Tag Archives: AUD

Ukraine Likely To Overshadow ECB Meeting

Here’s today’s ‘Just A Minute’ bringing you a 60 second summary of what’s happening in the financial markets:

Main Trading Event Of The Day: EU ECB Press Conference @ 12.30 GMT

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING TODAY

Ukraine Likely To Overshadow ECB Meeting

The crisis in Ukraine along with a hesitant recovery in Europe will most probably overshadow today’s European Central Bank meeting. Economists say the monetary authority for the member states who use the Euro will look to reassure markets that it is ready to add more stimulus measures if the economy takes a turn for the worse. It recently approved a major package of measures including a cut in the main interest rate to a record low 0.15 percent and an offer of more extra-cheap credit to banks and is waiting to see how those work. If further measures are deemed necessary in the future, analysts say the bank could decide to purchase large amounts of financial assets such as government bonds in the open market, a step which can drive rates down further and add newly created money to the economy but the bank is only expected to use it if its current efforts don’t work as expected. One risk factor is a sudden shock to business and investor confidence if the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalates which could lead the EU and United States to impose new sanctions on Russia, disrupting trade. Uncertainty over what the impact could be on the global economy and markets could make businesses hold off on investing and consumers on spending. Low inflation is another worry for the ECB, at only 0.4 percent in the year to July. ECB President Mario Draghi has indicated that asset purchases are possible in the future and is one of the reasons why the euro has been in retreat over the past couple of months. ECB Press Conference is due today @ 12.30 GMT.

German Industry Output Grows Less Than Expected On Russia

German industrial output grew less than forecast in June as Europe’s largest economy came under pressure from political tensions with Russia. Production, adjusted for seasonal swings, rose 0.3 percent from May, when it declined a revised 1.7 percent. While that’s the first increase in four months, economists predicted a gain of 1.2 percent. Production fell 0.5 percent in June from the previous year when adjusted for working days. The European Union agreed last week on its widest-ranging sanctions yet over Russia’s backing of rebels in eastern Ukraine and the Bundesbank has cited geopolitical tensions as contributing to a probable stagnation of the economy in the second quarter. Factory orders fell the most in more than 2 1/2 years in June and sentiment surveys have plunged in Germany, Russia’s biggest trading partner in Europe. There is pessimism in the markets and it remains to be seen whether this pessimism will become persistent.

Australian Jobless Rate Tops U.S. First Time Since 2007

Australia’s jobless rate jumped to a 12 year high in July, overtaking the U.S. level for the first time since 2007 while sending the local currency falling. The unemployment rate rose to 6.4 percent from 6 percent according to the statistics bureau in Sydney, versus estimates for unemployment to hold steady. The number of people employed fell by 300. Australia appears to be losing its developed-world-beating status as the mining investment boom that powered it through the global financial crisis wanes. The number of full-time jobs increased by 14,500 in July, and part-time employment fell 14,800, today’s report showed. Australia’s participation rate, a measure of the labour force in proportion to the population, climbed to 64.8 percent in July from 64.7 percent a month earlier. The Australian dollar was trading at 92.87 U.S. cents at from 93.43 cents before the data were released.

That sums up today’s highlights! Don’t forget you can find us throughout the day on the social media platforms delivering u-to-the-minute news for traders. We hope you have a profitable day on the markets.

Brent Falls As Libya Restarts Oilfield

Here’s today’s ‘Just A Minute’ bringing you a 60 second summary of what’s happening in the financial markets:

Main Trading Event Of The Day: U.S. FOMC Meeting Minutes @ 18.00 & EUR Mario Draghi Speaks @ 18.30 GMT

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING TODAY

Brent Falls As Libya Restarts Oilfield

Brent crude fell below $109 a barrel today as Libya restarted an oilfield, leaving it on track to fall for an eighth session. This would make it its longest losing streak in over four years. Easing worries over possible disruptions to supply from the conflict in Iraq also dragged on prices. August Brent crude declined 12 cents to $108.82 a barrel, down nearly 6 percent from a nine-month high reached in June. U.S. crude for August delivery was up 3 cents at $103.43 a barrel, after Tuesday’s settlement marked its longest losing run since December 2009. Meanwhile, Iraq’s new parliament has brought forward the date of its next session to July 13, in the face of a militant insurgency that has swept large parts of the country. Investors are eyeing more data on oil inventories in the United States and on China’s trade later this week to take the pulse on oil demand at the world’s two largest consumers. Lingering weakness in the Chinese economy could prompt Beijing to launch further stimulus measures to shore up growth which could lift its fuel demand. U.S. crude inventories fell by 1.7 million barrels in the week to July 4, compared with analyst expectations for a decrease of 2.2 million barrels.

Gold Inches Up On Fund Inflows

Gold inched up as the world’s top bullion fund saw a second straight day of inflows, even as markets awaited the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s June policy meeting to gauge the U.S. central bank’s outlook for the economy and interest rates. Spot gold edged up 0.2 percent to $1,321.15 an ounce. SPDR Gold Trust confirmed its holdings rose 2.09 tonnes to 800.28 tons on Tuesday, after gaining 1.8 tons on Monday. Demand for gold was boosted by violence in the Middle East and Ukraine. Bullion investors are also awaiting the minutes of the Fed policy meeting later today for clues on the timing of a rate hike. A strong U.S. jobs report last week fuelled fears of an earlier than expected rate hike in the world’s largest economy. A hike would encourage investors to withdraw money from non-interest-bearing assets such as gold.

