Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Pending Homes drops 5.6%



Pending home sales is one of the main inflation indicators in any economy sense, it measures consumers’ willingness and ability to pay their money to buy new homes and sign real estate contracts.

As high as the pending Home sales as higher the economy health, and vice versa.

Recently October 2013, pending home sales declined by 5.6% the biggest one-month decline in three years, which indicated the strong inflation in U.S. that will result  mortgages to get high, same as consumer prices, as well as the interest rates to new loans.
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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Crude Oil gains after satisfactory Industrial production results


WTI gains after Industrial production declining in U.S. reaching satisfactory levels counting the critical events in the period of late September and early October. A bit higher Industrial production than expected gave investors a hope in U.S economy again and increased the demand on WTI for trading which gave it a push to gain some points reaching $98.79 per barrel $1.01 per barrel higher than the day before - when recorded downward graph for the whole day - to stay on trading average $98.45 per barrel most of the day.  

Today, WTI started at the level of $98.42 per barrel almost the same range with yesterday’s average trading price swinging between $98.51 and $98.22 per barrel as day’s recorded high and low following the same bullish trend as 24 hours ago.

This upward wave expected to stay till the weekend waiting Chinas production index to know exactly what is the next move sense China decreased its crude oil bill of October so that what pulled oil prices down for this week.
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Monday, October 28, 2013

Gold aiming new heights

Two months in that uncertain global situation gave the gold a push as the safest investment during that time some governments found that risky to keep their gold reserves; in September Russia reduced its reserves by 0.37 metric tons for the first time in a year. 


But that was not enough to hit gold price so the opposite countries raise their reserves i.e. Turkey, Mexico, Canada and Kazakhstan. 

Turkey reserves rose during October by 2.9 metric tons reaching 490.3 tons, the highest in 2 years, so as Kazakhstan’s central bank raised its reserves by another 2.52 metric tons reaching 137.04 tons as five years high bullion. Canada and Mexico also raised their bullions by 0.1 metric tons. 

Today, Gold is showing another Bullish trend again after Friday’s fall which reached $1354.34 per ounce as today’s high, and $1352.98 per ounce as trading average price.

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Friday, October 25, 2013

3M Shares on life time high



The 3M Company, formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation with $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 88,000 people worldwide and produces more than 55,000 products, including: adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electronic materials, medical products, car-care products (sun films, polish, wax, car shampoo, treatment for the exterior, interior and the under chassis rust protection), electronic circuits, and optical films. 3M has operations in more than 65 countries - 29 international companies with manufacturing operations and 35 companies with laboratories.




3M Shares scoring life time high after five years gain on $124.88 per share and 2:1 P/E ratio for three months holding – one of the highest P/E ratios in stock market – especially with U.S. total economy problems, but that can be for the worldwide market expansion during the last three years, 3M chairman said that “we are going for the best but we did better than we thought”.  3M Shares now trading at $123.35 per share with increasing demand from investors to raise the total traded volume from 6% of total outstanding shares to 9.5% during the last three days for short term investment.

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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Crude Oil at five months low


Days after U.S. debt problem and raising the debt ceiling China (the second biggest oil consumer) announced that they will decrease Chinese GDP levels to reduce their oil consumption.
Due to past five weeks WTI face continues retreatment to lose more than $10.40 per barrel, which came before Brazilian Libra Oil field auction for its new oil deposits started and became more obvious after that.


Today October 23rd, Crude Oil started trading at $101.04 per barrel drawing inclined chart $101.21 per barrel as day high which gave investors a good sign as a bullish trend against the last weeks trend, but a while after that a bearish trend started recording new lows down over reaching the Five months low at $96.23 per barrel, with around 5% difference between day’s high and low the market still taking the same downward trend to expand that gap.

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Unemployment rate at 4 Years low

Since January 2009, U.S. unemployment rate falls to 7.2% which is the lowest rate  and it is a good start for the federal government after the shutdown. But as the main economic statement says, “The more the supply the low the payoff and vice versa”, reducing the payroll rate 1%, while Non-farm report shows a slide down by 12.4% , is the biggest since May this year.

 


 

After a sluggish period last week Gold rose 1.2% in minutes scoring nineteen days high $1335.2 per ounce, then retreated to $1329.85. Euro rose around 75 points reaching eight months high at the rate of 1.3742. And still going forward in narrow channel, in the same region Sterling got new high against U.S. Dollar at 1.6212, which may be the week’s early high.
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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

WTI suffering for the second day

WTI suffering for the second day


For the second day West Texas Intermediate is under $100 per barrel, as traded yesterday at $101.21 per barrel as the day high, then fall scoring $99.28 per barrel as the day low, with average trading price $99.80 per barrel, today can be the worst in seven weeks, as the market opened at $99.37 per barrel which is lower than Monday closing price scoring late high at $99.57 per barrel.




