Forex News from InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 21-01-16, 05:56

Wall Street slumps to 2014 trough as oil prices hit 2003 lows

Wall Street plummeted as the S&P 500 touched its lowest since October 2014 and US oil prices plunged to 2003 troughs. US crude slid 6.6% as a supply glut affected bearish financial reports, aggravating woes over demand. But a bounce in US oil prices helped counter losses in stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 15,766.74 points, down 1.56%. The Nasdaq Composite ended at 4,471.69, down 0.12%. The S&P 500 settled at 1,859.33, down 1.17%. Also, the CBOE volatility index was at 27.59, up 5.9%.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 22-01-16, 05:36

Taiwan Dec Jobless Rate Rises More Than Expected

Taiwan's unemployment rate increased more-than-expected December, figures from the Directorate General of Budget Accounting and Statistics, or DGBAS, showed Friday. The seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose to 3.88 percent in December from 3.84 percent in November. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to climb marginally to 3.85 percent. The number of unemployed people grew to 453,000 in December from 449,000 in the previous month. A year ago, the jobless figure totaled 442,000. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate held steady for the second straight month in December at 58.67 percent. On an unadjusted basis, the unemployment rate came in at 3.87 percent in December, down from 3.91 percent a month earlier.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 26-01-16, 08:20

Franc Little Changed After Swiss Trade Data

Swiss Federal Customs Administration published foreign trade data for December in the pre-European session on Tuesday at 2:00 am ET. After the data, the Swiss franc changed little against its major rivals. As of 2:01 am ET, the Swiss franc was trading at 1.0993 against the euro, 1.4393 against the pound, 1.0128 against the U.S. dollar and 116.33 against the yen.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 27-01-16, 06:34

OPEC, Russia discuss likely joint action on supply glut

Senior OPEC and Russian officials talked over a potential joint act to resolve one of the worst supply gluts in decades. But Saudi Arabia implied its stance to letting the oil market rebalance itself. OPEC Secretary General Abdalla El-Badri said other producers should cooperate in order to settle oversupply for prices to recuperate. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries previously said it would only consider reducing output if others pledge to do so. So far, Russia has refused to collaborate, saying its fields and weather conditions are not similar to those in the Gulf region even as prices below $30 a barrel are way below what they need to break even.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 28-01-16, 03:43

Federal Reserve leaves rates unchanged, accounts market selloff

The Federal Reserve, acknowledging a stock market selloff, kept interest rates unchanged and would closely monitor global economic and financial improvements, saying it cannot afford to ditch a plan to tighten this year's monetary policy. The decision by the Federal Open Market Committee was widely anticipated following stock markets in the United States and around the globe sustained month-long plunge, raising concerns a sudden global slowdown could dent US growth. In a statement, policymakers, after their two-day meeting, will be looking into the effects of global economic and financial growths in inflation and job market.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 28-01-16, 06:54

Singapore Employment Logs Slowest Growth Since 2003

Singapore's employment increased at the slowest annual pace in 12 years on sluggish global economic conditions and weak performance of city-state economy, data published by the Ministry of Manpower showed Thursday. Total employment advanced 31,800 or 0.9 percent in 2015, which was the weakest expansion since 2003. In the fourth quarter, total employment grew 15,500 from the previous quarter when it rose 12,600. The ministry said total employment growth has moderated amidst weaker economic conditions and tightened supply of foreign manpower. Further, data showed that local employment increased marginally by an estimated 100 or zero percent in 2015, after growing strongly by 96,000 in 2014. Meanwhile, foreign employment, excluding foreign domestic workers, continued to grow at a moderate pace of an estimated 22,600, or 2 percent in 2015. The jobless rate slid to 1.9 percent in December quarter from 2 percent in September quarter. It was forecast to remain at 2 percent. For the whole of 2015, the annual average unemployment rate was broadly unchanged since 2011, at 1.9 percent.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 29-01-16, 06:45

Facebook glides Wall Street higher

The Wall Street soared as Facebook Inc.'s stellar quarterly report bolstered tech stocks higher and a leap in oil prices lifted up the energy sector. The social media company shares surged 15.5%, its largest one-day bounce since 2013, as digital advertising soared 52% in fourth quarter revenue. The S&P tech sector rose 1.48% as Alphabet advanced 4.28%. The S&P energy sector climbed 3.15% as oil prices increased almost 3%. Earnings from Facebook and other companies, as well as oil prices rebound were the forces behind most of the day's improved sentiment. But investors cautioned the accelerations could be short-lived.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 01-02-16, 05:21

