Australia's consumer confidence slightly advanced in the month of April following previous drops, however the figure stayed below a level of 100 signalling optimism in the sentiment, a report released by the Westpac Bank showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the country's consumer sentiment added 0.3% to 99.7 in April after falling 0.7% in the month before.
The Central Bank of Sweden announced no changes in the monetary policy after its meeting on Wednesday, pointing on economic recovery in the country, which may lead to increase in prices and decrease risks of deflation. The decision to keep the rate at 0.75% level was in line with economists' forecasts. As expected, the average interest rate will reach 0.73%
Wall Street closed lower on Tuesday session snapping a three-day period of drops as investors purchased internet companies and social media as the previous fall seemed to excessive. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 0.38% to 1,851.96, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.06% to 16,256.14 and the Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 0.81% to 4,112.986.
A leading economic index in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development area continued to grow, however the index in emerging markets eased in February, a report revealed by the OECD showed this week. According to the report, the OECD composite leading index remained at a level of 100.7 in February as the growing trend returned in Japan.
The European currency mostly increased on Wednesday trading session rising against the Japanese Yen amid signs that the European Central Bank is ready to support the economy by further bond purchases as soon as the inflation slow again. The Euro advanced as much as 0.2% to 140.68 yen and it was flat versus the U.S. Dollar at $1.3798.
The U.S. Dollar rebounded on Wednesday trading session rising against the Japanese Yen after it recorded the largest drop in a seven-month period as the Bank of Japan Governor signaled that there is no need for more stimulus. The so-called Greenback added as much as 1% to 102.05 yen today following a slide to 101.55 yesterday.
Over past 15 years, more than 250 financial institutions concentrated their business in the City of London, however, their activity in Britain may be under threat if the country votes for leaving the EU in 2017. As announced, a lot of big banks may move their main European operations either to Paris or to Frankfurt after the year 2017. 84%
U.K. shares gained for the first day out of last three as advances in bank stocks outperformed declines in commodity producers. The FTSE 100 Index added 0.4% to 6,616.3 as of 8:38 a.m. London timer; however, the equity-benchmark has fallen 3.7% since approaching the highest level in 14 years on February 24. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 0.4%, while Ireland's
Gold traded near the highest level in two weeks as the U.S. Fed will release its latest minutes from its previous March meeting today. The yellow metal for immediate delivery increased 0.4% to $1,314.06 an ounce and traded at $1,312.05 as of 1:15 p.m. Singapore time. Bullion for June delivery climbed 0.3% to $1,312.90 an ounce in New York.
European shares climbed, after region's stocks posted their first two consecutive day losses in almost a month. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.2% to 334.51 as of 8:08 a.m. London time; however, the equity-benchmark has retreated 1.4% from the highest level in six years approached on April 4. The gauge has climbed 1.9% in 2014.
Asian shares outside Japan gains, with the regional equity-benchmark set for the highest close in almost six months on consumer companies' increase. The MSCI Asia Pacific excluding Japan Index added 0.9% to 481.97 at 2:21 p.m. Hong Kong time. Japan's Topix index slipped 2.1% as nation's currency was at 102.03 per Dollar, pushing exporters lower.
The South Korean Won appreciated to the strongest level in more than a five years on bets that country's officials will let it advance. The Won climbed 0.7% to 1,045.55 per Dollar at 9:43 a.m. Seoul time. The currency reached 1,044.81, the highest level since August 19, 2008, while its monthly implied volatility, decreased 0.04 to 6.39%.
The Aussie and Kiwi gained after home-loan approvals report showed an increase at faster pace than forecasted in Australia. The Australian Dollar approached 93.87 U.S. cents, the highest level since November 20, ahead of being at 93.66 at 6:48 a.m. London time, adding 0.1% from Tuesday. The Kiwi advanced 0.3% to 87 U.S. cents, while the U.S. dollar traded at
Unemployment rate in Switzerland stayed stable in the month of March and remaining at the highest level since April 2010, a report published by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs unveiled on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's jobless rate came in 3.2% in March matching economists' forecast, while the total number of people without a job fell by
Service sector in the United Kingdom increased in the first three months of this year, the latest Quarterly Survey released by the British Chambers of Commerce showed on Tuesday. According to the survey, the country's service sector improved as the export sales rose to +38% and export orders to +39%, the domestic sales advanced to +38% and domestic orders to
Consumer credit in the world's largest economy increased in February rising at a faster rate than economists original projected as non-revolving credit rose more than revolving credit fell, a report published by the Federal Reserve unveiled on Monday. The U.S. consumer credit advanced by $16.5 billion in February after jumping by $13.8 billion in the month before.
The Japanese national bank decided to maintain its monetary policy unchanged on a policy meeting earlier this week despite the fact that the country's government implemented first sales tax hikes in sixteen years recently possibly shrinking consumer spending. The Bank of Japan will continue its current bond-purchase program totaling 60-70 trillion yen a month.
Permanent salaries in the United Kingdom increased in March rising at a fastest rate in almost six years, however temporary salaries growth weakened on the month, a report published by the KPMG and REC showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's starting salaries in permanent jobs accelerated by the most since 2007 and the temporary ones eased to
An index measuring current economic conditions in Japan increased in March, however the outlook weakened by more than originally expected, a report published by the Economy Watchers Survey unveiled on Tuesday. The Japan's Eco Watchers index gained from February's level if 53 to March's 57.9, while the outlook index slipped from a level of 40 recorded in February to 34.7
Current account trade balance in the Asia's second largest economy came in a surplus in February following a period of four successive months of drops, a report released by the Ministry of Finance showed on Tuesday. The Japan's current account surplus recorded a level of 612.7 billion yen, while it was originally seen at 618.1 billion after a deficit of
Business sentiment in Australia declined in March, however the figure stayed in a positive territory, a report released by the National Australia Bank revealed on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's business conditions index recorded an advanced coming to a score +4 in March following February's +7 and a level of +9 in January.
The world's second largest economy is likely to expand on a slower rate this year than economists originally forecast, the latest data published by the World Bank showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the Chinese gross domestic product will accelerate by 7.6% in 2014 and 7.5% in the next year, while the figure for 2013 recorded 7.7% growth.
Growth forecast revealed by the World Bank for the East Asia region remained steady for the period of 2014-2015 as the global trade and economic growth increased slightly, a report released by the bank showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the East Asia and Pacific area may rise by 7.1% this year and the next one, while it was
The European Central Bank is likely to maintain its monetary policy unchanged in the next few weeks, however the bank is planning on adding bond purchases on a large-scale if the inflation in the region slows down further, the bank's officials said on Monday. According to the policymakers, the Eurozone's inflation at a level of 0.5% is in a critical