U.K. 10-year government bunds headed towards their fifth weekly decrease ahead of data analysts said will indicate British economy grew in the second quarter. The 10-year bond yield remained steady at 2.72% and the price of the 1.75% note maturing in September 2022 remained at 92.275. U.K. bonds have brought investors a loss of 4.3% this year.
German government bunds remained steady, with 10-year bonds headed towards a third weekly decrease, following data that indicated German economy grew in the second quarter. German 10-year bond yielded 1.92% and the price of the 1.5% bund maturing in May 2023 was at 96.33. Germany's gross domestic product advanced 0.7% in the period.
Asian shares climbed, snapping the equity-benchmark index biggest one-week retreat in eight weeks, after strong data from Europe and U.S. that improved the confidence in the economic growth. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 1% to 130.85 at 2:20 p.m. Hong Kong time. Japan's Topix index jumped 2%, while the Shanghai Composite Index slid 1.1%.
The Canadian currency declined to the weakest point in six weeks after data indicated retail sales retreated more than expected in June, adding to signs that economic expansion is slowing. Canada's currency plummeted 0.4% to C$1.0516 versus the U.S. Dollar. Retail sales in Canada slipped 0.6% to C$40.1 billion.
The Aussie continued its advance from day earlier versus the U.S. Dollar on bets its decline was overdone this week. The Australian Dollar was little changed at 90.12 U.S. cents at 10:12 a.m. Sydney time from Thursday and it has dropped 2% weekly. The Kiwi remained flat at 78.30 U.S. cents from day earlier, when it reached 78.04, the lowest
European shares declined, prolonging the largest weekly slide in two months, ahead of data on Euro block's consumer confidence and American home sales. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index plummeted 0.2% to 303.03, adding to signs the index has slipped 1.1% this week on speculation the Federal Reserve may begin tapering next month.
The Japanese Yen slipped to the lowest level in a month versus the shared currency on bets that the BoJ Governor Kuroda will talk on monetary easing at the Fed's annual conference. The Yen fell 0.1% to 131.93 per Euro at 6:48 a.m. London time, after reaching 132.34, the weakest since July 25 and it has declined 1.5% weekly. The
Canadian shares advanced, as metal producers increased following a release of purchasing manager's index in China which indicated manufacturing expanded more than forecast this month. The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index inched up 101.27 points to 12,674.35, the largest climb since August 8. Raw material producers rallied 2.3%, the biggest gain among industries included in the S&P/TSX.
The British currency was little changed, headed for its first one-week retreat in approximately three weeks against the greenback and the 17-nation currency, ahead of data that could indicate on U.K. economy's expansion. The Sterling was at $1.5593 by 7:38 a.m. in London, after it fell 0.5% on Thursday and has slipped 0.2% weekly. At the same time, the Pound
Natural gas futures added for a second day in New York on hotter-than-usual weather forecasts in the central U.S. Gas gained 1.6% as higher than normal temperatures were predicted in the Midwest through September 5. September delivery natural gas soared 1.2% reaching $3.501 per million BTU as of 9:19 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Gold futures advanced on Thursday after the U.S. Dollar stopped appreciating following lower-than-expected U.S. jobless claims. Gold increased 0.48% to $1,376.80 per ounce and silver futures climbed 1.11% to $23.220 per ounce. The U.S. currency index retreated 0.47% to 81.597. The Bank of America forecasts that prices for bullion will be at $1,495 per ounce in the fourth quarter.
U.S. house costs increased 7.7% in the year through June, prolonging a rebound that's boosting more homeowners to sell their properties. Prices advanced 0.7% from May, which attracts more sellers to the market and pushes prices up. Diggle's company forecasts that prices will ease to 4% for 2014. The FHFA's data indicated home prices rose 17% from a year earlier
U.S. Dollar retreated a little against the common currency on U.S. jobs data, which exceeded expectations. The greenback fell 0.20% to $1.3327 against the Euro at 12:32 p.m. GMT, while the U.S. currency added 0.46% to $1.5587 against the Sterling. The greenback was at one and a half month high against the loonie, when advancing 0.39% to $1.0511.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased from the lowest level in two weeks, after fewer U.S. employees in over five years claimed for unemployment benefits in the last month. The October WTI contract advanced 44 cents to $104.29 per barrel. The October Brent contract slipped 7 cents to $109.74 per barrel.
U.S. stocks increased, as S&P's 500 Index bounced back from six-week bottom, on global manufacturing data which overcame expectations and a report showing improvement on the U.S. labour market. The S&P 500 added 0.3% to 1,647.68 as of 9:31 New York time following a 0.6% drop yesterday, while the Dow and Jones continued its six-day losing streak.
U.S. Labor Department reported that first-time jobless claims increased by 13,000 in the week ending August 16, compared to the same figure in the previous week. First-time unemployment claims reached 336,000, exceeding expected 330,000. Continuing claims advanced to 2,999,000 from 2,970,000 the week before, while topping expected 2,963,000.
美国劳工部(DOL)本月22日公布的数据来看，美国8月17日当周初请失业金人数为33.6万人，预期为33.0万。此前一周初请失业金人数修正后为32.3万人，初值为32.0万人。8月17日当周初请失业金人数四周均值下降0.225万，至33.05万人。此前一周数据修正后为33.275万人，初值为33.2 万人。
The Japanese currency prolonged to decline versus the greenback, as optimistic manufacturing report from China fueled sentiment on the market. The Japanese currency retreated 1.01% to ¥98.60 against the U.S. Dollar and plummeted 0.68% to ¥131.19 against the 17-nation currency, and contracted 0.37% to ¥151.29 versus the Sterling.
European stocks inched up following positive flash manufacturing and services report from Europe, while Chinese manufacturing recovered to touch the highest level in four months. The European Euro Stoxx 50 increased 1.20% to 2,807.74. The flash manufacturing PMI index in the Euro zone rose from 50.3 in July to 51.3 in August.
Gold eased the pace of its latest declines and was trading steady, hovering between gains and losses, as boosted demand for the gold in India and China fueled the markets which have been steady amid the Fed stimulus tapering talk. Gold futures for December settlement retreated 0.07% to $1,369.20 per ounce, while Silver futures inched up 0.72% to $23.130.
Crude oil cut losses and advanced, as Europe released a set of optimistic preliminary Purchasing Managers Index report in manufacturing and services for August, with German manufacturing jumping to 52.0, the highest level in more than two years. WTI futures increased 0.61% to $104.46 per barrel, while Brent rose 0.08% to $109.91 per barrel.
Australian currency remains higher against the greenback, leaving session highs after the Dollar strengthened, following the Federal Reserve official support for the Ben S. Bernanke's plan to reduce stimulus this year. The Aussie declined 0.15% to 0.8980 versus the greenback and advanced 0.29% to 1.4840 versus the common currency.
Asian shares plummeted, with the regional gauge near to cut this year's rises as it heads towards its longest losing period since November, as the Federal Reserve minutes provided signs on starting to reduce stimulus this year. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.7% to 129.67, with Japanese Topix declining 0.2% and South Korean Kopsi index sliding 1%.
U.K. 10-year bonds decreased for the second day as the Federal Reserve officials supported Ben Bernanke's plan to reduce stimulus this year, curbing demand for government debt. The benchmark 10-year U.K. bond yield advanced four basis points to 2.75% and the 1.75% note maturing in September 2022 retreated 0.325 to 92.05.