That perhaps due to the low demand on WTI delivery, which came with the Brazilian Auction about two new giant fields in the deep water.  Many companies battling for that contract, those called Libra field contains more than 12 billion barrels or China’s three years consumption.

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Monday, October 21, 2013

Non-Farm Payroll

Non-Farm Payroll

As a definition can be simplified as a statistic researched, recorded and reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics intended to represent the total number of paid U.S. workers of any business, excluding the following employees:


  •  general government employees
  •  private household employees
  •  employees of nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to    individuals 
  •  farm employee

This monthly report also includes estimates on the average work week and the average weekly earnings of all non-farm employees. 
The total nonfarm payroll accounts for approximately 80% of the workers who produce the entire gross domestic product of the United States. The nonfarm payroll statistic is reported monthly, on the first Friday of the month, and is used to assist government policy makers and economists determine the current state of the economy and predict future levels of economic activity.


Due to U.S. governmental sixteen days shutdown non-farm payroll report result delayed for eighteen days to be announced tomorrow October 22, 2013 at GMT 12:30 P.M. with bad expectations to rise around 10K over the last figure of 169K which means more unemployed people in the non-farm sectors putting more pressure over U.S. government shoulders to find a solution.

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Friday, October 18, 2013

Two days after the government open

With lack and confusing information the deal between congress members and the white house, the government opened after sixteen days of closing operations. Which had inflicted completely unnecessary damage on the U.S. economy; this is the second day opening back. More than 800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand) of federal employees brought back to their positions, parks, and museums opened their doors for the public yesterday. Thus everything gone as nothing been closed, the inflation rates increased dramatically to reduce economy growth rates. 


Dollar index going down for one month low since U.S. President Barack Obama signed the budget letter, Congress agreed to end the shutdown and to raise debt ceiling over $17 trillion. Other market competitors rise, such like Euro who got its highest rate since February over 1.3703 Euro per Dollar. And as Sterling who scored two weeks high with rate of 1.6224 Pound per Dollar. 

Meanwhile, Crude oil is continuing its re-treatment as started in the late September when the talk about the shutdown started reaching low of $100.04 per barrel on Thursday and $100.54 till Friday evening. 

Whereas Gold rose up yesterday reaching $1324.50 per ounce and $1327.00 per ounce in Friday’s trades.

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Thursday, October 17, 2013

U.S. Economy recovered in the last moments


U.S. Economy recovered in the last moments

After 16 days of government shutdown and two hours before bankruptcy declaration, U.S. President Barak Obama signed budget latter to end that shutdown and congress members voted 285 – 144 votes in the Republican-controlled House and 81-18 votes in the Democratic-led Senate to lift the debt ceiling. But it is not clear yet for what level it will be.

In the meantime, 800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand) federal employees returned to their work today which pushed federal economy again, reopening public parks and museums, and recovering governmental procedures.

                                                                                                                    
Consequences

As the day high, Gold rose by 4.1% reaching $1321 per ounce and $1312 per ounce as average price of trades today, the biggest increase since late September 2013. Investors confidence returning to the Dollar after default prevention and signing next year budget letter by U.S. President Barak Obama yesterday, two hours before bankruptcy dead limit.

Blue zone currency showed its first rise in two weeks today, by 1.02% scoring day high 1.3649 EUR/USD which is eight months high - since the third of February - this year and 1.3659 EUR/USD as average trading price.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Canada Unemployment Rate



CANADA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Unemployment Rate in Canada decreased to 7.10 percent in August of 2013 from 7.20 percent in July of the same year. Unemployment Rate in Canada is reported by the STCA - Statistics Canada from 1966 until 2013.

Canada Unemployment Rate averaged 7.8 percent reaching an all-time high of 13.1 percent in December of 1982 and a record low of 2.9 percent in June of 1966. In Canada, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labor force. In August of 2013, employment increased by 59,000 mainly in part-time works and the jobless rate declined 0.1 percentage points to 7.1 percent. Over the six months to August, employment gains averaged 12,000 per month, lower than the average of 29,000 observed during the preceding six-month period. The employment and unemployment rates are measures of the economy’s strength.

