Industrial metals apart from aluminum moved lower on Monday as market sentiment remained under notable pressure amid upcoming US debt limit dispute. Moreover, investors were cautious ahead of the ECB press conference due on Thursday. Elevated LME inventories and global demand insecurity also weighed on base metals.Aluminum was the top-performer amid weaker US Dollar. However, a record-high LME inventories of
Asian shares declined, pushing the regional benchmark index lower, as Japanese exporters fell after the Yen advanced and as HTC Corp. earnings missed estimates. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slid as much as 0.8% to 130.52, snapping gains of 0.3%. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 1.2% and South Korea's Kospi Index slipped 0.6%, while Taiwan's Taiex Index declined 0.7%.
Precious metals continued a bearish trend on Monday despite broadly weaker US Dollar and hopes that the Fed will keep its loose monetary policy in place amid weakness of the labour market. Creating heavy pressure on the commodity group, investors remained cautious ahead of the ECB press conference due on Thursday.Gold declined despite easing concerns that the Fed will stop
Thailand's Baht strengthened for a second successive day as foreign investors boosted their holdings of the country's assets on optimism inflows will stimulate faster economic growth. The nation's currency advanced as much as 0.1% to 30.43 per U.S. Dollar at 8:46 a.m. in Bangkok. One-month implied volatility increased 5 basis points, or 0.05 percentage points, to 4.15%.
U.S. blue chips slumped after the S&P 500 index advanced to its five-year high last week, as U.S. lawmakers approved a budget bill to halt the so-called "fiscal cliff". The Dow Jones Industrial Average eased 0.4%, or 50.92 points, to 13,384.29. Only two out of nine sectors edged higher. Telecommunications sector posted biggest gains, as the shares of Verizon Communications
Japan's currency is headed for the biggest two-day advance since November, extending its rally from the lowest level in more than two ears amid speculation the recent drops were excessive. The Japanese Yen added as much as 0.4% to 87.48 per U.S. Dollar, rising 0.8% since January 4 and poised for the biggest two-day percentage gain since November 8.
The Euro Stoxx 50 Index futures, the benchmark for the Euro area, slipped by 0.3% to 2,6979 points in very beginning of London trading session on Tuesday. European futures depreciate on worse than expected data from Germany, which announced a 3.4% exports contraction. Also, investors await fourth quarter U.S. earnings results.
U.S. equities dropped on Monday as investors stepped back to the side lines, awaiting the beginning of the new corporate earnings season starting on Tuesday. The S&P index tumbled 0.3% to 1,461.89 after closing at its highest since 2007 last week. All but two sectors declined in the gauge. Celgene Corp, global bio-pharmaceutical company, was the best performer with its
Wheat futures for March settlement were higher by 0.6% to $7.5575 for one bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade in Asian trading session on Tuesday. The price increases from a six-low at $7.3975, which was reached on 4th of January. Investors wait for an estimation from USDA reserves, which, according to speculation, will be lower, as the U.S., the
The Australian Dollar lost 0.2% to $1.0478 and depreciated by 0.6% to 91.70 against the Yen in the end of Sydney trading session on Tuesday. The Aussie decreased the first time in three days, as today was announced the biggest trade deficit in last four years - imports exceeded exports by $2.77 billion. Also, Pacific region equity markets weakened, reducing
The Pound depreciated by 0.2% to $1.6059 in early London trading session on Tuesday. The British Sterling approaches the lowest levels against the U.S. Dollar in a month, as the Statistics Department announced that retail sales expanded by 0.3% in December, slowing from a 0.4% gain November and being worse than a 0.5% economists' prediction. The Pound weakened by 0.4%
The Canadian Dollar, also known as Loonie, increased by 0.1% versus the U.S. Dollar to 98.59 cents in the end of Toronto trading session on Monday. The Loonie increases for the second day against the U.S. counterpart, as a gauge of business activity exceeded estimations in December, signalling faster economic growth. The actual number was 52.8, following 47.5 in November,
