According to the Cabinet Office, consumer confidence in Japan fell marginally from 39.7 in the previous month to 39.4 in November, the weakest level since December 2011. The confidence index for employment dropped to 36.8 in November from 37.2 in October, and the gauge for consumers' willingness to purchase durable goods fell to 41.4 from 41.8. "It's likely that Japan's economy
Industrial metals moved higher on Friday as market sentiment improved amid hopes the Fed will continue its growth-boosting measures. However, the upside remained limited after the ECB sharply cut its outlook on the region's economy on Thursday. Meanwhile, dismal industrial production figures in Europe added pressure on base metals.Aluminum inched up despite signs of weakening demand in China. The country's
The Greece's debt buyback was extended by one day from the earlier last Friday deadline to the new deadline set on December 11, in order to meet the buyback target of 30 billion euro as a precondition of the country's creditors to approve the next financial package for the debt-burdened economy. Media in Greece reported the country received 27 billion
Oil advanced from a three-week low in New York as China's crude processing increased to a record and factory output surpassed expectations. OPEC meets in Vienna to discuss the production quota. Futures rose 0.4% after declining the past 4 days. Crude for January settlement rose 34 cents to $86.27 a barrel and traded at $86.19 at 12:42 p.m. Singapore time.
Asian stocks excluding Japan rose as U.S. jobs data overshot estimates and China's industrial output and retail sales indicated an economic recovery. The MSCI Asia Pacific Excluding Japan Index added 0.2% to 459.16 at 2:44 p.m. in Tokyo, set for the highest close since August 2011. China's Shanghai Composite Index rose as much as 0.8%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index
The Australian Dollar dropped from near the two-month high as China's imports and exports data trailed economists' projections, clouding the South Pacific country's trade outlook. The Aussie Dollar fell to $1.0476 at 5:02 p.m. in Sydney, down 0.1% from December 7, when the currency capped a 0.6% weekly advance. The Aussie gained to 81.48 euro cents, the highest since November
Japanese equities fell pushing down the Nikkei 225 Stock Average after a technical indicator showed the market might be overheating. However, losses were limited amid rising utilities on possibility the nuclear reactors will be restarted this summer. The Nikkei index fell 0.19% or 17.77 points to 19,527.39. The reading has gained 0.9% this week. Seven out of ten sectors fell
U.S. equities moved up on improving prospects for a budget deal for 2013 to halt the so-called "fiscal cliff". Optimism was raised on improving data for the nation's economy, as fewer Americans filed applications for jobless benefits. The unemployment claims declined by 25,000 to 370,000 at the end of the last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.3%, or
German shares stayed little changed after data showed the U.S. economy added more-than-expected jobs, offsetting Bundesbank's intent to lower economic growth forecast for the next year. The nation's equities inched lower earlier as the Bundesbank downgraded the growth rate for to 0.4 % from its June's forecast of 1.6%. In addition, the industrial output fell 2.6% in October on shrinking
U.K. shares gained for the third consecutive day on the U.S. payrolls report for the year 2012 that showed better-than-expected results. U.S. employment surged 146,000 in November, exceeding the October's rally of 138,000. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate shrank to 7.7%, the lowest rate since December 2008. The FTSE advanced 0.2%, or 10.66 points, to 5,912.08, heading for its weekly gain
Hong Kong shares slightly dropped on Friday, yet staying close to their highest level since August 2011 on growing optimism for recovery of the Chinese economy supported by improvement in economic data and next year's policy changes. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.3% to 22,191.2, dragging down its weekly gain to 0.7%. The trading activity in Hong Kong has been
U.S stocks advanced for the second consecutive day. The gains were driven by improving prospects in reaching the budget deal and the rebound of Apple Inc. from its biggest decline in four years. Experts said the rise in Apple stock has helped the overall market. In addition, U.S. economic data suggest the economy persists to grow, lately supported by better-than-expected
U.K. manufacturing shrank more than expected in October after food and alcohol declined showing a slowdown in the economic growth pace at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Factory output fell the most in four months, 1.3% lower compared to September. Ten out of thirteen categories slumped in October. The Europe's debt crisis has weakened the U.K.'s largest export market."The
German shares stayed little changed after data showed the U.S. economy added more-than-expected jobs, offsetting Bundesbank's intent to lower economic growth forecast for the next year. The nation's equities inched lower earlier as the Bundesbank downgraded the growth rate for to 0.4 % from its June's forecast of 1.6%. In addition, the industrial output fell 2.6% in October on shrinking
U.K. shares gained for the third consecutive day on the U.S. payrolls report for the year 2012 that showed better-than-expected results. U.S. employment surged 146,000 in November, exceeding the October's rally of 138,000. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate shrank to 7.7%, the lowest rate since December 2008. The FTSE advanced 0.2%, or 10.66 points, to 5,912.08, heading for its weekly gain
Japanese equities fell pushing down the Nikkei 225 Stock Average after a technical indicator showed the market might be overheating. However, losses were limited amid rising utilities on possibility the nuclear reactors will be restarted this summer. The Nikkei index fell 0.19% or 17.77 points to 19,527.39. The reading has gained 0.9% this week. Seven out of ten sectors fell
Hong Kong shares slightly dropped on Friday, yet staying close to their highest level since August 2011 on growing optimism for recovery of the Chinese economy supported by improvement in economic data and next year's policy changes. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.3% to 22,191.2, dragging down its weekly gain to 0.7%. The trading activity in Hong Kong has been
The Pound reached two-week high versus the Euro on the Bundesbank decreased 2013 projections for German GDP growth from 1.6%, forecast earlier in June, to 0.4%. Sterling advanced 0.1% against the Euro and traded at 80.68 pence per Euro, the highest in two weeks. Weekly gain was 0.5%, the highest since the week ended on October 26. The Pound fell
U.S. equities moved up on improving prospects for the budget deal for 2013 to halt the so-called "fiscal cliff". Optimism was raised on improving data for the nation's economy, as fewer Americans filed applications for jobless benefits. The unemployment claims declined by 25,000 to 370,000 at the end of the last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.3%, or
U.S stocks advanced for the second consecutive day. The gains were driven by improving prospects in reaching the budget deal and the rebound of Apple Inc. from its biggest decline in four years. Experts said the rise in Apple stock has helped the overall market. In addition, U.S. economic data suggest the economy persists to grow, lately supported by better-than-expected
Farm commodities were mixed on Thursday, with wheat and coffee advancing and sugar and corn dropping. Grain futures were supported as heavy rains in Argentina continued to delay harvesting in the country. However, weak news from the Eurozone and solid greenback capped gains of rural commodities.Wheat advanced for the second consecutive day on concerns that dry weather may curb output
Oil rose, snapping its weekly drop, on speculation China's industrial output grew at the fastest pace since March, increasing demand in the world's second biggest oil consumer. Crude for January settlement rose 28 cents and traded at $86.54 a barrel, after sliding $1.62 a day earlier to $86.26, the lowest close since November 15.
Energy futures were bearish on Thursday after the ECB President Mario Draghi cut the Eurozone's growth forecast for this year. Stronger US Dollar and uncertainty over whether the US lawmakers will manage to avert fiscal cliff also weighed on the commodity group. At the same time, larger-than-expected decline in the US stockpiles last week restricted the downward trend. Crude oil
Asian stocks rose as fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits and Australia's building industry contracted at a slower pace. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.3% to 126.14 at 1:40 in Tokyo. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 0.8% and New Zealand's NZX 50 Index jumped 0.5%. South Korea's Kospi Index advanced 0.3%, whereas Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average was little