WTI declined for the second day in a row, while Brent has decreased for three, as investors await for the signals from the Federal Reserve on bond purchase tapering. WTI futures dropped 0.49% to $104.6 per barrel and the European benchmark Brent oil plummeted 0.61% to $109.46 per barrel. Gasoline supplies dropped by 3.7 million barrels and Distillate stockpiles decreased
The common currency declined versus the U.S. Dollar, falling from the highest level in 6 months on speculations the Federal Reserve will begin to taper stimulus in the nearest future. The Euro plummeted 0.22% to 41.3388 versus the greenback and rose moderately to 130.61 versus the Yen, and retreated 0.08% to 0.8548 against the Sterling.
Asian benchmark share index decreased for the fifth day in a row to the lowest level in six weeks ahead of the Federal Reserve publishes minutes of July's meeting. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index retreated 0.6% to 130.76. Japanese Topix index dropped 0.3% and South Korean Kopsi index plummeted 1.1%. Australian S&P/ASX 200 Index jumped 0.4% and New Zealand's NZX
U.S. shares mainly advanced, with the Standard & Poor's 500 cutting a four-day decline, after better-than-expected retail data, while investors expect hints form the Fed on tapering quantitative easing programme. The S&P 500 jumped 0.4% to 1,652.35 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined about 0.1% to 15,002.99.
European shares remained steady, after falling for two days in a row, as investors expected the Federal Reserve to release minutes of July's meeting. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index decreased 0.1% to 301.93, adding to signs the index has slipped 2.2% since August 14 on worries the Federal Reserve will start to taper stimulus next month.
The Aussie and the Kiwi declined before the Fed releases minutes of its previous meeting, which may signal on when the officials are planning to start tapering its bond-buying programme. The Australian Dollar slipped 0.5% to 90.29 U.S. cents at 4:48 p.m. Sydney time from Tuesday, after touching 90.18 earlier, the weakest since August 8, while the Kiwi depreciated 0.6%
The British currency was little changed against the greenback and 17-nation currency ahead of data that are expected to show improvement in U.K.'s public finances in July. The Sterling was at $1.5668 as of 7:25 a.m. in London after reaching $1.5696 on Tuesday, the strongest level since June 18, while the currency traded at 85.62 pence per Euro.
The Canadian currency dropped to the lowest level in approximately 14 days as oil slipped on worries that the Fed will start tapering its monetary stimulus in September. The Loonie fell, for a third consecutive day, losing 0.5% to C$1.0392 per U.S. Dollar as of 5 p.m. Toronto time, after it reached C$1.0401, the lowest level since August 8.
The British Pound is erasing its biggest monthly advance in a year versus the Swiss currency as trading patterns indicate that its appreciation was too much. The Pound climbed previous week to the highest level in approximately two months at 1.4592 Francs, while it has risen 2.8% in August against 10 developed-country currencies, making it the best monthly advance in
The greenback appreciated against its Asian peers as the minutes from the Fed's previous meeting is awaited by investors and they might give signals on tapering. The U.S. currency rose 0.4% to 90.38 U.S. cents per Aussie and gained 0.5% to 79.40 cents versus its New Zealand counterpart. The greenback climbed 0.4% to 97.64 Japanese Yen.
The Canada's Dollar retreated versus the majority of it counterparts after the central banks of Australia and New Zealand provided signs that steps may be taken to reduce the value of their currencies. The Canadian Dollar weakened 0.4% to C$1.0390 versus the U.S. Dollar at 8:34 a.m., the currency reached C$1.0402, the lowest level since August 8.
Canadian shares advanced, after the largest decline since June yesterday, as an increase in gold manufacturers overshadowed report indicating a drop in the Canada's wholesale sales. The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index inched up 41.99 points to 12,630.01, adding to signs the index has added 1.6% this year.
Gold futures fluctuated around the flat line before the Federal Reserve posts policy-meeting minutes, as India's central bank recently implemented a restriction on gold inbound shipments that could boost a recovery in the Indian bullion purchases. Gold for December settlement declined 80 cents to $1,364.90 per ounce, while silver dropped 1.2% to $22.89 per ounce.
U.S. shares advanced, excluding the Dow Jones, following better-than-forecast earnings data, while the Fed stimulus tapering worries continue in the background. The Standard & Poor's 500 advanced 0.22% to 1,649.69 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.02% to 15,007.94, while the Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.30% to 3,599.93.
Crude oil prices declined in the European afternoon trading session as investor concerns rose before the Fed meeting minutes on Wednesday. North American crude declined 1.28% to $105.49 per barrel, at the same time Brent crude decreased 0.78% to $109.05 per barrel, adding to signs U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs said that Brent may increase above $115 per barrel in
The 17-nation currency advanced to the session high against the greenback on uncertainty over the Fed's QE tapering. The common currency inched up 0.75% to $1.3435 versus the U.S. Dollar, while the Dollar index dropped 0.38% to 80.921. The Euro inched up 0.61% to 0.8571 against the Sterling and climbed 0.33% to 130.52 versus the Yen.
Production by the Euro block construction companies advanced in the second quarter at the fastest pace in more than two years, helping the Euro area's economy to escape a 18-month decline. Eurostat announced that output by construction companies in the Euro area grew 1% in the April-to-June period, driven by rises of 1.2% in France and 3.9% in Germany.
Japanese shares plummeted, with the Topix index dropping to the lowest level in over seven weeks, after investors sold riskier assets across Asia. Toyota Motor Corporation declined 2.5%, the largest slump since July 29, pushing the Topix lower. The Topix retreated 2.1% to 1,125.27, the lowest level since June 27.
The Swiss currency rose versus its 16 most-traded peers as worries that the Fed will start winding down its monetary stimulus programme next month fueled demand for nation's currency. The Franc appreciated 0.5% to 91.98 centimes versus the greenback as of 11:46 a.m. Zurich time, after adding, the biggest daily move since August 8, while it was at 1.2321 versus
Asian benchmark share index headed towards the biggest fall in two months after investors withdrew from riskier assets across the Asia following worries the U.S. will reduce stimulus, which pushed Treasury yields to the highest level in two years. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 1.7% to 131.37, with Japanese Topix index falling 2.1%.
Canadian shares plummeted the most since June, as a fall in gold and silver boosted losses in metal producers and energy companies suffered the biggest fall in eight weeks. The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index retreated 148.90 points to 12,588.02. Crude for September settlement dropped 0.3% to $107.10 per barrel.
U.K. 10-year government gilts increased for the first time in seven days after a declined in shares around the world restored demand for the British fixed-income securities. The 10-year yield plummeted four basis points to 2.71% and the 1.75% bond expiring in September 2022 rallied 0.28 to 92.345. The Britain's FTSE 100 index dropped 0.6%.
European stock markets retreated on concerns that the Federal Reserve will start to scale back bond purchases in the next month. The European Euro Stoxx 50 decreased 1.47% to 2,781.67. German DAX dropped 1.17% to 8,268.14, while the French CAC 40 fell 1.53% to 4,021.33 and the British FTSE 100 slipped 0.60% to 6,427.53.
The 17-nation currency advanced versus the greenback as concerns over the Federal Reserve's bond purchase tapering outweighed the lower-than-forecast expansion in German producer prices. The common currency rose 0.28% to $1.3373 against the Dollar and gained 0.16% to 0.8535 against the Sterling, while declined 0.03% to 130.05 versus the Yen.