Dow Jones Industrial Average index tumbled on Monday as data showed US employers created only 120 000 jobs in March compared to an expected gain of 205 000. Blue chip index sank 1.0% or 130.55 points and settled at 12,929.59, first close price below 13 000 since March 12. Bank of America led the drop, giving up 3.3% while Caterpillar
S&P 500 index traded lower on Monday as investors returned from Easter holidays and incorporated into prices weaker than expected hiring rate in March. US index fell 1.14% or 15.88 points and closed at 1,382.20. Financials weighed on the index with Hartford Financial Services dropping 3% and Citigroup giving up 2.4%. Avon lost 3.1% after the company named Sherilyn McCoy,
China's Shanghai Composite ended the session 0.19% or 4.31 points up at 2,306.55 with technology stocks providing the main positive contribution. Brokerages, property developers and consumer stocks fuelled Chinese markets as regulators raised the investment quota for overseas institutional investors. Cinda Real Estate gained 1.4% and Citic Securities climbed 1.3%. However, China Construction Bank and Industrial & Commercial Bank of
South Korea's Kospi index fluctuated between gains and losses on Friday as lower German factory output boosted concerns regarding the outlook of European demand. South Korean benchmark finished little changed 0.01% or 0.26 points higher at 2,029.03. The main gainers were Kolon Fashion and Sunny Electron which each added 15%. Gains were offset by drug maker Wooridul Pharmac which lost
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average posted a third straight decline on Friday as stronger Yen kept weighing on export shares amid renewed fears over European debt crisis. Nikkei 225 index fell 0.81% or 79.16 points and settled at 9,688.45. NSK Ltd tumbled 3.4% after its rating was lowered by Mito Securities. Kansai Electric Power advanced 2.8% on news the government has
Brazil shares climbed on Thursday as the slowdown in consumer prices increased pressure for central bank to cut interest rate. Ibovespa index added 0.26% or 162.53 points and finished at 63,691.18 with six of nine sectors posting gains. Retailers provided the main upside support for the index with Lojas Americanas gaining 2.3% and Lojas Renner advancing 0.9%. Home builder MRV
Dow Jones Industrial Average declined on Thursday as jobless claims dropped less than expected. The blue chip index lost 0.11% or 14.61 point and finished at 13,060.14 with telecommunications dropping most as AT&T fell 2%. On the upside index was supported by consumer service sector as Home Depot and American Express surged 1.5% and 1.3% respectively. On weekly basis Dow
S&P 500 index prolonged losses on Thursday, experiencing the worst week in 2012. US benchmark shed 0.06% or 0.88 points and closed at 1,398.08. Bed Bath & Beyond rallied 9.2% after the retail-chain operator reported a better than expected 4th quarter profit. First Solar made the biggest drop falling 16% after JPMorgan Chase & Co cut its share price estimate
NZD/USD was decreasing during the last week, forming a Descending triangle pattern. The formation has 76% quality along with 71% magnitude within 117 bars.The price recoiled from the pattern's support level at 0.8123, and slowed testing the resistance at 0.8169. Bullish investors may focus their attention on the key level around 0.8178/97. If the price breaks this level, the forecast
The number of new jobs rose to a four-year record high in March. The overall employment advanced by 82,300 after a drop of 2800 a month earlier. The unemployment rate fell from 7.4% to 7.2%. Economists questioned by Bloomberg predicted a 10,500 improvement in hiring and unchanged jobless rate at 7.4%.
The US applications for jobless benefits dropped less than predicted for the week ended in March 31, Labor Department reported on Thursday. According to data 357 000 people submitted new claims last week. Economists earlier predicted the number of applications to reach 355 000. The US unemployment level was 8.3% in February.
Consumer confidence in US improved last week reaching four year record high as unemployment claims fell. The Bloomberg index measuring consumer sentiment advanced from minus 34.7 previous week to minus 31.4 for the period ended April 1, Labor department said on Thursday. Latest reading is the highest since March 2008.
