South Korean currency decreased to its lowest level in one week after shipments out of the country rose below economists' expectations in the month of March and as tension between North and South Korea worsen increasing the risk of conflict. The Won was traded 0.3% lower at 1,114.73 per U.S. Dollar following a fall to its weakest level since March
Emerging-market equities decreased for the first time in a six-day period on Monday mainly due to a notable drop of discretionary companies after shipments out of South Korea increased below forecast and China and Japan's manufacturing data showed unfavourable results on Monday. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell 0.2% to 1,032.80 after it gained 1.9% last week recording its highest
Asian shares decreased on Monday with Japanese Topix Index dropping to its lowest level since March 2011 after Japan's manufacturing business sentiment report showed unexpected fall and as China's factory production rose slower than estimated. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index declined 1.3% to 133.82 in Tokyo with three falling shares for one advancing.
The Italian economic performance outlook for 2013 worsens, when the gross domestic product is likely to drop more than the country's government originally predicted, the President of the statistical office Istat Enrico Giovannini said on Friday. The initial outlook said that the nation's GDP would decline by 1.3% in 2013, the new estimates says the forecast is too upbeat. The
U.S. Treasuries declined for the second successive quarter recording its first back-to-back fall since 2011 as yields increased amid improvement of economic data, when the U.S. unemployment rate dropped more than forecast and as the Fed will continue with stimulus. The benchmark 10-year yield rose by nine basis points to 1.85% in the Q1 and it touched 2.08% on March
The British Sterling declined against most of its major counterparts on Friday as it recorded the biggest quarterly fall versus the U.S. Dollar since December 2008 amid contraction of the U.K. economy in the Q4 fuelling concerns that the country might go through a triple-dip recession. The Pound dropped 6.7% in the Q1 to $1.5172 yesterday after sliding to $1.4832
Copper traded in Shanghai decreased on Friday completing its second quarterly fall in a row after a report showed that U.S. initial unemployment claims rose and as inventories of the commodity increased to 569,775 tons. Copper for July delivery on the Shanghai Futures Exchange dropped 1.1% to 54,720 yuan a metric ton and was at 55,250 yuan at 9:45 a.m.
Gold was little changed on Friday set for its worst result in a quarter since 2001 as concerns about the Eurozone's debt crisis were eased after banks in Cyprus reopened reducing the demand for precious metals as a store of wealth. Bullion for immediate delivery was traded at $1596.50 an ounce falling from yesterday's level of $1596.83 an ounce, however,
Producer price inflation in Italy slowed down for the sixth month in a row in February, when the producer price index rose by 0.3% year-on-year in February after it advanced 0.7% in January, a report released by the statistical office Istat revealed on Friday. The report also said that producer prices added 0.1% on a monthly basis in February reversing
The Chinese Yuan appreciated to the highest level in 19 years after the People's Bank of China raised the daily reference rate by 0.08% to its strongest level since May 2012 at 6.2689 per U.S. Dollar, while the Yuan is still allowed to trade 1% on either side of the rate. The Yuan advanced by 0.06% closing at 6.2108 per
The Japanese Yen was little changed on Friday setting for the longest monthly losing streak in more than ten years signalling that lingering deflation of the economy will force the new Bank of Japan Governor take further steps to boost the economy by stimulus measures next week. The Yen was changed at 94.07 per U.S. Dollar and it was traded
Chinese shares advanced on Friday, though it pared the benchmark index's worst start to the year since 2010 as losses of health-care companies overshadowed gains by utilities. The Shanghai Composite Index recorded a modest gain rising less than 0.1% to 2,236.62 and it has dropped by 1.4% this year, while the CSI 300 Index tumbled 0.2% to 2,495.08.
Emerging-market shares gained to its highest level in two weeks on Friday, however it recorded the worst first quarter of a year since 2008 as equities in technological sector advanced and amid speculations that South Korea will take steps to aid the country's property market. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index grew 0.2% to 1,034.15 and it dropped 2% in the
Consumer spending in France dropped at the slower pace in the month of February from the prior month mainly due to a decline in textile-leather purchases, the latest data released by the Insee unveiled on Friday. Households' goods purchases fell by 0.2% on a monthly basis in February following a 0.8% slid in January, while economists projected a 0.4% growth.
Japan's automobile production continued its falling trend in the month of February with production of cars declining annually by 15.1% compared to a 9.9% decreased recorded the month before totalling the production to 808,194 units in February. Domestic sales fell 8.1% to 477,380 units, while shipments out of the country slid by 13.7% on the month.
Manufacturing sector activity in Japan grew for the first time in a ten-month period in March led by a rebound in demand of shipments out of the country, the Markit Economics and the JMMA reported on Friday. The manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index gained in March rising from 48.5 in February to a level of 50.4 in March, its first
Housing starts in Japan advanced at the slower rate in February than the prior month falling for the fourth consecutive month, a data unveiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism showed on Friday. The data said that total housing starts rose annually by 3% in February from a 5% jump the month before, while it was forecast
Japan's unemployment increased and prices were falling in the month February, a report released by the Finance Ministry unveiled on Friday. The report showed that the core consumer price index declined and recorded a 0.3% fall on the month, even though the index added on a sequential basis by 0.1% from January, while the jobless rate grew to 4.3% in
Japan's retail sales tumbled more than forecast in February mainly caused by a 3.7% fall of large-scale store sales, a data revealed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed on Thursday. The data said that retail sales dropped 2.3% on an annual basis in February recording 10.525 trillion yen, while on a sequential basis it added 1.6% on
Initial claims for unemployment benefits advanced in the U.S. by more than economists predicted in the week ended on March 23, when they rose by 16,000 from 341,000 recorded the week before to 357,000, a report unveiled by the Labor Department showed on Thursday. The report also said that the country's jobless rate fell from 7.9% in January to 7.7%
The Japanese currency appreciated to its strongest level in one month against the Euro as a demand for safer assets was boosted after the Cypriot banks reopened on Thursday for the first time since they were closed once the bailout plan was approved by the nation's government. The Yen climbed 0.1% to 120.55 per euro after recording the highest level
Zinc traded in London decreased together with other industrial metals after the German Federal Labor Agency report showed a surprising increase of unemployment people in the country raising concerns about the Eurozone's debt crisis. June Zinc futures declined 0.8% to its lowest level since November 6 at $1,894 a metric ton earlier on Thursday London session.
West Texas Intermediate oil was traded close to the highest level in five weeks on Thursday heading for a gain in the past quarter after the U.S. government report showed an increase of operating sales boosted by refineries. May WTI futures fell 10 cents to $96.48 a barrel on NYMEX earlier on Thursday London session after it rose 36 cents to $96.94 a
Gold traded in London went through gains and losses on Thursday heading for the second drop in a quarter after holdings in ETPs decreased 6.9% in the first three months of 2013 and as investors weighted the Eurozone's financing crisis betting on U.S. recovery. March Gold futures declined 0.1% to $1,603.88 an ounce at 10:14 a.m. in London following a