Consumer spending in France dropped at the slower pace in the month of February from the prior month mainly due to a decline in textile-leather purchases, the latest data released by the Insee unveiled on Friday. Households' goods purchases fell by 0.2% on a monthly basis in February following a 0.8% slid in January, while economists projected a 0.4% growth.
Japan's automobile production continued its falling trend in the month of February with production of cars declining annually by 15.1% compared to a 9.9% decreased recorded the month before totalling the production to 808,194 units in February. Domestic sales fell 8.1% to 477,380 units, while shipments out of the country slid by 13.7% on the month.
Manufacturing sector activity in Japan grew for the first time in a ten-month period in March led by a rebound in demand of shipments out of the country, the Markit Economics and the JMMA reported on Friday. The manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index gained in March rising from 48.5 in February to a level of 50.4 in March, its first
Housing starts in Japan advanced at the slower rate in February than the prior month falling for the fourth consecutive month, a data unveiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism showed on Friday. The data said that total housing starts rose annually by 3% in February from a 5% jump the month before, while it was forecast
Japan's unemployment increased and prices were falling in the month February, a report released by the Finance Ministry unveiled on Friday. The report showed that the core consumer price index declined and recorded a 0.3% fall on the month, even though the index added on a sequential basis by 0.1% from January, while the jobless rate grew to 4.3% in
Japan's retail sales tumbled more than forecast in February mainly caused by a 3.7% fall of large-scale store sales, a data revealed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed on Thursday. The data said that retail sales dropped 2.3% on an annual basis in February recording 10.525 trillion yen, while on a sequential basis it added 1.6% on
Initial claims for unemployment benefits advanced in the U.S. by more than economists predicted in the week ended on March 23, when they rose by 16,000 from 341,000 recorded the week before to 357,000, a report unveiled by the Labor Department showed on Thursday. The report also said that the country's jobless rate fell from 7.9% in January to 7.7%
The Japanese currency appreciated to its strongest level in one month against the Euro as a demand for safer assets was boosted after the Cypriot banks reopened on Thursday for the first time since they were closed once the bailout plan was approved by the nation's government. The Yen climbed 0.1% to 120.55 per euro after recording the highest level
Zinc traded in London decreased together with other industrial metals after the German Federal Labor Agency report showed a surprising increase of unemployment people in the country raising concerns about the Eurozone's debt crisis. June Zinc futures declined 0.8% to its lowest level since November 6 at $1,894 a metric ton earlier on Thursday London session.
West Texas Intermediate oil was traded close to the highest level in five weeks on Thursday heading for a gain in the past quarter after the U.S. government report showed an increase of operating sales boosted by refineries. May WTI futures fell 10 cents to $96.48 a barrel on NYMEX earlier on Thursday London session after it rose 36 cents to $96.94 a
Gold traded in London went through gains and losses on Thursday heading for the second drop in a quarter after holdings in ETPs decreased 6.9% in the first three months of 2013 and as investors weighted the Eurozone's financing crisis betting on U.S. recovery. March Gold futures declined 0.1% to $1,603.88 an ounce at 10:14 a.m. in London following a
The Australian and New Zealand's currency depreciated against the Japanese Yen for the second straight day on Thursday as demand for riskier assets was spurred after banks in Cyprus reopened today and as political instability in Italy brings more concerns on markets. Aussie fell 0.5% to 98.15 yen, while the New Zealand Dollar dropped 0.3% to 78.76 yen on Thursday.
Performance of the U.S. economy in the Q4 accelerated more than economists expected mainly due to upward revisions to shipments out of the country and to non-residential fixed investment, a data released by the Commerce Department showed on Thursday. Year-on-year, GDP rose by 0.4% in the Q4 compared to an 0.1% expansion preliminary estimated.
House prices in England and Wales increased in the month of February, when the largest impact on average house value had London with prices climbing by 6.3% on the month, a report released by the Land Registry showed on Thursday. The report said that on yearly basis property prices grew 1% settling the average value of property to GBP 162,606.
Unemployment in Germany increased more than preliminary estimated in March as a result of less job positions opened by companies, whereas nation's retail sales went up in February rising for the second month in a row. The total number of unemployed people grew by 13,000 in March from a level of 2.94 million in February, while retail sales rose by
Wheat was little changed on Thursday traded near its strongest level in five weeks as freezing weather is threatening the winter crop of the world's biggest exporter, U.S., at the same time corn and soybean futures dropped 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. May wheat futures were traded at $7.375 a bushel on CBOT following an increase to the highest level since February
Copper rose on Thursday, however, it completed its second straight quarterly decrease after strikes at Antofagasta and ports in northern Chile increased concerns that supplies from the country's largest producing company may be disrupted. Copper for June delivery advanced by 0.7% to $7,656.25 a metric ton in London and were $7,618 at 10:24 a.m. in Shanghai.
The Eurozone's currency increased against its major counterpart U.S. Dollar on Thursday and erased the previous drop against the Japanese Yen after a report showed that retail sales in Germany gained more than preliminary estimated in February. The 17-nation currency rose 0.3% to $1.2813 on Thursday London session and it was traded at 120.71 yen following a 0.5% fall earlier
Deposits of the Chinese currency in Hong Kong advanced by 28 billion yuan to its new high at 652 billion yuan in February after the world's second-largest economic performance outlook improved suggesting that Yuan would appreciate. The Yuan recorded its highest level in 19 years at 6.2095 per U.S. Dollar on March 25 and it was traded at 6.2143 on
The British Pound appreciated to its highest level in a two-month period against the 17-nation currency on Thursday as demand for the Sterling as a haven asset rose amid concerns about worsening debt crisis in Europe due to turmoil in Cyprus. The Pound advanced 0.1% to 84.41 pence per euro earlier on Thursday after it climbed to a two-month high at 84.16 pence, it
German shares moved higher after positive data releases from the domestic economy. German retail sales unexpectedly rose 0.4% last month, beating expectations of a 0.5% decline. Pushing equities lower, German jobless claims rose by a seasonally adjusted 13,000 this month, while analysts had forecast a fall of 4,000. The DAX Index climbed 0.59% and is currently trading at 7,835.30. Six
UK stocks are trading in green territory on Thursday after the UK Gfk consumer confidence unexpectedly remained unchanged in February, while experts had predicted a decline. However, weaker-than-expected data from the national housing market capped gains. The UK's Nationwide house price index remained unchanged, defying forecasts of a 0.2% increase. The FTSE 100 Index jumped 0.78% and is trading at
South Korean economic growth accelerated by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in the last three months of 2012 from the previous quarter compared to an original estimate of a 0.4% increase, according to a report released by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday. The report showed that the nation's GDP grew 1.5% on an annual basis in the Q4, while for
Spain's economic growth is likely to slow down further pushing the nation's economy deeper into depression in 2013 and unemployment is set to record a historical low as austerity measures moderate the pace of recovery, the Spanish national bank reported on Tuesday. Spanish GDP is forecast to shrink 1.5% this year after it fell 1.4% in 2012, while jobless rate