----------------------(0830 a.m. India time)------------------ LEVEL NET/CLOSE PCT/YIELDDJIA 15593.98 -152.9 -0.97S&P 500 1747.15 -23.34 -1.32FTSE 6697.22 -44.47 -0.66MSCI Asia-Pac Ex-JP 472.15 -2.55 -0.54Nikkei 14104.73 -123.71 -0.87Euro 1.3406 1.3418 Japanese Yen 98.22 98.08 U.S. Crude 94.46 0.26 Brent 103.34 -0.12 Gold 1308.39 1307.55 Silver 21.65 21.64 Copper-LME 7163.25 18.25 0.26UST 10-YR 99.140625 2.6UST 30-YR 98.546875 3.7075 Updates with latest figures EQUITIES NEW YORK - Frenzied buying in Twitter shares grabbed WallStreet's attention on Thursday, as the social media stock surgedwell above expectations, while major indexes fell, with the S&P500 suffering its worst daily decline since August. The broader market was hurt by weak earnings from Whole Foodsand Qualcomm. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index recorded its biggestdaily decline in a month. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 152.90points, or 0.97 percent, at 15,593.98. The Standard & Poor's 500Index was down 23.34 points, or 1.32 percent, at1,747.15. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 74.61points, or 1.90 percent, at 3,857.33. For a full report, double click on - - - - LONDON - Britain's benchmark equity index fell for the thirdstraight session on Thursday, which traders attributed to a risein sterling against the euro that could hit UK exporters. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed down by 0.7percent, or 44.47 points, to 6,697.22 points - underperformingother major European stock markets such as Germany's DAX, which rose to reach record highs. For a full report, double click on - - - - TOKYO - Japanese stocks tumbled to one-month lows on Fridaymorning after a sharp drop on Wall Street dented risk appetite,keeping investors on the defensive ahead of a crucial U.S. jobsreport later in the day. The benchmark Nikkei dropped 0.9 percent to14,096.96 in mid-morning trade, after falling to 14,026.17earlier, the lowest since Oct 9. The Nikkei remains below14,193.99, a 50 percent retracement of its May high to its Junelow. For a full report, double click on - - - - HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares closed at their lowest sincelate October on Thursday, as losses for Chinese financialsdeepened following media reports about possible reforms aCommunist Party policy meeting starting this weekend might push. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.7 percent to 22,881.0points, its lowest closing since Oct. 29. The China EnterprisesIndex of the top Chinese listings in Hong Kong sank 0.8percent. For a full report, double click on - - - - FOREIGN EXCHANGE SYDNEY - The euro struggled in early Asian trade after theEuropean Central Bank's surprise interest rate cut sent thesingle currency plunging to near eight-week lows, but thedollar's gains were tempered ahead of the key U.S. payrollsreport later on Friday. The euro was down about 0.1 percent in early Asiantrade at $1.3407, after falling as low as $1.3295 on Thursday,according to Reuters data, matching the low set on Sept. 16. For a full report, double click on - - - - TREASURIES NEW YORK - Prices for U.S. Treasuries rose on Thursday on asurprise rate cut by the European Central Bank and concern aboutfuture U.S. economic growth. U.S. growth picked up in the third quarter, but slowergrowth in consumer spending during the period suggested theeconomy could be losing momentum. Inventory gains accounted for 0.8 percentage point of the2.8 percent growth, suggesting third-quarter growth could evolveto slower growth in the fourth quarter. For a full report, double click on - - - - COMMODITIES GOLD SINGAPORE - Gold was trading near three-week lows on Fridayand heading for a second straight weekly loss, after strong U.S.economic growth sparked fears the U.S. Federal Reserve may scaleback its bullion-friendly bond purchases this year. Spot gold was up 0.1 percent at $1,308.86 an ounce by0015 GMT, after a near 1 percent drop in the previous session.The metal is down 0.5 percent for the week. For a full report, double click on - - - - BASE METALS SINGAPORE - London copper was little changed on Friday butwas set to notch up its biggest weekly fall in two months assupply growth outpaces demand that has been pinned back byfragile U.S. economic growth and tightening credit in China. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange edged up by 0.1 percent to $7,155 a tonne by 0116 GMT. For a full report, double click on - - - - OIL NEW YORK - Brent crude oil futures slid nearly two percenton Thursday, posting a third straight day of losses, as a strongdollar and progress in talks between Iran and the West overTehran's disputed nuclear program pressured prices. Brent lost $1.78, or 1.7 percent, to settle at$103.46 a barrel, losing $2 at one point to trade as low as$103.24, its lowest mark since July 2. The contract has fallenby more than two percent this week and is on track for itsfourth straight weekly decline. For a full report, double click on
LONDON BRIEFING: InterContinental Hotels makes first-quarter progress
(Alliance News) - London's FTSE 100 is called to open higher on Friday, on the expectation of a softer US jobs report, which could take some sting out of hawkish Federal Reserve interest rate expectations.
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