Industrial output in South Korea slipped on a sequential basis in February, the latest data released by the Statistics Korea showed on Friday. According to the data, the country's industrial output fell 1.8%, much more than economists originally expected as the figure was seen to be contracting by 0.8% in February.
Inflation in the Asia's second largest economy increased slightly in February matching economists' initial estimates, the latest report released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications unveiled on Friday. According to the report, the country's consumer price index gained 1.5% in February after rising by 1.4% in the month before, while core inflation recorded 1.3%.
Credit ratings of banks in the Russian Federation may come under a modest pressure as an economic slow-down is expected to hit the country amid sanctions put on the country as it invaded the Ukraine's Crimea, a report release by Standard & Poor's showed today. The rating agency said that the pressure may get intense if the geopolitical tension will
The U.S. Federal Reserve is unlikely to increased interest rates until the second half of 2015 and after then it may start tightening the monetary policy moderately in order to avoid a slow-down of the country's economy, the Chicago Fed's President Charles Evans said today. According to Evans, the Fed should try to increase inflation level from current 1% to
The New Zealand's currency increased notably on Friday trading session rising against its U.S. counterpart towards the highest level since August 2011 after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised its benchmark interest rates. The so-called Kiwi added to $0.8698, the most in almost three years, while it reached the highest level in six-years of 88.94.
Wall Street shares increased on Friday trading session pushed up by decision of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang saying that the country's government may take further steps in order to support local economy. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures gained 5 points, the Dow Jones industrial average futures climbed 42 points and the Nasdaq Composite index futures surged 14.25 points.
U.S. Treasuries declined on Friday trading session and were set to record a monthly loss, their first this year, after a report showed that consumer spending in the world's largest economy advanced towards the highest level in three months. The benchmark 10-year government bonds yielded at 2.69% as of 9:13 a.m. New York time.
Global shares increased on Friday trading session with the Japanese benchmark index traded near the highest level in three weeks and the European FTSE was set to complete a 1% gain in the first three months of this year. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 gauge rose 0.4% to 1327 points, while the MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan jumped 0.7% and the
The European Central Bank may ease its monetary policy as soon as the next policy meeting on Thursday after a government report showed that the Spanish consumer price index surprisingly fell in March and before the euro-zone inflation data were released on Monday. The ECB's inflation target of 2% is not estimated to be reach, since the March inflation is
European government bonds mostly declined on Friday trading session after a report showed that inflation in Spain dropped surprisingly last month raising speculation that the European Central Bank may easy its monetary policy as soon as the next policy meeting. Spain's yields slipped to 3.2%, the lowest since 2006, and they were last seen at 3.24%, while Italy's notes slid
Gold reversed some of the losses on speculation that a retreat below $1,300 an ounce could spur metal's demand, after declining for the second straight week. The yellow metal for immediate delivery gained 0.3% to $1,294.48 an ounce and was trading at $1,293.59 as of 8:41 a.m. Singapore time. Bullion for June delivery was little changed at $1,294.50 in New York.
The Australian Dollar and its New Zealand counterpart did appreciate the most among the ten most-traded currencies on optimism on nations' economies. The Aussie was at 92.62 U.S. cents at 6:54 a.m. London time, after climbing to 92.59 on Thursday, making it five straight days of gains. The Kiwi added 0.1% to 86.84 U.S. cents, after approaching 86.97, the highest
The 18-nation currency slid for a fourth straight day versus the greenback on a report that indicated consumer-price inflation unexpectedly falling in Spain. The Euro slipped 0.2% to $1.3715 as of 8:47 a.m. in London, after depreciating to $1.3706, the weakest level since February 28. The shared currency dropped 0.2% to 140.09 Japanese Yen.
Italian government notes increased on Thursday with the benchmark 10-year yields falling towards the weakest level in almost nine years on speculation that the European Central Bank may add more stimulus into financial system. Italy's 10-year bonds yielded four basis points lower at 3.30% as of 12:37 p.m. in London following a slip to 3.29%, the least since September 2005.
The British Sterling jumped on Thursday rising for the fourth straight session against the U.S. Dollar after a government report showed that retail sales in the United Kingdom advanced notably last month exceeding projections of experts. The Pound rose as much as 0.3% to $1.6629 as of 11:06 a.m. London time following a gain by 0.6% from the beginning of
German shares dropped on Thursday trading session after rising by the most in a two-day period since September 2013 after upbeat economic data from the U.S. showed an improvement in overall situation boosting demand for U.S. shares. The benchmark index DAX slipped 0.3% to 9,425.27 as of 1:40 p.m. Frankfurt time exceeding the monthly decline to 2.7%.
U.K. shares decreased on Thursday trading session falling from the highest level in two weeks after the U.S. Federal Reserve stress-tested British subsidiaries of Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc. The benchmark stock index FTSE 100 dropped as much as 40.85 points to 6,564.45 as of 12:51 p.m. London time extending its declined to 4.4% from February 24.
The European benchmark Brent crude traded in London advanced on Thursday on continued strikes in Libyan oil fields and as reports from the U.S. showed an improvement in labour market with jobless claims falling last week. Brent for delivery in May jumped as much 60 cents to $107.63 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Thursday trading session rising towards the strongest level in a two-week period as inventories in the main oil storage hub in the U.S. dropped. WTI for settlement in May advanced 94 cents to $101.20 per barrel on the NYMEX, the most since March 11, and it was last seen at $101.07 as of 12:32
M3 money supply in the 18-nation bloc increased in the month of February matching economists' estimates, however private sector lending continued its downward trend, a report released by the European Central Bank showed on Thursday. The Eurozone's monetary aggregate M3 climbed on an annual basis by 1.3% in February after rising 1.2% in the month before.
Business confidence in Italy increased in March advancing for the second successive month and reaching the strongest level in almost three years, a report released by the statistical office Istat showed on Thursday. The country's manufacturing confidence gauge added from February's level of 99.1 points to 99.2 in the following month.
Initial claim for unemployment benefits in the U.S. surprisingly advanced in the week ended on March 22, the latest report published by the Labor Department unveiled on Thursday. According to the report, the country's first-time jobless claims slipped by 10,000 from 321,000 to 311,000, while they were projected to rise to 321,000.
The gross domestic product in the world's largest economy increased in the last three months of 2013 rising by more than previously estimated, the latest data released by the Commerce department showed on Thursday. According to the report, the U.S. GDP accelerated by 2.6% in the Q4 after it was projected to gain 2.4%.
Retail sales in the United Kingdom increased in February rising at a faster rate than economists initially estimated as food stores turnover advanced on the month suggesting that consumer spending improved, the Office for National Statistics showed on Thursday. The U.K. retail sales gained 1.7% on a monthly basis in February after they dropped 2% in the month before.