Australia's house prices increased on a sequential basis in the last quarter of 2013, the latest data revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's house prices rose 3.4% in the Q4 missing an initial projection of a 3.0% advance, while in the quarter before house prices added 2.4%.
Australia's home loans declined in the last month of 2013 with the total figure missing an initial economists' forecast when standing at 51,692, a report published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Tuesday. According to the report, the country's home loans fell 1.9% on a sequential basis in December, while it was forecast to record an advance of
The digital currency Bitcoin declined on Monday trading session on one of the digital marketplace based in Tokyo Mt. Gox falling towards the weakest level in almost two months as halt of withdrawals will continued amid unspecified technical issues. Bitcoin fell 27% to a level of $500 from Friday's level of $692, it was last seen at $595.74.
The Australian Dollar strengthened on Tuesday rising towards the strongest level in four weeks after a government report showed that the country's business conditions indicator advanced to the highest level in almost three years last month. The so-called Aussie gained as much as 0.6% from Monday's session to $0.9004.
The U.S. Dollar declined earlier on Tuesday trading session falling towards the lowest level in two weeks versus majority of its most-traded peers ahead of testimony of the new Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellne today. The U.S. Dollar Index slipped 0.1% to 80.544 following a drop to the lowest level since January 29 at 80.498.
The majority of Asian shares remained firm on Tuesday trading session before the U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janey Yellen speaks today before the Congress suggesting whether the bank will continue cutting its bond-purchasing program further. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan advanced 1.1%, while the Hong Kong index jumped 1.6%.
Wall Street closed slightly higher on Monday session amid upbeat mood among investors before the new U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen testified before the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.05% to 15,801.79, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 0.16% to 1,799.84 and the Nasdaq Composite index gained 0.54% to 4,148.17.
Canadian shares gained to the highest level in two weeks, advancing for a fifth consecutive day, as silver and gold prices rose ahead of Fed's Chairman Yellen's testimony tomorrow. The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index added 0.3% to 13,824.93 as of 10:16 a.m. Toronto time and it has climbed 1.5% this year to date. Gold advanced to the highest level
European shares were little changed as some major companies advanced, compensating for industrial production in France and Italy that missed forecasts. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.1% to 325.49 as of 2:04 p.m. London time. The equity-benchmark rose 0.8% previous week, making it the first climb in three weeks.
Gold gained to the highest level in two weeks as it had the longest advance since August, as U.S. unemployment report disappointed and Chinese buyers resumed buying after holidays. The yellow metal for April delivery added 0.8% to $1,273.10 an ounce as of 7:38 a.m. in New York, after it touched $1,276.20, the highest level since January 27.
U.K. shares were little changed, after they advanced for three consecutive days, as a climb in gold miners compensated a drop in energy suppliers. The FTSE 100 Index added 0.1% to 6,579.67 as of 2:02 p.m. London time. The regional benchmark index advanced 0.9% past week as payrolls missed expectations. The FTSE All-Share Index increased 0.2%, while Ireland's ISEQ Index slid
German shares were little changed after advancing for two straight days. The DAX Index slid 0.1% to 9,291.79 as of 12:50 p.m. Frankfurt time, after rising 2% during the last two days. The HDAX Index slipped less than 0.1% today. Deutsche Telekom AG retreated 0.5% to 11.70 Euros as it agreed to buy the remaining share of its Czech mobile phone
The Australian Dollar depreciated against its most-traded peers ahead of unemployment data this week and as Toyota Motor stated that it will stop producing vehicles in Australia. Australia's currency dropped 0.3% to 89.36 U.S. cents at 5:38 p.m. Sydney time, while it slid 0.2% to 91.50 Japanese Yen. The Kiwi slipped 0.2% to 82.78 U.S. cents and 0.1% to 84.76
The British currency was within 0.1% of its highest level in seven days versus the U.S. Dollar ahead of tomorrow's retail sales report. The Sterling traded at $1.6412 as of 2:07 p.m. in London, after gaining 0.6% in the last two days. Britain's currency rose to $1.6428 earlier, the highest level since February 3. It was little changed at 83.03
U.S. shares swung, after regional benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index had the biggest weekly advance this year, as Fed's Chairman Janet Yellen will have her first monetary policy testimony tomorrow. The S&P 500 gained less than 0.1% to 1,797.19 as of 9:48 a.m. New York time, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.1% to 15,785.99.
Toyota Motor Corp., the largest car maker in the world, announced that it will close its Australian plant by 2017, pointing on high costs and expensive Australian dollar. The producer has 2,500 employees in Australia. Therefore, after 2017 there will remain no car plants in the country. Today, Toyota Motor Corp. shares added 1.6% to 5,994 yen per share during
Industrial production in Greece rose in December, showing the first increase since July. The indicator added 0.5% on the annual basis and surged 3.3% month-on-month. The biggest advance of 7.1% was posted in electricity production. Mining sector dropped 0.5%, while manufacturing output declined 1.6%. During the whole year 2013, industrial production in Greece contracted 3.6%.
According to the median forecast of analysts, economic growth in the Eurozone could have reached 0.2% in the last quarter of 2013, picking up from a 0.1% advance in the preceding quarter. Car sales probably significantly contributed to the overall GDP increase, as they started to recover during last several months. The official data, however, will be released on February
China's shares advanced on Monday session rising towards the strongest level in four weeks after subsidies for carmakers were extended by local government and amid expectations that economic growth may be supported by consumer spending during lunar New Year holidays. The Shanghai Composite Index grew 2% to 2,086.07, the most since January 2.
West Texas Intermediate oil were little changed on Monday trading session trading close to a level of $100 per barrel after a government report showed that unemployment in the U.S. fell bolstering demand for fuel in the country. WTI for settlement in March slipped 13 cents to $99.75 per barrel on the NYMEX as of 3:30 p.m. in Singapore.
European shares increased on Monday trading session with equities rebounding from their worst begging of a year in 4 years amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve may delay its cut in bond-purchasing program after Friday's jobs report. The benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.2% to 325.79 as of 8:09 a.m. London time, posting its first weekly gain in
Industrial output in France advanced in December rising at a slower rate than in the month before and missing an initial economists' forecast, a report revealed by the statistical office Insee showed on Monday. France's industrial production grew 0.5% in December on an annual basis, while it was forecast to accelerate by 1% after rising by 1.7% in November.
Unemployment in Switzerland remained stable in the month of January with the total number of registered people without a job rising by 3,823, a report published by the country's statistical office showed on Monday. Swiss jobless rate remained unchanged at a level of 3.2% in January, while unemployment increased by 5,102 on an annual basis in January.
House prices in New Zealand advanced at the beginning of 2014, however the pace of increase was lower than in the month before as the country's central bank implemented loan-to-value restrictions last October, Quotable Value reported on Monday. New Zealand's residential values rose on an annual basis by 9.6% in January, up 0.3% from December.