----------------------(0840 a.m. India time)------------------ LEVEL NET/CLOSE PCT/YIELD DJIA 15618.22 -20.9 -0.13S&P 500 1762.97 -4.96 -0.28FTSE 6746.84 -16.78 -0.25MSCI Asia-Pac Ex-JP 476.83 -0.48 -0.1Nikkei 14223.82 -1.55 -0.01Euro 1.3488 1.3474 Japanese Yen 98.47 98.49 U.S. Crude 93.88 0.51 Brent 105.92 0.59 Gold 1313.34 1310.99 Silver 21.65 21.65 Copper-LME 7156.25 -4.75 -0.07UST 10-YR 98.609375 2.6623UST 30-YR 97.53125 3.7642 Updates with latest figures EQUITIES NEW YORK - The Dow and the S&P 500 ended lower on Tuesdayfollowing two sessions of gains as investors weighed theimplications of strong economic data for the path of monetarypolicy over the next several months. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 20.90points, or 0.13 percent, at 15,618.22. The Standard & Poor's 500Index was down 4.96 points, or 0.28 percent, at 1,762.97.The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 3.27 points, or 0.08percent, at 3,939.86. For a full report, double click on - - - - LONDON - Britain's top share index weakened on Tuesday, withinsurer RSA sinking after a profit warning while banksalso dropped sharply. The UK benchmark closed down 16.78 points, or 0.3percent, at 6,746.84 points, led down by banking stocks which knocked nearly 13 points off the index. For a full report, double click on - - - - TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average held steady on Wednesday as afall in Fast Retailing Co Ltd after weak October salesoffset gains in companies rebounding from a recent battering onthe back of disappointing quarterly earnings. The Nikkei was steady at 14,222.12 in mid-morningtrade, breaking below its 50-day moving average of 14,239.73. For a full report, double click on - - - - HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares closed at their lowest in aweek on Tuesday, with Chinese financials hurt by fears of morecompetition and the market roiled by hawkish comments fromChina's premier. The Hang Seng Index finished down 0.7 percent at23,039 points, its lowest closing level since Oct. 29. The ChinaEnterprises Index of the top Chinese listings in HongKong shed 0.5 percent. - - - - FOREIGN EXCHANGE SYDNEY - The U.S. dollar maintained a bid tone early in Asiaon Wednesday after an upbeat U.S. report kept alive someexpectations the Federal Reserve might scale back stimulus assoon as next month, while strong domestic jobs data lifted theNew Zealand dollar. The benchmark Treasury yield rose to three-weekhighs around 2.67 percent following the report, helping thedollar rebound against the yen. It fetched 98.55 yen, upfrom Tuesday's low of 98.16. The euro, meanwhile, reversed most of Monday's gains to beback near a two-month trough of $1.3442. It last stood at$1.3472. For a full report, double click on - - - - TREASURIES NEW YORK - Prices for U.S. Treasuries fell on Tuesday asstronger-than-expected U.S. service sector data reinforced theview that the world's biggest economy may have weathered lastmonth's partial government shutdown better than feared. U.S. service sector business activity picked up in October,with the Institute for Supply Management's services index up to55.4 last month despite expectations by economists for a dip to54. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. - - - - COMMODITIES GOLD SINGAPORE - Gold was struggling to shake off its longestlosing streak in nearly six months as doubts persisted over whenthe U.S. Federal Reserve would begin scaling back its stimulusmeasures. The metal has lost about 3 percent since Oct. 28 and haslogged its longest losing run since mid-May, when it dropped 8percent in seven days. Analysts believe gold could break belowthe $1,300 mark ahead of the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report onFriday. For a full report, double click on - - - - BASE METALS SINGAPORE - London copper firmed on Wednesday, but in lowvolumes, with traders reluctant to take positions ahead of a keylabour report from the United States and a key leadershipmeeting in China. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange edged up 0.2 percent to $7,177 a tonne by 0124 GMT, adding to asmall gain in the previous session. For a full report, double click on - - - - OIL NEW YORK - U.S. crude oil futures settled at their lowestpoint in five months on Tuesday, pressured by forecasts forrising supplies and continued weak demand as Gulf Coastrefineries were expected to remain offline at least through theend of this week. U.S. crude has fallen in five out of the past six sessions.Brent crude oil fell on Tuesday after hitting a four-month lowduring the previous session. 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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