Stock Markets Net Chng Stock Markets Net Chng S&P/ASX 200** NZX 50** 196.42 7,122.30 72.00 11,933.17
DJIA NIKKEI**
32,755.48 37.88 27,782.93 100.85
Nasdaq FTSE**
11,962.908 36.67 7,620.43 56.16
S&P 500 Hang Seng**
4,038.98 11.17 20,309.13 116.73
SPI 200 Fut STI**
7,176.00 36.00 3,257.18 -5.36
SSEC** KOSPI**
3,261.25 21.19 2,453.16 9.24
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Bonds Bonds
JP 10 YR Bond KR 10 YR Bond
0.321 0 3.303 0.016
AU 10 YR Bond US 10 YR Bond
3.349 -0.007 3.5545 -0.011
NZ 10 YR Bond US 30 YR Bond
4.228 0 3.7498 -0.028
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Currencies
SGD US$ KRW US$
1.3279 -0.0013 1,296.62 -8.68
AUD US$ NZD US$
0.67 0.00155 0.6251 0.0028
EUR US$ Yen US$
1.0897 0.0054 132.4 -0.44
THB US$ PHP US$
34.11 -0.08 54.372 0.032
IDR US$ INR US$
15,045 -15 82.09 -0.088
MYR US$ TWD US$
4.42 0.004 30.461 0.006
CNY US$ HKD US$
6.8735 -0.0131 7.8498 0.0001
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Commodities
Spot Gold Silver (Lon)
1,980.05 16.0096 23.7846 0.4346
U.S. Gold Fut Brent Crude
1,983.10 16.2 79.27 0.99
Iron Ore CNY905.5 TRJCRB Index
15 - -
TOCOM Rubber JPY208.7 LME Copper
-0.4 9,000 7.5
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** indicates closing price
All prices as of 18:08 GMT
EQUITIES GLOBAL - Stock indexes rose and the dollar declined on Thursday on easing fears about banking sector troubles, encouraging economic signs from the chip industry and rising oil prices. Beyond Wall Street, the pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1.03% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.61%. For a full report, click on - - - -
NEW YORK - Wall Street's main indexes climbed on Thursday as fears of a banking crisis eased, with rate-sensitive real estate and technology stocks leading gains ahead of key inflation data that could shape the Federal Reserve's policy path. At 11:56 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 34.76 points, or 0.11%, at 32,752.36, the S&P 500 was up 18.15 points, or 0.45%, at 4,045.96, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 85.47 points, or 0.72%, at 12,011.70. For a full report, click on - - - -
LONDON - European stocks rose to near three-week highs on Thursday, lifted by upbeat results from retail giant H&M and as fading concerns about the global banking sector fuelled a Wall Street rally. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1.1%, hitting it strongest level since March 10, tracking the recovery in global markets. For a full report, click on - - - -
TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average finished lower on Thursday after three straight sessions of gains, as a clutch of stocks traded ex-dividend, while losses were limited as technology stocks tracked overnight Wall Street strength. The Nikkei share average fell 0.36% to close at 27,782.93 and the broader Topix lost 0.61% to 1,983.32. For a full report, click on - - - -
SHANGHAI - China and Hong Kong stocks finished modestly higher in uneven trade on Thursday as investors pinned hopes on business-friendly policies following Alibaba's restructuring while awaiting manufacturing activity data due this week. China's blue-chip CSI 300 Index rose 0.81%, while the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.65%, snapping a four-day losing streak. For a full report, click on - - - -
AUSTRALIA - Australian shares rallied 1% to finish at a near three-week high on Thursday, as outlook from U.S. firms improved and banking crisis worries eased, while domestic inflation data boosted hopes of a pause from further rate hikes by the central bank. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 1% higher at 7,122.3 points, marking a fourth consecutive session of gains. For a full report, click on - - - -
SEOUL - South Korean shares extended gains on Thursday to close at their highest in over three weeks, as heavyweight chipmakers rallied and battery maker SK Innovation jumped by its most in more than two years. The benchmark KOSPI closed up 9.24 points, or 0.38%, at 2,453.16, marking its highest close since March 7 and extending gains to a third session. The index has risen 4.44% from its mid-March low. For a full report, click on - - - -
FOREIGN EXCHANGE NEW YORK - The dollar slipped to a 1-week low against the euro on Thursday as German inflation data helped lift the common currency and as concerns over the banking sector receded. The dollar index , which measures the currency against six major peers, was 0.487% lower at 102.14. For a full report, click on - - - -
