The U.S. Dollar advanced earlier on Thursday and was traded close to its strongest level in a two-week period against the basket of its most-traded peers amid rising tension in Ukraine boosted demand for safe-haven assets. The U.S. Dollar index slipped modestly from Wednesday's 2-week high at 80.524 to a level of 80.405.
Wall Street shares closed flat on Wednesday trading session as investors awaited for big moves before today's speech of the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen, however, retailers' stocks advanced for the second straight day. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 0.04% to 1,845.16, the Dow Jones industrial average added 0.12% to 16,198.41 and the Nasdaq Composite index rose
The Chinese currency swung between gains and losses on Thursday session and was traded close to its lowest level in a seven-month period and below a level of fixing to U.S. Dollar at $6.1224 for the third successive day as the country's central bank injects volatility into local market. The Yuan was last seen at $6.1300 per U.S. Dollar, up
The majority of Asian stocks declined on Thursday trading session mainly due to escalating political tension in Ukraine forcing investors to look for safe-haven assets as the U.S. Dollar advanced together with Wall Street shares. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan remained flat earlier on today's session, while the Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 0.4%.
Asian stocks declined as Japanese shares dropped and decline in telecommunication and raw-material companies dragged the MSCI Asia Pacific Index lower. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.1% to 137.9 at 7:33 p.m. Hong Kong time, having almost reversed earlier losses. Japan's Topix index fell 0.7% as its trading volume was 29% lower than its last 30-day average.
U.K. shares retreated for a second straight day as Tesco Plc sent the regional FTSE 100 Index lower. The FTSE 100 Index fell 0.3% to 6,809.68 as of 12:10 p.m. London time; however, the equity-benchmark has still advanced 4.6% in February, making it the best performing month since July. The FTSE All-Share Index slid 0.3% as well, while Ireland's ISEQ
The European benchmark Brent crude decreased on Wednesday trading session with the WTI-Brent discount shrinking to the narrowest level since October before a report showed that inventories in the U.S. dropped for the 7th week. Brent for settlement in April lost 13 cents and was last traded at $109.38 on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Wednesday trading session before a government report showed that stockpiles in the world's largest consumer, U.S., decreased for the seventh straight week. WTI for settlement in April jumped 76 cents to $102.59 per barrel on the NYMEX and was last seen at $102.34 by 1:17 p.m. in London.
Emerging-market equities increased on Wednesday trading session after Hong Kong shares ended their six-day losing streak as the advance was led by technology companies rising towards their record highs. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index added 0.3% to 958.78 as of 11:45 a.m. London time, while the Hang Send China Enterprises gauge jumped 0.7%.
German benchmark government bunds slipped on Wednesday after the country announced an auction today and 30-year securities failed to meet their target as demand for safe-haven assets drops as the region's economy improves. The benchmark 10-year bunds yielded one basis point higher at 1.65% as of 12:31 p.m. in London.
Soybeans declined on Wednesday trading session falling from the strongest level in over five months amid expectations that supplies may be enough for the demand overshadowing concerns that unfavourbale weather may damage crops in Brazil. Soybeans for settlement in May dropped 0.1% to $13.865 per bushel as of 6:45 a.m. on the CBOT.
European equities declined on Wednesday trading session falling from the highest level in a six-year period with Credit Suisse Group AG leading drops loosing 2%. The benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 slipped 0.3% to 337.33 as of 12:51 London time, while the gauge has advanced by 4.6% so far this month, the largest jump in a month since July.
Swedish retail sales advanced at the beginning of 2014 following a month of contraction, however the gain was slower than economists expected, the latest data published by the Statistics Sweden showed on Wednesday. The report revealed that Sweden retail sales gained 0.3% on a sequential basis in January following a drop by 0.7% in December.
Wage growth in Italy increased at the beginning of this year with the hourly wage of Italian employees rising by 1.4% on an annual basis in January, a report published by the statistical office Istat showed on Wednesday. The report also showed that Italy's agricultural sector wages added 3.4%, while industrial sector gained 2.1%.
The United Kingdom economy improved in the last quarter of 2013, however the annual growth in the whole 2013 came in weaker pace than economists originally expected, a report published by the Office for National Statistics showed on Wednesday. The British gross domestic product gained 0.7% in the Q4, while in the Q3 it rose by 0.8%.
Residential mortgages in Spain declined significantly in the last month of 2013, the latest data published by the statistical office INE showed on Wednesday. According to the report, the Spain's residential mortgages dropped notable by 30.1% on an annual basis totaling 12,329 in December, while on a sequential basis the figure fell by 11.5%.
The United Kingdom's central bank will likely to maintain its benchmark refinancing rates unchanged at current level and will focus on recovery supporting the economy, the Bank of England Economists Spencer Dale revealed on Wednesday. In the BoE last Quarterly Inflation Report, the bank showed its focus on unemployment level, labour productivity and wages.
Australian construction sector improved in the last quarter of 2013 with the total value of finished construction increased by 0.2% totalling A$53.101 billion, the latest data revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday. However, the country's construction work done on a sequential basis slowed from a2.7% gain recorded in the Q3.
Consumer confidence in the Europe's largest economy is forecast to increase in the month of March as economists expect higher incomes and stable labour market, according to a report revealed by the GFK showed on Wednesday. The report showed that so-called forwards-looking German consumer confidence index gained from 8.3 points to 8.5 points in February.
Global shares swung between gains and losses on Wednesday trading session with the global equity index recording a modest decline amid concerns that China's economy may slow down after the People's bank of China injected fund into financial markets. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan added 0.28% as the majority of Asian stocks gained, while Japan's Nikkei 225 lost
Wall Street shares increased earlier on Wednesday trading session with the U.S. benchmark stock index Standard & Poor's 500 heading towards its new all-time high that is a possible resistance according to technical analysts. The S&P 500 was last traded 0.7% below its record high, while the Dow Jones industrial average gained 34 points and the Nasdaq 100 added 4.25
The Sterling rose for the second day versus the greenback as a report showed the growth of U.K. economy in the last quarter matches economist expectations. The Sterling traded at $1.6688 at 9:48 a.m. London time after rising to $1.6727 yesterday, the strongest since Feb. 19. The Pound was at the level of 82.39 pence per Eurozone's currency. The Pound has added 13% in
Offshore Yuan ended a slide in the last seven trading sessions as Chinese authorities stated that Yuan's drop is within the normal range. China's currency added 0.24%, the biggest advance since May 8, to 6.1118 per greenback at 4:47 p.m. in Hong Kong after it had lost 1.5% in the last seven days. In Shanghai Chinese Yuan gained 0.03% to 6.1248, picking up from the seven-month lowest level
U.S. gas poised for the three-day drop amid speculation of decreased demand for heating fuel as U.S. weather is getting warmer. The March contract declined 5.2% reaching $4.832 per million Btu and was little changed at $4.907 as of 10:11 a.m. in London, while the contract for April delivery contracted 2% to $4.498. Natural gas dropped 6.4% yesterday to $5.096