Construction sector in Australia improved in March, however the index measuring activity in the sector stayed below a level of 50 indicating expansion, a report published by the Australian Industry Group and Housing Industry Association showed on Monday. The Australia's construction sector activity index advanced from February's level of 44.2 to 46.2 recorded in March.
A leading economic index in the Asia's second largest economy dropped in February falling by more than experts originally projected and to the weakest level in six months, a data unveiled by Cabinet Office showed on Monday. According to the data, the Japanese leading index slipped from a level of 113.1 in January to 108.5 in the following month.
Investor confidence in the 18-nation bloc surprisingly accelerated in April reaching the highest level in three years, a report released by think tank Sentix revealed on Monday. According to the report, the Eurozone's investor confidence index advanced from a level of 13.9 points in March to 14.1 in the following month, the strongest since April 2011.
Industrial output in Spain increased in February with the pace of growth rising from the month before, a report unveiled by the statistical office INE revealed on Monday. According to the report, the country's industrial production accelerated by 2.8% in February after recording a 1.3% advance in the prior month.
Industrial output in the Europe's largest economy advanced in February rising for the fourth successive month signaling that the gross domestic product in Germany may record robust figures in the Q1, a report released by the statistical office Destatis unveiled on Monday. The country's industrial production gained 0.4% on a sequential basis in February after rising 0.7% in the prior
The Japanese shares swung between gains and losses earlier on Monday with the benchmark stock index Nikkei 225 falling towards the weakest level in a week after last week's favourable jobs data from the U.S. were overshadowed by a drop on Wall Street. The Nikkei 225 stock average lost 1.6% to 14,817.33 following a drop to 14,808.81.
The majority of European shares traded lower with the region's government bonds traded higher amid projections that the European Central Bank may increase assets purchases as the economy struggles to recover at a stable pace and the inflation is slow. The FTEU3 stock index slipped 0.8% and German and Italian securities advanced today.
The majority of global shares declined on Monday trading session falling from the six-year peak reached last week as technology stocks dropped and as speculation that the European Central Bank may ease monetary policy raised. The MSCI world-equity gauge lost as much as 0.33% after recording the highest level since 2007 last week.
Gold fell below its highest price in one week as investors speculated on the outlook for U.S. officials to continue scaling back stimulus ahead of raising interest rates. The yellow metal for immediate delivery slid 0.3% to $1,299.68 as of 9:01 a.m. London time, while bullion for June delivery slipped 0.3% to $1,299.90 in New York.
European shares retreated from the highest level in six years as technology stocks dropped following America's selloff. The Bloomberg European Index slipped 0.7% to 229.62 as of 11:14 a.m. London time, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced for a ninth straight day on last Friday, making it the longest streak of gains since October.
Confidence among Greek officials concerning a return to bond markets has risen recently, as yields on country's debt securities dropped to the minimum since 2010, namely to 6.12% for 10-year bonds. At the same time, country's economy is only starting to rise with unemployment reaching 27.5%, making the Greek budget situation unexpected in terms of social payments in the future.
U.K. shares retreated the most in 10 trading days as ARM Holdings Plc pulled technology companies lower. The FTSE 100 Index slid 0.7% to 6,647.19 as of 9:03 a.m. London time, declining from its peak in a month. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 0.7% as well, while Ireland's ISEQ Index decreased 0.3%. U.K. shares rose 2.6% in the previous three
The World Bank decided to revise its expectations concerning economic growth in East Asia for this year, comparing with previous forecasts that were made in October 2013. As now predicted, region's economy will add 7.1% this year, as well as in 2015 and 2016. Moreover, Chinese economy will jump 7.6%, however, excluding this country, the region will advance only 5%
Trade deficit in Finland decreased slightly in February of the current year on the annual basis, reaching 70 million euro versus 110 million euro a year ago and 500 million euro in January 2014. Alongside, the gap shrank to the lowest number since October. During the second month of this year, exports plunged 2% year-on-year, however, imports showed a decrease
Consumer price index in Switzerland remained flat in March of this year on the annual basis, although economists expected prices to go down 0.2%. On a monthly basis, the CPI index rose 0.4% after a 0.1% increase in February, showing the fastest advance in a year. At the same time, the Swiss National Bank projects the inflation to be low
The Australian Dollar was 0.3% away from approximately four-month high versus the U.S. Dollar as traders bearish bets fell to the lowest level in about a year. The Aussie slid 0.1% to 92.86 U.S. cents at 5:15 p.m. Sydney time form April 4, when the currency touched 93.08, the strongest level since November 21. The Kiwi added 0.1% to 86.09
The greenback traded higher versus Eurozone's currency after a three weekly advances ahead of the release of U.S. central bank minutes. The U.S. Dollar traded at $1.3708 per Euro at 7 a.m. London time after appreciating 0.3% previous week to $1.3705. The Japanese Yen gained 0.2% to 103.08 per Dollar, prolonging a 0.6% climb on April 4. Japan's currency added
Canadian shares increased on Friday trading session after a government report showed that employment in the country rebounded in the month of March and as Air Canada led gains after reporting favourable quarterly results. The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index rose by 53.67 points to 14,455.88 as of 10:16 a.m. Toronto time and it has gained 1.4% on the week.
The majority of European shares increased on Friday extending their rally to the longest since October 2013 pushed up by increases of Holcim Ltd. and Lafarge SA and as the U.S. reported that job growth in February continued at firm pace. The benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 added 0.6% to 339.4 points by 3:23 p.m. London time.
The U.S. Dollar dropped on Friday trading session falling against the majority of emerging-market currencies after reports showed that employment in the country increased raising speculation that the U.S. Federal reserve may keep the bond purchases at current level. The so-called Greenback lost 0.2% to 103.70 yen by 10:25 a.m. New York time and the Dollar index slipped 0.2% to
Gold futures climbed on Friday trading session rising by the most in a three-week period after a government data showed that payrolls in the U.S. advanced last month together with new jobs created exceeding projections. Gold for settlement in June rose as much as 1% to $1,297 an ounce as of 10:10 on the New York's Comex.
Retail sales in Greece declined at the beginning of 2014 falling for the second successive month, a report published by the Hellenic Statistical Authority unveiled on Friday. According to the report, the country's retail sales slipped by 1.9% on an annual basis in January after falling by 6.1% in the month before, while in November the figure advanced by 2.9%.
Industrial production in Sweden increased in February following a month of decline, a report released by the statistical office of Sweden showed on Friday. According to the report, the Swedish industrial output advanced 2.2% in the month February after falling by 1.4% in January, while it was originally seen to be growing 0.5%.
Car sales in the United Kingdom advanced in the month of March rising by more than economists originally estimated and reaching the fifth of a yearly registration level, a data unveiled by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed on Friday. According to the data, the U.K.'s new car registration gained by 13.7% totaling 688,122 units in March as