Gold was little changed on Friday traded near the highest level in a week and headed for a quarterly and monthly drop after the U.S. Federal Reserve trimmed its stimulus as the country's economy improved. Bullion for delivery in December gained and lost 0.3% before trading at a level of $1,213.39 an ounce as of 3:42 p.m. in Singapore.
South Korean currency strengthened on Friday completing the largest advance in a week since October 18 after a report showed that local business confidence advanced and amid speculation that policymakers may curb exchange-rate appreciation. The Won gained 0.5% to 1,054.39 per U.S. Dollar in Seoul today and it has added 0.7% this week.
Manufacturing sector in the Asia's second largest economy advanced at the steepest rate in more than seven years in December as output and new businesses grew strongly, a report unveiled by Markit Economics and the Japan Materials Management Association showed on Friday. Japan's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for manufacturing sector added from November's 55.1 to 55.2 in the following month.
Consumer confidence in Finland advanced in December mainly due to an improvement in savings of households, at the same time, business confidence in the country stayed unchanged in the same month, a report published by the Statistics Finland showed on Friday. According to the report, the Finnish consumer confidence index gained from November's 6.4 to 7.2 in the following month.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in France advanced November after falling sharply in the month before rising concerns that an unemployment aim of the country's President Francois Hollande may not be achieved, the Labour Ministry showed in a report on Friday. France's jobless claims rose by 17,800 totalling 3.293 million in the month of November.
Industrial profits in the world's second largest economy advanced in the January-November period rising by 13.2% on an annual basis standing at 5.33 trillion yen, a report revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Friday. According to the report, the headline figure was down from a level of 13.7% recorded in the January-October period.
The Japanese Yen weakened on Friday falling against the U.S. Dollar and the 17-nation bloc currency towards the five-year low as investors' risk appetite increased after Wall Street shares record new highs yesterday and amid favourable economic data in the U.S. The Yen slipped to 105.05 yen before trading at 104.86 yen, while it slid to 143.915 yen, the least
The majority of Asian stocks inched up on Friday trading session as the U.S. equities increased to record highs on Thursday after a government report showed that Japan's factory output advanced and as the U.S. Dollar strengthened above a level of 105 yen. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan gained 0.8% and Shanghai index added 1.7%.
Japanese automobile production advanced for the third consecutive time in November with the overall vehicle production rising 10.2% on an annual basis totaling 846,151 units, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association showed in a report on Friday. Japan's passenger car production grew by 10.3% and trucks production added 11.4%, while production of buses fell 9.9%.
Consumer confidence in South Korea stayed firm in December following a modest advanced recorded in the month before, the latest figure revealed by the Bank of Korea showed on Thursday. According to the report, the South Korean consumer confidence index stayed at 107 in the month of December, while inflation expectations of households remained at 2.9%.
Initial jobless claims for unemployment benefits in the world's largest economy declined at a steeper pace than economists originally expected in the week to December 21, reflecting higher volatility on the labour market during the holidays. The U.S. jobless claims dropped from 380,000 to 338,000 last week, while it was forecast to record 340,000.
U.S. Treasuries declined on Thursday with the benchmark 10-year yields touching the strongest level in over three months after the U.S. government report showed that initial unemployment benefit-claims dropped more than economists' initially expected last week. 10-year bonds yielded 0.02% higher at 2.998%, the most since September 6.
U.S. shares closed higher on Thursday extending an all-time record high of the benchmark index Standard & Poor's 500 after a government report showed that jobless claim declined in the world's largest economy last week. The S&P 500 Index added 0.5% to 1,841.58 as of 1:51 p.m. New York time and the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.7% to 16,469.33
Gasoline futures traded in New York advanced on Thursday rising to the strongest level in three months after a report showed that supplies in the U.S. Northeast may drop as refineries closed down and as demand increased during holidays. Gasoline for delivery in January added 2.98 U.S. cents to $2.844 per gallon as of 12:54 p.m. on the NYMEX following
JPMorgan Chase & Co., the largest bank of the United States by volume of assets, plans to increase its bonuses for bankers who work in the investment branch of the bank. As announced, these employees will get 6% to 10% bonus rise, comparing with the previous year. At the same time, it is expected that commodities, bond and currency traders
The national debt of France dropped in the previous quarter of this year, as the government borrowed less than a year before. The ratio reached 92.7% from country's GDP or 1,900.8 billion euro, while in April-June quarter the debt was equal to 93.5% of GDP. During the quarter, the national debt fell 11.4 billion euro. At the same time, the
Natural gas traded in New York increased on Thursday gaining for a second session in three days amid speculation that demand for heating fuels may be boosted by forecast cold weather for the beginning of next year. Natural gas for delivery in January jumped 1.1% to $4.465 a million British thermal units on the NYMEX and traded at $4.444 as
Gold traded in New York advanced on Thursday staying above a level of $1,200 an ounce after a report showed that global economy may rise by 2.8% in 2014 after recording a 1.98% expand this year. Bullion for immediate delivery added 0.2% to $1,206.40 an ounce, while Gold for February settlement gained also 0.2% to $1,205.60 an ounce on the
Platinum traded in London gained on Thursday rising towards the strongest level in a week amid speculation that demand for the metal may be boosted by the recovery of global economy. Platinum for delivery in December jumped 1.1% to $1,346.75 an ounce as of 9:41 a.m. London time and traded at $1,348.10, the most since December 18.
Consumer confidence in Turkey slipped in December falling for the first time in a three-month period with the consumer index dropping from 77.5 points in November to 75 in the following month, the latest data revealed by the statistical office Turkstat revealed on Thursday. According to the report, the Turkish corresponding index slid to 101.9 in December from 107.3 in
The Japanese currency fell on Thursday falling towards the weakest level in a five-year period versus the U.S. Dollar pushing the local benchmark stock index to the strongest level in more than five years. The Yen slipped as much as 0.4% to 104.77 per U.S. Dollar as of 8:09 a.m. London time and it declined to the lowest level in
Emerging-markets shares declined on Thursday drag down by China's automakers and companies from Taiwan despite an increase of material producers as the China's benchmark index fell to the weakest level in four months and the Thai's currency tumbled for 8th straight day. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index slipped 0.1% to 994.04 as of 4:38 p.m. Hong Kong time.
Credit rating outlook of Ukraine's economy was raised by Standard & Poor's rating agency on Thursday mainly due to an improvement in fiscal funding and a recent financial aid provided by Russian, the rating agency showed in a report on Thursday. Ukraine's credit rating outlook improved from ‘negative' to ‘stable' and the rating was affirmed at ‘B-/B'.
Gross domestic product of the world's second largest economy is expected to advance by 7.6% in 2013 compared to preliminary estimated level of 7.5%, which was the country's government growth target, a cabinet report showed on Thursday. According to the report, the Chinese economy may record growth around 7.6-7.7% this year, the weakest rate since 1997-1998 financial crisis in Asia.