June 30, 2005
Some bond markets seemed to be waiting on Thursday for the US Federal Reserve to issue its decision to raise US interest rates along with a policy statement that could give guidance as to where rates are expected to go in the future. In other bond markets, prices were higher and yields lower on continuing interest rate speculation in the UK and the eurozone. That speculation continued in ...
Capital markets wait on US treasury rates
by Brian TurnerSome bond markets seemed to be waiting on Thursday for the US Federal Reserve to issue its decision to raise US interest rates along with a policy statement that could give guidance as to where rates are expected to go in the future. In other bond markets, prices were higher and yields lower on continuing interest rate speculation in the UK and the eurozone. That speculation continued in ...
Eurofirst 300 leads exchange growth in Europe
by Brian TurnerIn equities markets around Europe, CAC 40 was down 0.06 percent to 4,229.35 in Paris. Xetra Dax was up by 0.06 percent to close at 4,586.28. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 fell 0.2 percent to 1,141.39. This close, however, put the eurozone-wide index up 9.6 percent for the first half of the year. The FTSE 100 gained 4.1 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 5,113.4. ...
June 29, 2005
Stocks in Tokyo were up on Wednesday as investors took advantage of the yen’s weakness against the US dollar, as well as the fall in crude oil pricess. Toyota was up 0.8 percent to ¥3,920, while Canon advanced by 0.3 percent to ¥5,890. Shares in oil companies lost value however with the drop in the price of oil. Japan Petroleum Exploration was down 2.1 percent to ¥4,640, while ...
Stocks up in Tokyo
by Brian TurnerStocks in Tokyo were up on Wednesday as investors took advantage of the yen’s weakness against the US dollar, as well as the fall in crude oil pricess. Toyota was up 0.8 percent to ¥3,920, while Canon advanced by 0.3 percent to ¥5,890. Shares in oil companies lost value however with the drop in the price of oil. Japan Petroleum Exploration was down 2.1 percent to ¥4,640, while ...
June 28, 2005
The credit rating industry in the United States will open up to more competition if a bill introduced by Representative Michael Fitzpatrick is passed by Congress. The legislation would let any rating agency that meets certain standards register with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It would also allow the SEC to inspect rating agencies and regulate how they handle conflict of interest situations and non-public information. Passage ...
S&P and Moodys challenged by Congress bill
by Brian TurnerThe credit rating industry in the United States will open up to more competition if a bill introduced by Representative Michael Fitzpatrick is passed by Congress. The legislation would let any rating agency that meets certain standards register with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It would also allow the SEC to inspect rating agencies and regulate how they handle conflict of interest situations and non-public information. Passage ...
NYSE positive on tech stock advances
by Brian TurnerIn New York on Tuesday, the equities markets all finished in positive territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.1 percent to 10,405.63, the S&P 500 rose 0.9 percent to 1,201.57, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.2 percent to 2,069.89. Factors spurring the advances included a decline in crude oil prices, news that the consumer confidence index and reached a 3-year high, and improvements in the labor market. ...
Confidence in economy imporves bond yields in Japan
by Brian TurnerIn Japan on Tuesday, confidence in the economy grew on the release of strong retail sales data. The 10-year government bond was up 2 basis points to a yield of 1.2 percent. Another factor in the rise in yields was an investor reaction to speculation that the Bank of Japan could end its zero interest rate policy. In the eurozone, longer-dated bonds responded to rumors that Dutch ...
June 27, 2005
In Japan on Monday, the yield on 10-year government bonds lost 2.5 basis points to yield 1.180 percent, a 22-month low. Prices rose with a significant drop in the Nikkei 225, which hit a 2-week low. Some experts, however, think that yields could start rising again when new economic data that is expected to show a strengthening of the economy is released this week. Meanwhile in the ...
Expectation of yields rising on Japanese bonds
by Brian TurnerIn Japan on Monday, the yield on 10-year government bonds lost 2.5 basis points to yield 1.180 percent, a 22-month low. Prices rose with a significant drop in the Nikkei 225, which hit a 2-week low. Some experts, however, think that yields could start rising again when new economic data that is expected to show a strengthening of the economy is released this week. Meanwhile in the ...
