Japanese shares mostly declined on Monday trading session with the benchmark stock index Topix falling for the first time in a five-day period as the drop was led by drugmakers and property companies. The Topix tumbled as much as 0.2% to 1,171.40 in Tokyo following an increased by 0.7% earlier on the session.
Trade balance in the Asia's second largest economy is likely to come in a deficit in the next three months of 2014 after recording a shortfall in the Q1 as domestic demand struggles, a report released by the Capital Economics showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's shortfall in the Q2 may narrow by approximately 0.75% of GDP.
Government in Italy lowered a tax on lower income earners in order to boost domestic demand and increase household incomes, the country's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said past weekend. According to Renzi, the recent tax reduction may help about ten million tax payers and reduce the total number of taxes by 80 euro per month for people earning 26,000 euro
Corporate bank loan demand in the Asia's second largest economy declined in the first three months of this year, the latest report released by the Bank of Japan showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's demand for bank loans from corporate clients slipped from a level of 8 points to 5 points amid slow-down in fixed investments.
The European currency advanced on Monday trading session gaining versus the Japanese Yen and trading close to the highest level in more than three years against the Greenback after a report showed that Japan's trade deficit rose to all-time high. The Euro added 0.2% to 141.69 yen following a climb to 141.83, the most in two weeks.
The U.S. Dollar increased earlier on Monday trading session rising against the Japanese Yen towards the highest level in two weeks after a government report showed that Japan's trade balance came in the largest deficit all-time. The so-called Greenback jumped to 102.71 yen, the most since April 8, while it traded at $1.3818 per Euro.
The majority of Asian stocks slightly declined on Monday trading session as investors remained cautious amid escalating geopolitical tension in Ukraine and as concerns over China's growth and U.S. stimulus kept traders alert. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan dipped as much as 0.1% and the Japanese benchmark index Nikkei 225 gained 0.3%.
Italian government bonds rose on Thursday posting a weekly advanced with the benchmark 10-year yields dropping towards the weakest level all-time as demand for riskier assets rose after the European Central Bank announced more stimulus. Italy's 10-year yields gained two basis points to 3.12% by 4:28 p.m. in London following a slip to the record low at 3.068%.
The British government bonds declined on Thursday with the benchmark 10-year yields exceeding their return to 3.2% from the beginning of 2014 after a report showed yesterday that unemployment in the country fell to 6.9% in the Q1. The so-called Gilts and their 10-year yields jumped three basis points to 2.66% on today's session.
The British Sterling advanced on Thursday rising towards the strongest level in over four years versus its U.S. counterpart after the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen signaled that the bank may keep rates low pushing the Dollar down. The Pound gained 0.1% to $1.6812 as of 4:16 p.m. in London following a jump to $1.6842, the most since 2009.
China's shares dropped on Thursday session as the decline was led by financial companies and energy producers overshadowing increase in technology companies. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell as much as 0.3% closing at a level of 2,098.89, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index jumped 0.1% and the CSI 300 Index tumbled 0.4%.
Emerging-market stocks advanced on Thursday trading session rising for the second successive day as Ukraine and Russian ministers met their European and U.S. counterparts in order to talk about the crisis in Ukraine. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index gained as much as 0.5% to 1,007.02 as of 11:17 a.m. New York time as the Russian benchmark index Micex added 1.4%
Car registrations in Europe increased for the seventh month in a row in March of this year, as economic recovery boosts durables' goods sales. The total sales climbed 10% to 1.49 million units, while the largest increase was seen in the U.K. – almost 18%. German market expanded by 5.4%. Sales of Renault surged 29%, while Ford and Peugeot sold
The European benchmark Brent crude traded in London fluctuated earlier on Thursday trading session after an industry report showed that gasoline inventories fell by 154,000 barrels and distillate stockpiles slipped by 1.28 million barrels. Brent for delivery in June traded $0.19 lower at a level of $109.41 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Thursday rising for the second successive day on speculation that crisis in Ukraine may continue for longer than expected and as U.S. inventories advanced to the highest level in more than ten years. WTI for settlement in May gained $0.42 to $104.18 per barrel on the NYMEX and was last seen at $103.93 as
Consumer confidence in the Asia's second largest economy decreased in March falling towards the weakest level since August 2011, the latest monthly survey unveiled by the Cabinet Office showed on Thursday. According to the survey, the country's consumer confidence index slipped from a level of 38.5 in February to 37.5 in the following month.
Inflation measured as producer price index in South Korea remained unchanged in the month of March after increased in the February, a report published by the Bank of Korea unveiled on Thursday. According to the report, the South Korean producer price index recorded 0.1% on a sequential basis in March, while year-on-year the prices fell 0.5% in March.
Housing starts in the world's largest economy advanced significantly in March, however the figure remained below economists' expectations, the latest data revealed by the Commerce Department unveiled on Wednesday. The country's housing starts jumped 2.8% on an annual basis in March totaling 970,000 units after recording 920,000 in the month before.
Industrial output in the world's largest economy advanced in March rising by more than economists originally expected as the rate of growth in production gained from the previous month, a report released by the Federal Reserve unveiled on Thursday. The country's industrial production jumped 0.7% in March following a climb by 1.2% in February.
Australia's motor vehicle sales decreased in March with the total figure of new cars sold falling by 0.3% on a monthly basis recording 92,168 units, a report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics unveiled on Thursday. The report also showed that passenger cars slipped 3.2%, sports utility vehicles fell 4.9% and other vehicles lost 0.9%.
The New Zealand's currency continued to decline on Thursday, however remained steadier after recording a notably drop in the previous session amid reports showing that inflation in the country weakened surprisingly and as diary prices slipped on the month. The so-called Kiwi was last traded at $0.8625 following a drop to $0.8578, the least in a week.
The U.S. Dollar was little changed earlier on Thursday session with the index measuring its performance against the basket of currencies traded below a level of 80 after the Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellend signaled that the bank is unlikely to tighten monetary policy soon. The U.S. Dollar index fluctuated at 79.808 as the Greenback traded at $1.3819 versus Euro.
The Japanese currency decreased on Thursday falling against its U.S. counterpart towards the weakest level in one week as demand for safe-haven currencies fell after stocks world-wide notably advanced on Janet Yellen commented the Fed may keep rates low. The Yen fell as much as 0.3% to 102.22 per U.S. Dollar and it was last seen at 141.22 per Euro.
Wall Street closed higher on Wednesday trading session as the benchmark stock indexes rose for the third successive day after the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen signaled that the central bank may keep rates low in short-term. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 1.05% to 1,862.31, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 1% to 162.29 points and the