Forex News from InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 29-07-16, 03:24

Japan Industrial Output Jumps 1.9% In June

Industrial production in Japan was up 1.9 percent on month in June, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Friday.
That beat forecasts for a gain of 0.5 percent following the 2.6 percent decline in May.
On a yearly basis, output slipped 1.9 percent - also exceeding forecasts for -2.9 percent after easing 0.4 percent in the previous month.
Upon the release of the data, the METI upgraded its assessment of industrial production, saying that it continues to fluctuate indecisively but shows signs of increasing in parts.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 29-07-16, 06:05

Microsoft to Axe 2, 850 More Jobs

Microsoft plans to cut 2, 850 more jobs, adding to the formerly disclosed job cuts as it restructures its sales operation and shuts down its mobile phone hardware business division.

The software company announced the latest lay-off in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday.

A spokesperson said that nine hundred of the job cuts in the global sales division have already been done. Microsoft is projecting the remaining 1, 950 cuts to be completed by 2017. Jobs in the sales organization and mobile phone division will be included in the cuts. The most recent cuts comes after the 1, 850 layoffs in the phone unit disclosed in May.

The job cuts are part of a reorganization that came after COO Kevin Turner's departure from Microsoft, leading to the restructuring of the sales group by Chief Executive Satya Nadella.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 01-08-16, 04:45

South Korea Manufacturing Sector Slows In July - Nikkei

The manufacturing sector in South Korea continued to expand in July, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from Nikkei showed on Monday with a manufacturing PMI score of 50.1.

That's down from 50.5 in June, and it remains just barely above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

Individually, business conditions stagnated following the improvement in June.

Production was barely higher, although job growth picked up.

Total new business declined, but growth of new export work hit an 18-month high.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 01-08-16, 07:05

Sony Advances After Posting Unexpected Profit on PlayStation Games

Sony Corp. advanced the biggest in three weeks after its invigorated games division pushed the Japanese company to beat quarterly results forecast, justifying CEO Kazuo Hirai's shifted emphasis on media and entertainment.

Sony shares gained as much as 3.5% to 3, 397 yen, the biggest recorded jump on an intraday basis since July 11, bringing its gains for the year to a total of 13%.

The company reported a net income of 21.2 billion yen or $205 million in the second quarter, against the expectations of analysts of a 39-billion yen loss. Sony retained its projection of 80 billion yen annual profit.

It was the robust growth of the company's game division that boosted the firm's net income. Its impressive performance has helped investors look beyond the effect of the Kumamoto earthquakes that has closed down the main manufacturing site for components of its digital cameras. Sony also report an unexpected profits in its phone division, reflecting the company's efforts to cut down its mid-range line-up and its withdrawal from unprofitable markets.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 02-08-16, 04:25

Australia Building Approvals Slide 2.9% In June

The total number of building approvals issued in Australia was down a seasonally adjusted 2.9 percent on month in June, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday - coming in at 18,693.

That was well shy of forecasts for an increase of 0.8 percent following the 5.2 percent contraction in May.

Individually, residential building approvals were down 3.4 percent on month, while non-residential approvals slid 2.4 percent.

On a yearly basis, building approvals sank 5.9 percent after sliding 9.1 percent in the previous month.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 03-08-16, 05:13

China Services PMI 51.7 In July - Caixin

The services sector in China continued to expand in July, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from Caixin showed on Wednesday with a services PMI score of 51.7.

That's down from 52.7 in June, although it remains above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

Also, the composite index came in with a reading of 51.9, up from 50.3 in the previous month.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 03-08-16, 07:08

Bitcoin Plunges After Hackers Steal $65 Million from HK Exchange

Bitcoin prices plunged following the breach of one of the largest exchanges that halted trading after hackers stole around $65 million worth of the digital currency.

Bitcoin sagged 5.3% versus the dollar as of 10:17 a.m. in Tokyo Trading, adding up its two-day decline to 13%, with the currency almost down 20% this week. Prices were also down 6.2% on Monday, but it was not sure if the decline was linked to the breach.

