On Friday, the British Pound was steady versus the U.S. Dollar, as investors were cautious before a report on U.S. employment. The Sterling was flat versus the greenback and was fluctuating between a session low of $1.6174 and a session high of $1.6199, consolidating later at 1.6187 by 12.28 p.m. London time.
On Friday, U.S. stock futures held steady, as traders eyed an upcoming report on U.S. non-farm payrolls. S&P 500 futures expiring in December added about 0.1%, reaching 1,456.8 by 10:40 a.m. London time. The equity benchmark has added 1.4% since the beginning of this week. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures increased by 14 points and reached 13,512.
On Friday, U.S. treasuries held steady, as investors eyed an upcoming report on U.S. employment, which is widely expected to show an increase in jobless rate. The yield on benchmark 10-year notes declined 0.9 basis points, and reached 1.6630%, while the yield on 30-year bonds lost 1 basis point, reaching 2.88% by 10:18 a.m. in London.
On Friday, Asian stocks were traded higher, following Mario Draghi's comments on bond buying program, and an upcoming report on U.S. employment data. The MSCI Asia Pacific index increased by 0.4%, reaching a level of 122.84 by 6:19 p.m. Tokyo time. The index is likely to end the week, having a 0.3% weekly gain.
On Friday, European stocks were gaining, as investors' sentiment was buoyed by the upcoming report on U.S. employment data. The Stoxx 600 added 0.3% and reached a level of 272.20 by 10:12 a.m. London time. The index is likely to end this week with a 1.4% weekly gain, and rallied 16% from the year's low in June.
The U.S. jobless rate unexpectedly declined to 7.8% in September, the lowest level since Barack Obama became the U.S. President in January 2009, as employers hired more part-time workers. Economists projected the unemployment rate to increase from 8.1% to 8.2%. The U.S. economy added 114 000 employees last months following 142 000 gain in August, according to Labour Department figures. "The
On Friday, the 17-nation currency was traded close to a 2-week high versus the U.S. counterpart, as investors eyed the upcoming U.S. employment data. EUR/USD hit a session low 1.2994, and later consolidated at 1.3011, which was a 0.04% decline for the European morning trading session. The pair's support was likely to be found at 1.2910, whereas the resistance was prone to be at 1.3059.
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie reported on Friday that the number of factory orders in Germany decreased more than expected in September. German factory orders slipped by 1.3% in September from a preceding month's increase of 0.3%. Economists, however, expected that factory orders would fall only by 0.5%.
On Friday, futures for natural gas retreated from the lowest for the session, as bargain hunters were buying the commodity. On the NYMEX, November delivery futures hit $3.450 per MMBtu, a session high, and consolidated at $3.406, which was a 0.34% increase for the U.S. afternoon trading session.
On Friday, copper was traded lower in London, as traders were locking in profits, following its first weekly gain. On the London Metal Exchange three-month copper added 0.2% to trade at $8,285.75 per tonne at 9:32 a.m. On the NYMEX, December delivery contracts also added 0.2% and were traded at $3.7775 per pound.
On Friday, oil declined, trimming earlier gains caused by Mario Draghi comments, amid authorization of military actions by Turkish government. On the NYMEX, November delivery futures for light sweet crude were traded at $91.14 per barrel, which was a 0.63% gain for the European morning trade. Elsewhere, Brent oil futures added 0.08%, being traded at $112.65 per barrel.
Hong Kong stocks advanced for the fifth session in a row on Friday amid positive headlines from the US and eurozone. US labour market started to show signs of recovery while Mario Draghi promised to buy bonds from indebted eurozone's members. However, slowing retail sales in the country as well as lack of actions from the BoJ limited gains of
Rural commodities were mixed on Thursday, with sugar and corn easing up and wheat and coffee plunging. Broadly weaker US Dollar and encouraging Mario Draghi comments created appetite for riskier assets. However, upward revisions of global supplies weighted down on the farm commodities. Wheat dropped on speculation that Canadian harvest is likely to rise by annualized 5.8% in 2012 due to
Japanese equities climbed on Friday, drawing strength from eurozone's optimism. On Thursday, the ECB president Mario Draghi pledged to buy bonds of the troubled eurozone's members to ease debt pressure in the region. However, the upswing was capped as the BoJ refrained from further stimulus measures despite signs of economic recession and mounting political pressure. The Nikkei 225 Index moved
Energy products moved higher on Thursday amid escalated tensions in the Middle East after Turkey won parliament approval to start military action in Syria. A fire at the US largest oil refinery triggered supply worries, thus sending energy futures higher. Crude oil rallied on the ECB president comments and escalated tensions in the Middle East. Broadly weaker US Dollar also created
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index added 0.60% to close at 13,575.36. Encouraging job market data sent the US stock index higher. US unemployment claims advanced only slightly last week after a fall in the preceding week, thus signalling that the labour market is recovering. Optimism over the single currency union also boosted US blue chips. Eight out of nine
Base metals apart from zinc advanced on Thursday, following Mario Draghi comments that the ECB may start bond-purchasing from troubled eurozone countries to ease debt pressure in the region. However, slight increase in the US unemployment claims and continuous China growth concerns capped the upswing. Aluminum moved higher on lower LME inventories. Stocks at the LME-monitored warehouses fell by 8,755 MT
US stocks jumped after US labour data indicated that jobless claims rose only slightly last week after large fall in the preceding week. Positive news from the other side of the Atlantics also boosted US shares. The ECB president Mario Draghi said that the ECB is ready to purchase bonds from the troubled eurozone members. The S&P 500 sored 0.72%
Precious metals climbed on Thursday despite disappointing news from the ECB and BoE. The ECB and BoE left their monetary policies unchanged. However, Mario Draghi stated that the ECB is ready to purchase bonds of indebted eurozone members when conditions are suitable. The ECB president's comments buoyed the commodity group. Gold gained on stronger demand amid weak US Dollar and comments
The South Korean Won rose to the highest level in 11 months and government bonds declines after the ECB said that it is ready to start buying bonds in the Euro bloc. The Won gained 0.3% today and 0.1% this week to 1,110.40 per U.S. Dollar. South Korea's currency touched 1,109.60, the strongest since November 1.
The Canadian Dollar strengthened for the first time in 3 days versus the U.S. counterpart as Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Tiff Macklem said officials may withdraw stimulus as the country's economy recovers. The Loonie rose 0.7% to 98.04 cents per U.S. peer. Canada's currency touched 98.84 cents yesterday, the lowest level since September 6.
The Australian Dollar will rebound by the end of the year amid demand for the world's highest-yielding assets even if the RBA lowers interest rate to a record, the currency's forecasters said. The Aussie will reach $1.05 by December 31 from $1.0268, according to Credit Agricole CIB. The median prediction from analysts is for $1.02.
The Yen rose from near 2-week low after the Bank of Japan kept its asset-purchase programme unchanged. The Yen climbed 0.2% to 78.32 per U.S. Dollar from 78.48 the previous day, when it traded at 78.72, the weakest level since September 19. Japan's currency gained 0.2% to 101.92 per Euro. The BOJ said that the bond-buying scheme will remained unchanged
German bonds slipped for the first time in three days on Friday as the ECB and Federal Reserve said they will continue to boost their economies, cutting demand for the safest assets. The 10-year yield jumped 2 basis points to 1.147%, after touching 1.49% yesterday, the highest since Sept. 26. The 1.5% note due in Sept. 2022 dropped 0.17 to