China PMI narrows than projected in January

China's manufacturing sector activity constricted more than predicted in January, weaker than the preceding month. Official figures showed Purchasing Managers' Index settled at 49.4 last month from 49.7 in December. Chinese economic growth skidded to 6.9% in the past year, its slowest expansion in 25 years, pressuring policymakers to renew confidence of traders in the country.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 05-02-16, 06:39

Obama to proffer $10 per barrel tax on crude oil

Next week, President Barack Obama will unveil a proposal to levy $10 a barrel on crude oil which would finance the rebuilding of the country's transportation infrastructure. According to the White House, the new tax would enable Obama's plan to create a precise concession for private sector transformation to invest in clean energy technologies and cut the country's dependence on oil. Legislators in the Congress, however, swifty criticized Obama's proposal. Obama has emphasized the United States must stop subsidizing fossil fuels and concentrate on clean fuels which do not worsen climate change.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 11-02-16, 07:09

Yen Rises Against Majors

The Japanese yen strengthened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday. The yen rose to more than a 2-year high of 163.84 against the pound and a 16-month high of 112.53 against the U.S. dollar, from yesterday's closing quotes of 164.56 and 113.32, respectively. Against the euro, the Swiss franc and the Canadian dollar, the yen advanced to 3-week highs of 127.35, 115.93 and 80.89 from yesterday's closing quotes of 127.96, 116.39 and 81.35, respectively. Against the Australian and the New Zealand dollars, the yen climbed to 2-day highs of 80.17 and 75.36 from yesterday's closing quotes of 80.38 and 75.73, respectively. If the yen extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 162.00 against the pound, 111.00 against the greenback, 126.00 against the euro, 114.00 against the franc, 78.00 against the loonie, 79.00 against the aussie and 73.00 against the kiwi.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 15-02-16, 04:48

Japan GDP Slides 1.4% On Year In Q4

Japan's gross domestic product contracted an annualized 1.4 percent on year in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Cabinet Office said in Monday's preliminary reading. That missed forecasts for a decline of 0.8 percent following the upwardly revised 1.3 percent increase in the third quarter (originally 1.0 percent). On a quarterly basis, GDP was down 0.4 percent - also shy of expectations for a decline of 0.2 percent following the 0.3 percent gain in the three months prior. Nominal GDP slipped 0.3 percent on quarter versus expectations for a fall of 0.1 percent following the upwardly revised 0.6 percent increase in the previous three months (originally 0.4 percent). The GDP deflator advanced 1.5 percent on year - also beneath forecasts for 1.6 percent and down from 1.8 percent in the third quarter. Private consumption tumbled 0.8 percent on quarter versus forecasts for a fall of 0.6 percent after gaining 0.4 percent in the previous three months. Capital expenditure gained 1.4 percent on quarter - topping expectations for a decline of 0.2 percent and accelerating from the 0.7 percent increase in the three months prior. Domestic demand shaved 0.5 percentage points from GDP growth, while net exports added 0.1 point.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 15-02-16, 08:27

Singapore Airlines expects global economic weakness to dent premium traffic

Singapore Airlines is expecting weakness in the global economy to affect its premium air traffic, its chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong said on Monday. Phonh said, "we are still seeing the demand in this segment on our routes anyway, to be fairly strong”. SIA's business model hinges on using its hub at Singapore's Changi Airport to connect passengers within Asia and to Europe, Australia and the U.S.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 16-02-16, 05:15

Canadian Dollar Rises Against Most Majors

The Canadian dollar strengthened against most majors in the Asian session on Tuesday. The Canadian dollar rose to near 2-week highs of 1.3773 against the U.S. dollar and 1.5372 against the euro, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.3832 and 1.5428, respectively. Against the yen, the loonie advanced to a 1-week high of 83.24 from yesterday's closing value of 82.79. If the loonie extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 1.36 against the greenback, 1.49 against the euro and 87.00 against the yen.

