Gold eases on stronger equities, US retail sales data

SINGAPORE, Reuters (15/01) - Gold retreated for a second session on Wednesday, moving further away from a one-month high, as a rally in stock markets prompted by strong U.S. retail sales data dented the metal's appeal as a safe haven.

Spot gold eased 0.1 percent to $1,243.19 an ounce by 0011 GMT. It touched a one-month peak of $1,255 early on Tuesday before ending the day 0.7 percent lower. U.S. retail sales edged up in December with a core spending gauge posting a big jump, a sign the economy gathered steam at the end of last year and was poised for stronger growth in 2014. The Federal Reserve should bring its bond-buying program to a swift close, according to two of its most hawkish policymakers who take up voting power this year, with one vowing to use his vote to support cuts to the program even if stocks take a tumble. SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 3.56 tonnes to 789.56 tonnes on Tuesday.

 

RWE Naik, Saham Eropa Menghapus Penurunan

Bloomberg (14/01) - Saham Eropa menghapus penurunan mereka di paruh akhir jam perdagangan seiring saham RWE AG menguat, memimpin kenaikan saham utilitas.

RWE melonjak 5 persen setelah pengadilan federal Jerman memutuskan untuk mendukungnya. Celesio AG turun 4,4 persen setelah McKesson Corp mengatakan gagal untuk mendapatkan dukungan yang cukup dari pemegang saham grosir obat untuk menyelesaikan akuisisi. Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA turun 2,8 persen setelah peritel Portugis mengatakan pertumbuhan penjualan melambat di Polandia, pasar terbesar. Indeks Stoxx Europe 600 Index naik 0,2 persen menjadi 331,23 pada penutupan perdagangan di London. Indeks itu turun sebanyak 1 persen hari ini karena para investor menimbang valuasi ekuitas setelah penutupan kemarin di level tertingginya sejak Mei 2008. Indeks acuan saham Eropa diperdagangkan pada 13,9 kali proyeksi laba anggotanya di penutupan kemarin. Indeks berakhir pada 2013 pada valuasi tertinggi sejak akhir 2009. Laba untuk indeks kemungkinan turun 5 persen tahun lalu, menurut perkiraan analis yang disusun oleh Bloomberg. Mereka mungkin akan rebound pada 2014, naik 14 persen. (izr)

 

European Stocks Erase Slide as RWE Rises

Bloomberg (14/01) -- European stocks erased their decline in the final half an hour of trading as RWE AG rallied, leading utility shares higher.

RWE jumped 5 percent after a German federal court ruled in its favor. Celesio AG slid 4.4 percent after McKesson Corp. said it failed to gain support from enough of the drug wholesaler’s shareholders to complete an acquisition. Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA declined 2.8 percent after the Portuguese retailer said sales growth slowed in Poland, its largest market. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.2 percent to 331.23 at the close of trading in London. The gauge declined as much as 1 percent today as investors weighed equity valuations after closing yesterday at its highest level since May 2008. The European equity benchmark traded at 13.9 times its members’ projected earnings at yesterday’s close. The index ended 2013 at its highest valuation since the end of 2009. Earnings for the index probably fell 5 percent last year, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. They may rebound in 2014, climbing 14 percent.

Penjualan Retail AS Meningkat Lebih dari Perkiraan, Minyak Mentah WTI Naik

Bloomberg (14/01) - Minyak mentah WTI (West Texas Intermediate) naik seiring penjualan ritel AS naik lebih dari perkiraan dan perkiraan bahwa persediaan minyak mentah turun untuk minggu ketujuh.

Harga naik sebanyak 1,1 persen. Pembelian meningkat 0,2 persen pada bulan lalu, Departemen Perdagangan melaporkan, melebihi kenaikan 0,1 persen yang diproyeksikan oleh ekonom yang disurvei oleh Bloomberg. Pasokan minyak mentah kemungkinan turun ke posisi terendahnya dalam empat bulan terakhir, menurut survei Bloomberg sebelum laporan pemerintah besok. WTI turun 8,5 persen dalam 10 hari sebelumnya. Minyak WTI untuk pengiriman Februari naik 78 sen, atau 0,9 persen, ke level $ 92,58 per barel pada pukul 10:01 di New York Mercantile Exchange. Volume semua berjangka yang diperdagangkan sekitar 21 persen di atas rata-rata 100 hari. Harga telah jatuh dalam delapan dari 11 hari terakhir sejak mereka mencapai level harga $ 100 pada tanggal 27 Desember. Minyak Brent untuk pengiriman Februari merosot 8 sen menjadi $ 106,67 per barel pada perdagangan ICE Futures Europe yang berbasis di London. Volume dekat rata-rata 100 hari. Minyak patokan Eropa lebih tinggi sebesar US$ 14,09 dibandingkan minyak WTI, turun dari level $ 14,95 kemarin. (izr)

 

WTI Crude Advances as U.S. Retail Sales Climb More Than Forecast

Bloomberg (14/01) -- West Texas Intermediate crude advanced as U.S. retail sales rose more than forecast and on estimates that crude inventories dropped for a seventh week.

Prices climbed as much as 1.1 percent. Purchases increased 0.2 percent last month, the Commerce Department reported, surpassing the 0.1 percent gain projected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Crude supplies probably fell to a four-month low, according to a Bloomberg survey before a government report tomorrow. WTI dropped 8.5 percent in the previous 10 days. WTI for February delivery rose 78 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $92.58 a barrel at 10:01 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The volume of all futures traded was about 21 percent above the 100-day average. Prices have fallen in eight of the 11 days since they topped $100 on Dec. 27. Brent for February settlement slipped 8 cents to $106.67 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Volume was near the 100-day average. The European benchmark grade was at a premium of $14.09 to WTI, down from $14.95 yesterday.