Today the 11th of October 2013 at GMT 1:30 P.M. is the time to declare the unemployment rate for September 2013, which expected to stay on the same level of 7.1 percent same as August 2013.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

3M Co. Stock Performance


3M Co. Stock Performance

3M Co. is a diversified technology company serving customers and communities with some innovative products and services. The company operates its business through six segments: Industrial and Transportation, Health Care, Consumer and Office, Safety, Security and Protection Services, Display and Graphics.



Due to U.S. political and economic situation, the company’s performance retreated especially in the luxury, Utility, and unnecessary segments (Safety, Security and Protection, Display and Graphic). Nearly three weeks ago 3M stock price declined from $122.23 per share as average trading price to reach $117.0 per share as average trading price. Yesterday the market closed on $117.53 per share, with no bullish signals appear on the stock performance on the graph or in the market, our economists expected to open the market on Bearish prices and declining performance to stay in three weeks declining channel.

Not: according to our contract specifications CFD’s equity market opens at GMT13:30.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Crude Oil Inventory

Crude Oil Inventory


Crude Oil report is monthly report shows the net quantity of crude oil remains available for use in U.S. budget for the past month, Traders concern? this report shows the inflation levels and industrial economy health, as U.S. is the biggest economy and number one oil consumer it matters to be informed about its stock of oil.
According to experts U.S. Crude Oil inventory report is one of the most effective reports in oil market, due to its governmental shutdown and high default risk, economists can now exactly figure out for what level U.S. economy tormented by the shutdown.

As the figures announced for the month of August shown 5.5 Million barrels as surplus, the forecasts are about big difference for the month of September which are 0.5 Million barrels surplus.

Eight Days, Default or New debt ceiling


Eight Days, Default or New debt ceiling

Eight days left to the debt ceiling deadline in U.S. the ghost of financial crises clearly appeared however the debt ceiling must be increased or the strongest economy will fail to meet obligations, “$16.7 Trillion the debt ceiling will be reached within the next nine days” experts said.

The White House says it wants a "clean" debt limit increase and that must happen on Oct. 17, 2013. That’s  the day Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew says the United States would run out of borrowed money, putting the government in uncharted territory and creating the prospect of a first-ever default.                          

Washington's attention is turning to the debt limit even as it enters its second full week of a partial shutdown caused by Congress' inability to pass a spending bill. Although most of the 350,000 civilian Defense employees are going back to work this week, more than half a million federal workers remain furloughed. The House voted Saturday to give all federal workers back pay, but the Senate has yet to schedule a vote on the measure.

 

Creditors’ numbers

Japan and China, the biggest foreign debtors of the U.S. expressed concern over the risk of a U.S. default as President Barack Obama and Republicans remain locked in a fiscal stand-off.

Japan must consider the impact of a default on its Treasury holdings, even as the U.S. will probably avoid a fiscal crisis; the U.S. should prevent a default.

China owns $1.28 trillion in Treasuries and Japan has $1.14 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Any shift in asset allocation by major holders of the securities could push up U.S. interest rates and cause swings in global currency markets.

Creditors must be aware that the absolute value of those debt holdings would decline. Nations such Japan and China that have a large proportion of dollar-denominated reserves need to think about this.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Canada Trade Balance


 

Canada Trade balance

Balance of Trade in Canada is reported by the STCA - Statistics Canada, from 1971 until
2013.
The Canada Balance of Trade averaged CAD 1,714.5 Million reaching an all time high of CAD 8,590 Million in January of 2001 and a record low of deficit by CAD 2,530 Million in July of 2012. International trade makes up a large part of the Canadian economy. The said exports amount to more than 65% of Canadian GDP.
The United States is by far its largest trading partner, accounting for about 79% of exports
and 54% of imports as of 2008 statistics. Canada is one of the few developed nations thatare a net exporter of energy. Canada imports mostly machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, electronics, chemicals, electricity and durable consumer goods, Inaddition of its huge Crude Oil inventories.
Figures
Previously Canada announced a deficit of CAD 1,200 Million for the month of July which rides the CAD down in the financial market.

Today 8th, October 2013 Canada announced a deficit of CAD 1,300 Million, which is 0.8% higher than the previous one and much higher than financial market analysts forecasts with  a deficit of CAD 700 Million.

IBM, poor performance shares with big expectations.


IBM, poor performance shares with big expectations

IBM still holding its traditional PC manufacturing, this technology giant became weaker due to the rise in laptops users’ numbers and lifting the PC for narrow cycle of users especially against Macintosh PC’s. And its low profit levels in the third quarter of 2013.


International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) shares retreated 1.14 percent reaching $183.24 per share as Barclays PLC lowered its recommendation, while the expected at early 2013 is a growth by 1.7 percent on stakeholders wealth.