Hong-Kong based Bitfinex stopped trading, deposits and withdrawals on Tuesday after recognizing the security breach. It stated that it was probing details and working with authorities, but also admitted that it was a large breach that some bitcoin were stolen from its users. Bitfinex stopped all trading activities in all digital currencies, including the ethereum, but assured participants that losses were restricted only to bitcoin.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 05-08-16, 04:51

Fxwirepro: Aussie Gains Against Major Peers After Rba’s Monetary Policy Statements

AUD/NZD is currently trading around 1.0641 marks.
Pair made intraday high at 1.0647 and low at 1.0619 marks. Intraday bias remains bullish till the time pair holds key support at 1.0623 levels.
In addition, a sustained close above 1.0623 will drag the parity higher towards 1.0727/1.0823/1.0976 (January 2016 high) /1.1062 (30D EMA) /1.1123/1.1298/1.1317 levels respectively.
Alternatively, a sustained break below 1.0588 mark will take the parity down towards key supports around 1.0497, 1.0450, 1.0420, 1.0315(May 05, 2015 low), 1.0261 and 1.0109 marks respectively. Important to note here that in a daily chart, 20D, 30D and 55D EMA heads down and confirms the bearish trend. Current upside movement is short term trend correction only.
RBA: Underlying inflation to remain under 2 pct for much of forecast period, reach 2 pct by end 2018.
RBA: Prospects for economy positive, but low inflation allows for "even stronger growth". RBA says A$ remains significant source of uncertainty for inflation, growth forecasts.
RBA forecasts underlying inflation 1.5 pct by end 2016, 1.5-2.5 pct end 2017, 1.5-2.5 pct end 2018.
RBA forecasts GDP growth 2.5-3.5 pct end 2016, 2.5-3.5 pct end 2017, 3-4 pct end 2018.
RBA says unemployment to fall only a little out to 2018, employment growth to be modest this year.
RBA quarterly statement repeats policy easing to help foster growth, offers no forward guidance.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 06-08-16, 09:13

Fitch Retains Austria's Rating At 'AA+'

Fitch Ratings affirmed sovereign ratings of Austria at 'AA+' with stable outlooks late Friday.

The rating agency said the economic growth is expected to remain on a steady upward trend and average 1.6 percent in 2016-17 after four years of sluggish activity.

The underlying growth is forecast to pick up in 2017 as investment continues its steady recovery and net exports make a positive contribution to growth.

The fiscal deficit was better than expected in 2015 at 1.1 percent of GDP compared with a 1.9 percent target, Fitch said.

Further, the agency estimates Austria's fiscal policy to remain prudent, producing small primary general government surpluses during 2016-2018.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 08-08-16, 06:04

Oil Prices Climb on Revived Output Restrain Talks by OPEC Members

Oil prices advanced on Monday, elevating on reports of revived talks by some members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to curb output.

U.S. WTI crude oil futures climbed 0.5% from their last close, up by 21 cents at $42.01 per barrel while Brent crude futures were up 0.29% by 13 cents at $44.40 per barrel.

The increase in prices were brought on by the renewed calls by several OPEC members to halt production in an effort to restrain output that is persistently outpacing demand. OPEC members including Kuwait, Ecuador and Venezuela are perceived to be behind the renewed talks according to analysts. However, sentiment is continued to be weighed down by the increase in U.S. drilling with rigs operating in the country reported to be currently at its highest number since March.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 09-08-16, 04:06

China CPI +1.8% On Year In July

Consumer prices in China were up 1.8 percent on year in July, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday.

That was in line with expectations and down from 1.9 percent in June.

Prices for food jumped an annual 3.3 percent, while non-food prices added 1.4 percent.

The bureau also said that producer prices were down 1.7 percent on year - exceeding expectations for -2.0 percent after tumbling 2.6 percent in the previous month.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 09-08-16, 06:00

U.S. Stocks Retreat From Record Highs

U.S. equities climbed down from record highs on Monday as losses in healthcare shares pared gains due to elevated oil prices and a strong performance by the U.S. jobs market in July.

The benchmark S&P 500 touched a record intraday high at the beginning of trading day before closing down at 0.09% at 2.180. 89 while the Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.08%, closing at 18, 529.29. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.15% to 5, 213.14.

Seven out of the 10 key S&P indexes slid, with the healthcare group leading the losses. Bristol-Myers led the drop and fell for the second day, losing 4.71% following its statement on Friday that its lung-cancer treatment drug did not pass a vital late-stage study.

Meanwhile, the energy index advanced 1.22% with Exxon Mobil and Schlumberger climbing 1.18% and 1.6% respectively.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 10-08-16, 04:34

Australia Home Loans Add Just 1.2% In June

The total number of dwelling commitments in Australia issued in June was up a seasonally adjusted 1.2 percent on month, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday - coming in at 57,247.

