Unemployment rate in Sweden declined in February year-on-year matching economists' initial estimates, a survey released by the Public Employment Service showed on Tuesday. According to the survey, Swedish jobless rate slipped from 4.7% in February 2013 to a level of 4.5% in February 2014, while in January the rate stood at 4.6%.
United Kingdom retail sales increased in February, however the pace of growth was notably lower than in the previous month, the latest report published by the British Retail Consortium and KPMG unveiled on Tuesday. According to the report, the U.K. retail sales advanced 0.7% on an annual basis in February after rising by 5.4% in the month before.
Merchandise exports in India declined in February with the figure including re-exports falling annually by 3.67% to $25.69 billion, a report published by the Ministry of Commerce unveiled on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's imports dropped notably at the same time by 17.09% year-on-year to $33.82 billion.
Electronic card spending in retail sector in New Zealand rebounded in February mainly due to an increased in the hospitality industry, a report released by the Statistics New Zealand revealed on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's retail sector spending using credit, charge and debit cards advanced 0.9% on a sequential basis in February after falling by 0.5% in
Japan's M2 money stock increased on an annual basis in February, however the growth was lower than experts originally expected, a report released by the Bank of Japan showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's MX money stock added 4.0% in February, while it was estimated to climb by 4.4% after rising by 4.3% in the previous month.
Benchmark interest rates in the world's second largest economy are likely to be liberalized in a period of the next two years suggesting that the People's Bank of China may phase out the cap on deposit rates, the bank's Governor Zhou Xiaochuan declared on Tuesday. Zhou also said that liberalization of rates is on the bank's agenda and is realistic to
Business confidence and business conditions in Australia decreased in February, the latest report published by the National Australia Bank showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's reading for business confidence fell from 9 points to a level of 7 points in February, while the business conditions indicator showed a drop from 5 points in January to 0 in
The New Zealand's currency notably increased on Tuesday trading session rising towards the strongest level since 1985 amid expectations that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand may raise its benchmark refinancing rates on Thursday's policy meeting. The so-called Kiwi advanced to 79.51, according to data showed by Reuters.
The Japanese Yen swung between gains and losses on Tuesday session and traded mostly flat against the U.S. Dollar and the 18-nation bloc currency after the Bank of Japan maintained its monetary easing at a current level. The Yen was last traded at 103.30 per U.S. Dollar after fluctuating in a range between 103.20-103.43, while it stood at 143.22 per
The Japanese national bank remained the current level of monetary easing in place on Tuesday's policy meeting after reports revealed that consumer prices and the economic pace of growth stayed on track, however the bank downgraded its exports forecast. The Bank of Japan showed in a report that it maintains bond-purchase program at a level of 60-70 trillion yen a
The majority of Asian shares slightly advanced on Tuesday trading session after falling notably yesterday amid concerns over China's economy posting its largest trade shortfall in almost two years. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan increased 0.3% after losing 1.3% on Monday, while the Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.6%.
The Australian Dollar declined on Monday falling for the second successive day versus the U.S. Dollar after a government data showed that Chinese trade balance came in shortfall of 18.1%, the highest deficit in 2 years. The so-called Aussie lost as much as 0.6% to 90.18 U.S. cents as of 11:02 a.m. in New York following a gain to the
The European benchmark Brent crude slipped on Monday as demand for crude oil increased in the Northern Hemisphere's winter as refineries boosted production of heating fuels and as China reported a notable drop in exports last month. Brent for delivery in April dropped 0.9% to $107.97 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate crude declined on Monday trading session after a government report showed that exports in China, the world's second largest oil consumer, surprisingly decreased by 18.1% in February. WTI for settlement in April slipped as much as $1.53 to $101.05 per barrel as of 11:13 a.m. on the NYMEX.
Exports in the world's second largest economy tumbled surprisingly in February, while imports in the same month accelerated, a report released by the General Administration of Customs showed over the past weekend. According to the report, the country's exports slipped notably by 18.1% in February after rising by 10.6% in the previous month.
Retail sales in Switzerland slowed down in January mainly due to a notable decline in non-food sales, the latest data published by the Federal Statistical Office unveiled on Monday. According to the data, the country's retail sales advanced 0.3% on an annual basis in January, easing after rising by 2.5% in the month before.
Investor confidence in the 18-nation bloc improved in the month of March rising towards its highest level since April 2011 as current economic situation indicator advanced, the private think tank Sentix unveiled in a report on Monday. According to the report, the Eurozone's investors' confidence index increased from a level of 13.3 recorded in February to January's 13.9 points.
Industrial output in Italy returned to growth at the beginning of 2014 following a period of drops in the previous months, a data published by the statistical office Istat showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's industrial production accelerated on an annual basis by 1.4% in January after declining by 0.7% in December.
The gross domestic product growth in France is likely to record 0.2% in the first three months of 2014, a survey published by the Bank of France unveiled on Monday. According to the survey, the country's was downwardly revised mainly due to a drop in business confidence in factory sector falling from January's 99 points to a level if 98
Industrial production in Spain accelerated in January rising for the third successive month, however the pace of growth eased from the month before, a report released by the statistical office INE showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's industrial output gained 1.1% on an annual basis in January, down from 2.2% recorded in December.
Service sector foreign direct investment in India including insurance, banking, research and development, outsourcing and technology testing declined in January, a report released by the DIPP showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's FDI in service sector slipped 61% totaling $1.59 billion in January.
Economy watchers' indicator of current situation and expectations in Japan declined in February easing for the second successive month, a report revealed by the Cabinet Office showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's eco watchers current situation and expectation index fell from a level of 54.7 recorded in January to February's level of 53.
Current account balance in the Asia's second largest economy came in deficit at the beginning of 2014, according to the report revealed by the Ministry of Finance, with the shortfall totaling 1,589.0 billion yen. The report also showed that Japan's current account deficit missed forecast of 1,411.8 billion after recording a shortfall of 638.6 billion in December.
The China's currency weakened on Monday trading session together with short-term rates after a report released over the past weekend showed that exports in the country surprisingly dropped last month and amid speculation that Beijing may be easing its monetary policy. The Yuan slipped as much as 0.5% against the U.S. Dollar.