West Texas Intermediate crude advanced for the first time in a three-day period on Thursday after a report showed that inventories in the U.S., the world's largest consumer, declined last week. WTI for delivery in February gained 52 cents to $98.94 per barrel on the NYMEX and it traded at $98.92 as of 3:54 p.m. in Singapore.
Gold traded higher on the first trading session of this year rallying from the worst year in over thirty years as drop to the lowest level in six months spurred investors' appetite for physical purchases of the precious metal. Bullion for delivery in January gained 1.5% to $1,224.11 as of 3:25 p.m. Singapore time after the prices slid to $1,182.27
Chinese shares slipped on Thursday trading session mainly due to a declined of consumer and energy companies after reports world-wide showed that manufacturing activity in many countries decreased towards the end of last year. The Shanghai Composite Index tumbled 0.3% to 2,109.39 and it dropped 6.8% in 2013, the worst-performing gauge in Asia.
German government bunds declined on Thursday pushing the benchmark 10-year yields towards the highest level in three months before a report showed that manufacturing activity in the Eurozone accelerated for a 6th month in December. Germany's 10-year bunds yielded three basis points higher at 1.96% as of 8:25 a.m. in London and it touched 1.97% the most since September 23.
India's manufacturing activity improved in December recording the second consecutive advance, however the pace of growth was weaker than in the month before, the HSBC Bank and Markit Economics showed in a report on Thursday. According to the report, the country's purchasing managers' index fell from November's 51.3 to 50.7 in the following month.
Factory sector in Ireland advanced in December rising for the seventh successive month led by a sharp gain in new orders, a report published by Investec and Markit Economics revealed on Thursday. According to the report, Irish purchasing managers' index for the sector jumped from November's 52.4 to a level of 53.5 in the following month.
Manufacturing sector activity in Sweden advanced at a notably slowed pace in December compared to a month before mainly due to a significant drop in production, a report revealed by the Swedbank showed on Thursday. The country's purchasing managers' index for the factory sector fell from November's 56 to 52.2 in the last month of 2013.
Manufacturing activity in the world's second largest economy slowed down in the last month of 2013 suggesting that the economic growth in the country eased in the last three months in the past year, a report published by the HSBC and Markit Economics showed on Thursday. The HSBC/Markit manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index slid from November's 50.8 to 50.5 in the
The Spanish economy is set to recover led by a massive job creation this year, according to the country's Minister of Economy Luis de Guindos, however most Spaniards remain skeptical about a real recovery until 2015. A poll revealed by El Mundo newspaper showed on Thursday that 71% of the population expects the end of depression in 2015 as the unemployment if
The U.S. Dollar traded close to the highest level in five years against the Japanese Yen on Thursday session before a government data showed that consumer confidence in the U.S. improved suggesting that the Federal Reserve may trim its monetary easing on the next policy meeting. The Greenback stood at 105.24 yen following a gain to 105.41 yen on Monday,
The majority Asian equities declined in the first session of 2014 after a government report showed that manufacturing activity in the world's second largest economy eased and as investors commodity appetite renewed as the year begun. The MSCI broadest Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan slipped 0.5%, while the Korean index Kospi fell 1.5%.
European shares increased on Thursday trading session rising towards the strongest level in over five years after recording the largest yearly gain since 2009 before a report showed that manufacturing activity in Germany rose in December. The benchmark Europe Stoxx 600 Index added 0.3% to 329.32 by 8:10 a.m. London time, the most since May 2008.
The European currency declined on Tuesday falling for the first time in a five-day period against the U.S. Dollar on speculation that the euro-area region may expand slower than the world's largest economy. Euro fell 0.3% to $1.3767 as of 7 a.m. in New York following a jump to the highest level in two years at $1.3893 on December 27.
The British Sterling increased on the last trading session of this year rising towards the strongest level in three weeks versus the Euro before a government report showed that home prices in the U.K. jumped this month together with a climb of mortgage approvals in November. The Pound added 0.4% to 83.32 pence a Euro as of 11:13 a.m. in
The Canadian Dollar strengthened on Tuesday rebounding from the lowest level in almost three years amid speculation that the currency dropped too deep after the U.S. Federal Reserve revealed its plan to tighten monetary easing further in January. The so-called Loonie advanced 0.5% to C$1.0648 per U.S. Dollar as of 5 p.m. Toronto time.
Corn declined on the last trading session of this year and was set to record its weakest year since 1960 and the worst yearly performance in a five-year period as global output advanced to record highs. Corn for immediate delivery slipped 39% this year to a level of $4.2325 per bushel as of 2:19 p.m. Singapore time.
Natural gas futures swung between gains and drops on Tuesday trading session and were set to record the largest annual advance in an eight-year period amid speculation that heating fuel demand may be boosted by cold weather at the beginning of 2014. Natural gas for delivery in February traded at $4.415 a million British thermal units on the NYMEX.
The European benchmark Brent crude traded in London climbed on Tuesday increasing the Brent-WTI premium from $11.97 to $12.01 on today's session after the EIA report showed that inventories fell 6.1% by 23.8 million barrels in the last four weeks and refiners' capacity was used on 92.7%. Brent for February delivery jumped 16 cents to $111.37 per barrel on the
West Texas Intermediate crude slightly increased on Tuesday and it was set to record its fourth yearly advance in a five-year period on speculation that inventories in the U.S., the world's largest consumer of the commodity, declined for the fifth successive week. WTI for delivery in February traded 7 cents higher at $99.36 per barrel on the NYMEX.
The Australian Dollar strengthened on Tuesday trimming its largest yearly fall since 2008 as traders eased their bets on further drops of the currency, however the so-called Aussie fell versus 9 out of 10 currencies in 2013. The Australian currency advanced 0.3% to 89.32 U.S. cents as of 4:26 p.m. Sydney time and it declined 1.9% in December and 14%
Local and central government debt in the world's second largest economy rose in the January-June period to 17.9 trillion yuan suggesting that the region should implement structural reforms, a data revealed by the National Audit Office showed on Tuesday. The data also unveiled that China's government debt may record 30.3 trillion yuan equalling 53% of the country's gross domestic product.
Inflation in South Korea measured as consumer price index increased on an annual basis in the last month of 2013 rising above a level of 1% after recording three successive months below mentioned level, the Statistics Korea showed in a report on Tuesday. The country's consumer prices index rose 1.1% in December compared to a forecast of 1.2% increase.
November's private sector credit in Australia advanced from the month before rising less than economists originally expected, a data unveiled by the Reserve Bank of Australia showed on Tuesday. According to the data, the country's overall credit of private sector gained 0.3% compared to expected level of 0.4%.
U.S. pending homes sales recorded a modest advance in the month of November, however the increase was shy of a forecast, a report published by the National Association of Realtors revealed on Monday. According to the report, the U.S. pending home sales added 0.2% from 101.5 recorded in October to a level of 101.7 in the following month.