The headline figure was shy of estimates for an increase of 2.3 percent following the upwardly revised 0.8 percent contraction in May (originally -1.0 percent).

Investment lending climbed 3.2 percent to A$11.785 billion after rising 5.3 percent in the previous month.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 10-08-16, 06:12

Dollar Surges to One-Month High Amid Mixed Economic Data

Following mixed U.K. economic data, the dollar has surged to its highest close since July 8 by 0.3 percent against the British pound. The WSJ Dollar Index has dropped to 0.3 percent with 86.63 while the dollar decreased against the Canadian dollar and the Japanese Yen.

A business survey from the U.K. has indicated that the like-for-like sales have grown by 1.1 percent in July however manufacturing data was lower-than-expected while trade gap is expanding. The dollar has prolonged declines against currencies of emerging markets which remain strong, implying that investors believe that the Fed will not raise rates in the upcoming term.

The dollar has reached its lowest level last seen in July 2015 when it was weak against the Brazilian real by 0.9 percent, down by 0.6 percent against the Mexican peso and fell by 1.1 percent against the South African rand.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 11-08-16, 03:46

Singapore GDP Climbs +2.1% On Year In Q2

Singapore's gross domestic product expanded 2.1 percent on year in the second quarter of 2016, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said on Thursday - accelerating from the 1.8 percent gain in the three months prior.

On a quarterly annualized basis, the Singapore economy expanded 0.3 percent - up from 0.2 percent in the previous three months.

Upon the release of the data, the MTI narrowed its GDP forecast for 2016 to 1 to 2 percent from 1 to 3 percent.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 15-08-16, 03:22

New Zealand Services Sector Slows In July

The services sector in New Zealand continued to expand in July, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from Business NZ revealed on Monday with a Performance of Services Index score of 54.2.

That's down from the downwardly revised 56.4 (originally 56.7).

It remains well above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 15-08-16, 06:32

Oil Prices Edge Up on Potential OPEC Production Freezes

Oil prices climbed on Monday on growing speculation that OPEC will take steps to prop up prices in the oversupplied oil market.

Brent crude oil futures traded at $47.13 per barrel, up 16 from their last close while U.S. W.T.I. crude futures climbed by 18 cents at $44.67 a barrel.

Oil prices advanced on heightening speculation of possible freezes in oil production by OPEC members as Saudi Arabia indicated that it is set to talk about steadying the markets at the informal OPEC meeting on September.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 16-08-16, 05:07

Australia New Motor Vehicle Sales Slip 1.3% In July

The total number of new motor vehicle sales in Australia was down a seasonally adjusted 1.3 percent on month in July, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday, coming in at 98,062.

That follows the upwardly revised 3.5 percent increase in June (originally 3.1 percent).

Individually, sales for passenger vehicles added 0.4 percent on month and sales for other vehicles fell 0.4 percent. Sales for sports utility vehicles were flat.

On a yearly basis, new motor vehicle sales were up 1.6 percent after climbing an upwardly revised 2.3 percent in the previous month (originally 2.1 percent).

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 16-08-16, 06:42

Gold Increases Due to Weak Dollar and Economic Data from Japan

Gold prices increased as the weak U.S. dollar and the poor economic data from Asia aided in reversing early losses. Gold for December delivery closed by 0.3 percent with $1,347.50 per troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The data which has shown that Japan's economy has stalled during the second quarter by expanding by an annualized 0.2 percent also supported the precious metal according to ETF Securities' commodities strategist Nitesh Shah. Gold is seen as a haven from currency weakness and inflation and so loose monetary policy will likely increase the demand for the precious metal.

Gold had momentarily increased above $1,360 on Friday following the reporting of the weak U.S. retail sales figures, and had settled lower.

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**InstaForex Gertrude** · 18-08-16, 04:42

Australia Jobless Rate Falls To 5.7% In July

The unemployment rate in Australia was a seasonally adjusted 5.7 percent in July, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.

That beat forecasts for 5.8 percent, which would have been unchanged from the June reading.

The Australian economy added 26,200 jobs in July, blowing past expectations for a gain of 10,000 jobs following the increase of 7,900 jobs in the previous month.

The participation rate came in at 64.9 percent - unchanged and in line with expectations.

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