European shares gained, with the regional benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index advancing for a sixth straight day, after U.S. unemployment data fell more than expected. The Stoxx 600 added 0.5% to 325.87 as of 8:21 a.m. London time, after the index completed its biggest weekly advance since July on December 24.
Brazil's currency rose to the highest level in one week after nation's officials removed a tax that was paid on selling stocks in global markets. The Brazil Real added 0.2% to 2.3536 per U.S. Dollar, reversing its quarterly retreat to 5.8%, making it the second worst performance after Japan's currency.
The British currency advanced to its two-year high against the U.S. Dollar on increasing sentiment in U.K.'s economic recovery. The Pound added 0.5% to $1.6486 as of 9:18 a.m. in London, after it rose to $1.6505, the strongest level in approximately two years. The Sterling slid 0.3% to 83.69 pence per Euro, after reaching 82.54 pence on December 2.
Metals from platinum to silver increased on Friday trading session with the silver futures heading to record their best week in a month after it has fallen 34% this year, while Platinum climbed the most in a 10-week period yesterday. Silver for December settlement added 1% to $19.9779 an ounce, Platinum jumped 0.5% to $1,365.80 an ounce and palladium rose
Gold was little changed on Friday traded near the highest level in a week and headed for a quarterly and monthly drop after the U.S. Federal Reserve trimmed its stimulus as the country's economy improved. Bullion for delivery in December gained and lost 0.3% before trading at a level of $1,213.39 an ounce as of 3:42 p.m. in Singapore.
South Korean currency strengthened on Friday completing the largest advance in a week since October 18 after a report showed that local business confidence advanced and amid speculation that policymakers may curb exchange-rate appreciation. The Won gained 0.5% to 1,054.39 per U.S. Dollar in Seoul today and it has added 0.7% this week.
Manufacturing sector in the Asia's second largest economy advanced at the steepest rate in more than seven years in December as output and new businesses grew strongly, a report unveiled by Markit Economics and the Japan Materials Management Association showed on Friday. Japan's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for manufacturing sector added from November's 55.1 to 55.2 in the following month.
Consumer confidence in Finland advanced in December mainly due to an improvement in savings of households, at the same time, business confidence in the country stayed unchanged in the same month, a report published by the Statistics Finland showed on Friday. According to the report, the Finnish consumer confidence index gained from November's 6.4 to 7.2 in the following month.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in France advanced November after falling sharply in the month before rising concerns that an unemployment aim of the country's President Francois Hollande may not be achieved, the Labour Ministry showed in a report on Friday. France's jobless claims rose by 17,800 totalling 3.293 million in the month of November.
Industrial profits in the world's second largest economy advanced in the January-November period rising by 13.2% on an annual basis standing at 5.33 trillion yen, a report revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Friday. According to the report, the headline figure was down from a level of 13.7% recorded in the January-October period.
The Japanese Yen weakened on Friday falling against the U.S. Dollar and the 17-nation bloc currency towards the five-year low as investors' risk appetite increased after Wall Street shares record new highs yesterday and amid favourable economic data in the U.S. The Yen slipped to 105.05 yen before trading at 104.86 yen, while it slid to 143.915 yen, the least
The majority of Asian stocks inched up on Friday trading session as the U.S. equities increased to record highs on Thursday after a government report showed that Japan's factory output advanced and as the U.S. Dollar strengthened above a level of 105 yen. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan gained 0.8% and Shanghai index added 1.7%.
Japanese automobile production advanced for the third consecutive time in November with the overall vehicle production rising 10.2% on an annual basis totaling 846,151 units, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association showed in a report on Friday. Japan's passenger car production grew by 10.3% and trucks production added 11.4%, while production of buses fell 9.9%.
Consumer confidence in South Korea stayed firm in December following a modest advanced recorded in the month before, the latest figure revealed by the Bank of Korea showed on Thursday. According to the report, the South Korean consumer confidence index stayed at 107 in the month of December, while inflation expectations of households remained at 2.9%.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in the world's largest economy declined at a steeper pace than economists originally expected in the week to December 21, reflecting higher volatility on the labour market during the holidays. The U.S. jobless claims dropped from 380,000 to 338,000 last week, while it was forecast to record 340,000.
U.S. Treasuries declined on Thursday with the benchmark 10-year yields touching the strongest level in over three months after the U.S. government report showed that initial unemployment benefit-claims dropped more than economists' initially expected last week. 10-year bonds yielded 0.02% higher at 2.998%, the most since September 6.
U.S. shares closed higher on Thursday extending an all-time record high of the benchmark index Standard & Poor's 500 after a government report showed that jobless claim declined in the world's largest economy last week. The S&P 500 Index added 0.5% to 1,841.58 as of 1:51 p.m. New York time and the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.7% to 16,469.33
Gasoline futures traded in New York advanced on Thursday rising to the strongest level in three months after a report showed that supplies in the U.S. Northeast may drop as refineries closed down and as demand increased during holidays. Gasoline for delivery in January added 2.98 U.S. cents to $2.844 per gallon as of 12:54 p.m. on the NYMEX following
JPMorgan Chase & Co., the largest bank of the United States by volume of assets, plans to increase its bonuses for bankers who work in the investment branch of the bank. As announced, these employees will get 6% to 10% bonus rise, comparing with the previous year. At the same time, it is expected that commodities, bond and currency traders
The national debt of France dropped in the previous quarter of this year, as the government borrowed less than a year before. The ratio reached 92.7% from country's GDP or 1,900.8 billion euro, while in April-June quarter the debt was equal to 93.5% of GDP. During the quarter, the national debt fell 11.4 billion euro. At the same time, the
Natural gas traded in New York increased on Thursday gaining for a second session in three days amid speculation that demand for heating fuels may be boosted by forecast cold weather for the beginning of next year. Natural gas for delivery in January jumped 1.1% to $4.465 a million British thermal units on the NYMEX and traded at $4.444 as
Gold traded in New York advanced on Thursday staying above a level of $1,200 an ounce after a report showed that global economy may rise by 2.8% in 2014 after recording a 1.98% expand this year. Bullion for immediate delivery added 0.2% to $1,206.40 an ounce, while Gold for February settlement gained also 0.2% to $1,205.60 an ounce on the
Platinum traded in London gained on Thursday rising towards the strongest level in a week amid speculation that demand for the metal may be boosted by the recovery of global economy. Platinum for delivery in December jumped 1.1% to $1,346.75 an ounce as of 9:41 a.m. London time and traded at $1,348.10, the most since December 18.
Consumer confidence in Turkey slipped in December falling for the first time in a three-month period with the consumer index dropping from 77.5 points in November to 75 in the following month, the latest data revealed by the statistical office Turkstat revealed on Thursday. According to the report, the Turkish corresponding index slid to 101.9 in December from 107.3 in