Foreign Exchange News

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The euro continued to gain thanks to expectations its yield differential against other leading currencies will continue to improve. Inflation figures out this week are expected to support the view that euro zone interest rates will remain elevated to ward off price pressures, while prices in the UK and US should be benign enough for those countries' central banks to c ...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The euro hit a new all-time high against the pound at 0.7600 stg on expectations that interest rates will drop faster this year in the UK than in the euro zone. The Bank of England is widely expected to cut interest rates at its next policy meeting in February, whereas the European Central Bank is forecast to stay on hold for the foreseeable future. Economic data thi ...

Investec, the international specialist banking group, has found that wealthier clients looking to purchase a property via a mortgage, are seeking loans with a difference. Many of the bank’s clients can be described as “high net-worth individuals” and this group has shown a strong interest in the bank’s multi-currency mortgage. This particular product allows for flexibility, but also entails a certain amount of risk. The loan is secured against a UK property but can be  ...

Asia-Pacific region markets were up to end the week on Friday. Australia’s markets saw gains after seven consecutive days of declines. The Sydney Ordinaries added 1.03 percent to 6,309.4 while the S&P/ASX200 was up 1.13 percent to 6,247. In Taiwan, the Taiex was 1.07 percent higher to 7,941.44. The Shanghai Composite gained 1.15 percent to 5,101.78 while the Straits Times index was up 1.21 percent to 3,398.1 in Singapore. South Korea’s Kospi index added 1.84 percent to 1,878.32 while t ...

European markets dropped Friday on bad news concerning employment from the United States. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was down 1.82 percent to 1,457.76. The Dax fell 1.26 percent to 7 ,808.69 in Frankfurt while Madrid’s IBEX was 1.71 percent lower to 14,602.3 and the Paris CAC-40 dropped 1.79 to 5,446.79. London’s markets were also lower as the FTSE 100 fell 2.02 percent to 6,348.5 and the FTSE 250 dropped 2.61 percent to 10,265.5. Wall Street was lower in mid-afternoon trade after new data showe ...

Equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region were mixed on Tuesday. Gainers included the Sensex, which added 0.29 percent to 20,873.33 in India. Taiwan’s Taiex was likewise higher, was up 1.01 percent to 7,962.91 after dropping more than 4 percent on Monday. In Tokyo, markets saw their first gains of the new year as the Nikkei 225 gained 0.19 percent to 14,528.67. The Topix index was 0.74 percent higher to 1,403.06 while the Mothers market of small and mid-caps jumped 1.47 percent to 747.84.  ...

European equities were lower on the day Wednesday. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was down 1.17 percent to 1,449.72. Madrid’s IBEX was 0.46 percent lower to 14,603.5 while the Dax fell 0.86 percent to 7,782.71 and the Paris CAC-40 dropped 1.1 percent to 5,435.42. London’s markets also saw declines, with the FTSE 100 down 1.32 percent to 6,272.7 and the FTSE 250 falling 1.94 percent to 9,964. The 250 lost nearly 200 points on the day. Most equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region saw gains on Wed ...

The price of gold has reached yet another all-time high, hitting $904.60 an ounce, as investors seek a haven from any potential US recession. Gold prices have also risen on the back of expectations of further cuts in US interest rates. The weak dollar has also boosted the metal, as this makes it cheaper for holders of other currencies. With platinum also hitting a new high, some analysts are now predicting that gold prices could reach $910 an ounce. 'Uncharted territory' "There is blue sky ...

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The dollar has started the week on the backfoot as inflation figures this week around the world are expected to highlight the US currency's yield disadvantage in the months ahead. Analysts said these readings are likely to go a long way to determining how the world's central banks are going to act in the weeks and months ahead. "With expected interest rate diffe ...

(Updates prices, adds details) LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Gold set a series of record highs above 900 usd per ounce and as the dollar stayed under pressure and as wider economic woes fuelled investment into the metal as a safe haven. The precious metal's latest high is 910.75 usd per ounce. Expectations the US Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate by half a percentage point this mon ...