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| As on May 24, 2019 12:00 AM |
Your results on : Currency News |
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| New Zealand merchandise trade surplus came in at NZ$433 million in April, Statistics New Zealand said on Friday, following the downwardly revised NZ$824 million surplus in March (originally NZ$922 million). Exports were up 12.0 percent on year to NZ$5.55 billion, down from the downwardly revised NZ$5.60 billion in the previous month (originally NZ$5.70 billion). Imports rose an annual 7.3 percent to NZ$5.11 billion, up from NZ$4.78 billion a month earlier. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Japan overall nationwide consumer prices were up 0.9 percent on year in April, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday, up from 0.5 percent in March. Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile food prices, also advanced an annual 0.9 percent, up from 0.8 percent. Individually, prices were up for food, housing, fuel, furniture, clothing, medical care and recreation; they were down for communications and transportation. On a monthly basis, overall inflation and core CPI both were up 0.1 percent. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| US first-time claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly edged lower in the week ended May 18th, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday. The report said initial jobless claims dipped to 211,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 212,000. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| US Commerce Department said new home sales plunged by 6.9 percent to an annual rate of 673,000 in April after spiking by 8.1 percent to an upwardly revised rate of 723,000 in March. With the upward revision, the annual rate of new home sales in March was the highest since reaching 727,000 in October of 2007. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Germany's private sector expanded at a moderate pace in May, survey data from IHS Markit showed Thursday. The composite output index rose unexpectedly to a 3-month high 52.4 in May from 52.2 in April. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector. Data showed that other indicators weakened, however, with new orders falling for the fourth time in five months and employment growth easing to its lowest in just over three years in April. On the price front, latest data showed a slowdown in the rates of both input cost and output charge inflation. The manufacturing PMI fell unexpectedly to 44.3 from 44.4 in April. The expected score was 44.8. At the same time, the services PMI dropped to a 4-month low of 55.0 from 55.7 in the previous month. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Euro area private sector expanded in May but the pace of growth remained subdued, survey data from IHS Markit showed Thursday. The composite output index rose marginally to 51.6 in May from 51.5 in April. The score was forecast to rise to 51.7. A score above 50 indicates expansion. However, the weak reading puts growth in the second quarter so far on a par with the lacklustre gain seen in the first quarter and was among the lowest recorded since mid-2013. The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index slid to 47.7 from 47.9 in April. The score was forecast to rise to 48.1. Likewise, the services PMI came in at 52.5 in May, down from 52.8 in the previous month. After rising to a modest five-month high in April, growth of new business waned again, data showed. Jobs growth slipped to the joint-lowest since 2016 as firms scaled back expansion plans in the light of weak sales. Optimism about the future meanwhile slumped to a four-and-a-half year low and inflationary pressures moderated as competition limited sellerspricing power. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Germany's business confidence index fell to 97.9 in May from 99.2 in April, survey results from the Ifo Institute showed Thursday. The Ifo business confidence weakened for a second straight month and at a faster-than-expected pace in May. The current assessment index eased sharply to 100.6 from a revised 103.4 in April. The expectations measure of the survey was steady at 95.3 in May, after April's score was revised from 95.2. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Germany's gross domestic product advanced 0.4 percent sequentially in the first quarter, after staying flat in the fourth quarter and contracting 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2018, detailed results from Destatis showed Thursday. The expenditure-side breakdown showed that private consumption advanced 1.2 percent, while government spending decreased 0.3 percent. Gross fixed capital formation growth improved to 1.1 percent from 0.8 percent. Exports and imports climbed 1 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively. On a yearly basis, GDP climbed working-day adjusted 0.7 percent, which was slightly faster than the 0.6 percent expansion seen in the fourth quarter. On an unadjusted basis, economic growth slowed to 0.6 percent from 0.9 percent a quarter ago. Both annual GDP rates came in line with preliminary estimate. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Australia's private sector activity expanded in May underpinned by both services and manufacturing sectors, survey data from IHS Markit showed on Thursday. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia flash composite output index rose to 52.2 in May from 50.0 in April. Any readings above 50.0 signal growth in the sector. Business activity rose for the first time in four months in May with pick-up in new order growth. New orders increased at the fastest pace since January. Business confidence improved for the second month and confidence in both the manufacturing and service sectors were higher. The services Purchasing Managers' Index, or PMI, rose to 52.3 in May from 50.1 a month ago. Likewise, the manufacturing PMI climbed to 51.1 in May from 50.9 in the prior month. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Japan manufacturing sector fell into contraction in May, posting a manufacturing PMI score of 49.6, the latest survey from Nikkei revealed on Thursday. That's down from 50.2 in April and it falls beneath the boom-or-bust line if 50 that separates expansion from contraction. Individually, output and new orders fell for the fifth straight month, while the business outlook reflected pessimism for the first time more than six years. New export orders, backlogs, stocks and quantities of purchases also were in contraction. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| According to the minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy meeting, members agreed that a patient approach to determining future adjustments to rates would likely remain appropriate for some time. Citing an environment of moderate U.S. economic growth and muted inflation pressures, the Fed expects to remain patient even if global economic and financial conditions continued to improve. The Fed decided to leave interest rates unchanged at the two-day meeting ended May 1st, as uncertainties affecting the U.S. and global economic outlooks had receded but inflation pressures remained muted. The minutes showed members agreed future interest rate adjustments would be based on realized and expected economic conditions relative to the Fed's maximum-employment and symmetric 2 percent inflation objectives. While the Fed noted a moderation in risks and uncertainties surrounding the economic outlook, such as trade negotiations, the meeting was held before the collapse of U.S.-China trade talks. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| The US Federal Reserve is seemingly in no rush to alter the path of interest rates, according to the minutes of the central bank's latest monetary policy meeting. The minutes showed members agreed that a patient approach to determining future adjustments to rates would likely remain appropriate for some time. Citing an environment of moderate US economic growth and muted inflation pressures, the Fed expects to remain patient even if global economic and financial conditions continued to improve. The minutes showed members agreed future interest rate adjustments would be based on realized and expected economic conditions relative to the Fed's maximum-employment and symmetric 2% inflation objectives. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| UK's public sector net borrowing or PSNB, excluding public sector banks was GBP 5.8 billion, which was 0.03 billion less than a year ago, preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics showed on Wednesday. Net borrowing was the lowest for April since 2007, the ONS said. In March, the borrowing showed a surplus of GBP 94 million. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| UK consumer price inflation rose to 2.1 percent in April from 1.9 percent in March, figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed Wednesday. Nonetheless, this was slightly slower than the forecast of 2.2 percent. Month-on-month, consumer prices gained 0.6 percent versus expected rate of 0.7 percent. The consumer prices index including owner occupiers' housing costs advanced 2 percent annually versus 1.8 percent in March. At the same time, retail price inflation advanced to 3 percent from 2.4 percent a month ago. Another report from ONS showed that output price inflation slowed slightly to 2.1 percent in April from 2.2 percent in March. On a monthly basis, output prices climbed 0.3 percent following a 0.1 percent rise in the previous month. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Australia leading index dropped again April and remained consistently negative over the past five months, signaling that economic growth in the first quarter is likely be below trend, Westpac reported Wednesday. The Westpac- Melbourne Institute Leading Index declined to -0.47 percent in April from -0.13 percent in March. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Japan total value of core machine orders was up a seasonally adjusted 3.8 percent on month in March, the Cabinet Office said on Wednesday, coming in at 868.8 billion yen, following the 1.8 percent increase in February. On a yearly basis, core machine orders sank 0.7 percent following the 5.5 percent contraction in the previous month. The total value of machinery orders received by 280 manufacturers operating in Japan fell 4.3 percent on month and 1.0 percent on year in March. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| Japan trade surplus came in at 60.402 billion yen in April, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday, down 90.3 percent on year and down from 528.5 billion yen in March. Exports sank 2.4 percent on year to 6.658 trillion yen, after sliding 2.4 percent in the previous month. Imports climbed an annual 6.4 percent to 6.598 trillion yen, up from 1.2 percent a month earlier. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| New Zealand total volume of retail sales was up a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent on quarter in the first three months of 2019, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday, following the 1.7 percent jump in the three months prior. The total value of retail sales rose 0.2 percent on quarter (NZ$43 million). Powered by Commodity Insights |
| US existing home sales dipped by 0.4 percent to an annual rate of 5.19 million in April after plunging by 4.9 percent to a rate of 5.21 million in March, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on Tuesday. The report said the median existing home price for all housing types in April was $267,300, up 2.9 percent from $259,700 in March and up 3.6 percent from $257.900 in the same month a year ago. Powered by Commodity Insights |
| India's economic growth will regain strength and approach 7.50% by 2020, according to the OECD's latest Economic Outlook. The new income scheme for small farmers will support rural consumption. Investment growth will accelerate as capacity utilisation rises, interest rates decline, and geopolitical tensions and political uncertainty are assumed to wane. Lower oil prices and the recent appreciation of the rupee will reduce pressures on inflation and the current account. Monetary policy could be loosened somewhat as headline inflation remains well below target and inflation expectations are adjusting down. Rising public sector borrowing requirements reflect the implementation of new welfare schemes, sluggish tax revenue, and growing financial needs of public enterprises and banks. Powered by Commodity Insights |
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