SHANGHAI - China's yuan eased on Thursday against the dollar, which was broadly firmer as concerns eased in the United States over the banking sector, while investors await March China manufacturing data due on Friday for more clues on the economic recovery. In the spot market, the onshore yuan opened at 6.8900 per dollar and was changing hands at 6.8958 at midday, 92 pips weaker than the previous late session close. For a full report, click on - - - -
AUSTRALIA - The Australian and New Zealand dollars eased on Thursday but held on to most of their hefty gains on the yen as the Japanese safe-haven currency succumbed to rebounding risk appetite after fears about a global banking crisis eased. The Aussie was 0.2% lower at $0.6675 , after dipping 0.4% overnight to as low as $0.6662, weighed lower by a downward surprise in the monthly inflation data that helped strengthen the possibility of a pause in rate hikes next week. Support now lies at $0.6668. For a full report, click on - - - -
SEOUL - The Korean won strengthened on Thursday, while the benchmark bond yield rose. The won ended onshore trade at 1,299.0 per dollar, 0.28% higher than its previous close at 1,302.7. For a full report, click on - - - -
TREASURIES
NEW YORK - Two-year Treasury yields rose to one-week highs on Thursday as investors grew more confident that recent stress in the banking sector would be contained, but remained cautious about the impact that bank failures would have on the economy. Benchmark 10-year yields gained two basis points to 3.581%. They are up from a six-month low of 3.285% reached on Friday and are holding below a 15-year high of 4.338% on Oct. 21. For a full report, click on - - - -
LONDON - Euro zone government bond yields rose on Thursday as inflation data on both sides of the Atlantic were stronger than expected, while market bets on the European Central Bank's terminal rate consolidated at around 3.5%. Germany's 10-year government bond yield , the bloc's benchmark, rose 6 basis points (bps) to 2.359%. For a full report, click on - - - -
TOKYO - Most Japanese government bond (JGB) yields rose on Thursday, as demand for covering short positions paused, while futures fell with fears over a possible global banking crisis appearing to subside. The 10-year JGB yield rose 1 basis point (bp) to 0.310% and the 20-year JGB yield climbed 0.5 bp to 0.970%. For a full report, click on COMMODITIES
GOLD Gold prices gained nearly 1% on Thursday as a weaker dollar and lower bond yields drove demand for the precious metal, while investors kept their eyes peeled for U.S. inflation data to gauge the Federal Reserve's next move. Spot gold was up 0.9% at $1,982.46 per ounce by 01:02 p.m. EDT (1702 GMT), having touched its highest since March 24 at $1,984.19 earlier. U.S. gold futures rose 0.8% to $1,983.10. For a full report, click on - - - -
IRON ORE
Dalian iron ore futures were set for a fourth straight session of gains on Thursday, supported by the prospect of demand recovery after steel consumption was temporarily capped by rainy weather in many regions last week. The most-traded May iron ore futures contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) ended daytime trading 1.91% higher at 905.5 yuan ($131.64)a tonne, posting a week-on-week gain of 4.8%. For a full report, click on - - - -
BASE METALS
Nickel prices slumped on Thursday after the London Metal Exchange (LME) announced plans to widen its contract while copper steadied on signals of recovering demand in top metals consumer China. Three-month LME nickel had slid 2.6% to $23,135 a tonne by 1610 GMT after the LME launched sweeping measures to revive its flagging nickel contract. For a full report, click on - - - -
OIL
Oil prices rose more than 1% on Thursday, supported by lower U.S. crude stockpiles and a halt to exports from Iraq's Kurdistan region, which offset pressure from a smaller-than-expected cut to Russian supplies. Brent crude futures rose 95 cents, or 1.2%, to $79.23 a barrel by 1:18 p.m. EDT (1718 GMT). West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.15, or 1.6%, to $74.12. For a full report, click on - - - -
PALM OIL
Malaysian palm oil futures closed at a more than one-week high on Thursday, rising for a fourth consecutive session, underpinned by firm rival edible oils and expectations of lower production. The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose 84 ringgit, or 2.27%, to 3,791 ringgit ($857.69). For a full report, click on - - - -
RUBBER
Japanese rubber futures edged higher on Thursday, as banking fears receded and
China signalled its commitment to reforms and economic opening up.
The Osaka Exchange's rubber contract for September delivery , finished 0.8 yen, or 0.4%, higher at 209.1 yen ($1.58) per kg, snapping a two-day dip.
For a full report, click on - - - -
(Bengaluru Bureau; +91 80 6749 1130)
