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(UPDATE 1)
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Stock Markets
S&P/ASX 200 5,131.40 +61.09 NZSX 50 4,807.94 +5.32
DJIA 15,602.13 +161.90 Nikkei 14,155.12 -25.26
NASDAQ 4,055.30 +43.75 FTSE 6,558.28 +100.39
S&P 500 1,770.72 +19.08 Hang Seng 21,269.38 +153.75
SPI 200 Fut 5,116.00 +34.00 TRJCRB Index 287.22 +0.11
Bonds (Yield)
AU 10 YR Bond 4.095 -0.065 US 10 YR Bond 2.704 +0.036
NZ 10 YR Bond 4.580 +0.030 US 30 YR Bond 3.675 +0.022
Currencies (Prev at 7pm NZST)
AUD US$ 0.8963 0.8969 NZD US$ 0.8256 0.8240
EUR US$ 1.3590 1.3519 Yen US$ 102.07 101.44
Commodities
Gold (Lon) 1256.50 Silver (Lon) 20.140
Gold (NY) 1257.65 Light Crude 97.80
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Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday after a drop in
applications for unemployment insurance boosted confidence in
the economy, and as Disney's results overshot expectations.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 178.66 points or
1.16 percent, to 15,618.89, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 21.4 points
or 1.22 percent, to 1,773.04 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC
added 48.395 points or 1.21 percent, to 4,059.947.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - Britain's top equity index rose for a second
straight day on Thursday, led by strong gains from heavyweight
telecoms group which helped the market recover its poise
after a recent five-day losing streak.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index , which had fallen for
five straight days during the past two weeks, closed up 100.39
points, or 1.6 percent, at 6,558.28 points.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell on Thursday in a choppy
session, erasing earlier gains as investors stayed cautious
before the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report due on Friday,
offsetting buying in companies with strong earnings prospects
like Mazda Motor.
The Nikkei ended down 0.2 percent at 14,155.12,
hovering near a four-month low of 13,995.86 hit the previous
day.
For a full report, double click on .T
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SYDNEY - Australian shares are set to open in positive
territory on Friday tracking a rise on Wall Street buoyed by
a better than expected initial jobless claims and a rise in
Disney shares.
Focus will be on key U.S. data due out later today.
Stock index futures rose to 5,116.34, a 15.4 point
discount to the close of the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index
. The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 1.2 percent, or 61.1
points, to 5,131.4 on Thursday, its biggest one-day gain in
three weeks.
- - - -
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The euro rallied on Thursday after European
Central Bank President Mario Draghi said there is no euro zone
deflation problem, following the bank's decision to leave
interest rates unchanged and wait for more data before taking
action.
The market was largely betting the other way on the ECB,
expecting either a rate cut or a strong signal from Draghi that
this was a prospect. It got neither and that set off the euro's
short-covering rally to hit a one-week high of $1.36190, up 0.56
percent, against the U.S. dollar , according to EBS
data. The euro hit a two-month low on Monday
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasuries yields edged up on Thursday in
choppy trading after European Central Bank President Mario
Draghi gave no hint of imminent monetary policy easing in
initial remarks after holding rates steady, and as investors
positioned for Friday's highly anticipated jobs report for
January.
Benchmark 10-year Treasuries yields were last
down 6/32 in price to yield 2.69 percent. The yields have
dropped from more than 3 percent at the beginning of the year
and traded as low as 2.57 percent on Monday, the lowest since
Nov. 1.
For a full report, double click on US/
- - - -
COMMODITIES
GOLD
LONDON - Gold prices steadied on Thursday, supported by a
rally in the euro versus the dollar but held in check by a
firmer tone to stock markets, and by caution ahead of a U.S.
jobs report on Friday.
Spot gold was up 0.1 percent at $1,258.20 an ounce by
1445 GMT. Gold rose around $20 an ounce to a near two-week high
of $1,273.26 on Wednesday after a disappointing U.S. jobs
report, but quickly fell back from that level.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper firmed on Thursday on a stronger euro,
expectations of a pickup in prices when top consumer China
returns from holiday on Friday and relative calm in volatile
emerging markets.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange
closed at $7,130 a tonne after touching a session high of
$7,120. Prices hit a two-month low on Tuesday at $7,016 and are
down around 4 percent on the year.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - U.S. crude oil futures were slightly higher in
late afternoon trade Thursday, retreating from the session high
on concerns that seasonal refinery maintenance will reduce
demand.
U.S. crude CLc1 was up 24 cents at $97.62 a barrel at 1:56
p.m. EST (1856 GMT), after rising as high as $98.83.
Brent for March delivery LCOc1 was trading 57 cents higher at
$106.81 a barrel. Brent reached a high of $107.30 earlier in the
session after the ECB said it would leave interest rates
unchanged.
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((Australia/New Zealand bureaux; +61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 802
7980))
Keywords: MORNINGCALL/