House prices in the United Kingdom dropped in March falling for the first time in a three-month period, a report unveiled by the Lloyd Banking Group showed on Friday. According to the report, the nation's Halifax index of house prices slipped surprisingly by 1.1% on a sequential basis in March after rising by 2.5% in the month before.
Manufacturing new orders in Germany increased in February rising by more than economists originally expected amid strong domestic demand, a report released by the statistical office Destatis showed on Friday. The German factory new orders gained by 0.6% on a sequential basis in February, while the figure was estimated to grow 0.2%.
Sovereign rating of the world's second largest economy was affirmed at ‘A+' by the Fitch Ratings with the outlook remained at ‘stable' as external balance sheet and economic growth recorded favourbale levels, a report released by the rating agency showed on Friday. The report also unveiled that the country's foreign reserves increased to $3.82 trillion in 2013.
Employment in the world's largest economy increased last month with the job growth upwardly revised in March and February, a report released by the Labor Department showed on Friday. According to the report, the U.S. non-farm payrolls advanced by 192,000 in March, while the figure was forecast to record 200,000.
The European currency inched lower on Friday session falling against the U.S. Dollar after a report showed that payrolls in the world's largest economy increase notably and as the ECB President Mari Draghi signaled possible increase of bond purchases. The Euro slipped to $1.3655, while it fell 0.1% to 142.42 yen after trading at the four-year high at 143.48.
U.S. shares opened higher earlier on Friday trading session pushing the benchmark stock indexes Standard & Poor's 500 and the Dow Jones industrial average towards their new record highs as jobs data showed that the economy is gaining momentum. The S&P 500 index added 0.40% to 1,896.36, the Dow Jones index rose 0.27% to 16,616.67 and the Nasdaq Composite index
Global shares were traded higher on Friday trading session after a government report in the world's largest economy showed that labour market improved and as the European Central Bank signaled it may add bond purchases as the region's economy struggles. The European index FTEU3 advanced by 0.4% following a 0.15% gain earlier on the session, while the Wall Street shares
U.K. shares climbed, with the regional FTSE 100 Index prolonging its third weekly advance, as the U.S. jobs data are awaited by investors. The FTSE 100 rose 0.4% to 6,673.16 as of 8:53 a.m. London time and it has increased 0.9% this week. The FTSE All-Share Index added 0.3%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index jumped 0.5% today.
Asian benchmark stock index advanced for a second consecutive week, with the regional gauge fluctuating between gains and losses on low trading volume as the U.S. jobs data come out. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slid less than 0.1% to 138.97 at 5:43 p.m. Hong Kong time. The equity-benchmark has climbed 1.7% this week.
The Australian Dollar is set to end its streak of weekly advances and the Kiwi is headed to fall by the most in more than two months ahead of U.S. jobs data. The Aussie added 0.1% to 92.43 U.S. cents at 6 p.m. Sydney time and it has little changed, after two straight weekly gains. The New Zealand Dollar was
Gold is set for a third straight weekly retreat, the longest streak of declines since September, ahead of the U.S. jobs data that are expected to be positive. Gold for immediate delivery touched $1,287.34 an ounce as of 2:24 p.m. Singapore time from $1,286.70 day earlier. The yellow metal has lost 0.6% this week, after reaching $1,277.79 on Tuesday, making
The U.S. Dollar was trading around a 10 – week high versus the Japanese Yen ahead of the U.S. jobs data that are expected to show the biggest increase in four months. The greenback traded at 103/91 Yen at 1:14 p.m. Tokyo time, after it reached 104.11 on Thursday. The Euro was at $1.3713, after a decline to $1.3698 a
Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. increased in the week ended on March 29 rebounding by much more than economists originally expected as the figure fell in the week before, the Labor Department unveiled on Thursday. The U.S. jobless claims advanced by 16,000 from 310,000 to a level of 326,000 last week.
Service sector in the world's largest economy accelerated in March rising at a faster pace than in the month before, a report released by the Institute for Supply Management showed on Thursday. According to the report, the country's service sector index jumped from 51.6 points in February to 53.1 points in March, while it was seen to climbing to 53.5.
Wall Street equities swung between gains and losses earlier on Thursday session with the benchmark stock index Standard & Poor's 500 trading close to its record high after economic data from the world's largest economy missed forecast. The S&P 500 Index was traded 0.1% lower at 1,888.72 as of 10:36 a.m. New York time and the Dow Jones industrial average
European stocks stayed almost the same after a seven-day advance, since investors wait for the ECB's decision related to the interest rate. Asian shares and U.S. stock-index futures were little changed as well. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid less than 0.1% to 336.9 as of 8:09 a.m. London time, Nokian Renkaat Oyj lost 5.7 percent, Deutsche Bank AG slipped
The U.S. treasuries declined on Thursday with the benchmark 10-year government yields rising towards the highest level in eight years against the German benchmark bonds ahead of the European Central Bank policy meeting today. The U.S. 10-year notes yielded at 2.79% by 6:59 a.m. London time as it has gained by 1.81% from a year ago.
China's equities dropped on Thursday falling for the first time in a three-day period as declines of the financial sector companies overshadowed the country's government measures built to support economic growth. The benchmark index Shanghai Composite slipped as much as 0.6% to 2,046.74 as of 1:41 p.m. following an advanced by 0.3%.
Emerging-market equities declined on Thursday trading session following the longest gain since January 2013 amid investors' speculation that the rally was too rapid and as China's stocks dropped after the PBOC signals it may support the local economy. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index lost 0.2% to 1,003.43 as of 1:35 p.m. Hong Kong time.
The European benchmark Brent crude was traded lower on Thursday trading session, however the WTI-Brent spread narrowed for the sixth successive day as oil production in the Africa's largest crude supplies, Libya, fell to 250,000 barrels per day. Brent for delivery in Mat lost as much as 26 cents to $104.53 per barrel on the London's Ice Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude declined on Thursday trading session falling for the fourth straight day and extending its losing streak to the longest in three months on concerns that the economic growth of the U.S. and China is easing, reducing oil demand. WTI for settlement in May fell 45 cents to $99.17 per barrel on the NYMEX and it was
Private sector in the city state Hong Kong remained almost unchanged in the month of March following a series of gains in the five previous months, as orders and output both fell, a report published by the Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The Hong Kong's purchasing managers' index dropped from a level of 53.3 in February to 49.9 in the
Merchandise trade balance in Australia came in a surplus in February, however on a sequential basis the surplus shrank by 14%, a report published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The country's merchandise trade surplus recorded A$1.20 billion in February, while it was forecast to record only A$850 million on the month.
Australia's retail sales advanced in February rising by less than economists originally expected and the gain was at a slower rate than in the month before, the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed in a report on Thursday. According to the report, the country's total retail sales volume jumped by 0.2% totaling A$22.972 billion, while in January it grew by 1.2%.