Bearish Momentum Strengthens

Fundamental Analysis EUR Unemployment in Spain approached a new record of 5.64 million in March while the jobless rate topped 24.4%, reported the national statistics office. Analysts expect the Spain's officials to confirm that the country is falling into recession. Meanwhile, retail sales in the country declined by 3.7% in March on an annual basis. USD US consumer spending surged in March, adding to the previous gains as incomes increased. Household purchases that account about 70% of the US economy surged by 0.3%, following a 0.9% increase in February. Experts projected consumer spending to rise by 0.4%. Meanwhile, incomes eased up 0.4%, indicating the largest increase in the last three months. GBP UK home value accelerated in April, the second straight month, Hometrack Ltd said on ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR Deutsche Bank, the German biggest lender posted a 33% drop in its first quarter profit, citing debt crisis as a negative force that curbed trading. Net income declined to EUR 1.38 billion (USD 1.82 billion) compared to EUR 2.06 billion in the same period last year. Economists questioned by Bloomberg expected the profit to decrease less to EUR 1.56 billion. Deutsche Bank shares have added 16% this year. USD Crude oil fluctuated close to a one-week record high as Fed claimed they expect the economic growth to advance, encouraging the speculation that fuel demand will increase. Moreover Iran announced it may stop its nuclear expansion. June crude traded at USD 104.07 a barrel after climbing USD 0.57 yesterday. Brent oil to be delivered in June traded at USD 119 a ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "Market stresses will eventually force the ECB to restart the bond program" - Market stresses will eventually force the ECB to restart the bond program The European Central Bank is expected to restart government bond purchases rather than proceed with another round of long term refinancing operation. USD "Disposable incomes of consumers are still being squeezed. That does make it difficult for consumption to accelerate from here" - Jeremy Lawson, an economist at BNP Paribas in New York U.S. consumer confidence deteriorated slightly in April. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s preliminary index of sentiment declined to 75.7 from 76.2 in March. GBP U.K. "has a wealthy, open, and diversified economy" - S&P Standard & Poor's reaffirmed the U.K.'s triple ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "The outlook for the industrial sector is bleak" - Martin van Vliet, an economist at ING Group Euro-area industrial production unexpectedly rose in February, even as the region’s economy continued to slide into a recession. Production increased 0.5 per cent from January, said the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg on Thursday. USD "Import prices were certainly a problem for businesses in the last three months, but we’ve seen those pressures ease" - Jacob Oubina, a senior U.S. economist at RBC Capital Markets LLC The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits rose to 380 thousand in the week ended April 7 from the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. GBP "Concern persists that U.K. exports will be limited in the near ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR Spain's EUR 10 billion austerity measures did not ease investor worries the country is likely to be the next to demand a bailout. The borrowing costs for Spanish benchmark 10-year bills rallied almost 20 basis points to 5.94% on Tuesday after Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordonez, the Governor of the Bank of Spain said the country's financials may need extra capital in case the economy slows more than predicted. USD Canadian currency declined reaching a 6-week record low against US Dollar on concern European crisis is regaining momentum amid slowing US recovery. The loonie fell 0.7% to CAD 1.0045 on Tuesday, the lowest figure since February 27. Currently USD/CAD is trading at CAD 1.0018. GBP After a steep loss of 2.2% on Tuesday, FTSE 100 index recovered on Wednesday ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "There are growing fears that the Spanish economy is caught in a pernicious circle" - Nicholas Spiro, managing director of Spiro Sovereign Strategy Spain’s efforts to calm investors with 10 billion euros in savings on education and health spending failed to stem concerns the nation may need additional capital if the economy weakens more than expected. USD "Europe is a temporary concern. The market is signaling they haven’t fixed the whole problem" - James Swanson, chief investment strategist at MFS Investment Management U.S. stocks extended losses on Tuesday as Spain’s plan for more austerity failed to halt drop in bond prices. GBP "We now know that there will not be any new money printing and the rally in European equities appears to be over" - Stewart ...

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 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 ...