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Stock Markets
S&P/ASX 200 5,412.34 +4.10 NZSX 50 4,909.83 -4.32
DJIA 16,148.46 +107.90 Nikkei 14,449.18 -317.35
NASDAQ 4,257.06 +19.11 FTSE 6,812.99 +16.28
S&P 500 1,839.07 +10.32 Hang Seng 22,394.08 -270.44
SPI 200 Fut 5,424.00 +43.00 TRJCRB Index 301.20 -0.50
Bonds
AU 10 YR Bond 4.199 +0.058 US 10 YR Bond 2.764 +0.030
NZ 10 YR Bond 4.600 +0.000 US 30 YR Bond 3.735 +0.028
Currencies (Prev at 7pm NZST)
AUD US$ 0.8981 0.8954 NZD US$ 0.8281 0.8261
EUR US$ 1.3707 1.3750 Yen US$ 102.36 101.89
Commodities
Gold (Lon) 1316.25 Silver (Lon) 21.590
Gold (NY) 1311.25 Light Crude 103.05
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Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - U.S. stocks edged higher in volatile trading on
Thursday, as a strong read on manufacturing offset weak results
from Wal-Mart and geopolitical and economic uncertainty around
the world.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 26.33 points,
or 0.16 percent, at 16,066.89. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index
was up 2.02 points, or 0.11 percent, at 1,830.77. The
Nasdaq Composite Index was up 3.95 points, or 0.09
percent, at 4,241.91.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - Britain's top shares edged higher on Thursday,
tracking gains in U.S. stocks but pinned back by miners after
China's factory activity dropped, while BAE Systems
slid after forecasting a decline in earnings this year.
The UK blue-chip index edged up 16.28 points, up 0.2
percent, to 6,812.99 points by the close, taking its rally since
an early February low to around 6 percent.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average fell for a second day
after a disappointing private China factory survey hurt overall
sentiment, dragging down companies with high exposure there such
as Komatsu Ltd and Fanuc Corp.
The Nikkei dropped 2.2 percent to 14,449.18, the
biggest daily percentage decline since Feb. 4.
For a full report, double click on .T
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar gained against the euro for a second
straight day on Thursday after euro zone business surveys
pointed to a sluggish recovery and a fragile outlook for the
region, while the greenback also drew support from strong U.S.
economic data.
The euro fell as low as $1.3685 , pulling away further
from a seven-week high of $1.37735 struck on Wednesday, and down
0.24 percent on the day.
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasuries prices were little changed on
Thursday as mostly positive economic data met expectations and
barely affected prices.
The 10-year notes were unchanged in price to
yield 2.73 percent. Thirty-year bonds gained 6/32 in
price to yield 3.70 percent, down from 3.71 percent.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
LONDON - Gold firmed on Thursday, after two sessions of
falls that pulled it back from 3-1/2 month highs, as a retreat
in stock markets due to weak French and Chinese data boosted its
appeal as an alternative asset.
Spot gold was up 0.4 percent at $1,315.80 an ounce at
1511 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for April delivery were
down $4.80 at $1,315.60. Spot prices hit their highest since
Oct. 31 this week at $1,332.10, before traders cashed in gains.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper slipped to a one-week low on Thursday after
the euro weakened and data showed a contraction in China's
manufacturing sector, which raised doubts about the outlook for
demand from the metal's top consumer.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange
closed down 0.35 percent to $7,155 a tonne, after touching a low
of $7,113 a tonne. The metal used in power and construction has
fallen about 3 percent in the year to date.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - U.S. crude oil pared losses and was little
changed on Thursday after government data showed that frigid
weather continued to fuel robust heating oil demand, countering
weak Chinese economic data.
Brent was down 35 cents at $110.12 a barrel at 1749
GMT after settling at its highest price of 2014 on Wednesday.
U.S. crude oil for March delivery , which expires at
the settlement on Thursday, fell 8 cents to $103.23. U.S. crude
for April delivery, which will become the front month contract
on Friday, was 2 cents lower at $102.82.
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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