Industrial output in the Europe's largest economy dropped surprisingly in March, a report unveiled by the statistical office Destatis showed on Thursday. According to the report, the German industrial production slipped 0.5% on a sequential basis in March falling for the first time in a five-month period, while in February the production gained 0.6%.
House prices in the United Kingdom dropped in April falling for the second successive month, however the pace of decline was lower than in the previous month, the latest data revealed by the Lloyd Banking Group showed on Thursday. According to the report, the U.K. house prices fell 0.2% in March following a slide by 1.2% in the prior month.
United Kingdom's average asking house price declined on April, while it originally expected to slightly advance on the month, a report released by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed on Thursday. According to the report, the U.K. house price balance recorded score of 54 points in April compared to originally expected 56 points.
Unemployment in Australia slightly declined in April with the jobless rate falling to 5.8% on the month compared to initially forecast of 5.9%, the latest data unveiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The country's economy added 14,200 jobs, while it was estimated to rise only by 8,750 jobs after it adding 18,146 in March.
Labour productivity in the world's largest economy dropped in the first three months of this year and falling by more than experts initially projected, the latest report released by the Labor Department showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the U.S. labour productivity slipped by 1.7% in the Q1 following a 2.3% advanced in the Q4 of 2013.
U.S. consumer credit increased by much more than economists originally projected in March, a report unveiled by the Federal Reserve showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the world's largest economy consumer credit jumped by $17.5 billion in the month of March after rising by $13 billion in February.
According to the Bloomberg survey, the vast majority of analysts predict the ECB to keep its monetary policy without any significant changes after today's meeting. Only two out of 58 analysts forecast a decrease in the main interest rate from 0.25% to 0.15% or 0.1%, as inflation in the Eurozone picked up to 0.7%. Moreover, the same number of investors
The Chinese trade balance came in a surplus in the month of April on an annual basis as imports and exports both returned to increase, the latest data revealed by the Custom Administration showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's exports added 0.9% and imports gained 0.8% year-on-year in April, while the surplus recorded $18.5 billion.
The Russian currency weakened on Thursday trading session falling against the U.S. Dollar and the 18-nation bloc currency after the Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin commented on Ukraine's situation and as China posted trade surplus in April. The Rubble climbed 0.31% to 35.04 versus the U.S. Dollar and it traded at 48.79 per Euro.
Russia equities advanced on Thursday adding to gains recorded in the previous session as traders remain positive that the geopolitical tension between the Russian Federation and Ukraine may ease as Vladimir Putin tries to delay planned referendum in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. Dollar-denominated RTS index rose 1% to 1,239 points, while the MICEX gauge jumped 1.1% to 1,378.
The Australian currency strengthened on Thursday trading session extending its previous session gains after an industry report showed that imports and exports in China, the country's largest trade partner, increased last month despite expectations for a drop. The so-called Aussie rose as much as 0.5% to a level of $0.9373.
The U.S. Dollar swung between gains and losses on Thursday trading near the lowest level in five years versus its U.K. counterpart amid rising speculation that the Bank of England may tighten its monetary policy measures before the U.S. Fed. The so-called Greenback was last seen at $1.6959 against the Pound, while it added to 101.77 yen.
China's shares advanced on Thursday trading session after a government report showed that the nation's trade balance came in a surplus as exports and imports returned to positive figures in April showing signs of an improvement and as investors bet on further stimulus by the central bank. The CSI 300 Index rose as much as 0.8% on the session.
The European currency fluctuated on Thursday as it traded close to the highest level in two months against the U.S. Dollar before the European Central Bank officials decide whether to maintain interest rates unchanged later today. The Euro strengthened slightly by 0.1% to $1.3917 following an advance towards the strongest level in two months on Tuesday at $1.3952.
The majority of Asian shares increased on Thursday trading session amid dovish comments by the U.S. Federal Reserve officials on current monetary policy and as the world's second largest economy showed trade data signaling stabilization in the country. The MSCI broadest Asia- Pacific gauge outside Japan added 0.5% rebounding from the five-week low, while the Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.9%.
The British Sterling increased on Tuesday trading session rising by the most in a four-week period versus its U.S. counterpart after an industry report showed that service sector in the United Kingdom jumped more than projected in April. The Pound strengthened as much as 0.7% to $1.6978 as of 1:07 p.m. in London, the largest advanced since April 8.
Inflation measured as producer price index in Brazil eased in March after recording a month of acceleration, the latest figures revealed by the statistical office IBGE unveiled on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's producer price index climbed by 7.96% on an annual basis in March following February's growth of 8.24% and January's gain of 7.31%.
Private sector activity in France dropped in April mainly due to a slow-down in services and manufacturing production, a report unveiled by the Markit Economics showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the French composite output index slipped to a level of 50.6 points in April after recording 51.8 points in March.
The Spanish service sector rose in April rising at the strongest rate since March 2007 mainly due to a notable gain in new orders, a data unveiled by Markit Economics showed on Tuesday. According to the data, the nation's business activity index for service sector added from 54 points in March to 56.5 in the following month.
Private sector in the 18-nation bloc expanded in April rising for the tenth consecutive month and reaching the strongest level since May 2011, a survey released by the Markit Economics showed on Tuesday. According to the survey, the purchasing managers' index advanced from 53.1 points recorded in March to 54 points in April, the most since 2011.
Service sector in Italy accelerated modestly in April following previous month of contractions, the latest survey revealed by Markit Economics showed on Tuesday. According to the survey, the country's service sector business activity index jumped from a level of 49.5 points in March to 51.1 points in April, with the reading above 50 points signaling expansion.
Trade balance in the world's largest economy came in a deficit in March, however the deficit narrowed by more than economists originally projected as exports rebounded, the latest figure released by the Commerce Department showed on Tuesday. The U.S. trade deficit shrank to 40.4 billion from February's level of $41.9 billion.
Service sector in the Europe's largest economy accelerated in April rising for the eleventh successive month, however the pace of growth was slightly lower than initially projected, a data revealed by the Markit Economics showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the German purchasing managers' index for services jumped from March's 53 points to 54.7 in the following month.
Retail sales in the 18-nation bloc advanced in the month of March as food product sales increased notably supported by strong consumer confidence figures from the first quarter of 2014, a report published by the statistical office Eurostat showed on Tuesday. The Eurozone's retail sales added 0.3% in March following February's growth of 0.1%.