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(Updates numbers throughout, adds Sydney stocks outlook)
---------------------(06:29 / 1929
GMT)----------------------Stock Markets
S&P/ASX 200 5,438.70 +26.36 NZSX 50 4,927.64 +17.81
DJIA 16,103.30 -29.93 Nikkei 14,865.67 +416.49
NASDAQ 4,263.41 -4.14 FTSE 6,838.06 +25.07
S&P 500 1,836.25 -3.53 Hang Seng 22,394.08 +174.16
SPI 200 Fut 5,194.00 +11.00 TRJCRB Index 301.58 +0.33
Bonds (Yield)
AU 10 YR Bond 4.115 +0.045 US 10 YR Bond 2.734 +0.000
NZ 10 YR Bond 4.610 +0.000 US 30 YR Bond 3.696 +0.000
Currencies (Prev at 7pm NZST)
AUD US$ 0.8968 0.8988 NZD US$ 0.8280 0.8298
EUR US$ 1.3727 1.3717 Yen US$ 102.50 102.55
Commodities
Gold (Lon) 1323.25 Silver (Lon) 21.740
Gold (NY) 1325.18 Light Crude 102.20
---------------------------------------------------------------
Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - U.S. stocks slipped on Friday on options-related
trading, with the S&P 500 facing resistance as it flirts with
its record high even as economic data continues to underwhelm.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 29.93 points or
0.19 percent, to end at 16,103.30. The S&P 500 lost 3.53
points or 0.19 percent, to finish at 1,836.25. The Nasdaq
Composite dropped 4.135 points or 0.10 percent, to close
at 4,263.41.
For a full report, double click on .N
- - - -
LONDON - Britain's benchmark share index rose on Friday and
posted its steepest weekly gain in seven months, as bid
speculation around index heavyweight Vodafone led the
market higher.
Vodafone added the most points to the FTSE , and
traders said the payout to shareholders from the Verizon deal
should boost the broader UK stock market in the coming weeks.
For a full report, double click on .L
- - - -
TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average jumped 2.9 percent on Friday
as the weak yen lifted overall sentiment and after a reading on
U.S. manufacturing hit its highest in nearly four years.
The Nikkei ended 416.49 points higher at 14,865.67,
the highest closing level since Jan. 31. For the week, the index
gained 3.9 percent, the biggest weekly rise since mid-November
and snapping a 6-week losing streak.
For a full report, double click on .T
- - - -
SYDNEY - Australian stocks are likely to open slightly lower
on Monday, taking a breather after the recent rally spurred by
solid earnings, with investors digesting mixed messages about
the world's economic growth.
Local stock index futures slipped 1 point to
5,413.0, a 25.7-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200
index . The benchmark rose 0.5 percent on Friday.
- - - -
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar fell against the euro on Friday after
weak U.S. housing data stoked concerns about the American
economy, but notched its first week of broad gains against a
basket of major currencies in three weeks.
The euro hit a high of $1.3759 against the dollar and
was last trading up 0.2 percent at $1.3746, marking the dollar's
third weekly loss versus the euro.
For a full report, double click on USD/
- - - -
TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury debt prices inched up on Friday as
investors questioned whether a string of weaker-than-expected
economic data is due to severe weather affecting activity in the
short term or a symptom of a more structural economic slowdown.
Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury notes rose 5/32
in price, pushing the yield down to 2.737 percent. The
thirty-year bond traded up 13/32 of a point in
price, bringing the yield down to 3.701 percent.
For a full report, double click on US/
- - - -
COMMODITIES
GOLD
NEW YORK/LONDON - Gold rose on Friday, notching its third
consecutive weekly gain, as doubts over U.S. economic recovery
helped lift bullion's safe-haven appeal.
The yellow metal rallied to a 3-1/2 month high
earlier this week after a series of disappointing U.S. economic
indicators including weak manufacturing data sparked speculation
that the Federal Reserve would slow the tapering of its bond
purchases
For a full report, double click on GOL/
- - - -
BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper held steady on Friday, with an uncertain
outlook for demand keeping prices in a narrow range after mixed
messages about China's economic health.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange
(LME) closed flat at $7,155 a tonne.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
- - - -
OIL
NEW YORK - Oil prices fell on Friday, slightly eroding their
sixth straight week of gains, as the fierce U.S. winter weather
that has supported heating fuel demand gave way to milder
temperatures, triggering a selloff in heating oil.
Brent crude futures for April fell 45 cents to
settle at $109.85 a barrel, having hit a seven-week high of
$110.82 on Wednesday. U.S. crude futures for April delivery
fell 55 cents to $102.20 after paring losses of more than
$1 hit earlier in the session. The U.S. benchmark rose for the
sixth straight week.
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/