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.
Consumer confidence in Japan contracted in January falling for the second straight month, the latest report published by the Cabinet Office showed on Monday. According to the report, the Japanese sentiment among households measured as consumer confidence index dropped from December's level of 41.3 to 40.5 in January, while in November the figure was 42.5.
Current account balance in Japan came in a deficit in the last month of 2013 contracting for the third successive month, a report unveiled by the Ministry of Finance showed on Sunday. According to the report, the country's current account shortfall recorded 638.6 billion yen in December after it came in a deficit of 592.8 billion yen in November.
Industrial production in Finland declined on the last month of 2013 with a faster pace of drop than in November, a data revealed by the Statistics Finland showed on Monday. According to the report, the country's industrial output decreased on an annual basis 5.2% in December following a slip of 0.3% recorded in the prior month.
Emerging markets economic growth eased in January falling towards the lowest level in a four-month period, the latest data published by Markit Economics and the HSBC Bank showed on Monday. According to the report, the HSBC monthly index derived from the purchasing managers' indicator slipped from December's 51.6 to a level of 51.4 points recorded in January.
Economy watchers' indicator of current situation and outlook in Japan weakened in January dropping by more than economists originally projected, a report published by the Cabinet Office showed on Monday. Japan's current index measuring economic conditions dropped from December's level of 55.7 points to 54.7 points recorded in January.
Manufacturing sector in the Europe's largest economy eased in the last month of 2013 after recording a notable advanced in the previous month, a report published by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Monday. German manufacturing sector turnover fell on a monthly basis by 1.5% in December after rising by 2.4% in the prior month.
The U.S. Dollar inched higher on Monday rising towards the highest level since the end of January amid expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve may trim its stimulus measures despite disappoint jobs data revealed on Friday. The U.S. Dollar Index measuring its performance against most-traded peers gained 0.1% to 80.735, up from its one-week trough of 80.599.
The British Sterling declined on Monday snapping its two-day gain against its U.S. counterpart before the Bank of England revealed its outlook for the nation's economy and the consumer price index in the quarterly report published this week. The Pound fell 0.1% to $1.6403 as of 8:01 a.m. in London following an advanced by 0.6% in the last two sessions.
The majority of Asian shares increased on Monday trading session after Wall Street remained stable despite disappointing U.S. jobs data on Friday and as the new Federal Reserve Governor Janet Yellen testifies on Tuesday and Thursday expected to keep the monetary policy loosen. The MSCI Asia-Pacific gauge outside Japan rose 0.3%, while the Shanghai benchmark index added 1.7%.