Value Of Their Dollar Reserves

(Reuters) - Gold rose on Thursday, after three days of losses, although the drag of the euro near two-year lows tempered the bullion price and eclipsed data that showed another rise in central bank purchases of the metal last month. The euro edged higher, having hit a near two-year low against the dollar earlier on Thursday after dire German economic data suggested no country in the region was immune from crisis, spooking investors already weighing the risk of Greece leaving the euro zone. This offset a potentially bullish lift from International Monetary Fund data that showed another rise in central bank holdings in April, after the largest purchase in over four years by the Philippines and further additions by the likes of Mexico, Ukraine and Russia to their reserves. Spot gold rose 0. ...

Highlights - An acceleration in deposit withdrawals, combined with the prospect of an anti-austerity party winning the next election, has brought to the fore concerns about a potential Greek exit from the euro zone. - Our base case assumption is that under the most likely scenario, the Greek election will lead to a government that sticks to an EU/IMF program, even if the terms are renegotiated. - However, we do believe that Greece needs a further restructuring of its debt and we do think the country will ultimately exit the euro - we're just not convinced that Europe is ready for this to happen at the moment. - If an accident does occur and Greece does leave the euro in the near term, it would have global financial ramifications that could range from severe to catastrophic. ...

(Reuters) - Crude oil futures fell more than 1 percent on Friday, down for the sixth straight session, as worsening problems in Greece and Spain raised worries of contagion in the euro zone. Oil futures fell on the drumbeat from global stock markets, which erased the year's gains as investors pared holdings for safe-haven assets such as gold, on growing concerns about the euro zone debt crisis. On Wall Street, equities dipped after a messy opening-day trade for social networking darling Facebook (FB.O) failed to lift the spirits of investors. .N U.S. gasoline futures bucked the day's trend in energy markets, gaining slightly after six days of losses and climbing above its 200-day moving average after falling below that level on Thursday for the first time since February. Oil investors ...

The euro fell to a nearly four-month low against the dollar on Monday on fears Greece could exit the euro and worries that weak industrial data signaled that Europe was heading for recession. Concerns about slowing Chinese and global growth also drove down higher-yielding currencies and boosted the safe-haven dollar and yen. The Australian dollar fell to a five-month low against the greenback, while the New Zealand dollar dropped to a 4-1/2-month trough. Greece's political impasse, as a major Greek leftist party refused to join a unity government or create a government of technocrats, also pushed the country's sovereign spreads over German bunds to their widest level since November. Greece's troubles helped drive up Spain's and Italy's borrowing costs. Spain's bill auctions also showed ...

The euro fell to a near four-month low on Monday as political turmoil gripped Greece, highlighting the risk the country may exit the euro zone, while worries about slowing Chinese and global growth drove down higher-yielding currencies. Safe-haven currencies including the dollar and the Japanese yen rose as coalition talks in Greece hit an impasse on Sunday, increasing the chance of another election. Euro zone industrial production unexpectedly fell in March, adding to signs the bloc is heading into recession and further fuelling bearish sentiment, while Spain's short-term debt costs rose at auction and its 10-year yields soared. The common currency fell to $1.2861 on trading platform EBS, its lowest level since January 23. It has lost 2.7 percent so far this month after losing 0.8 ...

The euro fell to a near four-month low on Monday as political uncertainty in Greece deepened, keeping alive the risk of the country exiting the euro zone while worries about slowing Chinese and global growth drove down higher-yielding currencies. Safe-haven currencies like the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen advanced as coalition talks in Greece hit an impasse on Sunday and Greece's radical leftist leader spurned an invitation from the president for a final round of talks on Monday, all but ensuring another election next month. Adding to the bearish tone, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives suffered a crushing defeat on Sunday in an election in Germany's most populous state, a result which could embolden the left opposition to step up attacks on her European austerity ...

The euro hit its lowest level in nearly four months on Monday after Greek political leaders failed in their latest efforts to form a ruling coalition, keeping investors on edge over the risk of the country exiting the euro zone. Coalition talks in Greece hit an impasse on Sunday and Greece's radical leftist leader spurned an invitation from the president for a final round of talks on Monday, all but ensuring a new election. Adding to the negative tone, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives suffered a crushing defeat on Sunday in an election in Germany's most populous state, a result which could embolden the left opposition to step up attacks on her European austerity policies. The euro seems likely to head lower in coming weeks, especially since the European Central Bank may ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "Equities are stronger than in the fall, as central banks have moved to support the market with liquidity and removing the structural risks to banks" - Hans Peterson, the chief investment officer of SEB Private Bank Industrial new orders in the euro zone declined by more than forecast in February, Eurostat data showed on Tuesday. Orders decreased by a seasonally adjusted 1.3 per cent, after declining 2.9 per cent in January. USD "Overall, consumers are more upbeat about the state of the economy, but they remain cautiously optimistic" - Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center U.S. consumer confidence declined in April as consumers became slightly less optimistic on the outlook of the country’s economy, the Conference Board Inc. ...

Gold prices steadied near $1,640 an ounce in Europe on Tuesday as a softer tone to the dollar arrested the previous session's slide, but traders largely stuck to the sidelines ahead of a key monetary policy meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Spot gold was at $1,638.30 an ounce at 6:05 a.m. EDT (1005 GMT) against $1,637.63 late on Monday, while gold futures for June delivery were up $6.40 an ounce at $1,639.00. The Federal Open Market Committee begins a two-day meeting on Tuesday at which quantitative easing is set to be discussed. The FOMC is expected to keep interest rates on hold, but its accompanying statement will be watched for hints of fresh QE. Ultra-loose Fed policy has kept interest rates and hence the opportunity cost of holding gold low in recent years. Expectations for ...