Manufacturing sector in South Korea increased in April, however the pace of growth weakened on a month as output contracted and new orders stayed low, the latest report unveiled by the Markit Economics showed on Friday. South Korean manufacturing purchasing managers' index slipped from 50.4 points in March to 50.2 in the following month.
Australia's new home sales increased on a sequential basis in March rising for the second straight month, a report published by the Housing Industry Association showed on Friday. According to the report, the nation's total number of home sales advanced 0.2% month-on-month in March after gaining by 4.6% in February.
Household spending in Japan surged on an annual basis in March, a report published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications unveiled on Friday. According to the report, the country's average household spending gained yearly by 7.2% in March compared to expectations of 2.0% gain, while the spending totaled 345,443 yen.
Monetary base in the Asia's second largest economy increased on an annual basis in April, the latest report released by the Bank of Japan showed on Friday. According to the report, the country's monetary base advanced 48.5% in April totaling 22.079 trillion yen following a 54.8% gain in the previous month.
Manufacturing sector in the Asia's third largest economy remained flat in the month of April, the latest data published by the Markit Economics showed on Friday. According to the data, India's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index posted 51.3 points in April as the growth stayed modest and output in the sector waned.
Manufacturing sector activity in the U.S. increase in April, according to a data released by the Institute for Supply Management, with the activity index reaching the strongest level this year exceeding economists' projections. The ISM purchasing managers index jumped from March's level of 53.7 points to a level of 54.9 points in April.
Construction spending in the world's largest economy advanced in March, however the pace of growth was lower than economists originally projected, a report released by the Commerce Department showed on Thursday. According to the report, the U.S. public construction spending gained 0.2% year-on-year in March totaling $942.5 billion.
The Australian and New Zealand Dollar swung between gains and losses on Friday trading session with the so-called Kiwi rebounding from the lowest level in one month on Tuesday as the currency has been fluctuating from its recent rally caused by the central bank's interest rate hikes. The Aussie was last traded at 93 U.S. cents, while Kiwi rose to
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Friday trading session trimming its second weekly decrease before the world's largest oil consumer released a report showing an advanced in jobs added last month. WTI for settlement in June climbed as much as $0.48 to a level of $99.90 per barrel on the NYMEX and it was last seen at $99.88 by 9:04
European shares swung between gains and losses on Friday trading session with the benchmark stock index heading for its third weekly advance before a report showed that the U.S. added more jobs last month. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index jumped as much as 0.1% to 338.7 as of 9:06 a.m. London time extending its gain to 1.5% on the week.
Wall Street shares closed mostly lower on Thursday session as investors remained cautious before a report released on Friday showing that payrolls in the country may have expanded last month. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index slipped 0.01% to 1,883.68, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.13% to 16,558.87 and the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.31% to 4,127.451.
The European currency was little changed on Friday trading near the weakest level in three weeks against the U.S. Dollar before a government report showing that the U.S. payrolls increased last month and on speculation that the ECB may keep its current monetary policy. The Euro was last seen at $1.3868, while it traded at 141.80 yen.
The U.S. Dollar swung between gains and losses on Friday trading session and it traded close to the weakest level in five years versus the British Sterling before a report showed that payrolls in the country rose more than forecast. The Greenback was last seen at 102.37 yen, while it remained flat versus the Euro at $1.3863 and it slipped
The majority of Asia's shares inched higher on Friday trading session amid speculation that today's U.S. payrolls report may showed favourable results overshadowing new from Ukraine where violence continues damping investors' risk appetite. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan advanced 0.4% as China's market closed today for holidays.
Japanese equities advanced on Thursday trading session with the benchmark stock index Topix rising towards the strongest level in three weeks after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced its decision to cut bond purchases to $45 billion a month. Japan's Topix gauge climbed as much as 1.7% to 1,182.20 in Tokyo, the most since April 7.
U.S. Treasuries advanced on Thursday paring their previous losses after a report showed that jobless claims in the country advanced surprisingly last week to the highest level in nine weeks rising speculation that the U.S. economy may be recovering slower. The benchmark 10-year government bonds yielded one basis point higher at 2.66% by 8:40 a.m. New York time.
The European benchmark Brent crude decreased on Thursday trading session amid speculation that the world's two biggest oil consumers, the U.S. and China, may have lost their momentum as their economies slowed down in the Q1. Brent for delivery in June dropped as much as 83 cents to a level of $107.24 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe
West Texas Intermediate crude slipped on Thursday falling towards the weakest level in a five-week period after an industry report showed that stockpiles in the world's largest oil consumer, U.S., advanced to the highest level all-time. WTI for settlement in June fell $0.94 to a level of $98.80 per barrel on the NYMEX, the least since March 25.
United Kingdom stocks soared on Thursday trading session rising for the fourth successive day after a report showed that the nation's manufacturing activity advanced by more than originally forecast last month. The London's FTSE 100 Index increased as much as 16.67 points to a level of 6,796.7 as of 11:48 a.m. in London after the Fed announced a cut of
Australia's export prices jumped in the first three months of this year, according to data revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday, as the prices advanced by 3.6% compared to an originally projected level of 1.5%. The report also showed that import prices rose by 3.2% in the Q1, while it was estimated to gain 1.8%.
Manufacturing activity in the world's second largest economy expanded in April, however the pace of growth was lower than initially forecast by experts, the latest data unveiled by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing showed on Thursday. The nation's PMI recorded 50.4 points in April, while it was originally seen to be rising to 50.5 points from a level
House prices in the United Kingdom advanced on an annual basis in April reaching the strongest level since 2007 as demand improved amid higher earnings, a report revealed by the mortgage lender Nationwide showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's house prices climbed by 10.9% year-on-year in April following a 9.5% jump in March.
Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the world's largest economy jumped in the week ended on April 26th despite an originally expected drop of the claims, a report revealed by the Labor Department showed on Thursday. According to the report, the U.S. jobless claims rose by 14,000 from 330,000 to a level of 344,000 last week.
Personal spending and income in the world's largest economy both increased in March rising by more than initially estimated, a data published by the Commerce Department showed on Thursday. According to the data, the U.S. personal spending added 0.4% in the month of March following a 0.3% gain February, whereas the personal income rose by 0.5% in March.