Consumer spending in France declined on a sequential basis in the last month of 2013, however the final figure fell on a slower pace than originally expected, a report unveiled by the country's statistical office showed on Friday. France's consumer spending slipped 0.1% in December following a gain of 1.4% in the previous month.
Manufacturing activity in Japan accelerated on January rising at the fastest pace in almost eight years mainly due to an advance in new orders, the latest data published by the Markit Economics and the JMMA showed on Friday. Japan's purchasing managers' index jumped from December's level of 55.2 to 56.6 recorded in January.
Housing starts in the Asia's second largest economy expanded in the last month of 2013, the latest data revealed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism showed on Friday. According to the report, Japan's housing starts gained 18% on an annual basis after rising by 14.1% in the month before, while it was projected to ease to 13.6%.
Australia's producer prices increased on a sequential basis in the last three months of 2013, the final figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Friday. According to the report, the country's producer prices gained 0.2% in the Q4 after rising by 1.3% in the quarter before, as agriculture rose 11.1% and other equipment manufacturing surged 3.2%.
The U.S. currency strengthened on Friday rising towards the strongest level in a week versus its most-traded peers after a series of favourable economic data from the U.S. spurred the currency higher and investors expressed concerns about emerging markets. The U.S. Dollar index advanced to 81.135 and was last traded at 81.055, while it has increased 1.3% in January.
Wall Street shares closed higher on Thursday trading session with the local benchmark stock index Standard & Poor's 500 recording its largest gain in four weeks after a report showed that the U.S. economy is expanding faster than forecast. The Dow Jones industrial average added 0.70% to 15,848.61, the S&P 500 Index surged 1.13% to 1,794.19 and the Nasdaq Composite
The majority of Asian shares declined on Friday trading session amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve decision to cut its monetary easing further may cause less liquidity on emerging markets despite favourable economic data about the performance of the world's largest economy. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan slipped 0.1% and it has dropped 5% this month.
The European benchmark Brent crude slightly increased on Thursday after the Energy Information Administration reported that stockpiles in the U.S. jumped last week by 6.4 million barrels compared to initially estimated gain of 2.25 million. Brent for delivery in March surged as much as 4 cents to $107.89 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate oil increased on Thursday trading session rising towards the strongest level in a month after an arctic cold weather in the U.S., the world's largest oil consumer, boosted heating fuel demand. WTI for settlement in March advanced 61 cents to $97.97 per barrel on the NYMEX and was last seen at $97.78 by 1:15 p.m. in London.
Inflation in Germany measured as harmonized index of consumer prices remained stable in January, while it was forecast to record an increase, the latest data revealed by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Thursday. According to the data, the country's HICP added 1.2% in January after recording the same figure in the month before, whereas it was projected to slip
Economic confidence in Portugal improved again in January suggesting that the economy may have gained some momentum as all major sectors show favourable results, a report unveiled by Statistics Portugal revealed on Thursday. The report showed that the economic confidence index rose from -1.1 recorded in December to a level of -0.8% in the following month.
European shares declined after the Fed cut its monetary stimulus for a second consecutive meeting and some major companies posted disappointing results. The Stoxx 600 slipped 0.2% to 321.67 as of 1:03 p.m. London time, prolonging its retreat to two days, while Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures added 0.3% today.
Spanish economy accelerated in the last quarter of 2013 rising for the second successive time signaling that the labour market may bring more job positions, a report published by the statistical office INE showed on Thursday. According to the report, Spain's gross domestic product advanced 0.3% in the Q4 after rising by 0.1% in the prior quarter.
U.K. shares dropped, the regional benchmark FTSE 100 Index retreated for the seventh day out of last eight, after the Fed cut its bond buying programme for a second consecutive meeting. The FTSE 100 slid 0.2% to 6,532.36 as of 8:39 a.m. London time and it has declined 4.5% since January 20. The FTSE All-Share Index slipped 0.2%, while Ireland's
Economic confidence in the 18-nation bloc accelerated in January extending the series of gains to nine months and reaching the highest level in thirty months, a report published by the European Commission unveiled on Thursday. The report showed that the economic confidence index advanced from December's 100.4 to a level if 100.9 in the following month, the most since July
The U.S. Dollar appreciated after the Fed winded down its monetary stimulus programme that has weakened the greenback in the past and emerging-market currencies prolonged retreats. The U.S. Dollar added 0.5% to $1.3593 per Euro as of 7:30 a.m. in New York, while the currency rose 0.1% to 102.41 Japanese Yen. The Euro slid 0.4% to 139.22 Yen.
U.K. house prices will likely remain in an uptrend in the following months with a moderate slowdown expected to be seen in the long-term period, a statement released by Capital Economics showed on Thursday. A private report this week revealed that house prices in the nation advanced 0.7% in January recording the 12th successive increase.
The British currency dropped for a third straight day against the U.S. Dollar as the Fed officials yesterday cut its monetary stimulus after the BoE Governor Carney stated that he will keep interest rates low. The Sterling slid 0.5% to $1.6480 as of 12:38 p.m. in London, after it advanced to $1.6668 on January 24. The British Pound was at
Economic growth in Poland slowed during the last quarter of the previous year, as domestic demand rose less than expected and investment plummeted. GDP advanced 1.6% against 1.9% in 2012, while analysts expected the economy to grow 1.5% in 2013. Private consumption increased 0.8%, less than 1.2% a year ago. Fixed investment dropped 0.4%, but the pace of decline slowed.
Banco Santander SA, the largest bank in Spain, announced a significant increase in its profit for the last quarter of 2013, as the bank accumulated fewer funds for bad loans. The net income jumped to 1.06 billion euro against 423 million euro in Q4 2012. Analysts, however, waited for a 1.2 billion euro profit. Today, Banco Santander SA shares are
The FOMC decided to decrease its bond purchases additionally by $10 billion per month, as American economy recovers and labor market improves. Policy makers are concerned about record $4.1 trillion Fed's balance sheet, as they will now buy only $65 billion of bonds and mortgage securities monthly. Meanwhile, this meeting was last with Ben Bernanke as the Chairman of the
Private lending in the United Kingdom advanced more than predicted in December of 2013, pointing on worsening credit conditions, as individuals want to borrow with still quite low interest. The Bank of England report showed a 2.3 billion pounds rise in lending after a 1.8 billion pounds surge in November. Analysts, in turn, expected the indicator to add 1.9 billion
Japanese retail sales increased 2.6% in December of the last year on the annual basis, while economists forecasted the indicator to pick up 3.9% after a positively revised 4.1% rise in November. However, sales among large retailers added only 0.1% annually. Month on month, sales surged 0.8% after a 2% jump a month ago. Analysts predicted them to show an
Economic growth in Spain gained pace in the last quarter of the previous year, as the GDP added 0.3% on a quarterly basis, matching analysts' expectations. Therefore, it is the second consecutive quarter of economic growth after a two-year long recession. On the annual basis, economy declined 0.1%, as the increase in internal spending was overshadowed by weak exports.