---------------------------------------------------------------- Snapshot at: 07:09 / 2109 GMT ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Markets
NetChng
NetChng S&P/ASX 200
5,272.71 +56.76 NZSX 50
6,906.1
+4.8 DJIA
17,982.52 -113.75 Nikkei
17,363.62 +457.08 NASDAQ
4,945.89 -2.24 FTSE
6,381.44 -28.82 S&P 500
2,091.48 -10.92 Hang Seng
21,622.25 +385.94 SPI 200 Fut
5,228.00 -29.00 STI
2,960.78 +10.83 SSEC
2,952.60 -19.98 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Bonds
NetChg
NetChg AU 10 YR Bond
2.626 +0.019 US 10 YR Bond
1.865 +0.013 NZ 10 YR Bond
2.905 +0.010 US 30 YR Bond
2.685 +0.026 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Currencies
1700GMT
1700GMT AUD US$
0.7735 0.7806 NZD US$
0.6910 0.6962 EUR US$
1.1283 1.1298 Yen US$
109.43 109.63 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Commodities Gold (Lon)
1,249.25
Silver (Lon)
17.00 Gold (NY)
1,243.30
Light Crude
43.43 TRJCRB Index
179.88 -1.56 ----------------------------------------------------------------
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - Wall Street suffered its first loss in four sessions on Thursday after a mixed bag of quarterly reports and a warning by Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) that a strike by workers would likely impact its bottom line.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI declined 0.63 percent to end at 17,982.52 and the S&P 500 .SPX lost 0.52 percent to 2,091.48. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC edged down 0.05 percent to 4,945.89.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - Britain's top share index fell on Thursday after reaching this year's highest close the day before, following a drop in the shares of miner Anglo American AAL.L and Sky SKYB.L .
The index .FTSE was down 28.82 points, or 0.5 percent at 6,381.44 points at its close. On Wednesday, it closed at 6,410.26, its highest since early December.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japanese stocks rose to a 2-1/2 month high on Thursday after the yen resumed a weakening trend against the U.S. dollar amid a bounce in oil prices and growing expectations of further easing from the Bank of Japan.
The Nikkei share average .N225 climbed 2.7 percent to end the day at 17,363.62, its highest level since February 3.
For a full report, double click on .T
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SYDNEY - Australian stocks are set to open lower on Friday, tracking a disappointing performance on Wall Street and taking a pause after three straight sessions of gains.
Stock index futures YAPcm1 fell 0.6 percent to 5,228.0, a 44.7-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO . The benchmark rose 1.1 percent on Thursday to its highest close for this year at 5,272.7.
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The euro reversed course to trade lower against the dollar on Thursday after traders saw potential for the European Central Bank to eventually increase its stimulus measures if necessary, while the yen rebounded on flagging risk appetite.
The euro was last down 0.04 percent at $1.1290 EUR= , near a session low of $1.1271. Earlier it hit a nine-day high of $1.1394 on the back of comments from ECB President Mario Draghi. a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields rose to more than three-week highs on Thursday as oil prices held near recent highs, reducing demand for safe-haven U.S. bonds, and as high quality European government bond yields spiked.
U.S. benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR fell 5/32 in price to yield 1.87 percent, up from 1.85 percent on Wednesday and 1.78 percent on Tuesday.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
NEW YORK - Silver slipped sharply from an 11-month peak on Thursday as a rebound in the dollar prompted traders to cash in earlier gains, while gold also fell from a five-week high hit after comments from the European Central Bank drove the euro higher.
Silver XAG= was up 0.6 percent at $17.03 an ounce by 1811 GMT, off a peak of $17.70, its highest since May. Spot gold XAU= was up 0.4 percent at $1,248.50 an ounce, but was well below an earlier five-week high of $1,270.10. U.S. futures for April delivery GCc1 settled down 0.3 percent at $1,249.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper rose to a four-week high on Thursday, boosted by rising expectations of improving demand growth from China after a string of stronger economic data from the top consumer.
Benchmark copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange finished with a 0.4 percent gain at $5,000 a tonne, having peaked earlier at $5,065 and dipped to a low of $4,930 after funds cut bets on higher commodity prices after New York opened.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - Oil prices fell 3 percent on Thursday, pausing after a two-day rally, after producers from Russia to Saudi Arabia and Iran to Libya hinted at more output amid growing U.S. crude stockpiles.
Brent crude LCOc1 settled down $1.27, or 2.8 percent, at $45.53 a barrel. It had gained 7 percent in two previous sessions. U.S. crude's West Texas Intermediate (WTI) CLc1 slid $1 to $43.18.
For a full report, double click on O/R
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