US markets posted gains on Thursday as Labor Department said the number of jobless claims fell to 4-year low and data showed manufacturing index surged more than expected. S&P 500 index climbed 0.6% or 8.32 points and finished at 1,402.60 while Dow Jones Industrial Average index surged 0.44% or 58.66 points and closed at 13,252.76. Nasdaq Composite added 0.51% or
Swift reported that it is set to halt all transactions with Iranian banks on Saturday as a part of sanctions imposed by Western countries against Iran's nuclear programme. The decision would severally impact oil industry of the country as well as citizens who live outside Iran but send money to their relatives in the country.
European shares traded mostly higher on Thursday after IMF approved the EUR 28 billion loan to Greece. Stoxx Europe 600 added 0.3%, German DAX index climbed 0.9% and French CAC 40 index surged 0.4%. Athens General index appreciated 0.8% on the news. In contrast FTSE 100 index closed 0.1% lower, pushed down by oil stocks.
The IMF agreed to back up the second Greece's bailout package by providing 28 billion Euros or for the recent debt swap deal. The move is the last part in completing the rescue package for indebted Greece. The IMF will give 1.65 billion Euros immediately. Evangelos Venizelos, Greece's PM, said that country has to survive during dismal 2012 to get
Japanese Yen moved towards a weekly decline versus most of its counterparts as positive economic signals from US and hopes for further monetary stimulus by BoJ lifted demand for riskier securities. Japanese currency traded at JPY 83.58. On weekly basis Yen has dropped 1.3% against greenback. Currently USD/JPY is trading at JPY 83.49.
Australian Dollar held gains against greenback and its New Zealand peer advanced on Friday as rally in global equity markets boosted demand for riskier assets. Australian currency traded at USD 1.0528 and New Zealand Dollar gained 0.2% against US Dollar to USD 0.8205. Currently AUD/USD is trading at USD 1.0535 and NZD/USD is trading at USD 0.8207.
Crude oil futures posted gains during the Asian session on Friday amid weaker US Dollar. The US Dollar index that measures its performance against set of six main currencies declined by 0.05%. Light, sweet crude oil futures for delivery in April traded at 105.59 US Dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, gaining 0.46%.
Brazil's central bank announced it will stick to current borrowing rate, close to 18-months record low as policy makers expects country inflation to slow around 4.5% in 2012. Decelerating global economy indicates inflation will keep fading in Brazil, said central bank's officials. Therefore it is likely Brazil will keep its interest rates near record lows at 9.75%.
The number of applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to four-year low while consumer confidence climbed to highest level since 2008 stimulating expectations recovering labour market may encourage household spending. Jobless claims decreased by 14 000 to 351 000 through week ended March 10 said Labor Department on Thursday. Consumer confidence index surged from minus 36.7 to minus 33.7.
Agricultural commodities were mixed on Wednesday with growing sugar and wheat futures and falling corn and coffee. Rural commodes were pressured by the higher US Dollar and bleaker outlook on China's economy. Moreover, favorable weather conditions in the US also pushed the commodity group lower. Corn futures lost 0.67% on Wednesday as traders cashed out form the market due to
Energy markets inched down on Wednesday on the appreciating US Dollar and signs of stagnating China's economy. China's PM reported on Wednesday that the country will stick to its prudent property policies and will target more modest growth. Moreover, higher than expected US crude oil inventories added to losses of the crude oil. However, escalated supply concerns after OPEC cut
Precious metals tumbled on Wednesday on strong US Dollar and negative headlines from emerging economies as China and India. China is expected to continue targeting slower growth pace in the long-term. Indian CPI increased again thus prompting the central bank to keep its interest rates. Moreover, Fed's decision to stick to the current policies in view of recovering US economy
German DAX index bucked the downward trend in European stock markets and edged higher on Thursday. K+S AG rallied 6.4% as firm increased its yearly dividend by 30% after reporting the second-best revenue in company's history. On the downside Deutsche Lufthansa AG tumbled 2.5% after airline reported EUR 13 million loss in 2011 caused by traffic tax and surging fuel
British FTSE 100 index traded lower on Thursday as banking and oil shares put negative pressure on investor sentiment. Moreover Fitch lowered UK outlook from stable to negative indicating a probability above 50% that Britain's AAA rating might be cut. Royal Bank of Scotland Group fell 2% and HSBC Holdings PLC slipped 0.4%. Essar Energy gave up 2.3% and BP
Boeing has rejected the claim of India that the company has agreed to compensate aircraft delays for Air India. The Indian officials earlier reported that Boeing would pay 500 million US Dollars as compensation for three-year delay in delivery of planes. However, Boeing announced that it has not agreed to this deal.
