As Manufacturing Strengthens

Fundamental Analysis EUR "The overall manufacturing trend remains weak." - Pierre-Olivier Beffy, chief economist at Exane BNP Paribas French industrial production fell in March, said the national statistics office Insee on Thursday. Output contracted 0.9 per cent from February, when it gained 0.2 per cent. USD "It’s hard to get nervous that imports are rising." - Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist at Barclays Capital Inc. The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits fell to 367,000 in the week ended May 5 from 368,000 the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. GBP "Our forecast is that they are done with QE, but you can’t rule out more later this year." - Ross Walker, an economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc The Bank of England kept rates on hold ...

U.S. Review Modest Growth on a Broadening Base - The underlying tone of the recent economic reports remains consistent with modest economic growth. Consumer spending ended the first quarter on a solid note and spending is now on track to grow at a 2 percent pace in the second quarter. - Reports from the regional manufacturing surveys showed some weakness but the National ISM report came in stronger than expected. The nonmanufacturing survey, however, came in below expectations. - Nonfarm employment rose by 115,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate fell 0.1 percent to 8.1 percent. Modest Growth on a Broadening Base This week's ISM report came in better than expected, rising 1.4 points to 54.8 in April, which greatly relieves fears built up from the weaker factory orders ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR Euro Area officials are going to Washington this week in order to demand larger war chest from overseas partners to prevent debt crisis as Spanish government struggles with surging borrowing costs. US though insists Europe can tackle crisis by its own financial firewall while Euro Zone representatives claim they already have done enough and deserve global help. USD Temasek Holdings is preparing to buy a part of Goldman Sachs Group's stake of Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Goldman Sachs is going to sell 3.55 billion of ICBC shares valued at USD 2.5 billion or about 4% of total amount traded in Hong Kong. ICBC shares lost 0.8% in Hong Kong on the news. Temasek has been raising holdings in China Construction Bank and Bank of China. GBP UK managed ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR European stocks fluctuated between gains and losses on Thursday as region's debt worries were partly offset by small improvement in Wall Street. Stoxx Europe 600 index added 0.1%, Italian FTSE MIB index slipped 0.2% while Spanish IBEX 35 traded flat. UK FTSE 100 index advanced 0.4% whereas German DAX lost 0.1%. French CAC 40 index improved 0.2%. USD The US applications for jobless benefits dropped less than predicted for the week ended in March 31, Labor Department reported on Thursday. According to data 357 000 people submitted new claims last week. Economists earlier predicted the number of applications to reach 355 000. The US unemployment level was 8.3% in February. GBP UK manufacturing fell for the second consecutive month in February, signalling the ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "Spain is facing an economic situation of extreme difficulty" - Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister of Spain Demand for Spain’s debt tumbled on Wednesday and the nation only sold 2.59 billion euros of bonds, just above the minimum amount it planned. The average yield on five-year bonds rose to 4.319 percent from 3.376 percent the previous month. USD "Demand for Spain’s debt tumbled on Wednesday and the nation only sold 2.59 billion euros of bonds, just above the minimum amount it planned. The average yield on five-year bonds rose to 4.319 percent from 3.376 percent the previous month" - Ryan Sweet, a senior economist at Moody’s Analytics Inc. The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits declined slightly to 357 thousand in the week ended March 31 from ...

Dukascopy Fundamental Analysis EUR Spain, the euro region’s fourth-largest economy, is in “extreme difficulty,” Rajoy said yesterday, raising the likelihood of a bailout for the second time this week. The Ibex stock index slid 0.7 percent in Madrid today. The benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index extended its biggest retreat in four weeks and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index slipped 0.3 percent to 1,034.65 as of 3:14 p.m. in Madrid. USD Ben S. Bernanke’s Federal Reserve signaled this week it isn’t ready to buy more bonds to stimulate the economy. Mortgage investors aren’t convinced. Stocks, commodities and bonds declined after the statement, which showed certain members support easing only “if the economy lost momentum.” Treasuries and mortgage securities pared losses yesterday with some ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR The primary reading of the Euro Zone's composite PMI indicated further contraction of the economic activity in the region. However, the final estimate of the PMI was above the preliminary reading of 48.7. The final PMI in the Euro Zone attained 49.6 in Q1, signaling on the mild contraction as compared to the preceding quarter reading of 47.2. USD The greenback advanced against 17-nation currency on Tuesday as Federal Reserve cooled speculations for extra monetary stimulus. The US Dollar added 0.3% versus Euro to USD 1.3199 and slipped 0.2% versus Yen to JPY 82.64. Currently EUR/USD is trading at USD 1.3205 and USD/JPY is trading at JPY 82.68. GBP The gauge measuring British construction activity through a number of new orders unexpectedly surged in March, ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "It is very hard to see how Spain can have a sustainable recovery" - Frances Hudson, global strategist at Standard Life Investments European stocks closed lower on Tuesday hit by concerns over Spain’s ability to tackle its deficit. USD "As the economy continues to strengthen, more of the pent-up demand will be released" - Don Johnson, U.S. sales chief for General Motors Co. U.S. factory orders rose for the third month in February, boosted by desire for business equipment. Bookings increased 1.3 per cent, Commerce department data showed on Tuesday. GBP "The UK economy is still facing huge challenges" - John Longworth, director general at the British Chambers of Commerce U.K. construction activity jumped to a 21-month high in March, reinforcing hopes that the ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR The jobless rate in Spain advanced by 0.8% or 38,769 in March reaching 4.75 million, government officials said on Tuesday. Annual unemployment level added 9.6% in March. In February Spain's jobless rate of 23.6% was the top level in the European Union. Spain currently works on massive reforms in its labour market. Economists expected the unemployment my surge even more before it will begin to decline. USD US manufacturing PMI expanded more than expected last month, indicating growth for the 32th month in line. The PMI measured by the Institute for Supply Management jumped by 1.0 point attaining 53.4 last month as compared to a February figure of 52.4. Experts had predicted the manufacturing PMI in the US to expand by 0.6 points to 53.0. GBP UK manufacturing ...