June 24, 2005
Oil prices were on the rise again Friday, hitting $60 per barrel for a bit before easing back a little before the close. One New York analyst said that the price rises are being driven by demand, especially the unusually high demand for finished petroleum products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuels, and heating oil. Demand is up for these products in the United States, China, and Europe. ...
Oil prices hit 60 dollars a barrel
by Brian TurnerOil prices were on the rise again Friday, hitting $60 per barrel for a bit before easing back a little before the close. One New York analyst said that the price rises are being driven by demand, especially the unusually high demand for finished petroleum products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuels, and heating oil. Demand is up for these products in the United States, China, and Europe. ...
Oil prices concern investors as US equities fall
by Brian TurnerThe continuing upward trend in oil prices made investors nervous on Friday as New York equities markets closed down for the day and the week on Friday. Shares of companies that consume significant amounts of energy or make products that do so were particularly affected. Delta Airlines fell by 3.4 percent to $3.72, while Northwest Airlines lost 3.4 percent as well, to $4.88. FedEx was down 0.8 ...
June 23, 2005
In the eurozone on Thursday, a top defense contractor hoped for a contract in the United States, and the technology sector was up, but at least one automobile manufacturer saw its share value decline slightly. Porsche saw its shares fall in value by 0.9 percent to €621.59, although they had hit a record high earlier on news that it will be producing a fourth model line. EADS, the ...
Technology leads gains on Eurofirst
by Brian TurnerIn the eurozone on Thursday, a top defense contractor hoped for a contract in the United States, and the technology sector was up, but at least one automobile manufacturer saw its share value decline slightly. Porsche saw its shares fall in value by 0.9 percent to €621.59, although they had hit a record high earlier on news that it will be producing a fourth model line. EADS, the ...
Profit-taking sends bond yields higher
by Brian TurnerProfit-taking sent yields higher on government bonds in the eurozone on Thursday. The 10-year Bund was up 0.2 basis points to yield 4.259 percent. Analysts did not think that corresponding declines in bond prices would last too long as signs of slow growth in the region continued to accumulate. Consumer confidence slid in Italy, while in France the office of national statistics lowered their growth forecast. The ...
June 22, 2005
Prices increased and yields decreased for government bonds in Japan, Europe, and the United States on Wednesday. The Japanese 10-year government bond fell 2.5 basis points to a yield of 1.265 percent as news came of only a very small rise in Japanese exports in May. Yields fell in the eurozone and the UK as well, on continued speculation about possible interest rate cuts. In afternoon trading in ...
Prices up and yields down on bond markets
by Brian TurnerPrices increased and yields decreased for government bonds in Japan, Europe, and the United States on Wednesday. The Japanese 10-year government bond fell 2.5 basis points to a yield of 1.265 percent as news came of only a very small rise in Japanese exports in May. Yields fell in the eurozone and the UK as well, on continued speculation about possible interest rate cuts. In afternoon trading in ...
Nikkei gains as steel sector loses
by Brian TurnerThe Tokyo equities markets gained ground on Wednesday despite declines in the steel sector. Technology was up slightly and automobile manufacturers benefited from the hard times of steel producers. In the technology sector, Sony gained 0.5 percent to ¥3,890 and Advantest advanced 0.4 percent to ¥8,210. The steel sector’s problems stemmed from earnings forecasts that had to be revised down and from price cuts. JFE Holdings lost 0.4 ...
Steel companies warn on falling prices
by Brian TurnerSteel companies worldwide are dealing with falling prices and warnings on profits even as most other commodities have hit record highs recently. Nucor, the biggest steel producer in the United States, issued a warning on Monday that its second quarter profits will likely be under predictions as prices and demand are both down. The American Iron and Steel Institute has released data showing that declining demand resulted in ...
June 21, 2005
Volume was only 1.3 billion shares on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday and there was so little movement on the various indexes that one analyst called the day’s trading “boring.” What little movement there was went mostly in a negative direction as the S&P 500 lost 0.2 percent to 1,213.62 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell only a fraction to 10,599.67. Technology-oriented Nasdaq, on the ...
