Canadian core retail sales that excludes automobile sales tumbled in January after gaining for seven consecutive months, reported Statistics Canada. The core retail sales decreased by 0.5% in January on a seasonally adjusted basis while experts predicted the sales to climb by 0.5%. The major contributors to the decline were garden equipment and building materials.
The GDP of the Republic of Ireland slumped by 0.2% in the last quarter of 2011, after declining by 1.1% in the preceding quarter, according to Central Statistics Office. The economic contraction indicates that the country is falling back into crisis. Global financial uncertainty continued to weight down on the Ireland's exports that declined by 1.1% whereas domestic spending continued
Mario Draghi announced that the European economy has started to stabilize and the worst stage is over. He also claimed that some economic indicators as budget balance and inflation are better than those of the US. The ECB President reassured that there would not be more severe crisis because of intensive lending to the European banks at low interest rates.
Rural commodities apart from coffee declined on Wednesday amid stronger US Dollar and deteriorating situation in China. Grains also came under pressure because of favorable weather conditions in the US that may provoke earlier harvest. Moreover, more pessimistic outlook on China's economy is likely to weight down on the China's grain imports. Meanwhile, sugar continued to be exposed to the
Energy prices moved higher despite strong US Dollar and ongoing China's growth concerns after pessimistic PMI data. Crude and Brent oil were strongly supported by unexpected fall in the US oil inventories last week. Meanwhile, traders continued to eye development across Iranian oil embargo. Currently, the geopolitical tensions eased as Saudi Arabia announced it is ready to increase its output
Industry metals except for copper tumbled on Wednesday on the firmer Dollar and weak equities. China's PMI data that indicated contraction weighted down on the metals and is likely to stay the main correction factor for the base metals price. Weaker than expected US housing market data also added to the negative mood of the commodity pack. At the same
Precious metals fell on Wednesday amid stronger US Dollar and steady equities. Stabilization of the US and EU economies also continued to damped the safe-haven appeal of the metals pack. Moreover, lack of interest in precious metals purchases from large gold and silver-backed funds blocked any upside move. The yellow metal was only marginally lower as it managed to find
Rural commodities apart from coffee declined on Wednesday amid stronger US Dollar and deteriorating situation in China. Grains also came under pressure because of favorable weather conditions in the US that may provoke earlier harvest. Moreover, more pessimistic outlook on China's economy is likely to weight down on the China's grain imports. Meanwhile, sugar continued to be exposed to the
Precious metals fell on Wednesday amid stronger US Dollar and steady equities. Stabilization of the US and EU economies also continued to damped the safe-haven appeal of the metals pack. Moreover, lack of interest in precious metals purchases from large gold and silver-backed funds blocked any upside move. The yellow metal was only marginally lower as it managed to find
Energy prices moved higher despite strong US Dollar and ongoing China's growth concerns after pessimistic PMI data. Crude and Brent oil were strongly supported by unexpected fall in the US oil inventories last week. Meanwhile, traders continued to eye development across Iranian oil embargo. Currently, the geopolitical tensions eased as Saudi Arabia announced it is ready to increase its output
Industry metals except for copper tumbled on Wednesday on the firmer Dollar and weak equities. China's PMI data that indicated contraction weighted down on the metals and is likely to stay the main correction factor for the base metals price. Weaker than expected US housing market data also added to the negative mood of the commodity pack. At the same
German DAX index tumbled on Thursday as weaker than expected manufacturing activity in March both in China and Euro Area boosted worries, the global economy may fall back into recession. All nine sectors within the index posted losses led by car makers and financials. Deutsche Bank AG lost 2% and Commerzbank AG fell 2.7%. Volkswagen AG declined 1% and BMW
British FTSE 100 fell on Thursday pushed down by Randgold Resources on news suspected military stunt in the African country of Mali, the third biggest gold provider. Randgold plunged 12% on the announcement. Other miners also tumbled on weaker Chinese PMI data. Fresnillo lost 5.8%, Kazakhmys slipped 2% and Vedanta Resources declined 4%. UK banks fell on disappointing Euro Area
Euro Area region faced a faster contraction in private sector activity in March, highlighting worries the area may fall back into downturn. Composite PMI dropped from 49.3 in previous month to 48.7 in March reaching three month record low. Economists questioned by Marketwatch predicted the composite PMI to climb to 49.6. Service PMI fell from 48.8 to 48.7 and manufacturing
UK retail sales declined more than analysts predicted in previous month as households curbed spending. Retail sales including gasoline decreased 0.8% compared to expected 0.5% drop. Meanwhile the sales advance in January was reviewed up from 0.3% to 0.9%. Previous months were pretty strong in terms of sales growth, therefore current fall is acceptable, said Samuel Tombs, Capital Economic economist.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average retreated from yesterday's loss and climbed on Thursday lifted by data which showed unexpected trade surplus in February. Nikkei 225 index gained 0.4% or 40.59 points and finished at 10,127.08. Nevertheless gains were limited as better trade surplus strengthened Yen, harming exporter shares. The main gainers were Oki Electric and Softbank which added 3.9% and 3.4%
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index traded lower during most of Thursday's session but retreated shortly before close and managed to finish in positive area. The index added 0.22% or 44.93 points and settled at 20,901.56. Although PBOC announced Agricultural Bank of China will cut reserve ratio requirement to boost lending in rural areas, stock gains were limited by HSBC PMI
Dow Jones Industrial Average index prolonged its downward movement on Wednesday after Fed's Chairman Ben Bernake warned the crisis has not finished yet in Europe and the region has to put much effort to completely resolve it. Blue chip index fell 0.35% or 45.57 points and closed at 13,124.62. Hewlett-Packard pushed the Dow into red, tumbling 2.2% after company said
S&P 500 index extended loss on Wednesday as data showed existing home sales tumbled 0.9% in February. US index slipped 0.19% or 2.63% points and closed at 1,402.89. Baker Hughes lost 5.8% on news its North American division 1st-quarter profit margin will drop due to higher costs, lower prices and supply shortages as US operators change rig locations. Firms are
Although European financial stresses have eased, the region has to put more effort to completely resolve its crisis, claimed Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake on Wednesday. He assessed current economic situation across Europe as difficult. Bernake suggests Europe must create a stronger banking system and take steps to boost growth. Moreover indebted countries should work more to reduce their external imbalances.
The GDP of New Zealand grew by 0.3% on a quarterly basis in the last quarter of 2011. The expansion of agricultural and financial sectors managed to offset the contraction of manufacturing activity. However, the figure was below the expectations of the economists surveyed by Reuters who predicted New Zealand's economy to grow by 0.6% in December quarter.
The central bank of Australia and the People's bank of China have agreed on the currency swap deal. The move serves as new example of China's steps to internationalize its currency. The swap deal worth 30 billion Australian Dollars is expected to stimulate trade and investments between two countries, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Gold futures were lower during volatile Asian session on Thursday as traders switched to the riskier assets as US Dollar even despite pessimistic existing house sales data. COMEX gold futures for delivery in April traded at 1,649.65 US Dollars per troy ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, easing down by 0.04%.
Crude oil futures edged down during the Asian session on Thursday amid reports coming from France that indicated possible oil reserves release in industrialized countries to curb inflation. Light, sweet crude oil futures for May delivery traded at 107.00 US Dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, falling by 0.26%.