Asian shares retreated as investors choose safer assets after an surprising decline in U.S. unemployment data fueled boosted concerns that the Fed will start tapering following month. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 0.4% to 134.37 at the close; however, the equity-benchmark advanced 0.4% weekly. China's Shanghai Composite slid 0.6%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.1%.
European shares hovered, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index falling the most in over five weeks yesterday, while investors expect data on the U.S. housing market. The Stoxx 600 declined 0.1% to 305.07, following earlier fluctuations between gains and losses. Economists expect that the U.S. housing starts advanced to 900,000 in July on a yearly basis.
The Aussie is headed for a one-week fall before the release of Reserve Bank minutes from August 6 meeting following week amid bets that the officials will give further information on interest rates. Australia's currency slipped 0.1% to 91.35 U.S. cents at 10:14 a.m. Sydney time, prolonging its fall since August 9 to 0.8%, while the New Zealand Dollar was
The Loonie appreciated the most weekly on bets that the Fed will start tapering its stimulus in September. The Canadian currency rose 0.4% to C$1.0306 per U.S. Dollar as of 5 p.m. Toronto time, it fell to C$1.0364 earlier after reaching C$1.0370 on Thursday, the lowest level since August 8. The Canadian Dollar climbed versus 10 out of 16 major
The U.S. Dollar is headed for its biggest one-week rise in four weeks against the Japanese Yen with U.S. 10-year note yields at the highest level in two years. The greenback gained 0.2% to 97.56 Yen at 6:46 a.m. London time, making it a 1.4% climb weekly, while it traded at $1.3342 per Euro from Thursday and from $1.3342 at
The yellow metal traded higher and almost reached the highest level in approximately seven weeks as investors speculated on better demand versus prospects after the Fed will start to scale back its stimulus. Gold price declined 0.1% to $1,364.60 an ounce at 9:19 a.m. London time, after it touched $1,372.97, the highest level since June 19 and gained 3.8% weekly.
German government bunds remained steady ahead of data analysts said will indicate consumer-price inflation in the Euro block stayed under the European Central Bank's 2% ceiling for the sixth month in July. The 10-yea bond yielded 1.88% and the price of the 1.5% note maturing in May 2023 was 96.64, adding to signs German bunds fell 2.4% this year.
The British currency is headed for a weekly gain for the second week in a row against the greenback and the common currency after reports that fueled speculation on nation's economic recovery. The Sterling slipped 0.1% to $1.5626 as of 7:39 a.m. in London after strengthening to $1.5652 on Thursday, while it traded 85.35 pence per Euro after touching 85.05
The U.S. Dollar appreciated against the Euro following an optimistic weekly data on U.S. jobless claims. The Dollar fell 0.33% to $1.3297 versus the Euro and slipped 0.13% to 1.0326 versus the Canada's Dollar, at the same time the currency declined 0.55% to $1.5585 versus the Pound, and was steady at 98.10 against the Japanese Yen.
European shares declined from the highest level in 12 weeks as the Zurich Insurance Group and the Hennes & Mauritz slipped on posting disappointing data. Zurich Insurance dropped 3.3%after releasing second-quarter net earnings of $789 million, and H&M plummeted 1.1%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index decreased 0.5% to 306.98.
Japanese stocks declined, with the Topix index snapping a two day winning streak, as exporters fell after the Japanese currency appreciated and on expectations that the Fed will start to scale back its stimulus in September. The Topix fell 1.7% to 1,151.82 at the Tokyo's close; however, the equity-benchmark has advanced 3.2% in the last two sessions, while the Nikkei
Asian shares declined, halting the benchmark's MSCIA Asia Pacific Index six week streak of gains, on mixed corporate earnings in the region and on expectations that the Fed will start tapering in September. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slid 0.7% to 135.09 at 6:11 p.m. Tokyo time, however, the equity-benchmark has risen 8% since June 25.
