Australia's consumer confidence dropped to a 3-month record low in March as country's biggest lenders increased mortgage rates despite central bank's decision to keep benchmark interest unchanged. The consumer sentiment index fell 5% to 96.1 in March, marking the lowest reading since December 2011, said Melbourne Institute on Wednesday.
JP Morgan Chase & Co the largest US lender unexpectedly announced it received a permission for a 20% dividend raise. The dividend will be increased from USD 0.25 to USD 0.30 a share. Bank's disclosure forced its competitors including Wells Fargo & Co and PNC Financial Services to post their dividend proposals. JP Morgan rallied 7% on the announcement, supporting
Gold April futures dropped 1% or USD 16.50 to USD 1,677.90 per ounce during Asian session on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Precious metal prolonged losses from Tuesday as traders turned their attention to higher yielding assets and invested in stocks. May silver slipped 0.5% or USD 0.17 to USD 33.41 per ounce while copper for May
European equities rallied on Tuesday as German investor sentiment unexpectedly jumped in February and US retail sales reached the highest reading in five months. Stoxx Europe 600 index surged 1.8%, German DAX climbed 1.4% and French CAC 40 added 1.7%. British FTSE 100 index gained 1% and Italian FTSE MIB index jumped 2.1%.
Australian and New Zealand Dollar climbed against their Japanese peer on Wednesday as appreciating commodities stimulated higher earnings expectations in exports. Both currencies declined against US Dollar on Fed's improved assessment of US economy. Aussie gained 0.2% versus Yen to JPY 87.71 and fell 0.1% against greenback to USD 1.0544. Kiwi advanced to JPY 68.28 versus and slipped 0.3% against its US peer to USD
Federal Reserve reported on Tuesday 15 of 19 lenders would be capable to keep their capital amounts above a required minimum and even maintain dividend payout in case of extremely unfavourable economic scenario. Fed's test assumed jobless rate at 13%, a fall in share prices at 50% and a drop in housing market by 21%. Of leading banks Citigroup failed
The EU has decided to freeze the rescue fund worth about 495 million Euros that had to be provided to Hungary in 2013. The EU explained that Hungary's debt exceeded 3% of GDP, the maximum stipulated by the Excessive Deficit Procedure rules. Hungary expects the EU to reassess the move in June, said Margrethe Vestager, Danish economy minister. At the
German DAX index rallied on Tuesday after data showed investor confidence jumped in March from 5.4 to 22.3, reaching a record high since June 2010. Deutsche Post AG accelerated 1.8% on news the company expects good earnings next year. Financial service provider Munich Re AG gained 2.2%. The firm said its outlook for 2012 is optimistic and the yearly profit
British FTSE 100 index advanced on Tuesday lifted by financial sector which added 1.7% after UK PM Cameron said the government will boost construction through supporting buyers with small cash deposits to purchase new homes. HSBC Holdings jumped 2%, Royal Bank of Scotland Group advanced 1.8% and Lloyds Banking Group climbed 1.9%. On the downside Antofagasta fell 4% and insurer
The EU, Japan and the US have filed a legal claim against China's limitation on exports of rare metals. The case was brought to the WTO. China sets quotas on the rare earths that are used in producing high-tech goods. Export restriction pushes the prices higher as China mines about 95% of rare earths metals. China opposes accusations, saying that
UK's goods trade gap widened less than initially expected in January, reported the UK Office for National Statistics. The goods trade gap widened to 7.5 billion British Pounds on a seasonally adjusted basis in January as compared to a 7.2 billion British Pounds deficit in January. Analysts predicted the deficit to approach 7.8 billion British Pounds in January.
