DAILY

16TH April 2014

PSI20: +2.15% DAX30: +1.57% FTSE100: +0.65% S&P500: +1.05% NIKKEI225: +0.00%
The main index of the Lisbon market, returned to positive territory after declining for four consecutive sessions, with the index advancing 2.15% to 7342.57 points. PSI20 rose fuelled by the gains of the financial sector (BPI rose 5.45%, while BES climbed 5.35%) and the Zon Optimus (+6.00%). More >> The "yield" of five-year Portuguese Govt Bonds hit historical low levels on Wednesday. For other maturities, the trend is the same. Portuguese debt with a maturity of five years fell on Wednesday 10.2 basis points to 2.51%. This is the lowest since at least 1997. More >>

European shares rose on Wednesday, reversing the previous session's slide after economic growth data from China came in a touch above forecasts. The euro zone's blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index was up 1.5 percent at 3,139.26 points. More >> The U.K. unemployment rate fell to a five year low in the three months to February. The Office for National Statistics reported that the number of people in employment increased by 239,000 to 30.39 million in the three months to February. The overall unemployment rate fell to 6.9% from 7.2%. More >>

U.S. stocks on Wednesday climbed for a third session after U.S. industrial production rose more than projected, Yahoo's earnings topped estimates and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reiterated the central bank would keep up its backing of the recovery. More >> Housing Starts and Building Permits of March both came in weaker than expected. For Housing Starts, economists were expecting a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 970K, but the actual rate was just 946K. Similarly, Building Permits totaled 990K, which was below forecasts of 1,010K. More >>

Asian stocks rose as brokerages trading in Hong Kong climbed after China announced plans to link the Hong Kong and Shanghai bourses, outweighing an unexpected fall in exports from China. More >> China's trade surplus was $US7.71 billion, a significant turnaround from the $US22.98bn deficit recorded in February, which authorities blamed on the lunar new year holiday season. More >> Australias unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in March, sending the Aussie to a 4.5 month high as traders added to bets on an interest-rate increase. More >>

OIL (WTI $104.00/bl, +0.24%; BRENT $109.66/bl, +0.42%): Brent crude climbed to a six-week high on the escalating Ukraine crisis. West Texas Intermediate traded near $104 a barrel after a government report showed that U.S. inventories surged last week. More >> NATURAL GAS ($4.532/MmBtu, -0.67%): Natural gas futures slipped lower on Wednesday as investors looked ahead to upcoming U.S. inventories data, but losses held in check by forecasts for cooler weather. More >>

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