Copper traded in London decreased for the third straight day on Thursday amid concerns that demand from the world's biggest users of the metal, China, U.S. and Germany, is weakening. Copper for August settlement fell by 0.6% to $7,155 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange and was traded at $7,193.25 as of 10:21 a.m. Shanghai time.
India's government bonds increased on Thursday pushing the benchmark 10-year yields towards the lowest level in a three-year period amid speculations that the Reserve Bank of India reduces the policy rate further in order as inflation slows down. Indian 10-year yields declined three basis points to 7.44% at 9:44 a.m. Mumbai time, the lowest since June 2010.
Emerging-market shares increased to the strongest level in a week on Thursday amid gains of technology sector companies as they reported favourable quarterly results beating economists' expectations by 7.4%. The MSCI Emerging Market Index advanced by 0.3% to 1,049.67 as of 12:52 p.m. Hong Kong time heading for the highest closing price since May 10.
Chinese shares advanced by the most in a two-week period on Thursday led by financial companies and property developers after the regional benchmark was traded at the lowest level in more than three years. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.2% to 2,251.81 paring this year's fall to 0.8%, while the CSI 300 Index rose 1.8% to 2,552.71.
Gold was traded close to the lowest level in a month after filings showed that Blackrock Inc. and George Soros reduced their exchange-traded products backed with the metal suggesting that demand is weakening as U.S. stocks rally to records. Bullion for delivery in May was little changed at $1,391.10 an ounce as of 3:04 p.m. Singapore time after falling to
The 17-nation bloc currency depreciated versus the U.S. Dollar for the sixth session, the longest streak of losses in a year as investors awaited a report showing slower-than-expected April's inflation in the region. The Euro lost 0.2% to $1.2861 as of 8:13 a.m. London time following a fall to $1.2843 yesterday, the lowest level since April 4.
Soybeans increased for the first time in a three-day period amid signs that demand in the world's largest consumer, China, is rising and as Chinese investors are waiting for a new crop from the U.S. to come on stream. Soybeans for July delivery advanced by 0.5% to $14.1925 a bushel on the CBOT and ware traded at $14.18 as of
Confidence among Japan's consumers dropped surprisingly in April, when the seasonally adjusted consumer confidence index declined from 44.8 in March to 44.5, a survey published by the Cabinet Office unveiled on Wednesday. The survey also showed that the index measuring opinion of consumers about their overall livelihood slipped from 43 to 42 in April.
Manufacturing production in New Zealand grew in April largely due to continued improvements in new order, a data revealed by the Bank of New Zealand and BusinessNZ showed on Thursday. According to data, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index accelerated from 53.4 in March to 54.5 recorded in April and it stays above reading of 50 signaling expansion in the sector.
Industrial production in the U.S. decreased together with a slow-down in manufacturing output in April indicating that the country's economy remains sluggish, the latest data published by the Federal Reserve showed on Thursday. Mines, utilities and factory production dropped 0.5% in April after it rose 0.3% in March, while the manufacturing output slipped 0.3% in March.
Chinese direct foreign investment expanded below economists ‘expectations in April raising concerns about the country's short-term economic outlook, a report unveiled by the Ministry of Commerce showed on Thursday. According to the report, foreign direct investment added 0.4% in April standing at $8.4 billion, while it was forecast to grow by 6.2% after it rose 5.7% in March.
Economic performance of Japan accelerated by 0.9% in the first three months of this year compared to the Q4, a report released by the Cabinet Office showed on Thursday. The gross domestic product was originally expected to expand by 0.7% on a sequential basis, while on a yearly basis the country's GDP rose 3.5% topping projections of 2.7% advance.
The U.S. Dollar Index advanced to a 10-month high on Wednesday as improving sentiment of the U.S. economy spurred bets that the stimulus program by the Federal Reserve will be reduced as soon as next Fed's meeting. The Dollar Index reached 83.747, the highest level since July 25, while the Greenback added 0.1% to $1.2911 per Euro after climbing earlier
The Australian Dollar was traded close to its lowest level in eleven months on Wednesday after the premium investors get by holding the nation's bonds instead of similar-maturity U.S debt shrank to the lowest level since June 2012. The so-called Aussie was little changed at 98.87 U.S. cents at 4:10 p.m. Sydney time following a fall to 98.77 yesterday, the
The South Korean Won declined to the lowest level in three weeks on Wednesday amid speculation that the country's lawmakers may weaken the currency in order to protect exporters as the Japanese Yen fell to the weakest level since October 2008. The Won slipped 0.8% to 1,114.76 per U.S. Dollar in Seoul after it touched 1,115.23 earlier on the session,
The British Sterling snapped a four-day decrease against the U.S. Dollar before the Bank of England released its quarterly report tracking the level of inflation in the country and as unemployment report is forecast to show a decline in March-April period. The Pound was traded at $1.5211 at 7:44 a.m. in London falling to $1.5207 yesterday, the lowest level since
Gross domestic product in Germany accelerated on a slower-than-forecast pace in the first three months of 2013, a data revealed by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Wednesday. According to the data the country's GDP rose by 0.1% on a sequential basis on the Q1 compared to forecast 0.3% expansion, while in the Q4 it contracted 0.7%.
Copper traded in London increased on Wednesday after it fell the most in two weeks as traders weighed weaker economic growth in China, the world's largest user, and improving U.S. business confidence and economic outlook. Copper for delivery in August jumped 0.7% to $7,295 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange and was traded at $7,278.50 as of 9:53
Asian stocks advanced on Wednesday led by Japanese shares increasing to the strongest level since December 2007 and as benchmark 10-year yields of the country's bonds gained the most in more than a year. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose by 0.8% as of 1:12 p.m. Tokyo time, while the benchmark government 10-year bonds yielded at 0.92%.
West Texas Intermediate oil was traded close to its lowest level in almost a 14-day period on Wednesday amid signs of increasing inventories as crude stockpiles advanced 1.1 million barrels last week. WTI for delivery next month was traded 11 cents higher at $94.32 a barrel as of 12:42 p.m. on the NYMEX after the prices fell 96 cents yesterday
Gold fluctuated on Wednesday moving up slightly during Asian trading hours and reversing during trading hours in Europe and U.S. as buyers were lured by a 3.3% fall recorded in last four sessions and by further outflows from ETPs. Bullion for immediate delivery was little changed at $1,425.79 as of 12:33 p.m. in Singapore, while June gold futures were at
Total number of unemployed people in South Korea decreased in April as the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 3.2% in March to 3.1% recorded in the following month, a report unveiled by Statistics Korea showed on Wednesday. The report also showed that the number of jobless persons dropped from 883,000 in March to 825,000 in April.
Consumer confidence in Japan surprisingly declined in April, according to a report revealed by the Cabinet office on Wednesday. The report showed that the seasonally adjusted consumer confidence index dropped marginally from 44.8% in March to a level of 44.5% in April compared to a 45.5 preliminary estimated, while the indicator of income growth slipped from 41.6 to 41.5 in
U.S. import prices matched economists' expectation in April, when they dropped by 0.5% on the month following a 0.2% decline recorded in March, the latest data published by Labor Department showed on Tuesday. According to data, the main impact had fuel import prices, which slipped 1.7% in April after falling by 0.6% in the previous month.