The current account surplus of the Euro Zone widened more than initially expected in January, reported the ECB. The Euro Zone's current account surplus widened to 4.5 billion Euros on a seasonally adjusted basis in January as compared to 3.4 billion Euros in December. Experts predicted the indicator to approach 4.3 billion Euros in January.
China, the second largest oil consumer in the world after US raised diesel and gasoline prices, second time in less than two months as crude rallied in February. Prices will be increased by CNY 600 (USD 95) per metric ton from today. Refiners are going to charge 7.8% more for diesel and 7% more for gasoline. Oil provider shares declined
German DAX index retreated from last week gains and traded lower on Monday as investors made a pause. Car makers created the biggest losses for the index. BMW AG tumbled 2% after Goldman Sachs confirmed the buy rating on the share but discarded it from its conviction-buy list. Daimler AG fell 0.9% and Volkswagen AG lost 1.9%. On the upside
British FTSE 100 index declined on Monday as dropping commodity prices negatively affected the value of resource shares. Financials also provided substantial downward contribution. National Grid fell 1.9% after Bank of America Merrill Lynch downgraded the stock from buy to neutral citing valuation grounds. On the upside Vodafone Group advanced 0.8% after Sunday Times reported the firm may save GBP
Rural commodities were mixed on Friday on the depreciating greenback and expectation of the strong US export demand. Wheat price advanced due to growing interest in the US wheat. Meanwhile, global wheat stocks are ample but adverse winter weather in the EU may increase demand for the commodity. Corn also rallied over the day drawing strength from high soybean prices
Energy commodities surged on Friday on the weaker US Dollar and escalated geopolitical tensions. The commodity group was earlier exposed to the speculation on the US and the UK's decision to release strategic oil reserves. However, rumours were later denied thus pushing the energy prices up. Meanwhile, Asian countries are attempting to be excluded from Iranian oil embargo. US inflationary
Precious metals were mixed on Friday with slightly higher silver and gold prices and falling platinum and palladium futures. The commodity group continued to be exposed to the Fed decision not to implement next round of quantitative easing in the US soon. At the same time, weaker US Dollar and dismal economic data from US both created correction of the
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index kept declining after recent rally in previous week. The index fell 0.95% or 202.56 points and closed at 21,115.29 on Monday as investors locked in profits. Aluminum Corp. of China fell 4.2% after company reported a substantial drop in 2011 profits. The main loosing stock was Esprit Holdings which tumbled 4.8%. Property shares supported the
Asian shares traded mostly in the positive territory on Monday as investors anticipated economic news from US. Nikkei 225 index gained 0.2%, South Korea's Kospi added 0.6% and Australian S&P/ASX 200 index soared 0.3%. Shanghai Composite index climbed 0.2% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index bucked the upward trend and finished 1% down.
United Parcel Service expanded its bid for TNT Express by 5.6% to EUR 5.16 billion to shelter the largest deal in UPS history and beat the offer from Deutsche Post AG. Atlanta-based UPS raised its offer price from EUR 9.0 a share to EUR 9.5 a share. TNT shares added 1.8% on the announcement in Amsterdam trading session.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average modestly advanced on Monday, reaching a record high since earthquake in March 2011. Nikkei 225 index soared 0.19% or 18.69 points and closed at 10,148.52. The gains were limited as several electricity providers declined on news Citigroup Inc. lowered its recommendation on the utility companies. Kansai Electric slipped 4.2% and Tokyo Electric fell 3.6%. Strengthening Yen
Dow Jones Industrial Average index slightly declined on Friday as unpredicted fall in US consumer sentiment weighed down on shares. Blue chip index slipped 0.15% or 20.14 points and settled at 13,232.62 with industrial and consumer service sectors creating the biggest losses. On the upside the main gainer was Bank of America which rallied 6% on news its proportion of
S&P 500 index modestly climbed on Friday as gains were limited by an unexpected drop in consumer confidence in March. US index added 0.11% or 1.57 points and closed at 1,404.17 with energy shares posting the biggest gains. Consol Energy jumped 5.2% and Peabody Energy advanced 4.9%. On the downside Pultegroup fell 3.3% and Ford Motor lost 3%. On weekly
US consumer confidence unexpectedly fell in March as surging crude prices boosted inflation expectations among customers. The preliminary reading estimated by Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's fell from 75.3 in February to 74.3 in March. Economists earlier predicted an increase to 76.0. US shares declined on the data.
The real estate prices in the major China's cities have declined for the fifth month in line, signaling on the success of the policies aimed at tightening property market. The new house prices in 45 out of 70 main cities have decreased last month, reported the NBS. However, the government claims the real estate market is still overpriced and the
US shares posted modest losses on Friday as consumer confidence fell in February. However, stocks ended whole week into positive territory. S&P 500 index gained 0.11% or 1.57 points and closed at 1,404.17, Dow Jones Industrial Average index slipped 0.15% or 20.14 points and Nasdaq Composite index dropped 0.04% or 1.11 points and settled at 3,055.26.
European stocks edged slightly higher on Friday supported by financials and resource sectors while weighed down by auto makers. FTSE 100 added 0.4%, German DAX climbed 0.2% and French CAC 40 index gained 0.4%. Last week marked the biggest rally since the beginning of February with Stoxx 600 Europe adding 2.6% on weekly basis.
Christine Lagarde announced that China has to reform its economy to make it less vulnerable from fluctuations in exports and investments. She also stressed that the Yuan may become the world's reserve currency in case the country restructures its markets. There are signs of stabilization in the global economy, she said speaking to politicians in Beijing.
17-nation currency climbed against Japanese Yen after German Chancellor Merkel said European leaders have considered combining Euro Zone rescue funds in order to back common financial firewall. Euro appreciated versus Japanese currency to JPY 110.15 in Asian trading hours. Currently EUR/JPY is trading at JPY 109.82.
Canadian Dollar prolonged its advance against Japanese Yen for a tenth straight week, creating the longest weekly improvement period in seven years as US stock rally boosted demand for riskier assets. Canada's Dollar appreciated 1.1% versus Yen to JPY 84.13. Loonie slipped 0.1% versus greenback to CAD 0.9917. Currently CAD/JPY is trading at JPY 84.14 and USD/CAD is trading at
New Zealand's consumer confidence index increased to 102.4 in quarter ended in March, indicating a marginal increase of 1.1 point on a monthly basis. The consumer sentiment raised only slightly after sharp fall in December, according to Dominick Stephens, Westpac Chief Economist. The major contributors to the increase were recovering property market and more optimistic global news while weak job
US consumer prices surged in February to 10-month record high, mirroring the increase in fuel value. The CPI soared 0.4% in line with expectations, following a 0.2% increase in January, said Labor Department on Friday. The core CPI measure which eliminates volatile energy and food costs added 0.1% or slightly less than predicted 0.2%.
The industrial production in the US stayed unchanged in February, reported the Federal Reserve. The industrial production was at the same level as last month compared to a 0.4% expansion in January. Experts predicted the industrial output to advance by 0.4% in February.
Rural commodities apart from corn advanced on Thursday on the stronger US Dollar and firmer equities. Grains were mixed with falling corn and jumping wheat prices. Wheat futures were supported by rally of the soybean prices. Moreover, adverse weather conditions in Europe may impact wheat crops thus provoking undersupply in the market. Corn is expected to rebound in the nearest