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-----------------------(07:25 / 1824 GMT)-----------------------
Stock Markets
S&P/ASX 200 5,350.09 -26.66 NZSX 50 5,126.53 +1.65
DJIA 16,239.09 -29.90 Nikkei 14,622.89 +145.73
NASDAQ 4,145.54 -28.04 FTSE 6,588.32 -16.98
S&P 500 1,846.00 -6.56 Hang Seng 21,834.45 -53.30
SPI 200 Fut 5,327.00 -18.00 TRJCRB Index 304.10 +2.91
Bonds
AU 10 YR Bond 4.073 -0.026 US 10 YR Bond 2.663 -0.040
NZ 10 YR Bond 4.615 +0.000 US 30 YR Bond 3.495 -0.056
Currencies (Prev at 7pm NZST)
AUD US$ 0.9251 0.9234 NZD US$ 0.8670 0.8654
EUR US$ 1.3744 1.3780 Yen US$ 102.15 102.17
Commodities
Gold (Lon) 1296.00 Silver (Lon) 19.680
Gold (NY) 1303.49 Light Crude 101.38
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Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - U.S. stocks slipped on Thursday as some positive
economic data failed to counter lingering geopolitical concerns,
although losses were limited as the end of the quarter
approached.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 3.70 points or
0.02 percent, to 16,265.29. The S&P 500 lost 3.92 points
or 0.21 percent, to stand at 1,848.64. The Nasdaq Composite
dropped 20.923 points or 0.5 percent, to 4,152.655.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - Britain's top stock index fell on Thursday, with
miners leading the retreat on lingering concerns their earnings
could be hurt by weaker metals prices following an economic
slowdown in China and improving supplies.
Miners and banks, the two heavyweight sectors, took the most
points off the FTSE 100 index , which closed 0.3 percent
lower to 6,588.32 points and is down 3.3 percent this month.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japanese shares surged to a two-week closing high on
Thursday, with market players citing reinvestment by a public
pension fund and short-covering in futures as factors behind the
sharp reversal from early losses.
The Nikkei share average rose 1.0 percent to
14,622.89 points, despite the negative impact from many shares
going ex-dividend, which market players estimate should have
knocked about 0.7 percent off the Nikkei.
For a full report, double click on .T
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar edged higher against the euro and the
yen on Thursday after upbeat U.S. economic data, while the New
Zealand dollar hovered near a 2-1/2-year high after economic
data and hints that the country's central bank could raise
interest rates.
The U.S. dollar index , which measures the dollar
against six major currencies, was last up 0.02 percent at
80.047. The euro was last down 0.11 percent against the dollar
at $1.3766 , while the dollar was last up 0.15 percent
against the Japanese yen at 102.2.
The New Zealand dollar hovered near a a 2-1/2 year high of
$0.8680 , which it hit earlier in the day on a sharp
rise in the country's trade surplus for February and a
policymaker's comments signaling that the country could tighten
monetary policy further by raising interest rates.
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasuries held at lower yields on Thursday
after the government sold $29 billion of new seven-year notes to
strong demand, the final sale of $96 billion in new
coupon-bearing supply this week.
Seven-year notes were last up 1/32 in price to
yield 2.25 percent. The notes' yields have fallen from a
three-month high of 2.34 percent on Monday, but remain higher
than the 2.14 percent area they traded at before Yellen's
comments.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
NEW YORK/LONDON - Gold dropped nearly 1 percent on Thursday,
breaking below $1,300 an ounce for the first time since
mid-February, as encouraging U.S. economic growth in the fourth
quarter diminished the metal's appeal as a hedge.
Spot gold was down 0.8 percent at $1,292.80 an ounce
by 12:45 p.m. EDT (1645 GMT), having earlier hit $1,291.36 - a
six-week low.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper prices bounced on Thursday on improved
demand in Europe and top consumer China, but a stronger dollar
and continued worries about credit in China capped gains.
LME three-month copper was last bid up 0.77 percent
at $6,560 a tonne, after prices slipped 1.4 percent on
Wednesday. Prices hit a two-week top of $6,623.75 on Tuesday,
off this month's 3-1/2 year low of $6,321.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - Crude oil futures rose on both sides of the
Atlantic on Thursday, with U.S. crude up more than $1 to hit a
three-week high as strong U.S. economic data and the end of
refinery maintenance season signaled strong demand ahead for
crude oil.
Brent for May delivery was up 66 cents at $107.69 a
barrel at 11:33 a.m. EDT (1533 GMT).
U.S. crude for May delivery was up $1.38 at $101.64 a
barrel, following a $1.07 rise in the previous session. It was
on track for its highest close in three weeks, up 2.1 percent
for the week, and set for its biggest weekly gain in seven.
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))
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