Italy's annual inflation measured as harmonized price index eased in the month of March, while prices recorded a notable advance from February, a report released by the statistical office Istat showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's HICP climbed 0.3% on an annual basis in March after rising 0.4% in February.
Inflation in the euro-area eased in the month of March falling by more than economists initially expected towards the weakest level in a year, the latest data released by the European Central Bank unveiled on Monday. The Bank reported that the inflation index slipped to 0.5% in March after recording an 0.7% growth in the previous month.
Retail sales in the city state Hong Kong dropped in February, however the Lunar New Year in the region distorted the volume of retail sales, a report released by the Census and Statistics Department showed on Monday. According to the report, the Hong Kong's retail sales slipped 2.3% in February reversing January's gain of 14.4%.
Japan's industrial output contracted in the month of February decreasing for the first time in a four-month period, a report published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry unveiled on Monday. According to the report, the country's industrial production slipped 2.3% in February, while it was originally seen to be rising by 0.3%.
Housing starts in the Asia's second largest economy increased in February, however the pace of growth was lower than economists initially expected, a data published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism showed on Monday. The country's housing starts gained year-on-year 1% in February, while the figure was forecast to jump 6.1%.
Japanese automobile production advanced in February rising for the sixth successive month, the latest report released by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers' Association unveiled on Monday. According to the report, the country's auto production gained 7.1% totaling 863,397 units in the month of February on strong domestic demand.
The 18-nation bloc currency advanced on Monday trading session rising towards the strongest level in three weeks versus the Japanese Yen and rebounding from last week's drop after a report showed that inflation in the area eased last month. The Euro was traded near the level of $1.40 and forced some players to intervene to talk the currency down.
The European Central Bank may face a difficult decision on the next policy meeting this Thursday after inflation data from the Eurozone showed a slow-down and as German and Spanish inflation reports are forecast to signal modest easing in growth of consumer prices. The German harmonized inflation gauge is projected to rise by 0.9%, while Spain's CPI are seen to
European government bonds declined on Monday trading session with the peripheral euro-area bonds traded near their lowest level in eight years after a report showed that inflation in the area slowed last month raising expectations of further rates cuts of the ECB. The German 10-year yields jumped to 1.59%, while the Spain's 10-year notes yielded at 3.24%.
Asian equities mostly increased on Monday session with the benchmark Asian gauge rising towards the highest level in three weeks after the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang declared that the government is ready to boost the region's economy. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan gained 0.9% to 137.84 and the Japan's benchmark index Nikkei 225 added also 0.9% to 14,827.
The majority of European shares gained earlier on Monday trading session as the government bond yields and the euro-area currency increased after a report showed that inflation in the Eurozone slowed suggesting that the ECB may cut interest rates further. The FTSE EuroFirst 300 index added 0.1% to 1,333, while the British FTSE 100 gauge gained 0.2% and the Germany
The European benchmark Brent crude advanced on Friday session and was about to record a weekly gain amid the supply disruption in Libya continues as most of the oil fields are still halted and as a rebel group in Nigeria claim another attack on Forcados pipeline. Brent for delivery in May added 22 cents to $108.05 per barrel and it
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Friday trading session heading towards a weekly advance on falling inventories in a storage hub in Oklahoma's Cushing. WTI for settlement in May jumped as much as $0.60 to $101.88 per barrel on the NYMEX and was last traded at a level of $101.67 by 12:23 p.m. in London.
U.K. shares fluctuated on Friday and were set to reach their first weekly advance in a month as mine companies gain was overshadowed by a drop of insurance equities. The benchmark stock index FTSE 100 jumped 2.88 points, less than 0.1%, to 6,591.2 as of 12:57 p.m. London time following a previous jump by 0.7%, while it has risen 0.5%
Retail sales in Spain dropped in February matching economists' expectations after recovering in the month before, a report unveiled by the statistical office INE showed on Friday. According to the report, the country's retail sales slipped 0.5% in February overshadowing previous advanced of 0.5% recorded in January.
House price inflation in the United Kingdom advanced in February rising at a faster rate than in the month before pushed up by a notable increase in London's property prices, the latest data released by the Land Registry showed on Friday. The U.K. house prices added year-on-year 5.3% in February following a 4.2% jump in the month before.
Personal income in the world's largest economy increased in February rising by more than experts originally estimated, a report unveiled by the Commerce Department showed on Friday. According to the report, the U.S. personal income jumped by 0.3% in February, while it was initially projected to record a gain of 0.2%, while spending jumped 0.3% on the month as well.
Economic confidence in the 18-nation bloc increased more than originally forecast in March rising towards the highest level in thirty two months and gaining by the most in a month since 2009, the European Commission reported on Friday. According to the report, the Eurozone economic sentiment index jumped from 101.2 in February to a level of 102.4 in March.
Industrial output in South Korea slipped on a sequential basis in February, the latest data released by the Statistics Korea showed on Friday. According to the data, the country's industrial output fell 1.8%, much more than economists originally expected as the figure was seen to be contracting by 0.8% in February.
Inflation in the Asia's second largest economy increased slightly in February matching economists' initial estimates, the latest report released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications unveiled on Friday. According to the report, the country's consumer price index gained 1.5% in February after rising by 1.4% in the month before, while core inflation recorded 1.3%.
Credit ratings of banks in the Russian Federation may come under a modest pressure as an economic slow-down is expected to hit the country amid sanctions put on the country as it invaded the Ukraine's Crimea, a report release by Standard & Poor's showed today. The rating agency said that the pressure may get intense if the geopolitical tension will
The U.S. Federal Reserve is unlikely to increased interest rates until the second half of 2015 and after then it may start tightening the monetary policy moderately in order to avoid a slow-down of the country's economy, the Chicago Fed's President Charles Evans said today. According to Evans, the Fed should try to increase inflation level from current 1% to
The New Zealand's currency increased notably on Friday trading session rising against its U.S. counterpart towards the highest level since August 2011 after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised its benchmark interest rates. The so-called Kiwi added to $0.8698, the most in almost three years, while it reached the highest level in six-years of 88.94.
Wall Street shares increased on Friday trading session pushed up by decision of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang saying that the country's government may take further steps in order to support local economy. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures gained 5 points, the Dow Jones industrial average futures climbed 42 points and the Nasdaq Composite index futures surged 14.25 points.