US stock markets traded mixed on Thursday but closed down for the week. S&P 500 index shed 0.06% or 0.88 points to 1,398.08, Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.11% or 14.61 point and finished at 13,060.14. Nasdaq Composite breached the down-trend and climbed 0.4% or 12.41 points to 3,080.50.
The Bank of England decided to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 0.5% despite an unexpected decline in manufacturing output in February.Total asset purchases stayed at GBP 325 billion. The Pound traded lower versus US Dollar on the BoE decision. Most analysts suggest BoE will not implement a further easing in 2012.
German Industrial Production fell more than expected in February, mainly driven by unusually cold winter. Industrial production tumbled 1.3% on the monthly basis, said economy ministry on Thursday. Analysts predicted a smaller drop of 0.3%. The fall in production was mainly fuelled by decline in construction as cold weather sent the sector 17.1% lower.
UK manufacturing fell for the second consecutive month in February, signalling the economy's recovery may lag. Factory output dropped 1% compared to January, undermining the predictions of analysts who forecast an improvement of 0.1%. Production which makes a 10% of British economy was revised downwards in January from 0.1% growth to 0.3% decline.
European stocks fluctuated between gains and losses on Thursday as region's debt worries were partly offset by small improvement in Wall Street. Stoxx Europe 600 index added 0.1%, Italian FTSE MIB index slipped 0.2% while Spanish IBEX 35 traded flat. UK FTSE 100 index advanced 0.4% whereas German DAX lost 0.1%. French CAC 40 index improved 0.2%.
Swiss consumer prices decreased 1.0% in March compared to similar period previous year and added 0.6% on monthly basis, the Federal Statistics Office reported on Thursday. Analysts predicted the monthly inflation to climb at slower pace and attain only 0.4% advance. Monthly core inflation which excludes most volatile items such as fuel was negative at minus 1.2% in March.
Rural commodities, except for sugar, were lower on Wednesday along with stronger US Dollar and softer global equities. Wheat was the top-loser, declining for the second time as output in Southern US Great Plants is likely to soar on favorable weather. Moreover, the EU forecast predicted rains after dry weather that is expected to boost crops. Corn's tumble was capped
Energy commodities fell on Wednesday amid firmer US Dollar and EIA report on the US crude oil inventories. The EIA announced a 9 billion barrel increase in the US inventories. Spain and Italy's bond auctions that faced weak demand and rising yields also added to the negative mood of the commodity pack as the Euro Zone's economic activity may slump
Precious metals continued their tumble for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as hopes for further easing measures in the US disappeared. Broadly stronger US Dollar and weaker global equities also weighted down on the commodity group. Lingering concerns over the Euro Zone's economic state after disappointing Spain and Italian bond auctions created a downward pressure on precious metals. Gold
Industry metals faced persistent pressure after FOMC minutes that indicated Fed unwillingness to start the next round of the quantitative easing. Base metals pack also faced bearish trend as US Dollar appreciated against its major rivals while equities weakened. Copper was among the top-losers after poorly subscribed Spain and Italy auction that escalated worries over the Euro Zone's recovery. Alumnium
German DAX index sank further on Thursday as increasing Spanish yields weighed on investor sentiment. Volkswagen AG dropped 1.2% as auto related stocks across region plunged. Merck KGaA fell 2% after the drug-maker was downgraded from "outperform" to "neutral" by Exane BNP Paribas. On the upside Adidas AG advanced 1.2% and Deutsche Lufthansa recovered from previous losses, adding 0.8%. At
After dropping 2.3% on Wednesday, FTSE 100 index prolonged losses on Thursday as data showed manufacturing production tumbled by 1% in February, falling below economists' predictions of a 0.1% improvement. Financial shares contributed negatively to index as investors awaited BoE latest policy settings. SBC Holdings declined 1.3% and Standard Chartered lost 1.2%. On the upside Burberry Group added 0.7% on