Asian share markets mostly declined on Thursday as region's investors showed concerns Beijing may not loosen its policy towards housing market. Shanghai Composite index fell 0.7%, Australia's S&P/ASX lost 0.2% and South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.1%. Hang Seng index and Nikkei 225 index managed to close higher, adding 0.2% and 0.6% respectively.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average extended gains on Thursday as Yen fell to 11-month record low against US Dollar, lifting higher exporter shares. Nikkei 225 index gained 0.64% or 63.96 points and settled at 10,114.48. US market oriented Honda Motor gained 3.5% on optimism about country's economic outlook. Mazda Motor rallied 6.1% after the car maker received 8,000 orders for its
European vehicle sales plunged in February driven by Peugeot Citroen, Fiat and Renault as region's consumers suspended large scale purchases amid economic uncertainty. February registrations dropped 9.2% on annual basis to 923,381 million cars, the fifth straight monthly drop. Deliveries in France tumbled 20% whereas sales in Italy plummeted 19%. BMW and Toyota forecast a 5% decline in Europe region
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index traded modestly higher on Thursday, advancing 0.21% or 45.64 points to 21,353.53. Gains were limited as investors anticipated news Chinese PM rejected policy easing aimed at relaxing country's property markets. Financial and property shares declined, led by China Overseas Land & Investment and China Resources Land which dropped 2.7% and 1.6% respectively. On the upside
Dow Jones Industrial Average index climbed slightly higher on Wednesday, posting gains for a sixth straight session. Blue chip index advanced 0.13% or 16.42 points and closed at 13,194.10 with financial sector gaining most. American Express jumped 3.5% after the company passed stress test and announced an increase in dividend and a stock buy back worth USD 5 billion. Heavyweight
After Tuesday's rally, S&P 500 index finished slightly lower on Wednesday as financial shares fluctuated between gains and losses on Fed's stress test results. US index slipped 0.12% or 1.67 points and closed at 1,394.28. Cliffs Natural resources gained 7% after raising its dividend. Zions Bancorporation rallied 10.5% on successful test results while insurer MetLife, who failed the test, plunged
New Zealand and Australian currencies traded close to 7-week record low ahead of US unemployment claims data which are predicted to show further improvement. Australian Dollar weakened to USD 1.0459, near the lowest close since January 20. New Zealand Dollar gained 0.2% versus greenback and was trading at USD 0.8105. Currenly AUD/USD is trading at USD 1.0476 and NZD/AUD is trading
Analysts predict that Apple share price may climb even 19% or above USD 700 a share on the issue of new iPAD. Morgan Stanley's analyst Katy Huberty already has increased company's stock price tagets above USD 700. The mean price target among analysts questioned by Bloomberg equals USD 605. Apple rallied 3.8% to USD 589.58 on Wednesday trade and in
China's FDI declined for the fourth month in line in February on a yearly basis. China's capital inflow was 7.7 billion US Dollars, being by 0.9% lower than in February 2011.The major factor for the fall is weak investment from the indebted Euro Zone. The data may prompt the People's Bank of China to ease its monetary policy further to