Foreign Exchange News

By Carolyn Cohn LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Russia's rouble weakened on Monday following its ninth mini-devaluation this month and the Romanian leu hit a four-year low against the euro, as the ongoing global financial crisis battered central and eastern Europe. Emerging equities are down 55 percent this year, heading for their worst year on record and underperforming global equities , as sinking  ...

By Jon Hopkins LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index was up 2.5 percent by midday on Monday, as stronger crude and metal prices lifted heavyweight commodity stocks, while banks and retailers were firmer despite a glum economic picture. By 1140 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 103.25 points at 4,319.84, after losing 1.6 percent last week in a shortened trading week due to Christmas. Activi ...

Fred Mawer, Mail on Sunday29 December 2008 It's easy to come up with a doom-and-gloom list about travel prospects for 2009. With the pound hitting record lows against the euro, many of our most popular holiday destinations - including Spain, Italy and Greece - have become significantly more expensive. Heading downhill: There are bargains to be had on ski holidays WANT TO KNOW MORE? Bag yourself a holiday bargain Currency exchange: Latest tourist rates How to get the best  ...

By Sumeet Chatterjee BANGALORE, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Choppy Indian shares snapped a four-day slide and rebounded 2.2 percent on Monday as investors scooped up beaten down stocks on hopes for a rate cut, while outsourcer Satyam rose in anticipation of moves to shore up investor sentiment. Higher European markets and signs of a positive opening in the United States also helped underpin sentiment, bu ...

HONG KONG, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The following is a snapshot of the Hong Kong foreign exchange and money markets in late trade on Monday. Close Morning Previous Close At 0931 GMT At 0317 GMT At 0825 GMT HK$ SPOT 7.7500/01 7.7502/04 7.7500/01 FORWARDS Three-month -51/-46 -50/-45 -53/-48 Six-month -80/-70  ...

Bill Condie, Evening Standard29 December 2008, 9:31am Chat The pound crashed to a fresh low against the euro today, a fraction away from parity. Short changed: Many bureaux are already offering less than €1 for £1 after fees WANT TO KNOW MORE? Is there a currency sterling is doing well against? Sterling slides closer to parity with euro Investment Extra: Why the writing's on the wall for sterling OTHER STORIES Adams Kids is latest credit crunch victim St ...

By Parvathy Ullatil HONG KONG, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares shares snapped four days of declines to finish 1 percent higher on Monday as rising oil prices lifted commodity stocks, but price movements were exaggerated by slim turnover in another holiday-shortened week. Financial stocks weighed down the broad market on looming concerns over banks' earnings. Offshore oil produ ...

BRATISLAVA, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Monday. SLOVAK NOV PPI WELL BELOW FORECAST Slovak producer prices fell by 0.2 percent on the month in November, putting the annual growth rate of factory-gate costs at 6.7 percent, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Tuesday. Slovak c.bank drains SKK 147 bln in r ...

HONG KONG, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares snapped four days of declines to finish 0.8 percent higher on Monday as rising oil prices lifted commodity stocks, while investors snapped up other select stocks in a bout of year-end window dressing. The Hang Seng Index unofficially closed 112.05 points higher at 14,296.19 after dropping to 13,924.32 earlier. Shares in CITIC Pacific s ...

MOSCOW, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Russia allowed the ninth mini-devaluation of the rouble this month on Monday, bringing the currency's losses for the year to 17 percent as the economy faces the possibility of its first recession in a decade. Russia's central bank began a gradual depreciation of the rouble a month and a half ago due to downward pressure on the currency from slumping oil prices, a ...