Asian equities increased on Thursday trading session rising from the lowest figures in five months as investors speculate that the European Central Bank may ease its monetary policy on the meeting today and as U.S. jobs data could ease a tension in emerging markets. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan added 0.8% following a five-day losing streak.
Australia's retail sales jumped in the last month of 2013 matching original economists' projections, a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's retail sales climbed 0.5% on a sequential basis in December easing from November's level of 0.7% as food retail sales added 2.5%, while other retailing slipped 3.1%.
Australian merchandise trade balance came in notable surplus in the last month of 2013 compared to a shortfall originally expected, the latest data revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The country's merchandise trade surplus recorded in December A$468 million, while it was forecast to came in a shortfall of A$200 million.
U.S. equities closed lower on Wednesday session mainly due to a technical support level offsetting recent economic data showing mixed results failing to increased optimism on markets after some reports from last week showed unfavourable figures. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.03% to 15,440.23, the S&P 500 Index slipped 0.20% to 1,751.64 and the Nasdaq Composite index slid 0.50%
Service sector in the world's largest economy increased last month with the activity index rising slightly faster than expected in January, a report published by the Institute for Supply Management revealed on Wednesday. The report showed that the U.S. ISM non-manufacturing indicator rose from December's 53.0 to a level of 54.0 recorded in the following month.
Private sector in the world's largest economy added less jobs than originally expected in the month of January, however the total employment increased, a report published by the ADP and Moody's Analytics showed on Wednesday. The U.S. employment gained 175,000 jobs last month after rising in December by 227,000 jobs.
German shares were little changed, following a lowest close in seven weeks, with ThyssenKrupp AG dropping and Volkswagen AG gaining. The DAX fell less than 0.1% to 9,122.32 as of 3:03 p.m. Frankfurt time, after earlier climbing 0.3% and sliding 0.5%; however, the index has declined 6.4% from January 17. The HDAX Index fluctuated today.
European shares were little changed, reversing earlier gains, as health-care and banks shares advanced and a private report showed that U.S. companies employed fewer workers than forecasted. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added less than 0.1% to 317.66 as of 1:19 p.m. London time; however, the equity-benchmark retreated 5.4% from January 22.
U.K. shares advanced, snapping a five-day streak of losses, as GlaxoSmithKline Plc climbed after forecasting that sales will rise as new medicine will be introduced this year. The FTSE 100 Index gained 0.1% to 6,458.54 as of 1:23 London time; however, it has declined 5.5% since January 20. The FTSE All-Share Index added 0.2%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index advanced 0.5%.
The Japanese yen gained versus most major peers on worries of U.S. growth slowdown and emerging markets are slowing increased demand for the safe haven currency. Japan's currency advanced 0.5% to 101.11 per Dollar as of 8:17 a.m. in New York, after declining 0.7% on Tuesday. The Yen added 0.4% to 136.87 versus the 18-nation currency, while the Euro traded
The common currency dropped to the lowest level in 10 months versus the Yen since the latest data show that retail sales declined and speculations regarding the European central bank proving more stimulus through monetary easing persist. The Euro was almost unchanged against the Dollar while the Yen appreciated versus most of its major counterparts. The shared currency fell 0.5% to 136.68 against
U.K. services development unexpectedly slowed to the lowest level in seven months in January, as growth of new business is cooling due to wet weather. Today's report showed services growth dropped to 58.3 from 58.8 in December albeit the average forecast was for an advance to 59. The Pound weakened versus the Euro and the Dollar, slid 0.3% to $1.6279 and fell 0.2% to
Retail sales in the Eurozone registered the largest decline in more than two years in the most important for retailers month of December. The Eurostat data showed a 1.6% decrease on a monthly basis, while analysts predicted them to drop only 0.5%. Moreover, the increase in November was revised negatively from 1.4% to 0.9%. Data will put additional pressure on
Activity in the service industry of the United Kingdom expanded further in January of this year, although the growth rate decreased slightly amid extremely rainy weather in the country. Moreover, analysts say that the correction is also possible due to strong growth some time ago. The benchmark PMI Index slipped to 58.3 points versus 58.8 in December, while analysts predicted
Service industry in Italy showed a slight decrease in activity in January of the current year, dropping already for a third consecutive month, while the benchmark PMI Index, which shows the activity level in this particular sector, surged to 49.4 points from 47.9 in December. Therefore, the break-even point of 50 may be reached in upcoming months and the recovery
Japanese labor cash earnings jumped 0.8% in December of the previous year on the annual basis, however inflation level in the country exceeds 1%, indicating that the real wages' growth in negative. In November, salaries advanced 0.6% annually. Therefore, wages in Japan rise for the second month in a row. At the same time, the downward trend persisted during the
Activity in the service industry of Spain rose to the highest level in almost seven years, as the economy is recovering and labor market in this sector improved slightly. Moreover, new orders in the sector grew as well. The benchmark PMI Index, which measures the activity, increased to 54.9 points in January of this year from 54.2 a month ago,
UBS AG announced a significant increase in its quarterly profit for Q4, as earnings rose at the main bank's working divisions, while legal costs declined. The net profit reached 917 million francs versus a 1.9 billion francs loss a year ago. The bank plans to raise dividend by 67% for 2013. Today, UBS AG stocks are picking up 5.8% to
The Russia's Ministry of Finance decided to cancel the state bond auction for the second time in two weeks, as problems on emerging markets and Fed tapering pushed yields up. The government is going to sell $7.8 billion of bonds this quarter. At the same time, the yields for bonds that mature in 2028 inched up to 8.58% on January
New vehicles sales in European countries continued to advance for the sixth month in row, pointing on the continuation of the economic recovery. French car registrations rose 0.5%, in Italy they added 3.2%, but Spanish market expanded 7.6%. By manufacturers, Renault SA sales in France jumped 12.4%, Peugeot SA increased sales by 6%, while Volkswagen AG deliveries slipped 9.1%.
New car sales in the United States plummeted in January, registering the first decrease since September, as cold weather in the country made people to wait for better times to buy a car. Sales were down 3.1% to one million units on the annual basis. General Motors and Ford posted a 12% and 7% drop, respectively, while the third American
Activity in the production sector of the United States surprisingly declined much more than predicted in January of 2014 to its lowest level in eight months. The benchmark PMI Index dropped to 51.3 points versus 56.5 points in December, falling short of economists' forecasts at 56 points. Analysts explain the decline by cold weather in the country, which decreased the
Bank of America Corp, the second largest financial institution in the U.S., announced an increase in salaries for its managers in the European branch by about 20% to $500,000. The reason behind the pay rise lies in coming tougher rules on paying bonuses in the EU, which will start working in 2015. Today, Bank of America Corp. equities are trading
Toyota Motor Corp., the largest car maker in the world, upgraded its profit expectations for the current financial year, which ends in March, as economic recovery in the U.S. and sliding yen exchange rate pushed company's sales up. The profit is now predicted at $23.7 billion. Today, Toyota Motor Corp. shares, however, declined 5.68% to 5,500 yen during the trading