---------------------------------------------------------------- Snapshot at: 07:07 / 2007 GMT ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Markets
NetChng
NetChng S&P/ASX 200
5,082.79 +72.52 NZSX 50
6,752.42 +38.26 DJIA
17,685.09 -31.57 Nikkei
16,758.67 -120.29 NASDAQ
4,869.85 +0.55 FTSE
6,174.90 -28.27 S&P 500
2,059.74 -4.21 Hang Seng
20,776.70 -26.69 SPI 200 Fut
5,046.00 -20.00 STI
2,840.90 -31.88 SSEC
3,004.38 +3.73 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Bonds
NetChg
NetChg AU 10 YR Bond
2.490 -0.010 US 10 YR Bond
1.777 -0.053 NZ 10 YR Bond
2.915 -0.045 US 30 YR Bond
2.618 -0.039 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Currencies
1700GMT
1700GMT AUD US$
0.7664 0.7646 NZD US$
0.6908 0.6894 EUR US$
1.1380 1.1322 Yen US$
112.51 112.40 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Commodities Gold (Lon)
1,237.00
Silver (Lon)
15.43 Gold (NY)
1,224.45
Light Crude
38.16 TRJCRB Index
170.52 -0.45 ----------------------------------------------------------------
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - Wall Street ended down slightly on Thursday but the Dow and S&P 500 posted gains for the quarter after a month-long rally that rescued stocks from their worst start to a year since 2009.
Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 31.16 points, or 0.18 percent, to 17,685.5, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 4.22 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,059.73 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 0.55 points, or 0.01 percent, to 4,869.85.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - UK shares retreated on Thursday, ending a weak first quarter of 2016 on a downbeat note, although a recovery in mining shares helped it outperform euro zone indexes.
Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE was down 28.27 points, or 0.5 percent, at 6,174.90 by the close. That left the index down 1.1 percent in 2016 as the first quarter drew to a close.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei fell in choppy trade on Thursday to a near two-week low as a stronger yen trimmed the profit outlook for exporters, while investors stayed on the sidelines on the final day of Japan's financial year looking for more catalysts ahead.
The Nikkei share average .N225 dropped 0.7 percent to 16,758.67, the lowest closing level since March 18. Japan's benchmark index rose 4.6 percent for the month, while it tumbled about 12 percent for the fourth quarter through Thursday.
For a full report, double click on .T
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SYDNEY - Australian stocks are poised for a subdued start on Friday, taking a breather after their biggest one-day rally in a month.
Pointing to a soft start, stock index futures YAPcm1 eased 0.4 percent to 5,046.0, a 36.8-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO . The benchmark closed up 1.5 percent on Thursday, but was still down 4.0 percent in the quarter.
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar hit its lowest level in more than five months against a basket of currencies on Thursday and was set to post its biggest quarterly percentage loss in more than five years after traders continued to digest dovish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.
The euro continued four straight sessions of gains against the dollar and hit $1.1411, marking the first leap above $1.1400 in 5-1/2 months. The dollar index .DXY hit 94.319, its lowest level since mid-October.
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasuries closed out their best quarter in 4-1/2 years on Thursday, with prices rising on the day as fund managers added longer-dated debt maturities to match expected month-end changes of benchmark indexes tracked by their portfolios.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR were up 16/32 in price to yield 1.774 percent, down 5.6 basis points from Wednesday. For the first quarter, the 10-year yield ended 50 basis points lower, the steepest quarterly drop since the second quarter of 2012.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
NEW YORK - Gold edged up on Thursday as the dollar and stock markets retreated, locking in the metal's biggest quarterly gain in nearly 30 years amid reduced expectations for U.S. interest rate hikes.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.6 percent at $1,232.06 an ounce at by 1855 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCv1 settled up $7 an ounce at $1,235.60.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper recovered on Thursday after hitting a four-week low, as positive sentiment created by a lower dollar was reinforced by strong manufacturing data from the United States.
Benchmark copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange ended down 0.5 percent at $4,847 a tonne, having earlier slipped to $4,816, the lowest since March 3.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - Oil prices were steady to firmer on Thursday, on track to their largest monthly gain in almost a year and also a quarterly rise, helped by a weak dollar and data showing a drawdown in crude stocks at the U.S. futures delivery hub.
Brent crude for May delivery LCOK6 was up 34 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $39.60 a barrel by 1637 GMT, ahead of its expiry as the front-month contract. June Brent LCOM6 , which will be front-month from Friday, was up 0.3 percent.
For a full report, double click on O/R
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