Emerging-market shares decreased for the second straight session on Thursday amid concerns that global economy is slowing down after reports showed that Chinese manufacturing output and exports from South Korea fell last month. The MSCI Emerging Market Index slipped 0.1% to 1,037.22 as of 1:27 p.m. Hong Kong time.
Chinese stocks declined on Thursday pushing the local benchmark index down after a three-day holiday with no trading as a report showed slower growth of the economy and companies showed their earnings. The Shanghai Composite slid 0.2% to 2,174.32, the CSI 300 Index was traded at 2,447.69 and the Hang Seng China Enterprise Index declined 0.9%.
Asian equities dropped for the second day in a row after payroll and manufacturing reports from the U.S. showed that the world's largest economy is expanding at slower pace and as the Japanese currency added increasing outlook for Japan's exporters' earnings. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 0.5% to 140.74 at 2:04 p.m. Tokyo time with 5 shares losing for
Japanese equities declined on Wednesday with the benchmark index falling after it recorded the largest monthly growth since 1999 after earning reports released by carmakers and chemical sector companies disappointed investors. The Topix Index decreased by 0.6% to 1,158.37 with about nine shares dropping for every seven rising, while the index recorded a 13% gain in April.
Job growth in the U.S. private sector eased down to the lowest level in seven month in April signing that the U.S. labour market continues to slow down, a report released by the Automatic Data Processing Inc. unveiled on Wednesday. The report showed that private sector employment rose by 119,000 jobs in April after it added 131,000 jobs in the
Manufacturing sector activity in the U.K. continued to contract, but the pace of contraction was lower than preliminary estimated in April, as new orders recorded an increase suggesting that the economy might be gathering momentum in the Q2. The manufacturing sector Purchasing Managers Index grew from 48.6 points in March to 49.8 in April.
Slovenia's credit rating was downgraded by Moody's Investors Service to ‘junk' on Tuesday bringing up concerns that the country will be the next one asking for a EU bailout. At the same time, Moody's cut the Slovenian government bond rating from Baa2 to Ba1 and set the outlook to ‘negative' amid uncertain funding environment as the nation has problems meeting
Sugar traded on New York's ICE Futures U.S. swung between drops and gains on Wednesday amid speculation that the amount of exchange-delivered sweetener will be higher that estimated. Raw sugar with delivery in two months dropped as much as 0.1% to 17.58 cents a pound as of 6:33 a.m. following a 0.5% increase earlier today.
Gold positions in exchange-traded products tumbled 174 metric tons in April recording the biggest monthly fall all-time after prices started to drop and reduced the funds value by $17.9 billion as investors seek for riskier assets amid optimistic global economy outlook. June gold futures declined 0.5% to $1,465.40 an ounce on the Comex, while prices are down 13% in 2013.
Brent crude traded in London dropped for the second straight session on Wednesday after production of OPEC rose in April to the highest level in 5 months, when it grew by 194,000 barrels a day and as U.S. inventories gained first time in 3 weeks. June Brent futures slipped $1.83 to $100.54 a barrel on London's ICE and were traded
The U.S. Dollar index slipped to the lowest level in two months on Wednesday amid speculation that the Federal Reserve will decide to maintain its bond-purchasing programme in order to boost the economy. The Dollar Index tracking the greenback against currencies of trading partners of the U.S. declined 0.5% to 81.336 earlier on Wednesday New York session and after it
The 17-nation bloc currency appreciated to the highest level in 2 months versus the U.S. Dollar on Wednesday amid speculation that the U.S. policymakers will decide to add more stimulus measures weakening the U.S. currency. The Euro was traded 0.3% higher at $1.3213, the strongest level since February 25 breaking through a $1.3200 reported option barrier.
Consumer confidence worldwide improved in the first three months of 2013 led by a notable increase in sentiment in the U.S., Japan and northern Europe, the latest data revealed by the insight company Nielsen showed on Wednesday. According to the data, the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index grew 2% in the Q1 to 93 points with the sentiment rising in
The Reserve Bank of India is expected to make further cuts of its benchmark policy interest rates on this week's meeting on Friday as the economic growth reached a 10-year low in the fiscal year 2012-2013 and inflation weakens. The country's central bank is likely to cut the interest rate by 25 basis points, while maintain the reserve requirement rate
Consumer price inflation in Indonesia slowed down in April despite a notable increase in food prices, which rose by 11.91% on an annual basis, a report released by the Statistics Indonesia unveiled on Wednesday. The report showed that the consumer price index added annually by 5.57% in April compared to a level recorded in March at 5.9%.
American shares surged on Tuesday with regional benchmark index reaching its new all-time high. Hopes that central banks across the globe will stick to their loose monetary policies also boosted U.S. shares. The S&P 500 Index climbed 0.25% to 1,597.57 points as of 4:14 p.m. New York time. Among the best performers, Best Buy Co Inc jumped 7.4% to $25.99,
The 10-year yield was slightly changed at 1.67% in the second part of Tokyo trading session on Wednesday. Yesterday the benchmark touched 1.64% level, the lowest since 12th of December. Also volatility in the bond market dropped to a record, as investors wait for an announcement from the Federal Reserve about a commitment to the rate of bond buying to support growth.
U.S. blue chips climbed on Tuesday, as consumer confidence rose more than predicted in April. In addition, investors awaited new stimulus programs from central banks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index advanced 0.14% to 14,839.80 points as of 4:14 p.m. New York time. Among the gainers, The Walt Disney Co surged 1.8 to $63.00 and International Business Machines Corp added
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped by 0.3% in the second part of Tokyo trading session on Wednesday. The Asian stocks slipped from the highest level since 2008, as global business activity indicated a slowdown. An Australian manufacturing index plummeted to a four-year bottom and China's Purchasing Managers' Index expanded at weaker pace in April. Behind the negative news, the
Australia's new home sales rebounded in the month of March setting towards modest recovery from the record lows reached a year ago, a data released by the Housing Industry Association. The data also showed that new home sales climb 4.2% in March, while new detached houses sales rose by 3.9% after it dropped 4.0% in the previous month.
Copper futures for three months settlement were lower by 0.5% to $7,023.5 per one metric ton on the London Metal Exchange in Singapore trading hours on Wednesday. The metal retreated on China's manufacturing data, which signaled that slowdown in the industry expanded at weaker rate in April, what potentially will curb demand from the biggest consumer.
Property prices in the United Kingdom decreased unexpectedly in April after it remained flat the month before, according to the report released by the Nationwide Building Society on Wednesday. The report showed that the house price index slipped 0.1% on a sequential basis in April, while it was forecast to rise by 0.3% and a typical UK house worth 165,586
Manufacturing performance in Australia fell more than preliminary estimated in the month of April as seven out of eight manufacturing sub-sector contracted, the latest data released by the Australian Industry Group. Australian Performance Manufacturing Index declined by 7.7 points to a level of 36.7 points in April, with the reading below 50 indicating contraction.
Wheat futures for July settlement edged lower by 1.2% to $7.225 per one bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade in the morning of Singapore trading session on Wednesday. The commodity price increased by 5.6% in two previous sessions and today traders cashed in profit on speculation that rains will help winter wheat to recover in Kansas, the biggest U.S. grower.