(Updates figures throughout) ----------------------------------------------------------------
07:07 / 1907 GMT ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Markets
NetChng
NetChng S&P/ASX 200
5,278.89 -44.28 NZSX 50
7,003.12 -19.3 DJIA
17,838.56 +48.89 Nikkei
0.00 +0.00 NASDAQ
4,971.36 +19.11 FTSE
6,185.61 -6.32 S&P 500
2,105.26 +5.93 Hang Seng
20,859.22 +98.24 SPI 200 Fut
5,319.00 +40.00 STI
2,795.09 +4.55 SSEC
2,925.07 +11.56 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Bonds
NetChg
NetChg AU 10 YR Bond
2.251 -0.026 US 10 YR Bond
1.799 -0.047 NZ 10 YR Bond
2.650 -0.005 US 30 YR Bond
2.578 -0.048 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Currencies
1700GMT
1700GMT AUD US$
0.7222 0.7225 NZD US$
0.6808 0.6796 EUR US$
1.1153 1.1193 Yen US$
108.86 109.19 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Commodities Gold (Lon)
1,212.40
Silver (Lon)
15.98 Gold (NY)
1,212.40
Light Crude
49.17 TRJCRB Index
188.03 +1.20 --------------------------------------------------------------- Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - Wall Street closed slightly higher on Thursday as fresh data gave a rosier view of the economy and further gains for healthcare shares countered declines in energy names.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 48.89 points, or 0.27 percent, to 17,838.56, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 5.93 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,105.26 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 19.11 points, or 0.39 percent, to 4,971.36.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - Britain's top share index ended slightly lower on Thursday, with companies such as National Grid NG.L and Marks & Spencer MKS.L falling after trading without the attraction of their latest dividend payouts and energy firms tracking weaker oil prices.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE finished 0.1 percent at 6,185.61 points, dragged down by a 4.6 percent and 2.6 percent fall in National Grid and Marks & Spencer respectively.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japanese stocks suffered their biggest daily percentage drop in a month on Thursday hit by a stronger yen, while global concerns such as the upcoming Brexit vote and worries about Japan's fiscal policies sapped risk appetite.
The Nikkei share average .N225 fell 2.3 percent to 16,562.55, the biggest daily drop since May 2.
For a full report, double click on .T
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SYDNEY - Australian shares are expected to rise on Friday, following a higher lead from Wall St, after fresh data suggested an upbeat outlook for the U.S. economy and the prices of key commodities lifted.
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 advanced 40.0 points to 5,319.0, a 40.1-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close in early Friday trading. A day earlier, the benchmark dipped 44.3 points, or 0.8 percent, to 5,278.9.
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar fell to its lowest against the yen in more than two weeks on Thursday, weighed down by uncertainty over the impact of policy divergence between the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.
The dollar slid 0.9 percent against the yen JPY= to 108.50 yen, its lowest since May 16. That level was 2.5 percent down from a one-month high of 111.45 yen set on Monday.
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury debt yields fell across the board on Thursday, undermined by worries about OPEC failing to agree on oil output, concerns over Britain's future in the EU, and uncertainty ahead of Friday's U.S. non-farm payrolls report.
In late trading, 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR were up 13/32 for a yield of 1.800 percent, from 1.840 percent on Wednesday. U.S. 30-year bonds US30YT=RR rose 31/32, yielding 2.578 percent, from 2.616 percent on Wednesday.
Two-year notes US2YT=RR were flat, with a yield of 0.890 percent.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD - Gold was little changed on Thursday as the dollar turned positive after the European Central Bank said it made only marginal upward adjustments to its inflation projections, while investors remained cautious ahead of U.S. labor data.
Spot gold XAU= was down 0.1 percent at $1,210.96 an ounce by 1:54 p.m. EDT (1754 GMT). U.S. gold futures GCcv1 settled down 0.2 percent at $1,212.60.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Zinc prices rose on Thursday to their highest in nearly 10 months as a flurry of buying based on expectations of tight supplies fuelled upward momentum, but analysts expect optimism to fade as demand weakens.
Benchmark zinc CMZN3 on the London Metal Exchange ended up 0.6 percent at $1,982 a tonne. Earlier on Thursday the metal used to galvanise steel hit $2,004, its highest since July 23.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - Oil prices edged higher on Thursday, with Brent settling above $50 a barrel the first time in seven months, after the latest drawdown in U.S. crude stockpiles offset OPEC's failure to set a ceiling for its output.
Brent futures LCOc1 rose 32 cents, or 0.6 percent, to settle at $50.04, after peaking at $50.30. It was its first settlement above $50 since Nov. 3.
For a full report, double click on O/R
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