Australia's currency reached the highest level in a month on forecasts that this week's jobs report will show a growth for a second straight month. The Aussie gained 0.4% to 90.30 U.S. cents at 5:50 p.m. Sydney time, after approaching 90.42 cents, its highest level since December 12, while it retreated 0.3% to 93.43 Yen. The Kiwi added 0.4% to
The British currency depreciated for a third consecutive day against the common currency after a gauge indicated that U.K. economic data missed analysts' expectations. The Sterling slid 0.3% to 83.18 pence per Euro as of 12:28 p.m. in London, after climbing to 82.31 pence on January 9, the highest level in a year. The Pound dropped 0.3% to $1.6431 after
The U.S. Dollar slid to the lowest level in three weeks versus the Japanese Yen ahead of U.S. retail sales report that is expected to show that growth has slowed down. The greenback declined 0.6% to 103.53 Yen at 8:23 a.m. in New York, after slipping to 103.26, the lowest level since December 18. The Dollar climbed 0.2% to $1.3645
The government of Portugal is looking for possibilities to sell its bonds further after a successful auction a week ago, when there were 3.25 billion euros of bonds sold, while the yields are dropping. The country is planning to exit the massive EU bailout program in May, but it already has all the possibilities to borrow on the debt markets,
Industrial production in Italy jumped in November of the last year already a third month in a row, the today-released data from Istat agency showed. The total output inched up 0.3% on a monthly basis, while analysts predicted it to advance from 0.2% to 0.6%, depending on the economic agency. On the annual basis, the Italian industry climbed 1.4%, for
According to the outlook of the Capital Economics UK Company, the economic growth in the United Kingdom will continue to be strong enough to erase all the losses that the country suffered during the crisis times. It is expected the GDP increase to reach 3% this year and in 2015, while in Q4 economy probably added 0.8%, as service and
Basel banking regulators have decreased their requirements for banks in order to decrease their reliance on debt. Some economists think that this decision will cut financial activities with low risk and decrease lending. Regulators will particularly strike out some instruments that should be included in calculating assets. According to plan, it can raise the capital to assets ratio to the
The number of loans issued for buying property in Australia continues to increase on a stable pace, while low interest rates encourage people to buy homes. The seasonally adjusted number of mortgages advanced 1.1% on a monthly basis in November of the previous year. Economists waited for a 1% rise. Moreover, the value of new loans surged 1.7%, reaching A$26.934
According to the third survey by the Bank of France, concerning the economic growth in the last quarter of the previous year, French economy added as much as 0.5% on the quarterly basis. At the same time, the outlook remained unchanged from the previous survey. Therefore, the French economy will likely avoid the recession, as in the July-September quarter country's
The unemployment level in the United States surprisingly decreased in December of the last year, reaching 6.7% - the lowest jobless level since October 2008, while much more people were forced to leave the labor force. At the same time, payrolls in the country advanced only 74,000 in the previous month, after a 241,000 surge in November, rising less than
According to the final data of the Eurostat, the official statistical agency in the EU, economic growth in the common currency bloc stayed at the previously expected level of 0.1% in the July-September quarter of 2013. At the same time, the decrease in growth pace has also been registered, as in Q2 the economy added 0.3%. On the annual basis,
The manufacturing industry of the Netherlands showed an increase in output in November of the previous year, while the pace of growth has noticeably decreased from a preceding month, reaching only 0.4% on the annual basis. In October, in turn, manufacturing in the country jumped 2.4%. At the same time, statistical data showed a rise in almost all the main
U.K. shares advanced, making their biggest climb this year, as the U.S. unemployment data were awaited by investors. The FTSE 100 Index rallied 1.1% to 6,764.43 as of 12:31 p.m. London time, reversing previous losses and taking the gauge to a 0.5 increase weekly. The FTSE All-Share Index added 1%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index climbed 0.3% today.
The U.S. Dollar gained to the highest level in approximately five years versus the Japanese Yen ahead of U.S. payroll data that are expected to show that companies employed additional workers on December. The greenback added 0.2% to 105.02 Yen as of 7:01 a.m. New York time, after climbing to 105.44 on January 2, the highest level since 2008. The
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index is set for a fourth straight weekly climb, making it the longest since March, ahead of a government payrolls report that economists expect to be positive. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index advanced 0.1% to 1,028.76 as of 9:56 a.m. in London and it has added 0.3% weekly. The gauge gained to 1,030.43 on Thursday, the
German shares gained, heading for the first one-week advances this year, as the U.S. unemployment data are awaited by investors. The DAX advanced 1.1% to 9,522.18 as of 12:42 p.m. Frankfurt time and it is set for 0.9% climb weekly, while the HDAX Index increased 1.1% today. The biggest gainer was Deutsche Lufthansa AG that jumped 7.3%, after they stated
The British currency dropped for the first day out of last three against the greenback after U.K. factory output data missed economist forecasts in November. The Sterling slid 0.4 to $1.6411 as of 10:03 a.m. in London, after advancing to $1.6603 on January 2, the strongest level in more than two years. The Pound added 0.3% to 82.85 pence per
German government bunds increased on Friday and were set to record their second weekly advance after the rating agency Standard & Poor's affirmed the country's highest AAA credit rating. The benchmark 10-year government bunds yielded two basis points lower at 1.90% by 7:39 a.m. in London and recorded a drop by 5 basis points this week, the largest slide since
European shares increased on Friday session and were set to record their first weekly gain in this year before U.S. reports showed that jobs in the country rose by the most since 2005 pushing the U.S. shares higher. The benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 gained as much as .5% to 329.92 as of 8:11 a.m. London time and it has
U.S. Treasuries fluctuated on Friday and traded near the lowest level in seven years against their counterparts world-wide after reports showed figures beating economists' expectations and as investors awaited U.S. payrolls today. The U.S. benchmark 10-year government bond yielded at 2.97% by 7:07 a.m. London time.
Commodities world-wide rallied on Friday with the index measuring a performance of 24 most-traded commodities rebounding from the lowest level in eight months as metals and crude jumped before U.S. payrolls. The S&P GSCI Index advanced 0.6% as of 3:38 p.m. Tokyo time with oil rising 1%, gold increased for the second straight session and copper rose from its 3-week
Gold increased on Friday trading session before a government report showed that payroll in the U.S. fall suggesting that the U.S. Federal Reserve may scale back its stimulus more and as physical demand outlook seen falling. Bullion for delivery in January advanced 0.8% to $1,238.15 an ounce and it traded at $1,235.83 as of 2:37 p.m. Singapore time.
Retail sales in the United Kingdom advanced in December mainly due to an increase in sales online, however the pace of growth recorded on the month was the lowest in the whole 2013, a report published by the British Retail Consortium showed on Friday. According to the report, the U.K. retail sales added 1.8% on an annual basis as the
A leading index measuring economic activity in the Asia's second largest economy advanced at a notable faster pace in November than in the prior month matching initial economists' forecast, data published by the Cabinet Office showed on Friday. Japan's leading economic index gained from October's 109.8 to a level of 110.8 recorded in November.