Last week IBM got the fourteenth place on the performers list of Dow Jones index out of 30 companies in that list, sense average decline of Dow Jones is 1.1; the IBM shares are almost at the intermediate figure of change.
 

The World and Crude Oil


The World and Crude Oil

West Texas Intermediate declining after reducing the growth rates in East Asia’s developing nations this year and next. The said region must boost efforts to ensure financial stability ahead of interest-rate increases in advanced economies.

Chinese GDP growth rate declined to 7.6 instead of 8.3 for this year and 7.1 instead of 7.8 for the next year. The second biggest economy in the world reducing its GDP and reducing its oil consumption thus it may be one of the main reasons of the WTI prices declining.
However, weather changes this year and it effects with Tropical Storm Karen, this storm hit all the Southeastern American Gulf Coast reached to Washington D.C. with its full heavy rain carriage to create water and landfalls all over the coast side.

                                                                                                                     
It will cause additional load on the U.S. economy sense the partial shutdown became full shutdown in the Southeastern States to reduce private productivity and consumption. And for this, the U.S. came closer to breaching its debt ceiling.

Crude Oil reached $102.5 per barrel in the first day of the week and high as $103.59 per barrel.  

Monday, October 7, 2013

The second week started companied with Tropical Storm Karen


The second week started companied with Tropical Storm Karen

“With no end in sight, the near week-old partial U.S. government shutdown is putting growth in the world's largest economy under further threat Economists.”

With the shutdown approaching its one-week anniversary and both sides digging in their heels, that assumption is looking increasingly untenable, and the all economists’ estimates are based on an assumption that the shutdown will last two weeks and there is no violation of the debt ceiling.     
                                                                                                                           


In addition, many sectors that rely on the Federal government for approvals and information are [being] impacted. The tourism and travel industry is hurt by the shutdown of national parks. And companies in the defense industry are already starting layoffs.

President Obama's proudest legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act or "Obamacare" remaining at the center of the battle there is little room for compromise given.

To increase it to the worst, Tropical Storm Karen hit the Southeastern American Gulf Coast, the expectation talks about the period of heavy rains will fall from this slow moving storm on various Southeastern States, and many weather experts expected that there will be landfalls and high water levels. Which means that U.S. must recall its disaster recovery teams and hurricane experts to participate in the rescue operations if needed, since most of them were forces to go home.
 
 

Friday, October 4, 2013

Germany Producer Prices Index (PPI)


Germany Producer Prices Index (PPI)

Although it is a moderate market impact announcement, is important for Euro traders sense it measures the change in the prices paid by domestic producers

                                                                           
Producer prices, also known as factory gate prices, are those charged by producers usually before retail, consumer markets. Increases in German Producer Prices act as an early indicator of inflation, as higher producer prices may be passed to consumers in the form of higher retail prices. Rising inflation is significant, especially coming from the largest economy in the Euro-zone. As we previously discussed on our blog German inflation will contribute to Euro-zone figures, and may be checked by increasing interest rates. And will effect on EUR purchasing power and exchange prices.           
And as information add; German PPI excludes volatile items, such as energy components and seasonal food, in order to provide a more accurate measure of price developments.
PPI last release of August showed a negative percentage (-0.1%), and the forecasts got (0.1%) for September.

Today (Friday 4th, October) at GMT6:00 A.M., PPI announced at level of (-0.1%) the same as expected, which means that cost got low and inflation rate declined on German economy due to reducing economy growth rates or due to economy weakness during the month off announcement.
http://bit.ly/16KmNoU

Ivey PMI and Canadian Dollar power


 

Ivey PMI and Canadian Dollar power

 

The Ivey Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is an economic index which measures the month to month variation in economic activity as indicated by a group of carefully selected - geographically and by sector - purchasing managers of activity to match the Canadian economy as a whole.
 
The PMI includes both the public and private sectors and it is based on month end data Ivey PMI panel members indicate whether their organizations activity is higher, the same or lower than the previous month across the following five categories: purchases, employment, inventories, supplier deliveries and prices.
The Ivey Purchasing Managers Index is often referred to as the Purchasing Managers Index/PMI. It shows responses to a question: "Were your purchases last month in dollars higher, the same, or lower than the previous month?" A figure above 50 shows an increase while below 50 shows a decrease.                            
Market analysts are always interested in the views of purchase managers on the economy as the latter are considered to be attuned to the latest economic and financial developments. And their expectations could be an indication of future economic trends. Ivey PMI is one of the most important Canadian releases and can affect the direction of USD/CAD.
After long week of weakness for the Loonie against USD and bad expectation about of cost purchasing rise, Canada is about to release it Ivey PMI today at GMT2:00 PM, so What is the market facts about it Ivey PMI?
Is expected to be 52.6 which higher than the last release of August with 51.0 it means that the cost of purchasing will get higher if it gone as expected and vice versa.

