Dollar and Bonds Surge

Asian markets extended their declines on Wednesday in very thin trading. Korea’s Kospi skidded .9% to 1825, the Nikkei edged down .2%, and the ASX 200 dropped 1.3%. The Hang Seng closed down .6% to 18519, while the Shanghai Composite managed a slight .2% gain.

European markets fell, pressured by an ECB report showing banks were increasingly depositing cash with the central bank, rather than lend to each other. The DAX tumbled 2%, the CAC40 slid 1%, and Italy’s MIB declined .7%. The FTSE closed flat, as gains in retailers offset losses from other sectors. An auction of 6-month Italian bonds was a major success, with yields dropping to 3.25%, compared to 6.5% just one month ago.

US stocks dropped sharply, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 both dropping 1.3%, and the Dow losing 140 points to 12151.

Currencies

The Dollar surged, while European currencies plunged. The Euro dropped 1% to 1.2935, hitting a 1-year low, the Pound fell 1.4% to 1.5448, and the Swiss Franc sank .9% to 1.0607. The Australian Dollar declined .6% to 1.0090, and the Canadian Dollar slid .5% to 1.0244. The Yen slipped fractionally to 77.92.

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Economic Outlook

Thursday’s economic calendar will include weekly unemployment claims, Chicago PMI, pending home sales, and weekly oil inventories.

Stocks Rally as Housing Market Recovers

Equities

Asian markets traded mostly lower in anxious anticipation of an Italian auction for 10-year notes, later in the day. The Nikkei eased .3% to 8399, the ASX 200 closed down .4%. Korea’s Kospi ended flat, despite a disappointing factory output report. The Hang Seng slid .7% to 18398, while China’s Shanghai Composite managed a slight gain of .2%.

Meanwhile, European markets rallied, lifted by upbeat US economic data. The CAC40 jumped 1.8%, the DAX advanced 1.3%, and the FTSE rose 1.1%. Italy succeeded in selling 7 billion Euros of 10-year notes at 6.98%, an improvement from November’s 7.56% rate, but still incredibly high.

US stocks rose, with the Dow climbing 136 points to 12287. The S&P 500 gained 1.1%, and the Nasdaq closed up .9%.

Currencies

The Dollar traded moderately lower against most currencies. The Euro recovered from a morning drop down to 1.2860, to settle at 1.2963, up .2%. The Canadian Dollar and Swiss Franc rose .3%, and the Yen gained .4% to 77.64. The British Pound declined .2% to 1.5416, but was well off its intraday low of 1.5364.

Economic Outlook

Pending home sales surged 7.3% in the last month, blowing past analyst expectations for a 1.7% gain. Chicago PMI was reported at 62.5, better than expected. Less impressively, weekly jobless claims were worse than the 372K forecast, rising to 381K from last week’s 366K.

Global Stocks Trade Mixed on Final Day of the Year

Equities

Asian markets closed mixed on the last trading day of the year, but were sharply lower than their 2010 settling prices. The Nikkei gained .7% to 8455, closing the year down 17%. Australia’s ASX 200 slipped .4%, declining 14.5% in 2011. In China, the Shanghai Composite jumped 1.2%, but dropped 22% for the year. The Hang Seng edged up .2%, a minor change to the index’s 20% drop in 2011.

In Europe, the major indexes enjoyed moderate gains. The CAC40 climbed 1%, the DAX advanced .9%, and the FTSE edged up .1%. For the year, the indexes fell 18%, 15%, and 6% respectively. Regional banks were the biggest losers, shedding almost 40% over the past year.

US stocks closed lower in light trading. The Dow fell 69 points to 12218, trimming its 2011 gain to 5.5%. The Nasdaq eased .3%, slipping 1.8% for the year, and the S&P 500 closed down .4%, ending flat for 2011.



After a Wild Ride, S&P 500 Ends 2011 Exactly Where it Began

American Airlines parent, AMR, tumbled 32% on news the company would be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, after filing for bankruptcy last month.

Currencies

The Yen surged .9% to 76.91, and the Pound rallied .8% to 1.5543, as the Dollar traded lower. The Australian Dollar gained .7% to 1.0209, and the Swiss Franc edged up .2% to 1.0660. The Euro closed flat at 1.2961.

Economic Outlook

Tuesday’s major reports will include the ISM manufacturing index, constructions spending, and the minutes from the last FOMC meeting. No major earnings reports are scheduled.

Stocks Surge on Opening Day of 2012

Equities

The year opened strongly for Asian markets, as investors were encouraged by upbeat Chinese PMI data. The Kospi surged 2.7% to 1875, and the ASX 200 climbed 1.1%, with materials stocks leading the gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2.4% to 18877, as petroleum stocks rallied more than 4%. Markets in Japan and China were closed for holidays.

European markets gained as well, boosted in the afternoon by strong US data. The FTSE advanced 2.3%, the DAX rallied 1.5%, and the CAC40 rose .7%.

US stocks posted strong gains as well. The Dow jumped 180 points to 12397, the Nasdaq rallied 1.7%, and the S&P 500 climbed 1.6%.

Currencies

Investor optimism pressured the US Dollar, which fell across the board against major currencies. The largest gainer was the Australian Dollar, which traded up 1.3% to 1.0371. The Euro and Pound gained .9% to 1.3050 and 1.5648 respectively, while the Canadian Dollar and Swiss Franc rallied .8%. The Yen had a smaller .3% gain to 76.65.

Economic Outlook

In the US, the ISM manufacturing index rose to 53.9 from 52.7, slightly more than expected. Constructions spending rebounded after last month’s .2% decline, climbing 1.2%.

Upbeat Economic Data Helps US Markets Erase Losses

Equities

Asian markets traded mixed on Wednesday, following Tuesday’s advance. For the gainers, the Nikkei rallied 1.2% to 8560, and the ASX 200 surged 2.1%, as mining giant BHP Billiton soared 4.1%. On the losing side, the Kospi declined .5%, the Shanghai Composite sank 1.4%, and the Hang Seng slid .8%

European banks tumbled 3.6%, weighing on the region’s indexes. The CAC40 slumped 1.6%, the DAX fell .9%, and the FTSE declined .6%. News that Italy’s largest bank, UniCredit, will need to raise 8 billion euros to meet capital requirements, pressured financials.

US markets traded lower at the open, but erased their losses as the day progressed. The Dow rose 21 points to 12418, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended flat.



Dow Erases Morning Losses to Close Higher

Yahoo shares dropped 3.1% after naming Scott Thompson as its new CEO. Kodak shares tumbled 28% on news the company is headed for bankruptcy.

Currencies

The Euro fell .9% to 1.2942, the Swiss Franc dropped 1% to 1.0620, and the Pound eased .2% to 1.5618, as debt fears hit European currencies. The Yen and Australian Dollar settled flat, while the Canadian Dollar ticked down .1% to 1.0124.

Economic Outlook

Vehicle sales remained at an annualized rate of 13.6 million, slightly above expectations, and factory orders increased by 1.8% after last month’s .2% decline.