Asian Markets are set to open mixed after European stocks fell for a ninth consecutive day. Trading volumes were generally light due to the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday, but Europe’s problems are still weighing heavily on the markets which are open.
Overnight Euro-zone giants Germany and France vowed to propose changes to EU governing treaties Thursday, but Chancellor Angela Merkel stood by her refusal to widen the European Central Bank’s role. France had urged Berlin to allow the ECB to become a lender of last resort, with the firepower to protect debt-ridden euro-zone members from falling victim to the bond markets, but the German leader stood firm at crisis talks.
The EURUSD (see chart above) fell to a new six-week low against the dollar Thursday after French, German and Italian leaders agreed not to widen the role of the European Central Bank to support weaker euro-zone states. The European single currency sank as low as $1.3316, its lowest since Oct. 6. Prices Last traded at 1.3350.
WTI Oil Futures rose from the lowest price in two weeks after a surprise drop in U.S. stockpiles, and as an unexpected advance in German business confidence countered concern that Europe’s debt crisis will trigger a recession. New York futures gained as much as 1.1%. Crude inventories declined last week to the lowest since January 2010, according to an Energy Department report yesterday. Prices last traded at $97.03/barrel.
Gold were closed the day with little change, prices did fluctuate between $1680 & $1702. Prices last traded at 1698.80
INDICES
Last Traded
SPI 200 future 4050
S&P500 Index 1161.79
Dow Jones 11257.50
FTSE 100 Index 5127.57
COMMODITIES
Last Traded
Gold 1698.80
Oil (Nymex) 97.03
CURRENCIES
Last Traded
AUDUSD 0.9735
EURUSD 1.3350
GBPUSD 1.5498
USDJPY 77.12
Source
Bloomberg, Dow Jones News