Japanese economy watchers' outlook for the futures as well as of the current economic conditions improved further in February, an Eco Watchers' survey unveiled on Friday. The Eco Watchers' index assessing a condition of the current economic conditions grew from January's 49.5 to 53.2 the following month, while the outlook indicator reflecting assessment of the future economic situation rose from
China's exports grew above economists' projection in the month of February, at the same time imports fell more than expected, the General Administration of Customs reported on Friday. The reports showed a 21.8% annual increase of exports in February compared to forecast of an 8.1% gain, while imports dropped 15.2%, much more than an 8.5% drop initially expected.
Base metals were bullish on Thursday amid encouraging data from the US labor market coupled with soft greenback. However, gains were capped as market players were cautious ahead of China's trade numbers due on Friday. Aluminum rose on optimism over the US economy. At the same time, expectations of larger supply glut continued to push the lightweight metal lower. On Wednesday,
Yesterday the pair was pushed down from the monthly R1 level at 0.9488, but the price has not reached any reasonable support level and today attempts to regain the lost positions.
USD/JPY firmly steps higher, as the pair checked the Bollinger band yesterday and during today's trading session continues to appreciate.
GBP/USD pair eased its pace of depreciation and the variability decreased as well.
EUR/USD noticeably appreciated in the last session, as the U.S. labour market data indicated improving situation.
Precious metals were mixed on Thursday after central banks in Europe and Asia left their monetary policies unchanged. Moreover, positive data from the US jobs market added pressure on the commodity group. At the same time, weaker greenback lent support for precious metals. Gold traded in the negative area as investors were disappointed by after the ECB and BOJ announced no
The Australian Dollar lost 0.2% and was traded at $1.0242 in the end of Sydney session on Friday. The currency was pushed down by China's imports data, which indicated a bigger contraction than market consensus was. China's statistics department announced that import contracted by 15.2% in February, after a 28.8% expansion in January.
The Rupee appreciated 0.8% in last week to 54.445 against the U.S. Dollar and this was the biggest gain since 1st of February and the best weekly performance in Asia. The Indian currency increased due to improving economic data in the U.S., what accelerated a rally in equity markets and capital inflows in emerging markets.
The U.S. Dollar rose 0.6% to 95.43 against the Yen by midday trading session in Tokyo on Friday, after reaching 95.45 level, which is the highest since August 2009. The Japanese Yen has already dropped 1.9% against the Dollar in March, mainly due to data from Japan, which had a current account deficit for a third straight month. Demand for the U.S. Dollar
Global rating agency Moody's expects Indian gross domestic product to bounce back to 7% next fiscal year, at the same time it changed the country's economic growth forecast from 5.1% to 6.2% for the fiscal year 2013 on Thursday. The rating agency also projects India's inflation to decrease to six per cent, giving the central bank an incentive for the
Merchandise export of Canada expanded 2.1% in the month of January with imports increasing 1.9%, narrowing the Canadian merchandise trade deficit from December's $332 million to $237 million in January, the Statistics Canada reported on Thursday. The report showed an increase of exports to $39.1 billion, while imports advanced to $39.3 billion.
U.S. labour productivity in the last three months of 2012 declined slightly more than economists initially expected, the Labor Department showed in a report on Thursday. According to the report, productivity fell by 1.9% in the Q4 compared to preliminary projections of a 2.0% slide. Economists had estimated that the decrease would be revised to 1.6%.
The U.S. trade gap expanded by $6.3 billion in January to $44.4 billion, following a $10.1 billion decline in the previous month. An increase in the trade deficit was well ahead of expectations, as analysts' had forecast the deficit to rise to $42.4 billion. Exports slid 1.2% to $184.5 billion in January, after a strong rally of 2.2% in December."With
The European Central Bank maintained its benchmark interest rates unchanged on the policy makers' meeting taking place in Frankfurt. The ECB kept the loan rate in line with economists' expectation at the record low of 0.75%. Optimism in the markets was undermined though, as a package of austerity measures was rejected by Italian voters in last month's elections.
U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, adding to earlier gains after data showed an unexpected fall of U.S. jobless claims to its lowest level in six weeks and as the European Central Bank maintained its benchmark interest rate unchanged. Dow Jones Industrial average futures rose 0.07% to 14,300, Standard and Poor's 500 Index futures added 0.10% to 1,543 and futures for
The rally of natural gas futures continued on Thursday, adding to an advance recorded earlier, as the Energy Information Administration released a report showing an unexpected drop of U.S. inventories. Natural gas futures for April delivery increased 3.7%, or 13 cents, to $3.60 per million British thermal units and were traded at $3.54 before the data were released.
The amount of applications for government help contracted to seasonally adjusted 340,000 in the week ending March 2, this is by 7,000 less compared to a previous week. A less variable measure, moving average for four weeks, slid to 348,750, the lowest level since March 2008. According to economists' forecasts, unemployment rate is expected to decrease to 7.7% from revised
German equities extended their gains for a third straight day, as Mario Draghi, the president of ECB, said the euro economy will inch by inch recover throughout this year and policy makers decreased inflation estimates. The DAX index rose 0.2%, or 11.96 points, to 7,931.28 by 5:12 p.m. in Frankfurt. Six out of nine groups in the index edged higher.
The South Korean Won slipped 0.4% to 1,087.05 per U.S. Dollar in Seoul trading session on Wednesday. The currency snapped the last two days of 1% gains. The Won dropped, as foreign investors sold 64 billion Won more local equity than bought and Credit Suisse said that investors should bet against the currency, since there exists a high risk of
The Shanghai Composite Index was lower by 1% to 2,324.29 points at the closing of Asian trading session on Wednesday. The major China's benchmark extended weekly loss to 1.5% due to concerns that domestic regulators will again allow IPOs from upcoming June and tomorrow's trade data will be weak as inflation increased to 3% in February.
U.K. shares climbed on speculation the Bank of England policy makers will launch a new round of asset purchases to bolster the economic growth in Britain. The FTSE 100 Index rallied 0.3%, or 16.79 points, to 6,444.43. Six out ten groups edged higher. Aggreko Plc. posted biggest gains in the index, as it rallied 3.6% after increasing its dividend for
Japanese equities advanced, sending the Nikkei 225 to cap its sixth straight day of gains, as report showed the U.S. job market is reviving. In addition, the Bank of Japan held-off more quantitative easing. The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.3% to close at 11,968.08 after earlier surging as much as 1.2%. Five out of ten groups advanced. GS Yuasa Corporation,