Japan's Nikkei Stock Average extended gains on Monday, supported by China's decision to ease reserve requirements and investors expectations regarding outcome of meeting in Brussels. Nikkei 225 index added 1.08% or 100.92 points and settled at 9,485.09. Gains were limited on the upside as data showed Japan's trade gap widened notably in January. JFE Holdings jumped 8% after Credit Suisse
Dow Jones Industrial Average Index posted gains on Friday as US consumer prices climbed less than predicted and core inflation matched analyst expectations. Moreover, Conference Board said its index of major economic measures increased for a fourth straight month. Blue chip index advanced 0.4% or 45.79 points, settling at 12,949.87, led by Intel and E.I. Du Pont which gained 2%
S&P 500 index rose on Friday, supported by regained Greek optimism and better than predicted US economic data. American stock index added 0.23% or 3.19 points and finished at 1,361.23. Frontier Communications rocketed 7.3% after lowering its dividends to cut debt. Heinz gained 4.6% on successful earnings report. Gilead Sciences tumbled 14% after drug maker said its hepatitis C treatment
Finland's Finance Ministry considers the next Greek bailout is likely to be finally approved by the week which starts March 12. Currently, all necessary elements to sign an agreement on the 130 billion Euros worth bailout loan are ready, said French Finance Minister, Francois Baroin. However, it is still not clear how much the IMF plans to contribute to the
Deutsche Bank expects the industrial metals to be firm in Q2 as China's and Europe's economic situation is likely to stabilize. Copper is expected to average at 9,000 US Dollars per ton in Q2 while the metal's price is likely to fall to 8,500 US Dollars per ton in Q3 and recover to 8,700 US Dollars per ton in Q4.
Deutsche Bank announced that it maintains the bullish outlook for precious metals. The bank expects the gold to average at 1,800 US Dollars per ounce in Q2 and at 1,900 US Dollars per ounce in Q4. At the same time, silver price is likely to hit 34 US Dollars per ounce and 40 US Dollars per ounce in Q2 and
Grain futures in the US ended the week on the positive note. The soybean futures for delivery in March, were the top gainers, trading at 12,6662 US Dollars per bushel as China signed a contact on record high US soybean purchases. At the same time, corn and wheat also moved higher on the expected higher demand for US grain supplies.
Gold prices increased during the Asian session, following the news on the lowered RRR in China. The move weighted down on the US Dollar thus stimulating its hedge's, gold, jump. COMEX gold's April contract traded at 1,738.05 US Dollars per troy ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, soaring 0.7%.
The Greenback weakened against 17-nation currency and other important counterparts on speculation Monday meeting will bring a solution to Greek troubles. Depreciation was fuelled by China's decision to cut its reserve requirement ratio. ICE Dollar index lost 0.28% and declined from 79.334 to 79.082 during late American trade on Friday. Euro gained 0.12% against its US peer to USD 1.3216. Currently EUR/USD
Asian stock markets mostly closed with gains on Monday on China's announcement it has lowered the reserve requirement ratio to 20.5% for large lenders. Japan's Nikkei Stock Average added 1.08%, South Korea's Kospi traded close to flat or 0.07% higher whereas Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index rallied 1.44%. Meanwhile Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.27% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was the
The consumer-price index (CPI) climbed 0.2% in January slightly below analyst median forecasts of a 0.3% advance, said the Department of Labor on Friday. On yearly basis CPI added 2.9%. Core consumer-price index which excludes volatile energy and food costs also ascended 0.2% matching earlier expectations. Analysts at Goldman Sachs are predicting a notable decline in CPI over the coming
Crude oil futures surged during the electronic session on Monday, being backed up by the China's announcement on RRR cut and geopolitical tensions over Iranian nuclear program. Crude oil futures for delivery in March traded at 105.03 US Dollars per barrel at the Asian session, on the New York Mercantile Exchange, adding 1.7%.
European stocks closed up on Friday as investors were optimistic about the results of upcoming Finance Ministers' meeting in Brussels due Monday. UK FTSE 100 index added 0.33%, German DAX rallied 1.42% and French CAC 40 index gained 1.37%. Meanwhile Stoxx Europe 600 index advanced 0.6% and Athens General Index jumped 5%.
The New Zealand's national debt for the second half of 2011 was close to the initial forecast, reported the New Zealand's Treasury. The operating deficit was only 3 million New Zealand Dollars higher than projected while services and goods tax revenues were lower than forecast. The outlook remains positive according to the country's government which plans to see a national
China's property market faced the worst performance in a year in January. Real estate prices dropped in the majority of the large cities last month, reported the NBS. Wenzhou hit the record, with prices falling by 0.6% over the month. Shanghai and Beijing both faced 0.1% price decrease in January. Experts attribute poor property market performance to government's policies aimed
The central bank of China announced that it will decrease the reserve requirement ratio by 50 basis points to 20.5% for large financial institutions and to 18.5% for the smaller ones. The decision will come into force from February 24 and is expected to provide additional 65.5 billion US Dollars to the country's market. Experts claim the cut is aimed
Jun Azumi, Japanese FM, confirmed his country together with China are ready to support Europe in tackling debt turmoil. Azumi said Japan may help the region through the IMF once Euro Zone countries implement their own measures. Japan agrees with China that Euro area needs a larger firewall to tame the crisis.
Canadian currency traded close to three-month record high on Friday as investors looked forward successful outcome of EU finance officials' meeting due Monday and Canadian January inflation rate climbed higher than expected. Loonie traded almost flat against the Greenback at CAD 0.9968. Currently USD/CAD is trading at CAD 0.9925.
Iran is looking for new customers for its oil as sanctions imposed by the EU nations will ban oil exports from the region. The full oil embargo will enter into force on July 1. The country is attempting to redirect extra 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day, or additional 23% to developing economies as India and China, reported two
US stock indexes mostly traded higher on Friday and finished the week on positive side as investors expected a Monday meeting in Brussels will provide a solution to Greek debt crisis. S&P 500 index gained 0.2% or 3.19 points and finished at 1,361.23. Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4% or 45.79 points, settling at 12,949.87. In contrast Nasdaq Composite index slipped
Thailand's economy shrank in the last quarter of 2011 amid severe flooding that impacted manufacturing activities of the country. The GDP contracted by 9% in Q4 of 2011 on a yearly basis and by 10.7% from the previous quarter, reported the NESDB. However, despite weaker than expected performance, the NESDB raised the economy's expansion outlook from between 4.5% and 5.5%
UK's real estate prices increased at the fastest pace in the last 10 years this month. The price jump was supported by the improved confidence and sales-tax holiday provided by the government that finishes in March, reported Rightmove. According to the index of Rightmove, the home prices soared by 4.1% in February on a monthly basis and by 1.4% on
Canada's consumer price index unexpectedly accelerated in January as value soared for all categories but leisure goods. The increase was mainly boosted by fuel and groceries. The inflation level surged annual 2.5% in January, compared to 2.3% advance in December. The current inflation level is above central bank's target rate of 2.0%.
D 1.0770 while Kiwi gained 1.0% to USD 0.8406. Currently AUD/USD is trading at US