Low volume on US equities trading
by Brian TurnerVolume was only 1.3 billion shares on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday and there was so little movement on the various indexes that one analyst called the day’s trading “boring.” What little movement there was went mostly in a negative direction as the S&P 500 lost 0.2 percent to 1,213.62 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell only a fraction to 10,599.67. Technology-oriented Nasdaq, on the ...
Bond yields down as investors seek debt
by Brian TurnerYields on government bonds in the Unites States were down and they were up in Japan, but the biggest news in government bond markets on Tuesday came out of Sweden. By mid-day in New York, yields on 10-year Treasury bonds 5.2 basis points to 4.065 percent. In Japan, 10-year government bond were yielding 1.290 percent, up 0.5 basis points. In Europe, Sweden’s Riksbank cut interest rates by ...
June 20, 2005
Yields on government bonds in the eurozone were up on Monday as crude oil prices reached record highs. The 2-year Schatz remained stable at a yield of 2.180 percent, while the 10-year Bund was yielding 3.312 percent, up 2.7 basis points. Rising energy prices had been helping bond prices in the region recently, as the high cost of oil is more likely to weaken the economy than to send ...
Oil pushes bond market expectations
by Brian TurnerYields on government bonds in the eurozone were up on Monday as crude oil prices reached record highs. The 2-year Schatz remained stable at a yield of 2.180 percent, while the 10-year Bund was yielding 3.312 percent, up 2.7 basis points. Rising energy prices had been helping bond prices in the region recently, as the high cost of oil is more likely to weaken the economy than to send ...
June 17, 2005
In the eurozone on Friday, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 rose 0.16 percent to 1,139.75, which was a three-year high. The fact that Pernod Ricard’s bid for Allied Domecq seemed sure to prevail after the withdrawal of US winemaker Constellation Brands from the bidding for Allied was instrumental in the gain. Also aiding the Eurofirst’s rise was a week of takeover news in European banking sector led to significant advances. ...
Equities reach high in eurozone and Asia
by Brian TurnerIn the eurozone on Friday, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 rose 0.16 percent to 1,139.75, which was a three-year high. The fact that Pernod Ricard’s bid for Allied Domecq seemed sure to prevail after the withdrawal of US winemaker Constellation Brands from the bidding for Allied was instrumental in the gain. Also aiding the Eurofirst’s rise was a week of takeover news in European banking sector led to significant advances. ...
June 16, 2005
In Japan, 10-year government bonds gained 5 basis points on Thursday to reach a yield of 1.290 percent. The rise in yields came as a result of profit-taking and on Japanese machinery orders that were better than they had been expected to be. The increase in orders was taken to be a sign that the economy in Japan was continuing its recovery. Opinions are split on whether yields on ...
Japanese bonds gain on profit-taking
by Brian TurnerIn Japan, 10-year government bonds gained 5 basis points on Thursday to reach a yield of 1.290 percent. The rise in yields came as a result of profit-taking and on Japanese machinery orders that were better than they had been expected to be. The increase in orders was taken to be a sign that the economy in Japan was continuing its recovery. Opinions are split on whether yields on ...
June 15, 2005
Sell-offs were a general theme in government bond markets on Wednesday. In Japan, prices were down and yields up by 0.5 basis points to 1.240 percent in anticipation of an auction of 20-year bonds. In the eurozone, the 10-year Bund gained 9.1 basis points to yield 4.125 percent after comments by the head of the European Central Bank that implied there will be no cut in eurozone interest rates in ...
Government bonds in general sell-off
by Brian TurnerSell-offs were a general theme in government bond markets on Wednesday. In Japan, prices were down and yields up by 0.5 basis points to 1.240 percent in anticipation of an auction of 20-year bonds. In the eurozone, the 10-year Bund gained 9.1 basis points to yield 4.125 percent after comments by the head of the European Central Bank that implied there will be no cut in eurozone interest rates in ...