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**Instaforex Bella** · 19-02-16, 09:33

Fed mulls changing plans over rate hikes - minutes

Federal Reserve officials once considered changing their game plan on raising interest rates throughout this year, based on the minutes of their latest meeting. The minutes also showed policymakers were concerned a global economic degeneration could affect the United States and agreed the uncertainty had escalated since their decision to increase rates in December. Members unanimously voted to hike rates by 25 basis points last year for the first time since 2006. Since then, oil prices have continued to decline and global stock markets have been more volatile. Some officials felt they need to wait to further raise rates due to rigid economic conditions to ensure the US economic outlook is not dwindling and inflation is not below their 2% target.

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**Instaforex Bella** · 22-02-16, 09:35

Russia: Oil output may hit worst price despite OPEC talks

Russia's oil production may slide 14% in the next five to ten years amid initial agreement with Saudi Arabia to freeze crude output at January levels to bolster crude prices. The country's Energy Ministry said oil output may decline to 460 million metric tons in 2020-2025 from 534 million metric tons a year ago. In a worst case scenario, the ministry emphasized oil prices would stay at approximately $31 to $33 per barrel between 2016 and 2017, rebounding to $42 per barrel in 2020. That scenario presumed demand in China and other Asian countries dwindles on degenerating economic expansion, the United States raises shale output, and Middle East nations bolster cheap supplies. Russia has been contending with its longest recession in two decades as slumping oil prices and global sanctions have dented its economy over the Ukrainian crisis.

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**Instaforex Bella** · 24-02-16, 09:47

Fed official cautions on scrambling for government-only US funds

A top Federal Reserve official warned converting US money funds to government-only from prime could be steeply reverted and affect the general policy implementation when a new tool is gradually ditched. New York Fed Markets Group Head Simon Potter said money funds, a tool wrenching interest rates from close to zero, are only interim. Over 100 funds have secured an access to overnight repurchase facility rendering a 0.25% short-term yield on cash. Many of them are scrambling to make the change in recent months. The Securities and Exchange Commission has given them until October to redeem prime funds. Published: 2016-02-23 01:19:00 UTC+00 BACK TO NEWS LIST

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 01-03-16, 05:20

Taiwan Manufacturing Sector Turns To Contraction - Nikkei

The manufacturing sector in Taiwan swung to contraction in February, the latest revision from Nikkei showed on Tuesday with a PMI score of 49.4. That was down from 50.6 in January, and it slips beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction. Among the individual components of the survey, output and new orders both contracted for the first time in three months. Outstanding work declined at its fastest rate since August, while deflationary pressures eased but remain marked.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 03-03-16, 03:55

China Services Sector Slows In February - Caixin

The services sector in China continued to expand in February, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from Caixin showed on Thursday with a PMI score of 51.2. That's down from 52.4 in January, although it remains above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction. Among the individual components, new business growth slowed, while new orders continued to decline and new business was roughly unchanged. The composite index came in with a score of 49.4, down from 50.1 in the previous month.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 03-03-16, 05:48

Citigroup hires two execs from Goldman for senior roles

Citigroup Inc has hired Quentin Andre as head of global structured sales and Dirk Keijer as head of equity derivative sales for Europe, the Middle-East and Africa (EMEA), both joined from Goldman Sachs, the company said. Andre spent five years at Goldman serving as managing director and head of EMEA equity and fund derivatives structuring & marketing, as well as head of cross-asset systematic strategies Keijer was managing director, head of equity derivatives sales for Europe at Goldman.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 04-03-16, 03:43

Australia Retail Sales Add 0.3% In January

The total value of retail sales in Australia was up a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent on month in January, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Friday - coming in at A$24.834 billion. That was shy of forecasts for an increase of 0.4 percent following the flat reading in December. There were rises in other retailing (1.4 percent), household goods retailing (1.0 percent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.0 percent) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.1 percent). Food retailing (-0.2 percent) and department stores (-1.3 percent) both fell in January. There were rises in New South Wales (0.5 percent), Queensland (0.3 percent), South Australia (0.4 percent), Western Australia (0.2 percent), Tasmania (1.0 percent), the Australian Capital Territory (0.7 percent) and the Northern Territory (1.3 percent). Victoria (0.0 percent) was relatively unchanged in January 2016. Online retail turnover contributed 2.9 percent to total retail turnover.

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