UK shares are trading lower on Wednesday amid high risk-aversion in the markets ahead of the key ECB meeting due on Thursday. Adding to the negative mood of the UK stocks, Eurozone's retail sales contacted by 0.2% in July. The FTSE 100 Index lost 0.26% to trade at 5,657.38. Six out of ten sectors within the index posted gains. The
European stocks turned green, after the ECB's meeting, with Mario Draghi's bond-buying proposal involving unlimited purchases of government debt. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.3 per cent to 266.32; French CAC 40 Index jumped 0.7 per cent to 3,421.94, while German DAX 30 Index gained 0.6 per cent to 6,975.06.
Gold futures inched lower on Wednesday, as traders are taking profit after bullion reached five-month high during previous sessions. Gold for delivery in December lost 0.1 per cent, to $1,694.10 per ounce. Other precious metals were mixed, with December silver and October platinum both erasing 0.2 per cent. At the same time, December copper and palladium for the same month added 1.4 per cent and 0.34
Crude oil futures turned red on Wednesday, as investors worried about weak Eurozone's fundamentals and following the yesterday's U.S. manufacturing report. Crude oil for October settlement inched lower 0.75 per cent to $94.60 per barrel. In the meanwhile, Brent oil futures with October contract lost 0.8 per cent to trade at $113.28 per barrel.
Chinese stocks extended previous slump on Wednesday amid weak market confidence after negative headlines from the US. Anticipation of the ECB press conference also weighted down on the market sentiment. The Hang Seng Index lost 1.47% to close at 19,145.07. All sectors included in the index dropped. The top-losers were basic materials and consumer services. Aluminum Corp of China and
On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada announced that it left the benchmark interest rate unchanged for the sixteenth month in a row. The overnight rate is 1.00% , which is in line with expectations. Following the announcement, the U.S. Dollar trimmed gains versus the Canadian currency, losing 0.15% and being traded at 0.9873.
U.S. stock futures trimmed Wednesday losses as Bloomberg News announced the ECB bond proposal promise "unlimited, sterilized" purchasing but abandon putting public-yield caps. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures tumbled 19 points to 13,031. S&P 500 Index futures fell 4.8 points to 1,401.2. Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 12.5 points to 2,762.
On Wednesday's European afternoon trade, the Greenback was mixed versus its major counterparts, as traders eyed the upcoming ECB's policy meeting. The U.S. Dollar was modestly lower versus the Euro, losing 0.16%, with EUR/USD at 1.2586. The U.S. currency was also lower against the British Pound, with GBP/USD at 1.5916, which was a 0.29% increase. The Greenback gained 0.15% versus the Canadian Dollar, being traded at
U.S. Treasuries declined and the U.S. Dollar cut rise on Wednesday, increasing yields, as a media report added signs the ECB may create a further sovereign-debt buying program at this week's meeting. 10-year note rates moved 1 basis point up to 1.58%. The ICE Dollar Index slipped to 81.249 from 81.327 yesterday.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that productivity in non-farm business sector increased by 2.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis in the second quarter, which is more than an estimate of 1.6%. Analysts expected that the revised figure would be 1.8%. Following the release of the data, the Greenback was lower versus the Euro, gaining 0.2% and was traded at 1.2592.
U.K. service sector expanded at a five-month high pace in August, Markit Economics and the CIPS reported on Wednesday. The seasonally adjusted service sector PMI increased to 53.7 in August from 51 in previous month. Economists had estimated a reading of 51.2. August reading posted the twentieth straight month of expansion.
Markit Financial Information Services reported on Wednesday that services PMI in Spain increased to 44.0 in August on a seasonally adjusted basis from the July's figure of 43.7. Analysts, however, expected that the index would fall to 43.3. The rate of contraction of the service sector in Spain was the lowest since March, but the sector contracted for the fourteenth month in a row.
Markit reported on Wednesday that German service activity in August fell to its lowest since July 2009. The German services PMI remained unchanged from a first estimate at 48.3 on a seasonally adjusted basis. Following the release of the data, the Euro dipped 0.32% versus the U.S. dollar and was traded at 1.2527.
Hong Kong private sector PMI advanced a five-month fast pace in August, Markit Economics reported on Wednesday. The benchmark HSBC PMI climbed to 50.5, the strongest level since March 2012, in August from 50.3 in preceding month. Meanwhile, the number of incoming new businesses was unchanged from July and firms decreased their workforce for a fourth straight month.
Markit market research group reported on Wednesday that services PMI for Eurozone in August was revised down to 47.2, while the preliminary reading of the index was 47.5. Economists, however, expected that the index would remain unchanged. After the release of the data, the Euro was lower versus the U.S. dollar, being traded at 1.2522, which was a 0.36% loss.
Swiss Federal Statistic Office reported on Wednesday that consumer price inflation remained unchanged in August, while it was expected that prices would witness a modest increase of 0.1%. Year over year, consumer prices in Switzerland fell by 0.5% at an annualized rate, which is more than an expected 0.4% decrease in August.
On Wednesday, Eurostat reported that retail sales in Eurozone declined by 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The data is in compliance with expectations. The figure for June's retail sales was revised up from 0.1% and reached a 0.2% increase. After the release of the data, the Euro lost 0.43% versus the Greenback, and was traded at 1.2514.
British government's net foreign holdings rose for the third consecutive month in August, the HM Treasury said on Wednesday. Net foreign reserves surged to $47.0.3 billion after a rise to $46.29 billion in July. Gross foreign reserves increased to $100.94 billion from $98.99 billion in the previous month. BoE's net foreign currency and gold reserves fell $8 million on month.
Japanese equities plunged for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday on lingering global growth fears after weaker-than-expected US manufacturing PMI data release. Meanwhile, market players are cautious ahead of the ECB press conference due on Thursday. The Nikkei 225 Index sank 1.09% to end the session at 8,679.82. Only two sectors within the index rose. Health care and telecommunication firms
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index slid 0.42% to end Tuesday's session at 13,035.94. Dismal US economic data releases coupled with increased risk-aversion ahead of the ECB press conference due on Thursday created heavy pressure on the US blue chips. However, persistent expectations that the Fed will loosen its policy limited the downswing of the Dow Jones Index. Four in
US stocks retreated on Tuesday amid weak US data releases. US construction spending dropped by 0.9% in July on a monthly basis while US manufacturing contracted for the third consecutive month in August. However, hopes that the Fed will provide monetary stimulus continued to lend support for the US equities. The S&P 500 Index lost 0.12% to close at 1,404.94.
Rural commodities were mixed on Tuesday amid better weather conditions in the US. Market participants also awaited weekly USDA report, showing harvest progress and crop conditions due on Tuesday after the bell. Wheat declined as cooler and wetter weather in the US southern Great Plaints may allow farmers to seed winter wheat starting from September. Moreover, absence of export limits
Energy commodities apart from natural gas slid on Tuesday after dismal manufacturing data release from the US. Increased cautiousness in the markets ahead of the ECB press conference due on Thursday also weighted down on the commodity group. Crude oil was the top-loser on potential demand decline amid weak manufacturing activity worldwide. Meanwhile, traders await US inventory data due on Thursday. Brent
Base metals were bullish on Tuesday despite lingering concerns over global manufacturing weakness after dismal US PMI release. However, persistent hopes that poor economic data will result in easing measures from the Fed lifted the industrial metals. Aluminum stayed in the positive territory on heightened hopes for monetary easing in the US, EU and China. Better automobile demand also provided support