Australia Consumer Confidence Improves

A measure of Australian consumer sentiment improved edged higher in July as worries about family finances eased. The index of consumer sentiment rose a seasonally adjusted 1.9 percent in July, from June when it had inched up only 0.2 percent. The index still has not fully recovered from May’s 6.8 percent dive which followed a budget of welfare reforms, cutbacks and increased charges for services. The index reading of 94.9 for July was down 7.1 percent on the same month last year and means pessimists still exceed optimists. The largest improvement in July came in the survey’s measure on the outlook for family finances over the next 12 months, which jumped 12.3 percent though from very low levels. The index of family finances compared to a year ago rose 1.9 percent and that for economic conditions over the next 12 months increased by 3.9 percent. Consumers remained cautious on the longer-term outlook, however, with the index of economic conditions over the next five years dropping 3.8 percent.

That sums up today’s highlights! Remember to keep posted on our social media pages for all the latest trading updates for the day. We hope you have a profitable day on the markets.

Just A Minute!

Here’s today’s ‘Just A Minute’ bringing you a 60 second summary of what’s happening in the markets:

Main Trading Events Of The Day: USD ADP Non-Farm Employment Change @ 13.15 & USD ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI @ 15.00 GMT

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING TODAY

U.S. Jobs Data On The Way…

With the focus having been on the situation in the Ukraine, the attention is back on U.S. economic reports today. The ADP report gives a hint of what the jobs report might look like on Friday. U.S. employers hired 150,000 workers in February, after adding 113,000 in January, according to a Bloomberg News survey. A report from ADP Research Institute today will show companies boosted payrolls by 155,000 last month after an increase of 175,000 in January. Employment gains for December and January were both less than economists forecast, depressed by winter storms. Weak data is explicable on account of the weather seems to be the mantra right now and the consensus is that it will take a couple of bad reports to disillusion investors at this point. In addition, the ADP report has been a wildcard in recent months in that it has been an inaccurate gauge of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reiterated on Feb. 27 that the central bank is likely to keep curtailing its stimulus. The central bank said on Dec. 18 it would trim its monthly bond purchases to $75 billion from $85 billion, before cutting by another $10 billion in January. The purchases are designed to hold down long-term borrowing costs and spur economic growth.

Asian Shares Jump And Yen Recovers As Ukraine Tension Eases

Asian stocks jumped and the yen recovered after a sharp tumble on Wednesday, after Putin said that force was not needed for now. The markets took Putin’s words positively and with wariness over the Ukraine easing for the time being at least, the focus has shifted back to fundamentals, notably Thursday’s European Central Bank monetary policy meeting and Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report. However, despite the widespread relief, market watchers warned that the crisis was not over, warning of further jolts for the financial markets ahead. The easing of geopolitical tensions saw a reversal of yesterday’s movements in most asset markets. However, tensions remain high and suggest some further volatility in financial markets while the situation in Ukraine remains uncertain.

The Australian dollar, already on a bullish footing after cooling of tensions in Ukraine revived risk appetite, received a further boost after data showed Australia’s economic growth had beaten forecasts, reinforcing expectations of a steady interest rate outlook. The AUD was at $0.8947 from a low near 89 U.S. cents. Australia’s major trading partner China has said it will maintain its economic growth target for 2014 at around 7.5 percent as expected and push forward convertibility of the yuan. Analysts said the statement was an indication that China would widen the yuan’s trading band going forward as expected, further signaling a possible end to the currency’s one-way appreciation.

The yen, which rallied on its safe-haven appeal this week as tensions mounted in Ukraine, remained on the back foot after a heavy reversal on Tuesday. The dollar was buying 102.14 yen, moving away from a one-month low of 101.20 hit on Monday, while the euro bought 140.29 yen, after touching a two-week low of 138.75 yen on Thursday.

Tech News: PC Market Fell Hardest In 2013, Analyst Firm Says

The traditional PC industry saw its sharpest decline ever in 2013, and the sales drought is expected to continue through 2018 according to analysts, IDC. PC shipments fell by 9.8 percent overall last year, the sharpest drop on record. While the fourth quarter actually performed better than expected, IDC said that sales dried up in emerging markets, dipping 11.3 percent - evidence that tablets and phones are cutting into sales all across the world. 315.1 million PCs shipped in 2013, and 295.9 million are expected to be sold in 2014, a 6 percent dip. By 2018, the PC market should drop to annual sales of 291.7 million units.

Emerging markets used to be a core driver of the PC market, as rising penetration among large populations boosted overall growth but right now, emerging regions are finding themselves more affected by a weak economic environment as well as significant shifts in technology buying priorities. In making its projections, IDC said it factored in a number of variables, including concerns about the impact of slower economic growth and continued pressure from tablets and smartphones.

That sums up Wednesday’s highlights! We hope you have a profitable day on the markets.

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