Retail sales adjusted for working days in Switzerland dropped in the month of March mainly due to a notable 3.3% fall in non-food sector sales and a 1% declined in retail trade turnover, the latest data released by the Federal Statistics Office revealed on Monday. Swiss retail sales fell 0.9% on an annual basis in March, while sales excluding fuel
China's retail sales and industrial production increased at a faster rate in April than the month before, a report release by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed on Monday. According to the report, industrial output rose 9.3% on an annual basis in April, up from 8.9% in March, while retail sales advanced by 12.8% year-on-year in April, more than 12.6%
Japanese money stock moved up by 3.3% on an annual basis in April totaling 844.5 trillion yen, while it was expected to climb by 3.1%, the latest figure released by the Bank of Japan unveiled on Monday. The report also showed that M3 money stock was 2.6% higher standing at 1,142.0 trillion yen exceeding an expectation of a 2.5% gain.
South Korea's currency decreased to the lowest level in two weeks on Monday amid concern that the Yen's fall will have a negative impact on the country's exports after the G-7 policy makers signaled acceptance of the weak Japanese currency. The Won dropped 0.5% to 1,111.78 per U.S. Dollar after it touched 1,116.68, the lowest since April 25.
Chinese currency depreciated on Monday falling for a second day as the People's Bank of China reduced its daily fixing by 0.09% to 6.2072 per U.S. Dollar, 1.06% lower than the spot rate's closing figure last week. The Yuan declined by 0.11% to 6.1487 per U.S. Dollar at 10:12 a.m. Shanghai time following a drop to 6.1307 on May 9.
The British Sterling was little changed on Monday before a report showed that the total number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the United Kingdom dropped for the sixth month in April. The Pound strengthened 0.4% rebounding from the lowest level in two weeks against the U.S. Dollar and stood at $1.5374 as of 7:37 a.m. in London.
Corn jumped on Monday amid speculation that continued wet weather in the Midwest, the biggest growing U.S. region, increasing chances that the country's production may miss preliminary estimated record level. Corn for delivery in July rose 0.6% to $6.3975 a bushel on the CBOT following a 1.9% drop recorded on May 10 as a report predicted harvest in 2013 will
Copper was traded close ещ its highest level in a month after it completed a third weekly gain as investors bet that demand in China, the largest consumer of the commodity can be sustained. Copper for delivery in August increased as much as 0.6% to $7,417 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange as of 10:16 a.m. Shanghai time.
Rubber increased on Monday after it fell into a bear territory on April 1 amid weaker Yen, which dropped to the lowest level since October 2008 versus the U.S. Dollar and as Chinese imports were boosted for restocking. Rubber for delivery in four months climbed 1.8% to 299 yen a kilogram and it has gained 22% since the lowest level
West Texas Intermediate oil dropped for a third day extending its losing streak to the longest one in a four-week period as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries spurred production to the strongest level since November. WTI for delivery in June declined 97 cents to $95.07 a barrel on the NYMEX following a gain to $95.28 as of 2:21 in
U.S., Australian and Japanese government bonds declined on Monday amid speculation that demand for relative safe government notes will be boosted by unprecedented efforts of central banks to add more stimulus measures in order to spur the economy. Treasuries 10-year rates rose 0.02 percentage points to 1.92%, Japan's 10-year yield climbs 0.11% to 0.8% and 10-year Australian yields jump 0.02%
German government bunds were little changed on Monday before an auction of Italian debt totaling 8 billion euros, or $10.4 billion, and before a report showed that investor confidence in Germany improved in May. Benchmark 10-year bund yielded at 1.38% as of 7:10 a.m. in London following an increase to 1.39% on May 10, the strongest since March 25.
Gold declined for the third straight session on Monday extending its losing streak to the biggest drop in a week since April as the metal entered a bear market after holdings continued to decrease and as U.S. Dollar appreciated. Bullion for delivery this month slipped 1.5% to $1,426.16 an ounce and was traded at $1,435.72 as of 2:24 p.m. Singapore
The Japanese Yen was traded lower by 0.3% at 101.96 per U.S. in the second half of Tokyo session on Monday. Today the currency touched a 102.15 level, which was the weakest since October 2008. Investors were willing to sell the Yen, as Group of Seven officials indicated that they will tolerate the weak Yen, as they are more focused on
The Shanghai Composite Index was lower by 0.2% to 2,242.07 points by the midday in Shanghai's trading session on Monday. Investors were concerned about a current macro situation, which do not show any improvement. The government announced about a study to curb home prices in a long term. Also, traders wait for data on industrial production and retail sales.
The Australian Dollar slipped by 0.3% to 99.95 per U.S. Dollar in the second part of Sydney trading session on Monday. The currency touched a 99.61 level on 10th of May and it was the weakest level since 14 of June. Today a private report indicated a decrease in business confidence amid concern that the Reserve Bank will cut the key interest
Japanese Topix Index was higher by 1.4% in the second half of Tokyo trading session on Monday. Investors were positive on equity markets, as Group of Seven officially said that they will tolerate the weak Yen's exchange rate. The exports sector will be definitely beneficiary of that, since Japanese goods will be more competitive in global markets.
The Bank of England's nine-member Monetary Policy Committee led by Governor Mervyn King maintained the quantitative easing program at GBP 375 billion despite unsuccessful attempts to increase stimulus. The panel also decided to keep the benchmark policy rate unchanged at 0.50%, the lowest level since the central bank was established in 1694.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. edged down surprisingly in the week ended on May 4 falling to the lowest level in five years, a report released by the Labor Department showed on Thursday. According to the report jobless claims fell to 323,000 from 327,000 to 323,000 recorded last week, while economists expected an increase to 335,000.
On Thursday, Italian bond yields erased previous losses, which left the yield almost unchanged at the level of 3.84% by 8:44 a.m. in London. Earlier, yields hit the level of 3.81%. At the same time, yields on Spanish government debt witnessed an increase, following an auction with weak demand.
The Canada's Dollar fell on Thursday snapping a four-day streak of gains against its U.S. peer before a report showed that home prices in the country rose less in March than the month before adding to arguments that BoC may raise interest rates. The so-called Loonie dropped 0.1% to C$1.0037 per U.S. Dollar and it buys 99.63 U.S. cents.
The Australian and New Zealand's currency jumped against the majority of their counterparts on Thursday after both countries showed in reports that unemployment rate declined in the last three months of 2012. The Aussie climbed 0.7% to $1.0242 as of 4:47 p.m. Sydney time and it rose to 101.12 yen, while the Kiwi gained 0.7% to 84.63 U.S. cents and
The British Sterling appreciated the most in a week against the 17-nation bloc currency as industrial production in the U.K. increased in March and as the Bank of England maintained its stimulus policy program unchanged. The Pound rose 0.1% to 84.56 pence per Euro at 2:08 p.m. in London and it was traded at $1.5537 following an increase to $1.5606
West Texas Intermediate oil dropped on Thursday as the value of the U.S. Dollar rose against the Euro amid improving labour market in the U.S. recording the lowest number of initial jobless claims in a five-year period. June WTI futures decreased by 64 cents, or 0.7%, to $95.98 a barrel as of 9:29 a.m. on the NYMEX after they rose