(Repeat to additional subscribers, no change to text) Snapshot at: 07:37 / 2037 GMT ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Markets
NetChng
NetChng S&P/ASX 200
5,081.12 +59.89 NZSX 50
6,380.86 +67.79 DJIA
16,924.07 +24.75 Nikkei
16,960.16 +213.61 NASDAQ
4,702.88 -0.54 FTSE
6,130.46 -16.60 S&P 500
1,991.06 +4.61 Hang Seng
19,941.76 -61.73 SPI 200 Fut
5,083.00 +6.00 STI
2,787.62 +60.66 SSEC
2,859.92 +10.24 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Bonds
NetChg
NetChg AU 10 YR Bond
2.539 -0.028 US 10 YR Bond
1.827 -0.021 NZ 10 YR Bond
3.070 -0.010 US 30 YR Bond
2.657 -0.035 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Currencies
1700GMT
1700GMT AUD US$
0.7352 0.7318 NZD US$
0.6734 0.6687 EUR US$
1.0963 1.0858 Yen US$
113.61 114.10 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Commodities Gold (Lon)
1,250.25
Silver (Lon)
15.28 Gold (NY)
1,239.91
Light Crude
34.69 TRJCRB Index
165.04 +0.42 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - U.S. stocks edged higher on Thursday, building on a recent recovery as a rally in energy stocks offset dips in health and technology shares.
At 2:41 p.m. (1941 GMT), the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 0.08 percent at 16,912.6 and the S&P 500 .SPX had gained 0.15 percent to 1,989.38. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was 0.07 percent lower at 4,700.26.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - Britain's top shares index slipped on Thursday, as weaker healthcare stocks weighed on the market, taking the shine off a rise in insurer Admiral ADML.L .
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE closed down 0.3 percent at 6,130.46 points. The index is down around 2 percent since the start of 2016, and 14 percent below an April 2015 record high.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japanese stocks rose to 3-1/2 week highs on Thursday as risk appetite improved following the release of upbeat data on U.S. jobs and a rally in oil and other commodities, which burnished sentiment globally.
The Nikkei share average .N225 climbed 1.3 percent to 16,960.16 for its highest close since February 8.
The broader Topix .TOPX rose 1.4 percent to end the day at 1,369.05 with all but seven of its 33 subindexes in positive territory.
The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 .JPXNK400 gained 1.3 percent to 12,415.74.
For a full report, double click on .T
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SYDNEY - Australian shares are set to open with a firm tone on Friday, with resources stocks likely to underpin gains following a rally in commodities.
Local share price index futures YAPcm1 pointed to a flat opening at 5,079. The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO climbed a two-month peak on Thursday.
Global miner BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) BHP.AX is expected to open around 2 percent higher after a gain in its U.S. ADRs BHP.N . Iron ore, Australia's top export earner, touched its highest since October.
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The U.S. dollar was set to post its biggest one-day percentage decline against the euro in more than three weeks on Thursday after data showing a decline in U.S. service sector employment added to worries over Friday's monthly U.S. jobs data.
The euro gained more than 0.5 percent against the greenback to a session high of $1.0938. The dollar held its ground against the yen and was last up 0.15 percent at 113.61 yen JPY= .
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury prices were mostly flat on Thursday as data showed strength in the U.S. economy and investors focused on February's employment report due on Friday for further signs of economic momentum.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR were last down 1/32 in price to yield 1.852 percent, little changed on the day.
The 30-year bond was last up 2/32 in price to yield 2.685 percent, slightly down from 2.692 percent late Wednesday.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
NEW YORK - Gold rose back towards $1,250 an ounce on Thursday as the dollar eased and equity markets retreated, sharpening appetite for the metal as an alternative asset, but moves were muted ahead of Friday's U.S. payrolls data.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.5 percent at $1,246.61 an ounce by 1450 GMT, while U.S. gold futures GCv1 for April delivery were up $6.20 an ounce at $1,248.00.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper prices hit their highest in more than three months on Thursday, boosted by gains for equities, increased confidence in global growth prospects and a lower dollar.
Benchmark copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange ended 1.4 percent higher at $4,856 a tonne. The metal used in power and construction earlier hit $4,848, its highest since Nov. 12, though analysts were cautious about the potential for further gains.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - Oil's rally lost steam on Thursday after three straight days of gains as growing record U.S. stockpiles countered OPEC plans for a production freeze, with some analysts saying the market has risen too much, too fast from 12-year lows.
Brent futures LCOc1 , the global benchmark for crude, settled up 14 cents at $37.07 a barrel, after rallying earlier to $37.37. Brent has risen nearly $2 since Friday's close, with the bulk of it accumulated in the first two days. U.S. crude futures CLc1 settled down 9 cents at $34.57.
For a full report, double click on O/R
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