Crude oil futures for February settlement were down by 4 cents to $93.15 a barrel on New York Mercantile Exchange in Singapore trading session on Tuesday. The price was very close to a yesterday's high, as contract reached $93.19 and was the highest level since 18th of September. Commodity traders wait for a report from the U.S. government on refinery
U.S. shares fell during Monday's trading session after the benchmark Standart and Poor's 500 index climbed to its highest level in five years on Friday as the U.S. budget deal boosted investors optimism and started the best week for Wall street shares in more than a year. S&P 500 futures lost 2.5 points, Dow Jones Industrial average futures dropped 17
Hong Kong equities held near to their 19-month high, as investors stayed to Chinese property and resources sectors. The Hang Seng index slightly decreased 0.01%, or 1.34 points, to 23,329.8, near its Thursday's high. Only three out of nine sectors in the gauge advanced. Among best performers were Henderson Land and China Overseas, that rallied 5.1% and 4.8%, respectively, pacing
U.K. equities tumbled from their highest level in 23 months on raising concerns that the recent rally in stock prices passed over the outlook for corporate earnings. The FTSE 100 index dropped 0.3% to 6,069.79. The decline was mainly prompted by decreasing shares of oil firms. All but two sectors within the benchmark index decreased. Banks, however, advanced as the
German shares dropped on speculation the U.S. budget bill won't diminish the fiscal deficit fast enough to offset profits in creditors after easing the bank regulation. The DAX index erased 0.5% to 7,734.18. However, the benchmark index has advanced 1.6% this year. Two out of nine sectors shrank in the gauge. A nearly 1% drop in technology sector was mainly
U.S. stocks slightly advanced on Friday, sending higher the benchmark S&P 500 index. Performance gap of the shares listed in Standard's & Poor's 500 index is the biggest since January 2012. Companies, such as U.S. Steel Corp and J.C. Penney, are rallying at phone companies and utilities' expense. The S&P 500 gained 0.5% to 1466.47 on January 4. All but
U.S. blue chips included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average index edged higher on Friday. Gains in the index were mostly led by financials and basic materials shares. The benchmark gauge advanced 0.3%, or 43.85 points, to 13,435.21. All but one sector in the index increased. Technology sector posted 0.68% losses, mainly driven by a decline in the Microsoft Corporation's
Japanese stocks dropped,sending lower Nikkei 225 Stock Average after its 22-month high on Friday amid speculation that the market is overbought. The Nikkei 225 dropped 0.8% to 10,599.01. All but two sectors in the index declined. Aozora Bank declined 10% to ¥250 and Shinsei Bank Ltd lost 6%, pacing losses in the financials sector that inched 1.5% lower. Aozora Bank
Hong Kong equities held near to their 19-month high, as investors sticked to Chinese property and resources sectors. The Hang Seng index slightly decreased 0.01%, or 1.34 points, to 23,329.8, near its Thursday's high. Only three out of nine sectors in the gauge advanced. Among best performers were Henderson Land and China Overseas, that rallied 5.1% and 4.8%, respectively, pacing
U.K. equities tumbled from their highest level in 23 months on raising concerns that the recent rally in stock prices passed over the outlook for corporate earnings. The FTSE 100 index dropped 0.3% to 6,069.79. The decline was mainly prompted by decreasing shares of oil firms. All but two sectors within the benchmark index decreased. Banks, however, advanced as the
German shares dropped on speculation the U.S. budget bill won't diminish the fiscal deficit fast enough to offset profits in creditors. The DAX erased 0.5% to 7,734.18. However, the benchmark index has advanced 1.6% this year. Two out of nine sectors shrank in the gauge. A nearly 1% drop in technology sector was mainly driven by Infineon Technologies that lost
The number of car registered in the United Kingdom recorded more than two million units in 2012 reaching the largest volume in four years, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported on Monday. Car sales rose 5.3% to 2,044,609 units following a 12.9% rise in private demand, while the market of new cars recorded figure 14.9% below its pre-recession level of