprise Index lost 3.3%.
The Canadian currency slipped to lowest level in 20 months as U.S. manufacturing output jumped in May, increasing the concerns that U.S. economy is growing at faster pace compared to Canada's. The Canadian Dollar weakened 0.5% to C$1.0544 per U.S. Dollar as of 5 p.m. Toronto time; touching the lowest level since October 4, 2011 and one Canada's Dollar buys
The British currency depreciated to the weakest level in approximately four weeks versus the greenback ahead of industry data that are expected to indicate that countries services expanded slower in June. The U.K. currency dropped 0.1% to $1.5136 as of 8:24 a.m. in London after touching $1.5130, the weakest since May 30. The Pound was at 85.57 pence per Euro,
The U.S. Dollar Index jumped to 4-weeks high as investors are waiting for the U.S. jobs reports, which is expected to show the economy added 160,000 jobs. The greenback rose to the highest point in a month against the Euro before the report, which might show that U.S. service industries expanded most since March. The Dollar Index rose 0.1% to