Investing in Brazil's booming economy has turned another page as foreign companies, especially Japanese firms, move from putting money into the nation's financial industry to putting it into the real economy of South America's largest nation.
The euro pulled back from a four-month low against the dollar during Asian trading Tuesday after Germany, the euro zone's largest economy, announced first-quarter GDP growth of 0.5 percent.
Gold steadied in Europe on Thursday after falling to a four-month low in the previous session, as an uptick in the euro after Spain moved to clean up its banks and Europe's bailout fund approved a key payment to Greece took some pressure off prices.
French voters turned out in force Sunday in the second round of presidential elections that are likely to make Nicolas Sarkozy the 11th European leader to be swept from office by the economic crisis.
French bank BNP Paribas SA (BNP.FR) reported Friday 9.6 percent rise in profits in the first quarter from a year ago, boosted by the sale of more than half of its stake in real estate firm Klepierre.
Gold prices retreated towards $1,650 an ounce on Wednesday as the dollar strengthened against the euro, after a downbeat reading of euro zone manufacturing activity contrasted with stronger data from the United States.
The British manufacturing sector is approaching negative growth thanks largely to a decline in exports to the troubled eurozone, according to a monthly benchmark index that gauges industrial health released Tuesday.The Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector fell to 50.5 in April, down from 51.9 in March. The report also showed the sharpest decline in new export orders since March 2009.
The share of privately-owned U.S. homes fell to a 15-year low in the first quarter as falling house prices and stringent lending conditions push younger Americans, in particular, into renting.
The Bank of Japan will expand its Asset Purchase Program by an additional 5 trillion yen ($62 billion) to increase the purchase of Japanese government bonds, exchange-traded funds and Japan real estate investment trusts, the bank announced in a statement Friday.
Palladium prices are bouncing back from a big decline that started in February in what could be a sign of rising investor confidence in the U.S. recovery, thanks to rising auto sales, and concerns over Russian supplies.
Gold rose above $1,645 an ounce on Friday as a better-than-expected German business sentiment survey lifted the euro versus the dollar, but trading was light as investors awaited further news on the euro zone crisis and U.S. monetary policy.
European economic data released on Friday topped analyst expectations, giving a boost to the region's stock markets.
Gold rose above $1,645 an ounce on Friday as a better-than-expected German business sentiment survey lifted the euro versus the dollar, but trading was light as investors awaited further news on the euro zone crisis and U.S. monetary policy.
The New York Fed reported on Monday slowing growth within the manufacturing sector in March, with overall sentiments remained positive and employment improved despite difficulty finding highly-skilled labor.
A preliminary survey of consumer confidence for April shows the lackluster job creation seen in March is playing into people's pessimism more than economists had expected. But a recent, tiny, decline in gasoline prices, following a dizzying climb at the beginning of the year, is at least making consumers feel better about inflation and hence, expectations for the future.
Most of the Asian stock markets ended lower Thursday, tracking overnight declines from Wall Street after a disappointing Spanish bond auction.
Gold held near $1,675 an ounce on Tuesday as investors took to the sidelines ahead of the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting, which will be closely watched for clues on the direction of monetary policy.
One of the world's largest exporters of raw materials is working to introduce a steep tax on just such shipments this year, Reuters is reporting, a move that is catching foreign investors and major trading partners by surprise.
Increased profit margins for diesel fuel exported over the past five years have boosted U.S. diesel production and tightened domestic gasoline supplies, contributing to rising gasoline prices in 2012.
Asian shares eased for a second day in a row Thursday, as investors limited their risk exposures on concerns about growth prospects in the world's two largest economies, the United States and China.
Yields on 10-year inflation-linked Treasury bonds fell into negative territory Thursday -- only the second time that has happened -- ona flight to quality in U.S. notes, a belief that inflation will begin rising and the seemingly heady effect of the Federal Reserve's Operation Twist.
Gold fell on Tuesday, hurt by strength in the dollar which profited from the growing view in the market that the U.S. economy is on a firmer footing, ending a three-day rally in the bullion price.
