On Thursday, Spanish borrowing costs decreased during an unscheduled auction, since investors were optimistic about debt markets. The Spanish treasury managed to sell 803 million euros of 16, 27 and 28-year bonds. The yields fell to 5.224%, 5.434% and 5.432% respectively. Bid-ask ratio was equal to 4.1.
Latest data showed on Thursday that inflation of consumer prices in Poland declined last month more than expected. Consumer price index added 1.3% compared to a reading of 1.7% in the preceding month. Economists, however, expected that consumer prices will grow by 1.5% in February.
Industrial output in Japan advanced below economists' expectation in month January, a report released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed on Thursday. The report said industrial production added 0.3% on a sequential basis in January compared to projections of a 1.3% gain, on an annual basis industrial output dropped 5.8% in January.
Producer prices in U.S. increased slightly more than preliminary estimated in February driven by a substantial growth of energy prices, the Labor Department reported on Thursday. The report showed the producer price index advanced 0.7% in February compared to expectations of a 0.6% growth, following a 0.2% gain recorded the month before.
Hong Kong stocks fluctuated between gains and losses on Thursday. The Hang Seng Index increased 0.3% to 22,618.18 points, winning back the losses of 1.1% at the beginning of the trading session. Chinese railway and utility companies rallied, while the Hong Kong banks were put under pressure as mortgage rates were raised. Utilities and financial sectors posted biggest gains in
U.S. equities edged higher on rising optimism about the world's largest economy's outlook, as retail sales data topped the analyst estimates. The S&P 500 Index rallied 0.1%, to 1,554.52 by its close. Five out of ten sectors included in the index posted gains. Among best-performing companies was Netflix with a 5.6% rally to end at $192.36 after the online video
Japanese stocks rallied snapping a two-day streak of losses, sending the Nikkei 225 Stock Average index higher on rising optimism among investors prior to confirmation of a new leadership team for the BOJ. The lower house of parliament endorsed Kikuo Iwata and Hiroshi Nakaso for deputy governor posts. The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 1.2% to close at 12,381.19, extending this
Most U.S. blue chips advanced on Wednesday, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average towards its longest winning streak since 1996 on better than expected retail sales data in February. The retail sales surged 1.1% in February, gaining for a fifth straight month and bolstering optimism over the nation's economy. The Dow Jones index closed at 14,455.28, up 5.22 points or
Swedish unemployment rate marginally increased in the month of February and the total number of people without a job amounted to 427,000 in the same month, when it stayed unchanged from February 2012, the Statistics Sweden reported on Thursday. The jobless rate grew from 8.4% recorded in January to 8.5% the following month.
The U.S. Dollar closed near its seven-month high versus a basket of currencies on Thursday after a data showed on Wednesday that the U.S. retail sales advanced at the fastest rate in a five-month period suggesting the country's economy is recovering despite tax hikes and spending cuts. The greenback advanced against the shared currency when it closed at $1.2923 on
The Sterling extended its gains against the U.S. Dollar on Thursday after a report released by the Bank of England said that the central bank's 17 billion pounds asset-purchases program will bring benefits for public finances. The Pound gained 0.1% to $1.4944 earlier on Thursday session following a slide to $1.4832 the day before, it also increased 0.1% to 86.77
Shares in Asia continued to tumble on Thursday session as local factors overshadowed the positive mood on Wall Street after the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded another historical high on Tuesday. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside of Japan decreased for the third time in a row mainly due to a 1.3% slide of its material sector, while
Finnish retail sales advanced on an annual basis by 2.9% in January, while for the whole year of 2012 the country's retail sales grew 4.2% and wholesale sales increased 2.8% compared to 2011, a report released by the Statistics Finland showed on Thursday. The report also said the wholesale trade sales surged up 2% annually, whereas sales of motor vehicles
The Australian Dollar accelerated versus all of its major peers on Thursday after a report showed the nation's employment grew by much more than preliminary estimated suggesting that the interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia might not be necessary. The so-called Aussie advanced 0.7% to $1.0367 after touching its highest since February 6 at $1.0383, it also
Shares of emerging markets decreased for the fourth successive session on Thursday recording its longest losing streak in a five-week period after a data showed that Chinese developers stocks contracted and as South Korea maintained its interest rated unchanged on Thursday. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index dropped 0.5% to 1,043.62 extending this week's fall to 2.1%.
Trade deficit and industrial production in the U.K. shrank unexpectedly on a monthly basis in January suggesting the country's economy is still struggling, bringing fears on markets that it might be heading for a triple-dip depression, Samuel Tombs from the Capital Economics UK said on Wednesday. The U.K. industrial output dropped 1.2% hitting its lowest level in almost 21 years.
U.S. 30-year bonds decreased for the second day in a row on Thursday leading a rout in Treasuries in March before the last of three auctions planned on this week, where the government is planning to sell $13 billion of the securities. U.S. 30-year yields grew 0.01 percentage points, or one basis point to 3.23% earlier on Thursday London session,
The Japanese currency appreciated against most of it counterparts on Thursday after the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was advised to control inflation and as indicators of technical analysis suggested a too rapid fall of the country's currency over the last few weeks. The Yen advanced 0.2% to 95.98 per U.S. Dollar earlier on Thursday London session and it grew 0.3%
Employment in Australia increased significantly at the fastest pace in twelve years in February signaling that low interest rates are helping the economy to recover, a data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Thursday. Australian employment advanced to 71.5K in February compared to expected gain of 10K, while full-time employment added 17.8K and part-time employment rose by
Farm commodities except for wheat declined on Wednesday amid talks rains improved crop conditions in the US Great Plains. Furthermore, concerns over global supply glut weighed on softs. Wheat was the only rural commodity to post gains amid talks that cheaper prices will encourage livestock producers to use wheat instead of corn. Wheat also received a boost after Iraq issued
Energy futures apart from natural gas ended Wednesday's session in the negative area after bearish EIA inventory report. Adding pressure, South Sudan and Sudan agreed to allow companies to resume oil shipments through the Red Sea within two weeks. Crude and Brent oil dropped after the EIA report showed that US stockpiles rose more than expected last week. US inventories
Industrial metals dropped on Wednesday despite better-than-expected data on the US retail sales. However, signs that China's manufacturing activity is slowing coupled with rising China's production of base metals pushed the commodity complex lower. Aluminum was the top-loser despite China's plans to buy the metal for government's stocks. China's State Reserves Bureau issued a tender to buy 300,000 tonnes of aluminum.
Precious metals were bearish on Wednesday after upbeat US data raised concerns that the US economy is on solid footing. A recovery of the US economy will mean end of the Fed's easing activities that are supportive for precious metals. However, losses were limited by hopes the ECB and BOJ will provide additional monetary stimulus. Gold retreated from a two-week high
Unemployment in South Korea increased in the month of February reaching its highest level in one year after more university graduates entered the labour market, the Statistics Korea reported on Wednesday. The report showed the unemployment rate moved up from January's level of 3.2% to 3.5% recorded in February, while the total number of unemployed people increased to 990,000.