In other words if the purchasing power decreased or cost of purchasing increased (both are same), Loonie exchange price will fall, sense inflation levels will rise.
 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

U.S. reached the deadline


U.S. reached the deadline

Shutdown consequences on U.S. economy

The shutdown consequences appear all over the world markets, currencies, commodities, bonds, and even consumer goods.
“Time’s running out.” Obama started his speech yesterday before the shutdown. Why?
First of all, we have to start with the U.S. economy and  we have talked yesterday about the potential actions that will be taken during the shutdown and we can summarize it by “800K governmental employees went home in unpaid leave, and unpaid working days for other kept employees”.
As the federal bank of U.S. and HIS Inc.; $15.7 Trillion economy size, $300 Million daily cost, and 2 weeks are more than enough to downgrade the growth of the economy by 1.4 percent which is much higher than an annual rate decline and Obama refuses to hold the blame alone, he is throwing it to republicans.
During the partial government shutdown, many essential government operations will cease. Internal Revenue Service call centers will close and more than 90 percent of Environmental Protection Agency workers will stay home. National parks and museums will be shuttered. Other services will continue uninterrupted. Social Security and Medicare benefits will be paid. U.S. troops will remain at their posts around the world and will be paid under a bill Obama signed yesterday. Air-traffic controllers and airport security screeners will keep working.

Timeless State and Men

Obama trying to present his opponents as who want to get U.S. economy and future in risk and blaming them about this action, that will flash back our minds 17 years back when Clinton stuck into the same situation in (1995 – 1996). While Clinton chided Republicans for putting “ideology ahead of common sense” in a 1995 address, Obama told reporters yesterday that “House Republicans continue to tie funding of the government to ideological demands.”.

“One function of one party in one House of Congress and in one branch of government doesn’t get to shut down the entire government just to re-fight the results of an election,” - Obama said.
Congress and Obama have been at loggerheads on fiscal policy since Republicans won control of the House. They took several disputes to the brink, including a potential government shutdown in April 2011, the debt ceiling in August 2011 and the expiration of tax cuts in December 2012. In each case, lawmakers reached an agreement to prevent the worst possible outcome. Most recently, the House passed a tax bill Jan. 1, hours after income tax rate increases took effect. Different time, different men and the same situation and still the question how long U.S. will carry this?

The Core Business Points

Minutes before the shutdown we had obvious differences in the markets; sense crude oil got 3 months low with $101.84 per barrel, as unusual low in this time of the year.
Swiss franc got gain during this month, as Yen and Sterling did so, but Euro did not make it due to Italy unemployment rate announcement and Germany new GDP reduction policy.

GOLD

Gold seems to be the loser in this economic ware not just because of U.S. news but because of the Indian imports article - the largest Gold consumer in the world – which announced that an Indian imports of gold decreased by 13 percent this year.

AUSTRALIA BALANCE OF TRADE

AUSTRALIA BALANCE OF TRADE

Balance of Trade in Australia is reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistic. From 1971 until 2013, Australian Balance of Trade averaged (AUD3.9 Billion of deficit) reaching an all-time high of (AUD2.7 Billion of Surplus) in June of 2010 and a record low of deficit (AUD3429 Million) in February of 2008.

In 2010 and 2011 Australia reported consistent trade surplus due to high price of commodities. However in 2012, the trade balance is back in deficit due to sharp in value of exports and rising capital imports. Metals, coal, oil and natural gas account for 54 percent of total exports. Australia is a major importer of machinery, transport equipment, computers, office machines and telecommunication lasers.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released trade data for the month of July, with Australia recording
a seasonally-adjusted trade deficit of $765 Million. The result was disappointing analysts’ expectations, which had expected a trade surplus of $100 Million.
                                                                   




It was the first monthly trade deficit in three months and followed the $243 Million surplus recorded in June (revised down from $602 Million) and the $184 Million surplus recorded in May (revised down from $507 Million)
Australia’s main trading partners are: China (27 percent of total exports and 15 percent of total imports), Japan (17 percent of exports and 8 percent of imports), the United States (5 percent of exports and 13 percent of imports), South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. This page contains - Australia Balance of Trade - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.


Tomorrow 2nd, October we have the announcement of August trade balance which is expected to be AUD450 Million deficit. This announcement is monthly based announcement a 35 days after the month ends.