Japan's shares declined on Friday trading session with the local benchmark stock index Topix erasing its increase recorded this week and capping a 6th week of drops mainly due to a slide of consumer lenders. The Topix Index fell 1.3% to 1,183.82 in Tokyo reversing previous advance of 0.8% and falling by 0.4% this week.
European shares fluctuated on Friday with the region's benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 and was set to record a weekly advance before reports showed that economic growth in the Eurozone rose by 0.2% in the Q4 and as industrial production in the U.S. added 0.2%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.1% to 331.86 as of 8:08 a.m. London time.
Natural gas traded in New York increased on Friday heading towards its first weekly advance since January 24 after a demand for heating oil was boosted by winter storms in the U.S. and as inventories dropped to a seasonal 10-year low. Gas for settlement in March gained 2.7% following a climb by 8.3% yesterday to $5.223 a million British thermal
Economic advance in the Netherlands inched up in the last quarter of 2013, showing an increase of 0.7% quarter-on-quarter. Moreover, the GDP rise for the July-September quarter was revised up to 0.3%, while economists forecasted the same expansion pace for the Q4. On the annual basis, economy jumped 0.7%, while exports increased only 0.1% and imports growing 0.8% in 2013.
The European benchmark Brent crude declined on Friday after production in the Africa's largest oil producer, Libya, declined from 350,000 to a level of 200,000 barrels per day amid a shut-down of a pipeline caused by protestors. Brent for delivery in April fell as much as 19 cents to $108.33 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate oil increased on Friday session and was set to record its fifth weekly advance, the longest streak of weekly gains this year, as winter storms in the U.S. boosted demand for energy. WTI for settlement in March traded 27 cents lower at $100.08 per barrel on the NYMEX as of 3:55 p.m. in Singapore.
Inflation in the 18-nation bloc is expected to remain below the European Central Bank's outlook this year and in 2015 mainly due to stronger local currency and lower prices of commodities, a survey published by the bank showed on Friday. According to the report, the Eurozone's inflation is projected to stand at 1.1% compared to initially forecast level of 1.5%
The consumer price index in China remained fully unchanged in January of this year, staying at 2.5% on the annual basis. Economists expected a CPI decrease to 2.4%. Moreover, a considerable jump of 3.7% in food prices on Christmas and New Year celebrations did not influence the overall inflation indicator. Alongside, factory prices in the country were up only 1.6%.
Inflation in India measured as wholesale price index recorded a steep decline at the beginning of 2014 missing preliminary estimated figures, a report revealed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Friday. India's 'PI decreased from 6.16 recorded in December to a level of 5.05% in January, while it was forecast to fall to 5.6%.
The benchmark interest rates in the United Kingdom is expected to raise to a level of 2% in a period of three years, according to a survey released by Reuters on Wednesday, as the survey results match expectations of the Bank of England. However, economists in the poll disagreed with the Bank's outlook for an increase in business investments by
Economic advance in Germany, the largest economy of the Eurozone, jumped to 0.4% in October-December quarter of the previous year, growing from 0.3% in Q3. Analysts expected the same GDP rise as in July-September. The data showed a significant surge in capital investment and exports. At the same time, private consumption data was worse than predicted in Q4.
The U.S. currency weakened on Friday session falling towards the lowest level in three weeks versus the majority of its most-traded peers after a government data showed that retail sales in the country fell and jobless claims advanced last week. The so-called Greenback traded at 102.08 yen and $1.3675 against the Euro, while the U.S. Dollar index fell to 80.194.
Economic growth in France picked up in the last quarter of the previous year, as the GDP rose 0.3% on a quarterly basis after a 0.1% increase in July-September. Economists, in turn, waited for a smaller 0.2% advance. During the whole year 2013 economy grew 0.3% as well. The GDP data is very important for the ECB, as it will
The majority of Asian shares increased on Friday trading session after a government report showed unfavourable data from the U.S. pushing the nation's currency towards the lowest level in three weeks versus the Euro. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan gained as much as 0.7% and was set to record its largest weekly advanced since September.
Business inventories in the world's largest economy increased slightly more than economists initially expected in December, a report released by the Commerce Department showed on Thursday. According to the report, the U.S. business inventories advanced 0.5% in the last month of 2013 after gaining 0.4% in November.
Wall Street shares inched higher on Thursday trading session with the benchmark index Nasdaq Composite increasing for the sixth successive day as investors weighed prospects of disappointing consumer spending data versus weather forecast. The S&P 500 Index gained 0.58% to 1,829.83, the Dow Jones industrial average added 0.40% to 16,027.59 and the Nasdaq surged 0.94% to 4,240.67.
Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. surprisingly increased in the week ended on February 8, the latest data revealed by the Labor Department showed on Thursday. According to the report, jobless claims in the world's largest economy added by 8,000 from 331,000 to last week's level of 339,000, while the claims were seen to be falling to 330,000.
West Texas Intermediate oil dropped from the strongest level since October when reports showed U.S retail sales fell in January and unemployment climbed last week, bolstering worries of fuel demand drop. WTI for March delivery dropped 19 cents to $100.18 a barrel in New York board of trade. The contract strengthened to $100.37, the strongest since October 18.
The Pound advanced to the highest level in two and a half years versus the Dollar, since the central bank's Chief Economist, Spenser Dale, stated investors' bets in regard to interest rates growth in two years are reasonable. Sterling strengthened in a third day against the U.S Dollar, due to unexpected drop of U.S retail sales, and gained 0.2% to $1.6634 at 3:27 p.m. in London
U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in January to the lowest level since June 2012 due to the poor weather conditions that lowered consumers' activity. The 0.4% drop was shown today by Commerce Department in Washington and then revised to a 0.1% fall that was earlier reported as an advance in December. According to U.S. economist Guy Berger's view, this situation is not considered to be positive
Wall Street shares remained flat on Wednesday trading session with the benchmark index Standard & Poor's 500 rising by 3.9% in the last four sessions after company Procter & Gamble revealed its earnings outlook. The Dow Jones industrial average shed 0.19% to 15,963.94, the S&P 500 Index lost 0.03% and the Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.24% to 4,201.29.
European shares declined, snapping their longest streak of gains this year, as some major companies retreated as they reported worse than expected results. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.7% to 329.54 as of 11:48 a.m. London time; however, the equity-benchmark gained 4.5% through last six days. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures slid 0.6%, while the MSCI Asia Pacific
U.K. shares dropped after advancing for six straight days, as some major companies tumbled after they published disappointing forecasts. The FTSE 100 Index fell 0.7% to 6,625.43 as of 11:49 London time; however, the benchmark-index jumped 3.5% in the last six days. The FTSE All-Share Index slid 0.7%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index retreated 1.2% today.
Australia's Dollar fell by the most in approximately a month after unemployment rate rose to the highest level in more than a decade and companies cut jobs surprisingly. The Aussie slipped 1% to 89.39 U.S. cents at 6:17 p.m. Sydney time, after reaching 90.67 yesterday. The Australian Dollar declined 1.5% to 91.20 Japanese Yen.