The majority Asian equities declined in the first session of 2014 after a government report showed that manufacturing activity in the world's second largest economy eased and as investors commodity appetite renewed as the year begun. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan slipped 0.5%, while the Korean index Kospi fell 1.5%.
European shares increased on Thursday trading session rising towards the strongest level in over five years after recording the largest yearly gain since 2009 before a report showed that manufacturing activity in Germany rose in December. The benchmark Europe Stoxx 600 Index added 0.3% to 329.32 by 8:10 a.m. London time, the most since May 2008.
The European currency declined on Tuesday falling for the first time in a five-day period against the U.S. Dollar on speculation that the euro-area region may expand slower than the world's largest economy. Euro fell 0.3% to $1.3767 as of 7 a.m. in New York following a jump to the highest level in two years at $1.3893 on December 27.
The British Sterling increased on the last trading session of this year rising towards the strongest level in three weeks versus the Euro before a government report showed that home prices in the U.K. jumped this month together with a climb of mortgage approvals in November. The Pound added 0.4% to 83.32 pence a Euro as of 11:13 a.m. in
The Canadian Dollar strengthened on Tuesday rebounding from the lowest level in almost three years amid speculation that the currency dropped too deep after the U.S. Federal Reserve revealed its plan to tighten monetary easing further in January. The so-called Loonie advanced 0.5% to C$1.0648 per U.S. Dollar as of 5 p.m. Toronto time.
Corn declined on the last trading session of this year and was set to record its weakest year since 1960 and the worst yearly performance in a five-year period as global output advanced to record highs. Corn for immediate delivery slipped 39% this year to a level of $4.2325 per bushel as of 2:19 p.m. Singapore time.
Natural gas futures swung between gains and drops on Tuesday trading session and were set to record the largest annual advance in an eight-year period amid speculation that heating fuel demand may be boosted by cold weather at the beginning of 2014. Natural gas for delivery in February traded at $4.415 a million British thermal units on the NYMEX.
The European benchmark Brent crude traded in London climbed on Tuesday increasing the Brent-WTI premium from $11.97 to $12.01 on today's session after the EIA report showed that inventories fell 6.1% by 23.8 million barrels in the last four weeks and refiners' capacity was used on 92.7%. Brent for February delivery jumped 16 cents to $111.37 per barrel on the
West Texas Intermediate crude slightly increased on Tuesday and it was set to record its fourth yearly advance in a five-year period on speculation that inventories in the U.S., the world's largest consumer of the commodity, declined for the fifth successive week. WTI for delivery in February traded 7 cents higher at $99.36 per barrel on the NYMEX.
The Australian Dollar strengthened on Tuesday trimming its largest yearly fall since 2008 as traders eased their bets on further drops of the currency, however the so-called Aussie fell versus 9 out of 10 currencies in 2013. The Australian currency advanced 0.3% to 89.32 U.S. cents as of 4:26 p.m. Sydney time and it declined 1.9% in December and 14%
Local and central government debt in the world's second largest economy rose in the January-June period to 17.9 trillion yuan suggesting that the region should implement structural reforms, a data revealed by the National Audit Office showed on Tuesday. The data also unveiled that China's government debt may record 30.3 trillion yuan equalling 53% of the country's gross domestic product.
Inflation in South Korea measured as consumer price index increased on an annual basis in the last month of 2013 rising above a level of 1% after recording three successive months below mentioned level, the Statistics Korea showed in a report on Tuesday. The country's consumer prices index rose 1.1% in December compared to a forecast of 1.2% increase.
November's private sector credit in Australia advanced from the month before rising less than economists originally expected, a data unveiled by the Reserve Bank of Australia showed on Tuesday. According to the data, the country's overall credit of private sector gained 0.3% compared to expected level of 0.4%.
U.S. pending homes sales recorded a modest advance in the month of November, however the increase was shy of a forecast, a report published by the National Association of Realtors revealed on Monday. According to the report, the U.S. pending home sales added 0.2% from 101.5 recorded in October to a level of 101.7 in the following month.
The U.S. Dollar advanced against the Japanese Yen on the last trading session of 2013 and it has increased 21% against its Japan's counterpart as the Asian currency weakened on super-easy monetary policy implemented by the Bank of Japan. The so-called Greenback traded near 105.41 Yen, the most since October 2008 and last stood at 104.89.
Wall Street closed firm on Monday with the benchmark index Dow Jones average setting a fresh high and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index slid modestly after a report showed that home sales declined last month. The Dow Jones industrial average added 0.16% to 16,504, the S&P 500 Index slipped 0.02% to 1,841.07 and the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.06%
Global equities increased on the last session of this year as monetary policies all over the world are loosen and the global economic outlook improves, however the minority of emerging-market stocks dropped as liquidity flows to rich-world assets. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan rose 0.23%, while South Korean, Singapore and Philippines's index remained flat.
The current account surplus of Switzerland advanced slightly in the previous quarter of the current year from a year earlier, the data from the National Bank of Switzerland showed on Monday. The positive current account balance rose to 19.7 billion francs from 13.7 billion francs a year ago. On the other hand, comparing with the Q2 of 2013, the surplus
Business confidence in Italy advanced in December of this year, however, the pace of increase did not reach the expectations of economists. The corresponding indicator, which measures the sentiment, rose to 98.2 points in the manufacturing sector of the country's economy from 98 a month ago and 97.3 points in October. At the same time, analysts predicted the confidence index
The British Sterling was little changed on Monday trading session against the U.S. Dollar and the Euro after a report showed that the average asking price in the United Kingdom advanced for the eleventh straight month in December. The Pound last stood at $1.6495 by 7:48 a.m. in London after it traded at $1.6578 on December 27, the most since
The 17-nation bloc currency stayed firm on Monday traded near the strongest level in two years against the U.S. Dollar after the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi commented that there's no need for interest rates cuts. The Euro increased to 145.675 yen, the most in 5 years and it last stood at 144.82, while it traded at $1.3765 following
Gold declined on Monday falling for the first time in a five-day period and was set to record its largest yearly drop in 30 years as holdings in ETF backed by the precious metal slipped 33% and recorded the biggest slump since 2009. Bullion for December settlement slid 0.5% to $1,206.81 an ounce and last stood at $1,207.69 as of
West Texas Intermediate crude slipped on Monday traded above a level of $100 per barrel for the second straight session after a government report showed that stockpiles in the world's largest consumer, U.S., declined more than projected to the weakest level since September, WTI for delivery in February traded 2 cents lower at $100.30 a barrel on the NYMEX.
The majority of Asian equities increased on Monday with the local benchmark index setting a ten-day gain after the Japanese benchmark index Nikkei 225 rose 57% this year, the largest annual advance since 1972.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index jumped 0.3% to 140.73 by 5:11 p.m. Tokyo time, the South Korean Kospi added 0.5%, Australian S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.6% and New