Dolar Jatuh ke Level Terendahnya dalam 8-bulan Terhadap Euro

MarketWatch (04/10) NEW YORK - Dolar mencapai level terendahnya delapan bulan terakhir terhadap euro pada hari Kamis seiring investor menjadi lebih peduli tentang dampak ekonomi dari shutdown AS yang berkepanjangan dan perdebatan plafon utang. Sebuah kegagalan untuk menaikkan batas plafon utang pada tanggal 17 Oktober dapat menyebabkan krisis keuangan yang lebih buruk daripada yang pada tahun 2008, Departemen Keuangan mengatakan pada hari Kamis. Secara terpisah, Departemen Tenaga Kerja mengatakan laporan pekerjaan tidak akan dirilis pada hari Jumat seiring selang pendanaan. Itu membuatnya bahkan lebih mungkin bahwa Federal Reserve akan mempertahankan kebijakan moneternya yang stabil pada pertemuan bulan Oktober, sejak bank sentral memantau secara cermat data pasar tenaga kerja dalam membuat keputusan. Pembelian obligasi The Fed saat ini sebesar $ 85 miliar per bulan dipahami dapat membebani dolar AS. Indeks dolar ICE, yang mengukur kekuatan dolar terhadap enam mata uang lainnya, turun tipis menjadi 79,737 dari 79,875 pada akhir Rabu, berada dijalur penurunannya dalam lima sesi secara beruntun. WSJ Dollar Index, yang mengukur kekuatan dolar terhadap sekeranjang mata uang, turun menjadi level 72,23 dari level sebelumnya 72,32. Pertumbuhan melambat di sektor jasa AS pada bulan September, dengan indeks Institute for Supply Management jasa jatuh ke pembacaan ke level 54,4 % dari level 58,6 % pada bulan Agustus. Juga pada hari Kamis, klaim pengangguran mingguan AS naik tipis 1.000 ke angka 308.000 dalam pekan lalu yang berakhir 28 September. Para ekonom telah memperkirakan kenaikan ke penyesuaian musiman sebesar 313.000, menurut survei MarketWatch. (izr)

 

Dollar falls to eight-month low against euro

MarketWatch (04/10) NEW YORK — The dollar hit an eight-month low against the euro on Thursday as investors grew more concerned about the economic effects of a prolonged shutdown and debt-ceiling debate. A failure to raise the debt limit by Oct. 17 could lead to a financial crisis worse than the one in 2008, the Treasury Department said Thursday. Separately, the Labor Department said the jobs report won’t be released Friday because of a lapse of funding. That makes it even more likely that the Federal Reserve will hold monetary policy steady at its October meeting, since the central bank closely watches labor-market data in making its decision. The Fed’s current bond purchases of $85 billion a month are understood to weigh on the U.S. dollar. The ICE dollar index, a measure of the greenback’s strength against six other currencies, edged down to 79.737 from 79.875 late Wednesday, on track to decline for the fifth straight session. The WSJ Dollar Index, a gauge of dollar strength against a broader basket of rivals, declined to 72.23 from 72.32. Growth slowed in the U.S. services sector in September, with the Institute for Supply Management’s services index falling to a reading of 54.4% from 58.6% in August. Also on Thursday, U.S. weekly jobless claims inched up by 1,000 to 308,000 in the week ended Sept. 28. Economists had expected an increase to a seasonally adjusted 313,000, according to a MarketWatch survey. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-falls-against-euro-on-us-budget-stalemate-2013-10-03

 

European Stocks Decline Second Day on U.S. Shutdown

Bloomberg (03/10) -- European stocks declined for a second day, as a shutdown of the U.S. government continued and a gauge of service-industry activity in the world’s biggest economy fell more than forecast. Gerresheimer AG lost 2 percent as Credit Suisse Group AG lowered its recommendation on the shares. Schneider Electric SA fell 3.2 percent. Aviva Plc advanced 1.4 percent as the insurer said it generated $2.6 billion from the sale of its U.S. business. BP Plc rose 1.1 percent after a U.S. appeals court ordered a reconsideration of key terms of a settlement in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill case. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 0.4 percent to 309.55 at the close of trading, the lowest level since Sept. 9. The equity benchmark yesterday fell by the most since Aug. 30. It has still rallied 11 percent this year as central banks around the world pledged to leave interest rates low for a prolonged period. U.S. President Barack Obama and congressional leaders yesterday failed to break a budget impasse in their first face-to-face negotiations since the government began its first partial shutdown in 17 years on Oct. 1. The standoff raises concern the budget dispute may affect talks to increase the $16.7 trillion debt ceiling by Oct. 17 so as to avoid a default. The halt has placed as many as 800,000 federal employees on unpaid leave. A partial shutdown lasting one week would probably shave 0.1 percentage point from economic growth, according to the median estimate of economists in a Bloomberg survey, with the costs accelerating if the closure persists.

WTI Falls Fourth Day This Week as U.S. Shutdown May Curb Demand

Bloomberg (4/10) West Texas Intermediate fell for the fourth time in five days, trimming the first weekly gain in a month, amid speculation that a protracted U.S. government shutdown will slow economic growth and sap fuel demand. Futures slipped as much as 0.4 percent in New York, paring the week’s advance to 0.2 percent. The failure of U.S. lawmakers to pass a budget and avert a government shutdown is fueling concern they won’t be able to agree on raising the $16.7 trillion debt limit. Prices slid even as companies including Exxon Mobil Corp. curbed Gulf of Mexico output and evacuated workers as Tropical Storm Karen triggered a hurricane watch. WTI for November delivery dropped as much as 41 cents to $102.90 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $103.11 as of 10:09 a.m. Sydney time. The contract yesterday fell 0.8 percent to $103.31. The volume of all futures traded was about 73 percent below the 100-day average. Brent for November settlement declined as much as 39 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $108.61 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange yesterday. The European benchmark was at a premium of $5.62 to WTI, from $5.69 yesterday. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-04/wti-falls-fourth-day-this-week-as-u-s-shutdown-may-curb-demand.html

 

Gold set to end week lower but U.S. shutdown stems losses

Reuters, (4/10) -- Gold is set for its worst weekly performance in three weeks but declines have been kept in check by a partial U.S. government shutdown that threatens to hurt economic growth, increasing bullion's safe-haven appeal. The metal's 1.5 percent loss for the week so far was largely due to a single massive Comex sell order on Tuesday that sent prices below $1,300 an ounce, but it quickly recovered as the budget impasse in Washington dragged on.  Spot gold was holding steady at $1,316.75 an ounce by 0024 GMT. The shutdown of the U.S. government appeared likely to drag on for another week and possibly longer as lawmakers consumed day three of the shutdown with a stalling game and there was no end in sight until the next crisis hits Washington around Oct. 17.   U.S. monetary policy is being kept easier to help offset the harm caused by political fighting in Washington, according to two senior Federal Reserve officials who warned on Thursday of damaging consequences if the nation defaults on its debt. Turkey's 2013 jewellery exports are expected to increase by 20 percent this year to $2.5 billion, due to strong demand from markets including the Middle East, the head of the Jewellery Exporters' Association said. SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.20 percent, or 1.8 tonnes, to 899.99 tonnes on Thursday.