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Stock Markets
S&P/ASX 200 5,408.24 +15.42 NZSX 50 4,914.14 +19.04
DJIA 16,131.36 +0.96 Nikkei 14,766.53 -76.71
NASDAQ 4,259.46 -13.32 FTSE 6,796.71 +0.28
S&P 500 1,839.49 -1.27 Hang Seng 22,664.52 +76.80
SPI 200 Fut 5,379.00 +2.00 TRJCRB Index 301.37 +2.87
Bonds
AU 10 YR Bond 4.171 +0.022 US 10 YR Bond 2.705 -0.005
NZ 10 YR Bond 4.595 +0.000 US 30 YR Bond 3.683 +0.003
Currencies (Prev at 7pm NZST)
AUD US$ 0.9022 0.9025 NZD US$ 0.8307 0.8317
EUR US$ 1.3747 1.3754 Yen US$ 102.33 102.15
Commodities
Gold (Lon) 1320.50 Silver (Lon) 21.750
Gold (NY) 1320.99 Light Crude 102.94
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Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - U.S. stocks declined on Wednesday in midday
trading as the S&P 500 faced a technical resistance level after
a recent string of gains and investors turned cautious ahead of
the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest
policy meeting.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 40.30 points or
0.25 percent, to 16,090.10. The S&P 500 slipped 5.69
points or 0.31 percent, to 1,835.07. The Nasdaq Composite
dropped 24.305 points or 0.57 percent, to 4,248.478.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - Britain's top shares steadied on Wednesday as
analysts bet the strong rally that followed a slump in emerging
markets has run out of steam, though Sports Direct gained on
robust profits.
The FTSE 100 closed up 0.28 points - flat in
percentage terms - at 6,796.71 points. It hit 6,810.48, its
highest since late January, earlier in the day. The weakness
followed a rally of around 6 percent since early February.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average fell on Wednesday,
retreating from a 2-1/2-week high hit the previous day, as
investors took profit on banks and exporters a day after it had
logged its biggest percentage gain in six months.
The Nikkei shed 0.5 percent to 14,766.53 after a 3.1
percent rise on Tuesday, which took it to the highest close
since Jan. 31. The Topix shed 0.5 percent to 1,218.52
For a full report, double click on .T
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar hit a seven-week low against the euro
on Wednesday and its lowest this year versus a basket of
currencies, weighed down by soft U.S. housing numbers ahead of
the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy
meeting.
The euro rose as high as $1.3773 , its strongest level
since Jan. 2. The dollar later gained some ground, leaving the
euro last trading flat on the day at $1.3763, with equity
markets offering investors little direction.
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasuries prices rose on Wednesday as U.S.
housing starts recorded their biggest drop in almost three
years, raising concerns about the housing recovery, and on
safety buying as bonds of emerging market countries including
Ukraine dropped on rising civil unrest.
Benchmark 10-year notes were last up 8/32 in
price to yield 2.69 percent, down from 2.71 percent late on
Tuesday. Thirty-year bonds gained 9/32 in price to
yield 3.66 percent, down from 3.68 percent.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
LONDON - Gold was little changed on Wednesday as the dollar
steadied and investors remained cautious ahead of the release of
the minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's January meeting.
Spot gold eased 0.1 percent to $1,319.99 an ounce by
1524 GMT.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper was broadly flat on Wednesday as concerns
about the demand outlook in top consumer China were offset by a
weaker dollar and near-term tightness in stocks.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange
(LME) was down around 0.1 percent at $7,180 a tonne at the close
after hitting a low of $7,171.50 earlier in the session.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - U.S. crude oil rose on Wednesday as a fresh bout
of freezing weather boosted heating oil demand, while Brent
climbed higher on concerns that political tensions in Africa and
Venezuela could squeeze global supplies.
U.S. crude was up 37 cents at $102.80 by 1642 GMT,
after it touched an earlier session high of $103.34, its highest
since Oct 10. The contract expires on Thursday.
Brent crude fell back 4 cents to $110.42 after
settling on Tuesday at its highest level this year.
For a full report, double click on O/R
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((Australia/New Zealand bureaux; +61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 802
7980))
Keywords: MORNINGCALL/