Tourism arrivals in Japan increased in the month of February reaching its highest figure of visitors ever for the month, the Japan National Tourism Organization showed in a report on Friday. The number of foreign arrivals to Japan advanced on an annual basis by 33.1% to 729,500 in February, recording the most ever visitors for the month, while in January
Hong Kong equities fell on Friday, as protests in Cyprus underscored concerns that the debt crisis in Europe could worsen. Hang Seng index posted the biggest weekly decline since August 2012. Only two sectors in the gauge advanced. Industrial and consumer goods sectors added 0.5% both. China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd, a Chinese state telecommunications operator, surged 3.7% to HK$10.74
German government bonds advanced for a second straight day amid concerns about Europe's debt crisis will deepened after Cypriot lawmakers did not agree with the Eurozone's bailout plan and as the nation failed to get financial support from Russian. German benchmark 10-year bund yields fell 0.02 percentage points to 1.34% earlier on Friday London session, its lowest level since January
France's economic performance is set to stagnate in the first three months of 2013 as nation's unemployment continues to rise notably and as consumer purchasing power stays weak, the statistical office Insee reported on Friday. The report said the French GDP will record nil growth in the Q1 following a 0.3% drop in the Q4, while the unemployment rate is
French business confidence stayed flat in the month of March after it improved the month before, while economists were expecting an increase in March, the statistical office Insee reported on Friday. The report showed that the manufacturing sector business confidence index remained unchanged from the previous month at 90 points in March, while in January it reached 87 points.
Business confidence in Germany unexpectedly declined in the month of March, falling for the first time in last five months, a data released by the Ifo Institute showed on Friday. According to data, the business confidence index dropped to 106.7 in March compared to a forecast of 107.8 points following a climb to its highest level In 10 months at
Emerging-market shares decreased on Friday to its weakest level in three months mainly due to a notable drop of energy companies' stocks and as Cypriot lawmakers will debate bailout plan today. The MSCI Emerging Market Index dropped 0.4% to 1,018.70 at 1:33 p.m. Hong Kong time and it has declined 2.3% this week heading for it largest lost in a
The British Sterling advanced against the Eurozone's currency to the highest level in a five-week period as Cypriot lawmakers started new bailout debate after they rejected first European refinancing plan. The Pound appreciated 0.1% to 84.96 pence per Euro earlier on Friday London session following a jump to 84.85 pence, its strongest level since February 11.
Japanese stocks dropped, sending down the Nikkei 225 for its biggest decline on week since November, as the Yen appreciated against its major peers after Russia rejected Cyprus bailout plan, and Haruhiko Kuroda, the BOJ's governor, did not announce fresh monetary stimulus. The Nikkei 225 Index declined 2.4% to 12,338.53, posting a 4% weekly drop. 210 out of 225 members
Gold was set for its longest weekly streak of gains in a six-month period on Friday as a demand for the commodity was boosted by unfavourable news about situation in Europe after lawmakers are considering a possibility of shutting down two largest Cypriot banks. March Gold futures were little changed at $1,612.58 an ounce on Friday heading for another week
Brent oil's premium to West Texas Intermediate crude declined to its lowest level in eight months on Friday as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' exports will be cut by 2% through April due to a maintenance at Asia's refineries. Brent for delivery in May was up 3 cents at $107.50 a barrel on London's ICE, while May WTI futures
Australia's economic activity slightly improved in the month of January with the Conference Board leading economic index rising after two months of losses, the Conference Board report on Friday. The report showed that the headline index rose 0.2% in January mainly caused by the stock prices and supplies improvements during the month, however the index is still falling 1% in
U.S. Treasuries were little changed on Friday heading to a second weekly gain amid boosted demand for U.S. government bonds as a confidence of investor was hurt after Troika's demand for unprecedented levy on Cypriot bank account holders. The U.S. 10-year yields were little changed at 1.9% early on Friday London session following a nine-basis-points drop this week.
The Australian currency is heading for a third straight week of gains after a data showed that leading economic indicators advanced suggesting that the country's economy is stabilizing and increasing a demand for the currency. The so-called Aussie was traded 0.3% from the highest level in seven weeks at $1.0459 reached yesterday, when it slid 0.1% to $1.0428 on Friday.
Most U.S. blue chips dropped yesterday, as economic data on the Eurozone's services and manufacturing output shrank more than estimated, sparking concerns over Euro-area's debt turmoil. In addition, the German purchasing managers' index slipped unexpectedly in March. The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 0.6%, or 90.24 points, to 14,421.49. All but one sector in the gauge inched lower. Cisco Systems
U.S. equities dropped on Thursday, with the S&P 500 falling down from trading close to its record high the day before on rising concerns about the European debt crisis. The uncertainty about Cyprus financial plan offset positive economic data on the world's largest economy, as the ECB said it might cut Cyrpus' banks off emergency funds. The S&P 500 Index
The Japanese currency was flat on Friday after the new Bank of Japan's governor was coy about calling an emergency meeting before April's policy review and as concerns about Europe's debt crisis occurred after Cyprus did not agree with the Eurozone's bailout plan. Yen was little changed at 95.03 per U.S. Dollar and it went down from 124.38 to 122.54
Asian shares decreased on Friday with the regional stock gauges reaching their largest weekly drops in five months as concerns about debt crisis in Europe erupted after Cypriot lawmakers did not agree with the Eurozone's first bailout plan and levy on Cyprus's bank depositors. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 0.7% to 134.2 and its heading for a 1.8% this
U.S. Treasuries were little changed on Friday heading to a second weekly gain amid boosted demand for U.S. government bonds as a confidence of investor was hurt after an unprecedented levy put on Cypriot bank account holders. The U.S. 10-year yields were little changed at 1.9% early on Friday London session following a nine-basis-points drop this week.
European stock-index futures decreased on Friday pointing to a second straight fall of Stoxx Europe 600 Index as policymakers in Cyprus try to find a solution for the country's bailout in order to prevent a financial collapse. The Stoxx 600 has dropped almost 1% this week ending a 4-week long period of gains, while the Euro Stoxx 50 Index futures
German 10-year bonds climbed, pushing yields to the 11-week low, after Cypriot policymakers' debate on bill to unlock rescue funds. German long-term bond yields dropped two basis points, or 0.02%, to 1.34%, the lowest since January, while the 1.5% security with time to maturity in February 2023 advanced 2 euros per 1,000-euro ($1,290) face value amount, to 101.435.
The Euro traded 0.4% from the four-month low as the European Central Bank gave Cyprus one week to decide on bailout package or fail to get emergency funding. The 17-nation currency remained steady at $1.2900, while it dropped 0.2% to 122.16 Yen. For the week, the Euro is poised for a 1.4% fall against the U.S. Dollar and a 2%
The loonie climbed the most in a one week versus its U.S. counterpart after Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty indicated that he planned to cut down the state's budget deficit and swing into surplus before the election in 2015. The Canadian Dollar gained 0.1% to C$1.0252 per greenback, while it lost ground versus the currencies of fellow commodity-exporting countries, dropping
Rural commodities were mixed on Thursday after disappointing USDA weekly export report. Supporting the commodity group, US Dollar extended losses against its major counterparts, while cold weather in the US continued to prevent farmers from grain planning. Wheat declined after the USDA data indicated US export sales reached 484,500 tonnes last week, down 25% from the average level of the four