Retail sales increased to five-month high in February, reported US Commerce Department. The sales soared by 1.1% in February as compared to a 0.6% jump in the preceding month. Major contributor to the expansion were Retail sales increased to five-month high in February, reported US Commerce Department. The sales soared by 1.1% in February as compared to a 0.6% jump
Energy commodities fell on Monday amid signs of stagnation of China's and Italy's economies. Even high energy commodity imports did not managed to offset worries over record high trade deficit in China and capped any upswing of the group. Moreover, eased geopolitical tensions removed risk premium for Brent and crude oil thus pushing the prices down. Meanwhile, natural gas touched
Rural commodities except for coffee were higher on Monday amid broadly weaker US Dollar and improved investors' appetite for agricultural commodities after weather setbacks. Grains gained support as speculation on strong China demand persist. Moreover, USDA report indicated lower estimates for this season crops. However, dry and warm weather may create favorable harvest conditions in the US hence the crops
Base metals apart from zinc tumbled on Monday along with pessimistic trade balance data from China and widening federal budget deficit in the US. The sluggish economic performance of China dampened traders' confidence in growth-sensitive assets. On the other hand, higher commodity imports in China, especially copper inflow, were supportive for the base metals pack. Copper was the top loser
Germany's investor confidence jumped in March, reaching a 21 month record high as ECB injected extra cash into financial system and Greek debt deal moved towards end. ZEW Center's index summarizing analyst and investor expectations rocketed from 5.4 to 22.3 in March. The current reading marks the fourth consecutive increase in investor confidence and the best figure since June 2010.
Precious metals were mostly lower on Monday amid broadly weaker US Dollar and stronger equities. Precious metals were balancing between improved commodity imports in China and wider China's trade deficit. The slowdown of China's economy may impact middle class that is major consumer of gold's jewelry. The commodity group also continued to face increased volatility as investors eye developments across
Dow Jones Industrial Average index appreciated for the fourth consecutive session, lifted by upcoming monetary policy decision from Fed as investors expect forthcoming economic data may limit Fed's incentives to stick to low interest rates. Blue chip index soared 0.29% or 37.69 points and settled at 12,959.71. Firms that are less economic activity-dependent climbed on Monday with Wal-Mart Stores and
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average erased gains on Tuesday on the Bank of Japan's decision not to enlarge its asset buying program, boosting the Yen against the US Dollar. Nikkei 225 index edged up 0.09% or 9.22 points and settled at 9,899.08. Chemical maker Asahi Kasei dropped 5.4% after confirming it will buy Zoll Medical for USD 2.2 billion. On the
S&P 500 index traded almost flat on Monday, facing the thinnest volumes in 2012 as investors awaited what effect China's slowdown will have on monetary easing. S&P 500 added 0.02% or 0.22 points and finished at 1,371.09. Harley-Davidson surged 2.6% on news the largest US motorcycle producer's retail sales have surged between 16% and 18% in the 1st quarter. The
Asian stock markets traded mostly higher on Tuesday excluding Japan whose shares retreated after BoJ refused to continue monetary easing. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index advanced 1.21%, South Korea's Kospi climbed 1.1% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 1.0%. China's Shanghai Composite Index accelerated 0.9% and Nikkei Stock Average soared 0.09%.
BMW AG, the leading provider of luxury cars announced it prepares to outperform 2011 record profit this year citing accelerating demand for new 3-Series sedan. Company expects to surpass a pre-tax profit of EUR 7.38 billion (USD 9.72 billion). Economists questioned by Bloomberg predict a pre-tax profit to reach EUR 7.06 billion in 2012. Last year BMW delivered a total
European governments urged Spain to implement larger budged deficit cuts to prevent debt crisis from returning to the region. 10 days ago Spanish PM Rajoy unilaterally increased Spain's deficit target to 5.8% of GDP for year 2012 and claimed the country will aim to attain region's common target of maximum 3% in 2013. The announcement was not praised by region's
French inflation rate unexpectedly declined for a second consecutive month in February on slowing economic growth which offset the climbing oil prices. Consumer prices advanced annual 2.5% in February compared to a 2.6% gain in January. Economists questioned by Bloomberg predicted the inflation level to stay steady at 2.6%.