U.K. retail sales increased more than it was forecasted by economists in July as the hot weather conditions fueled demand for food and alcoholic beverages. According to Office for National Statistics, sales grew 1.1% in July; however, analysts predicted 0.7% rise. Retail sales have increased for three straight months, making it the first time in four and a half years.
Oil prices prolonged their five-day jump, continuing their previous climbs and aiming even higher amid escalated concerns in the Middle East countries and a sharp fall in U.S. oil supplies. WTI futures advanced 0.24% to $107.11 per barrel and the European benchmark Brent increased 0.57% to $110.83. U.S. crude inventories dropped by 2.8 million barrels to 360.5 million barrels.
The Sterling was sent higher versus the U.S. Dollar, as U.K. July's retail sales data came in positive. The Sterling strengthened 0.53% to $1.5581 against the greenback, as retail sales advanced 1.1%, following a 0.2% jump in June. The Britain's currency rose 0.21% to £0.8531 against the Euro and gained 0.29% to 152.52 versus the Japanese Yen.
The Kiwi stayed higher versus the Aussie as New Zealand's manufacturing data rose to the highest level in nine years and job advertisements grew. New Zealand's currency traded at NZ$1.1360 per Australian Dollar at 10:13 a.m. Sydney time after appreciating 0.7% on Wednesday. The Kiwi gained 0.3% to 80.55 U.S. cents, while the Australian counterpart strengthened 0.3% to 91.52.
The Canadian currency rose from one-week low after Europe's GDP report that indicated on Eurozone's economic recovery. It was the first advance for the currency weekly as Canadian home price report showed an increase from the lowest level in approximately four years. Canada's Dollar climbed 0.2% to C$1.0319 per U.S. Dollar before it traded at C$1.0342 as of 5 p.m.
The British currency gained for a second straight day versus the greenback ahead of U.K. retail sales data that are predicted to show an increase for a third straight month in July. The Sterling rose 0.2% to $1.5530 at 7:38 a.m. in London after adding 0.3% on Wednesday, while it was little changed at 85.57 pence per Euro after climbing
The U.S. Dollar dropped against almost all most-traded peers ahead of nation's consumer price index release. It is expected that CPI rose 0.2% in June after 0.5% climb last month, according to economists. The greenback fell 0.4% to 97.75 Yen at 6:34 a.m. London time after depreciating 0.1% on Wednesday, while it slipped 0.3% to $1.3288 per Euro.
Pound advanced against the greenback, after better-than-forecast jobs report, as the Bank of England posted its minutes from the August 1 meeting. The Sterling jumped 0.27% to $1.5490 versus the greenback and rose 0.26% to £0.8561 against the Euro, while adding 0.34% to 152.22 versus the Yen. Jobless claims in U.K. declined by 29,000 in July, overshooting analysts forecast of
The Swiss currency depreciated to the lowest level in four weeks versus the common currency ahead of Europe's GDP report that is expected to show growth. The Swiss Franc slipped 0.3% to 1.24153 per Euro at 9:20 a.m. in London after falling to 1.24285, the lowest in a month, while the currency weakened 0.3% to 93.55 centimes per U.S. Dollar.
Britain's jobless rate stayed at 7.8% in the second quarter of the year on speculation that the labor market is growing and the nation's economy is recovering. The BoE's Governor Carney stated that unemployment is very important point of U.K.'s monetary policy, while Britain's Prime Minister Cameron depends that benchmark rate will stay at current level to boost private job
The 17-nation currency advanced for a fifth straight day versus the Japanese Yen ahead of the Eurozone's GDP data that are expected to show that the region is no longer in recession. The Euro rises 0.1% to 130.42 Yen as of 8:01 a.m. in London after reaching 130.66, the highest level since August 6, while it traded at $1.3259 per
Asian shares gained for a fifth straight day, it is on course for the longest winning streak in one and a half month, on low trading volumes and the trading was closed due to bad weather conditions. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 0.4% to 135.64 at 2:23 p.m. Hong Kong time, while Japan's Topix index gained 1.2% and it's