Friday 28 February 2014

ASIAN STOCKS

Asian stocks were steady on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's comments reiterated her confidence in the U.S. economy.

U.S.TREASURIES

U.S. Treasury debt prices rose on Thursday as tensions between Ukraine and Russia spurred safety buying, helping to stoke strong demand at a seven-year note auction. The Treasury sold $29 billion in seven-year-notes at the auction, the final sale of the week. Yields ended slightly lower than where they were before the sale.

FTSE

Britain's top share index edged up on Thursday, lifted by positive U.S. data and assurances from Fed chair Janet Yellen, despite a sharp sell-off in Royal Bank of Scotland and increasing tension over Ukraine.

S&P

The S&P 500 closed at a record on Thursday and ended in positive territory for the year after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said harsh weather seems to be to behind recent U.S. economic softness.

NIKKEI

Japan's Nikkei share average was flat in choppy trade on Friday morning after two days of losses as investors remained cautious amid tensions in Ukraine, while a stronger yen weighed on risk appetite.

EURO

The euro was nearly flat on the day at $1.3707, pulling away from the previous session's two-week low of $1.3641.

DOLLAR

The dollar's early gains against the yen unravelled, with the U.S. unit shedding about 0.3 percent to 101.86 yen, moving back toward a one-week low of 101.70 yen touched on Thursday.

SILVER

Silver was up 0.3 percent at $21.28 an ounce, recovering from Wednesday's nearly 3 percent drop.

PLATINUM

Platinum eased 0.11 percent to $1,445.50. It had earlier risen to $1,452 an ounce, matching a five-week high touched on Thursday.

NYMEX CRUDE

NYMEX-Oil down on Ukraine fears, but on track for monthly gain

U.S.CRUDE

U.S. crude futures for April delivery were down 45 cents at $101.95 a barrel by 0012 GMT, still on track for a monthly gain of 4.6 percent. The contract finished 19 cents lower on Thursday.

BRENT CRUDE

Brent oil futures fell on Thursday, pressured by civil unrest in Ukraine that curbed overall risk appetite and fueled fears that it would slow growth in Europe and lessen oil demand.

OIL

Oil slipped, taking its cues from unrest in the Ukraine, with Brent crude down about 0.1 percent at $108.89 a barrel.

COPPER

London copper steadied on Friday after comments by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen soothed jitters over U.S. growth prospects, but was set to close the month flat on lingering worries over a slowdown in China.;

U.S.GOLD

U.S. gold was also little changed at $1,331.20 an ounce. 

SPOT GOLD

Spot gold was little changed at $1,330.78 an ounce by 0023 GMT, down from a four-month high of $1,345.35 struck on Wednesday.

GOLD

Gold hardly moved on Friday but still was on track for its fourth week of gains after investors chased prices higher on concerns about the pace of the U.S. economy and unrest in Ukraine

U.S.MARKET UPDATE

The S&P 500 closed at a record on Thursday and ended in positive territory for the year after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said harsh weather seems to be to behind recent US economic softness.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 74.24 points or 0.46 percent, to end at 16,272.65. The S&P 500 gained 9.13 points or 0.49 percent, to finish at 1,854.29, surpassing its previous record closing high set on January 15.

Wednesday 26 February 2014

ASIAN STOCKS

In other markets, Asian stocks got off to a cautious start on Wednesday following a flat finish on Wall Street and as concerns over opaque policy moves in China kept investors on edge.

ASIAN STOCKS

In other markets, Asian stocks got off to a cautious start on Wednesday following a flat finish on Wall Street and as concerns over opaque policy moves in China kept investors on edge.

U.S.TREASURIES

Yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes were steady at 2.71 percent after dipping about 4 basis points overnight, leaving them roughly in the middle of the recent 2.57 to 2.79 percent trading range

NIKKEI

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 .225 pared early losses to be off 0.2 percent, which follows a 1.4 percent gain on Tuesday.

YEN

The yen was broadly firmer early on Wednesday following a generally lacklustre session that saw investors give the dollar a wide berth on the back of a decline in U.S. Treasury yields.