Asian shares advanced, with the regional benchmark index climbing to the highest in 18 months, as U.S. payrolls rose and China's service sector expanded at the quickest pace since August, increasing optimism in the world economic recovery. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.9% to 133.90, Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 0.6% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed
Rural commodities were mixed on Friday, with softs advancing and grains retreating. Supporting softs, global coffee and sugar crops may drop this year. At the same time, weak demand for US grains pushed wheat and corn futures lower. Wheat was the top-loser for the second consecutive session amid signs of weak demand for US grains. The USDA report showed
Energy futures except for natural gas were bullish on Friday as upbeat manufacturing data boosted expectations for stronger energy demand from the US and China. Meanwhile, the Fed's stimulus measures coupled with soft US Dollar continued to support the commodity complex. Crude oil moved higher after falling in the previous session on elevated US inventories. The latest EIA report showed US
Industrial metals finished the week in the green territory amid positive US manufacturing numbers and weaker US Dollar. Moreover, China's PMI indicated expansion despite being slightly below market consensus. Aluminum moved higher on encouraging data from the US and China. However, aluminum remained under heavy pressure as LME stocks hovered near a record high of 5,24 million tonnes. Copper jumped
The Japanese Yen gained versus the Euro and trimmed drops against the U.S. Dollar as technical indicators showed recent declines were too rapid. The Yen advanced as much as 0.4% to 126.21 per Euro at 1:50 p.m. in Tokyo from the previous week, when the currency dropped to 126.97, the lowest since April 2010. It rose 0.1% to 92.65 per
Precious metals rallied on Friday, being boosted by the latest Fed's decision to stick to its loose monetary policy. Weaker greenback coupled with mixed US labour market data also spurred the rally. Gold moved higher as market players remained focused on the Fed's stimulus measures. Furthermore, strong demand from central banks across the globe as well as weakness in the
The Australian Dollar was supported by speculation the Reserve Bank of Australia will keep interest rates unchanged at tomorrow's meeting. The Aussie rose as much as 0.3% to $1.0435 and it fetched 96.79 yen, the strongest level since August 2008, before touching 96.70, up 0.1% from the close last week. Australia's currency fell to NZ$1.2269, the weakest since July 2010,
Spot gold price edged lower by 0.2% to $1.660.45 an ounce in Singapore trading session on Friday. Gold price extended the longest streak of monthly losses in last nine months, as the price decreased by 0.7% in January. Investors traded precious metal with negative sentiments ahead a U.S. jobless report, which according to expectations, should indicate an improvement of unemployment
The Japanese Yen was lower by 0.5% to 92.20 per U.S. Dollar by midday in Tokyo trading session on Friday. Today the currency pair touched 92.27 level, which was the weakest Yen's point since June 2010. Investors trade on expectations that Prime Minister will select a new chief governor of the Bank of Japan, who will expand monetary stimulus. Domestic
The Canadian Dollar, also known as Lonnie, gained by 0.4% to 99.72 cents per U.S. Dollar in the end of Toronto trading session on Thursday. The last session as the Lonnie was stronger than American counterpart was January 23. The Canadian Dollar was valued positively by investors as government announced better than expected economic growth in November. Domestic economy grew
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was lower by 0.2% to 132.99 points by midday Tokyo trading session on Friday. The area's benchmark increased by 1% this week and was traded at the highest point since August, 2011. Today market traded negatively as the data from China's manufacturing sector indicated unexpected contraction. Also, market waits a report on the U.S. jobless
Farm commodities were mixed on Thursday amid weak risk appetite after dismal data from the US and Japan. Signs of soft demand for US exports and improving weather conditions in Argentina also pressurized the commodity complex. Wheat was the top-loser after the USDA report signaled US export sales tumbled 40% in the week ended January 24 compared to the previous
Energy futures apart from crude oil moved higher on Thursday amid broadly weaker US Dollar and optimism over continuation of Fed's growth-boosting measures. At the same time, gains were capped by weak US data suggesting the recovery of the world's top economy is slowing down. Crude oil was the only loser after the data showed larger-than-expected increase in jobless claims
Base metals declined on Thursday as dismal US numbers dampened market sentiment. Elevated LME stockpiles and China's demand uncertainty added pressure on base metals. However, easing measures by the Fed coupled with hopes for upbeat China's PMI reading due on Friday limited the downswing. Aluminum plunged as markets have already priced in expectations of narrower surplus on physical market due
Precious metals followed risk-on assets on Thursday after the US data showed jobless claims increased more than expected last week. Moreover, profit taking after the previous rally weighed on the commodity sector. At the same time, weak greenback capped losses of precious metals complex. Gold declined as US figures continued to disappoint. The yellow metal moved in sync with risky assets
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 0.3% to 1,498.11 points in the end of New York trading session on Thursday. The U.S. equity slipped, erasing the best January rally since 1994. Investors traded negatively on earnings data, which was disappointing and traders were pessimistic ahead today's jobs report. As analysts say, mixed data gives reasons to take out some
German equities are trading in the negative area on Thursday despite upbeat data from the job market. German unemployment unexpectedly dropped this month, improving appetite for riskier assets. The number of individuals without job declined by a seasonally adjusted 16,000, compared with forecast of an increase of 8,000. Meanwhile, weak US GDP reading continued to weigh on German equities. The
UK shares are trading lower on Thursday despite positive news from the national economy. UK consumer confidence improved in January. A sentiment index climbed to minus 26 from minus 29, while experts predicted consumer confidence to gain to minus 28. Moreover, UK house prices climbed in January due to easing measures by the BoE. The FTSE 100 Index lost 0.28%
Chinese stocks ended lower on Thursday amid more than 10 profit warnings posted by Hong Kong companies overnight. Property developers also dragged the stock index lower on speculation that Beijing may impose a real estate tax in the first half of the year. China's stocks were further weakened by disappointing US GDP reading that signaled the US economy still faces
Japanese shares were bullish on Thursday after preliminary industrial production showed an increase of 2.5%, compared to a forecast of 4.2%. Despite being weaker than forecast, the figure indicates a rebound in industrial production. However, weaker than expected data from the national housing market coupled with dismal US GDP reading weighed on Japanese stocks. The Nikkei 225 Index gained 0.22%
Housing prices in the U.K. advanced in the month of January together with a pick up of lending activity caused by lowed mortgage rates, the Nationwide reported on Thursday. The report showed that a typical house price increased by 0.5% and the Nationwide Housing Price Index rose from 327.5 in December to 329.1 in January, while annual change of the
Unemployment in the European largest economy surprisingly declined in January as a sign of healthier labor market with improving conditions of global economy, the Federal Labor Agency unveiled on Thursday. German's unemployment decreased notably by 16,000 in January following a December's drop of 2,000, the total number of unemployed reached 2.92 million."The German labor market convinced with a distinct robustness
US stocks tumbled after the data showed the US economy unexpectedly shrank by annualized 0.1% in Q4 in 2012, compared with a forecast of 1.1% expansion. However, strong labour market numbers and the Fed's decision to leave its monetary policy loose limited losses of the US equities. The S&P 500 Index lost 0.39% to end the session at 1,501.96. Only
Dow plunged amid weak demand for riskier assets after disappointing US GDP reading. At the same time, Fed's monetary policy decision lifted US blue chips. Proving further support for the equity market, US non-farm employment jumped more than expected this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index slumped 0.32% to close at 13,910.42. All but one sectors plummeted. The only