Stocks worldwide increased on Monday with the gauge of most-traded global shares rising towards the highest level in six years after a report last week showed that U.S. unemployment claims increased suggesting that the Federal Reserve may keep the interest rates low. The MSCI world-equities index added 0.2%, while the Emerging Markets Index rose 0.9%.
Commodity prices declined on Monday falling to the lowest level in eight months amid signs that inventories increased by more than forecast and as China's gross domestic product eased after global hedge funds reduced their bullish commodity bets. The world-wide net-long positions of the most-traded commodities slipped by 11% to 678,885 futures in the week to January 7.
Wheat traded in Chicago increased on Monday rebounding from its decline recorded last week after the world's largest buyer of the grain, Egypt, agreed to purchase 55,000 metric tons of the commodity at a price of $303 per ton including costs. Wheat for settlement in March jumped 0.6% to $5.725 per bushel on the CBOT.
Nickel traded in London advanced on Monday rising towards the strongest level in two weeks after export limits were put on the world's largest producer of the commodity, Indonesia, possibly pushing the global market into a shortfall next year. Nickel for settlement in April gained 1.7% to $14,100 per ton as of 3:52 p.m. on the London Metal Exchange.
The European benchmark Brent crude slightly advanced on Monday trading session as Iran agreed to reduce its nuclear program and as investors cut their bets on further declined of the commodity by the most in a six-month period. Brent for settlement next month gained 7 cents to $107.32 per barrel on the London's ICE Futures Europe exchange.
West Texas Intermediate oil declined on Monday after Iran and global forces came to an agreement to reduce the country's nuclear program starting on January 20 under terms that some sanction on nation will be eased. WTI for delivery in February dropped 73 cents to $91.99 per barrel as of 10:55 a.m. on the NYMEX after the prices fell 1.3%
A leading indicator of economic activity in the OECD area advanced in November suggesting that the global economy is improving, a report published by the organization showed on Monday. The composite leading economic index gained from October's 100.7 to November's 100.9.
Chinese shares declined, sending the regional benchmark index to the lowest level in five months, as losses for technology and consumer stocks overshadowed a raw-material company advance. The Shanghai Composite slid 0.2% to 2,009.56, making it the fourth straight day of declines. The CSI 300 Index fell 0.5% to 2,198.68, while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index added 0.1%.
U.S. shares retreated as investors' analyzed nation's economy and its corporate earnings after the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index had the biggest advance in more than ten years in 2013. The S&P 500 slid 0.1% to 1,840.89 as of 9:40 New York time, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 0.2% to 16,412.84 today.
Machinery and equipment orders in the Europe's largest economy rose in December amid a significantly strong foreign demand, a report revealed by the industry group VDMA unveiled on Monday. According to the report, the country's orders gained 7% on a sequential basis in December as domestic orders fell 1% and foreign orders rose 12%.
European shares were little changed, after the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index had its first weekly advance of 2014, as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision announced lender's capital requirements. The Stoxx 600 index added 0.1% to 330.35 as of 1:46 p.m. London time, after it climbed 0.7% previous week.
U.K. shares gained for a second straight day as economists speculated on banks' fourth-quarter earnings and that they will support further advances in stock prices. The FTSE 100 Index climbed 0.2% to 6,750.15 as of 2:10 p.m. London time, after last week's rise. The FTSE All-Share Index added 0.2% as well, while Ireland's ISEQ Index rose 1%.
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