U.S. dollar flattened by rallying euro; kiwi flies

Reuters (3/10) - The dollar languished at eight-month lows early in Asia on Thursday as the U.S. government shutdown dragged on, while positive developments in Italian politics and a watchful but patient European Central Bank helped lift the euro. The common currency rose as high as $1.3608, a level not seen since early February, after Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta won a confidence vote in parliament as Silvio Berlusconi backtracked on threats to bring down the government. Adding to the euro's momentum, the European Central Bank simply reiterated it was ready to use any policy option to temper market interest rates, but did not flag immediate action. Indeed, JPMorgan analysts said there was nothing in ECB President Mario Draghi's comments that suggested the bank was 'about to launch a major easing offensive.' 'The ECB is in wait-and-see mode and is tolerant of a recovery that is modest and of inflation that is far below target,' they wrote in a client note. They added that declines in money market interest rates since the last ECB meeting have in part lessened the momentum for new measures. The euro last stood at $1.3581, with the latest push bringing the currency near its 2013 peak of $1.3711 set on February 1. That, in turn, drove the dollar index to its lowest in eight months and towards its 2013 trough. Against the yen, the dollar hovered near a five-week low around 97.14. The euro lost only a bit of ground to trade at 132.37 yen after recovering from a low around 131.39. Traders said the dollar could make a comeback against safe-haven currencies such as the yen if a deadlock that has shut down wide swaths of the U.S. federal government was broken. President Barack Obama met with Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress on Wednesday but a solution seemed unlikely as both sides dug in for what could be a long stalemate. A notable mover was the New Zealand dollar, which rallied broadly after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand said larger increases in interest rates would be needed if new limits on mortgage lending fail to cool the country's housing market. The kiwi jumped to a high around $0.8340, pulling well away from a two-week trough of $0.8194 plumbed on Wednesday. It last traded at $0.8309. Asia again has a dearth of economic news on offer for Thursday, apart from a survey on China's services activity. The latest reading on the Chinese manufacturing sector was a bit of a letdown, so any further disappointment will only add to worries that a nascent recovery in the world's second-biggest economy may be foundering. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/02/us-markets-forex-idUSBRE9900VQ20131002

Saham Wallstreet ditutup turun terhadap Kekhawatiran Shutdown Berkepanjangan

Reuters ( 3/10) - Wall Street turun pada hari Rabu, hari kedua parsial shutdown pemerintah AS, seiring perdebatan politik di Washington mengangkat kekhawatiran investor bahwa penghentian itu bisa diperpanjang. Menambah kekhawatiran, laporan menunjukkan perusahaan swasta menambahkan pekerjaan lebih sedikit dari yang diperkirakan pada bulan September. Investor sedang mencari bimbingan lebih dari data ini karena lebih luas, laporan gaji pemerintah hari Jumat akan ditunda jika tidak ada kesepakatan pada anggaran tercapai saat itu . Kerugian yang seluruh saham, dipimpin oleh saham-saham di sektor industri, yang jatuh 0,4 persen. Shutdown pertarungan dengan cepat bergabung dengan pertempuran yang lebih tinggi taruhannya kekuasaan pinjaman pemerintah yang diharapkan segera datang ke kepala. Departemen Keuangan telah mengatakan Amerika Serikat akan menghabiskan otoritas pinjaman yang selambat-lambatnya 17 Oktober. Indeks Dow Jones Industrial Average Turun 58,56 poin, atau 0,39 persen, di level 15,133.14. The Standard & Poor 500 Index turun 1,13 poin, atau 0,07 persen, pada level 1,693.87. Nasdaq Composite Index turun 2,96 poin, atau 0,08 persen, pada level 3,815.02. (rk)

Wall Street ends lower on worries of prolonged shutdown

Reuters (3/10) - Wall Street retreated on Wednesday, the second day of a partial U.S. government shutdown, as political wrangling in Washington raised investor concerns that the stoppage could be prolonged. Adding to worries, a report showed private employers added fewer-than-expected jobs in September. Investors were looking for more guidance from this data because Friday's broader, government payrolls report will be delayed if no deal on the budget is reached by then. Losses were across the board, led by stocks in the industrial sector, which fell 0.4 percent. The shutdown fight is rapidly merging with a higher-stakes battle over the government's borrowing power that is expected to come to a head soon. The Treasury has said the United States will exhaust its borrowing authority no later than October 17. The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 58.56 points, or 0.39 percent, at 15,133.14. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was down 1.13 points, or 0.07 percent, at 1,693.87. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was down 2.96 points, or 0.08 percent, at 3,815.02. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/02/us-markets-stocks-idUSBRE9890IQ20131002

Saham AS ditutup Melemah untuk hari kedua Shutdown

MarketWatch (03/10), SAN FRANCISCO - Saham AS ditutup melemah pada hari Rabu seiring shutdown pemerintah parsial memasuki hari keduanya dan laporan pekerjaan sektor swasta menunjukkan pertumbuhan yang lebih lemah dari perkiraan. Indeks Dow Jones Industrial Average turun 58,56 poin, atau 0,4%, ke posisi 15,133.14, setelah turun sebanyak 147 poin pada hari sebelumnya. Indeks S&P 500 sedikit berubah, menyelesaikan perdagangan hari ini dengan turun 1,13 poin, atau 0,1%, pada posisi 1,693.87, pengupas defisit 15-poin pada hari sebelumnya. Nasdaq Composite Index turun 2,96 poin, atau 0,1%, menjadi ditutup pada level 3,815.02, setelah turun sebanyak 30 poin di awal sesi. Saham mulai pengupas keuntungan selama sesi perdagangan setelah Presiden Barack Obama meminta anggota senior Kongres untuk bertemu di Gedung Putih pada pukul 5:30 untuk menemukan cara untuk memecahkan kebuntuan selama shutdown. (izr)

U.S. stocks end lower on 2nd day of shutdown

MarketWatch (03/10) SAN FRANCISCO -- U.S. stocks closed lower Wednesday as the partial government shutdown entered its second day and a private-sector jobs report showed weaker-than-expected growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 58.56 points, or 0.4%, to 15,133.14, after being off by as much as 147 points earlier in the day. The S&P 500 Index level changed slightly, finishing the day down 1.13 points, or 0.1%, at 1,693.87, paring an earlier 15-point deficit. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.96 points, or 0.1%, to close at 3,815.02, after being off as much as 30 points earlier in the session. Stocks started paring gains during the session after President Barack Obama called on senior members of Congress to meet at the White House at 5:30 p.m. to find a way to break the deadlock over the shutdown. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-end-lower-on-2nd-day-of-shutdown-2013-10-02