Dollar Climbs Toward 10-Year High on Fed Outlook; Ruble Drops

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The dollar headed for the highest level in more than a decade with the Federal Reserve the only central bank among developed nations considering raising interest rates this year as global rivals rush to ease policy.

The U.S. currency gained versus most major peers as the fewest Americans in almost 15 years filed applications for unemployment benefits. The ruble dropped as European Union officials discussed tightening sanctions against Russia. The Danish central bank cut interest rates for the third time in 10 days to defend the krone™s peg to the euro. The dollars of New Zealand and Australia, along with Turkey™s lira, fell amid speculation those nations may cut rates.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, a gauge of the currency™s performance against 10 major peers, rose 0.5 percent to 1,165.90 as of 3:33 p.m. New York time. It closed at 1,161.42 on Jan. 26, the highest in data going back to 2004.

The dollar gained 0.7 percent to 118.35 yen. It slipped 0.3 percent to $1.1319 per euro after reaching $1.1098 versus the common currency on Jan. 26, the strongest level since September 2003. The yen weakened 1 percent to 133.97 per euro.

Source : Bloomberg

Gold Tumbles With Silver by Most Since 2013 After U.S. Jobs Gain

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Gold futures fell the most in 13 months and silver posted the biggest plunge since June 2013 as signs of a robust U.S. labor market cut demand for haven assets.

The two most-traded gold options were bets on further declines, and prices for the contracts doubled. Aggregate futures trading was 79 percent above the 100-day average for this time of day, with silver 70 percent higher, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

The fewest Americans in almost 15 years filed applications for unemployment benefits in the week ended Jan. 24. Economic activity œhas been expanding at a solid pace, Federal Reserve officials said in a statement on Wednesday. The outlook is lowering the appeal of precious metals, which rallied this year amid speculation that the U.S. central bank would wait longer to raise interest rates because of slowing foreign economies.

On the Comex, gold futures for April delivery dropped 2.4 percent to settle at $1,255.90 an ounce at 1:40 p.m. in New York, the biggest decline for a most-active contract since Dec. 19, 2013.

Source : Bloomberg

Asian Stocks Advance to Extend First Monthly Gain Since October

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Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index extending its firstly monthly gain since October, as Japanese shares climbed after the yen weakened against the dollar on a drop in U.S. jobless claims.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.3 percent to 140.91 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo. The gauge has risen 2.2 percent in January, led by a surge in Hong Kong shares. The European Central Bank unveiled a plan this month to join the Bank of Japan in unprecedented monetary easing.

Japan™s Topix index rose 1 percent as the yen traded at 118.28 per dollar after falling 0.6 percent yesterday. South Korea™s Kospi index and Australia™s S&P/ASX 200 Index each gained 0.6 percent. New Zealand™s NZX 50 Index slid 0.2 percent. Markets in China and Hong Kong have yet to open.

Hong Kong™s Hang Seng Index jumped 4.2 percent this month, with Tencent Holdings Ltd. surging 20 percent amid optimism Asia™s second-largest Internet company will diversify its revenue sources. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.9 percent, as regulators curb margin lending at brokerages, after gains of 21 percent and 11 percent the previous two months.

Source: Bloomberg

Japanese Stocks Head for Weekly Gain as Yen Weakens on U.S. Data

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Japanese stocks rose, with the Topix index heading for a second weekly gain, after the yen weakened as U.S. jobs data and earnings boosted confidence in the outlook for the world™s biggest economy.

The Topix added 0.9 percent to 1,426.05 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, headed for gains of 1.6 percent this week and 1.3 percent in January. All of its 33 industry groups advanced. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 1 percent to 17,778.26. The yen traded at 117.24 per dollar after falling 0.6 percent yesterday.

Futures on the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index were little changed. The underlying gauge added 1 percent yesterday as investors scrutinized earnings for clues to the strength of the U.S. economy. Dow Chemical Co. added 4.6 percent and Harman International Industries Inc. surged 24 percent as profits topped estimates.

Applications for unemployment insurance benefits in the U.S. plunged by 43,000 to 265,000 in the week ended Jan. 24, the fewest since April 2000, according to the Labor Department. The Bloomberg index of consumer comfort climbed in the seven-day period ended Jan. 25 to the highest level since July 2007.

A government report today showed Japan™s core consumer prices rose 2.5 percent in December from a year earlier, less than the median projection of 2.6 percent in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. Another report showed industrial production increased 1 percent in December from November, below economists™ estimates for 1.2 percent.

Source: Bloomberg

Japan Inflation Slows More Than Forecast in Challenge to Kuroda

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Japan™s inflation rate slowed more than forecast in December, adding to central bank chief Haruhiko Kuroda™s challenges in reflating the world™s third-biggest economy.

Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.5 percent from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said Friday in Tokyo. That was less than the median projection of 2.6 percent in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. Stripped of the effect of sales-tax increase last April, core inflation -- the Bank of Japan™s key measure -- was 0.5 percent.

The slide in oil could cause inflation to slow in coming months before helping boost growth and stoking price pressures in the longer term, Kuroda said last week after the Bank of Japan lowered its forecast for the year from April. The BOJ will adjust its monetary stimulus to keep inflation headed toward its 2 percent goal if expectations for price gains among companies and consumers deteriorate, Kuroda said.

Source : Bloomberg

Gold pressured as Fed reiterates rate hike bias

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Gold prices fell on Wednesday as the U.S. central bank reiterated its commitment to raising interest rates some time in the latter part of the year.

Gold for February delivery dropped $5.80, or 0.5%, to settle $1,285.90 an ounce but the precious metal pared some of its earlier losses after the Federal Reserve™s policy statement. March silver futures recovered to close flat at $18.09 an ounce.

The Fed remained upbeat about the economy, noting its œsolid growth and œstrong job gains. The central bank officials repeated that inflation is likely to reach the 2% target and that the Federal Reserve can be œpatient in tightening the monetary policy, according to the statement.

On Tuesday, gold prices enjoyed another move higher, after a sharp, unexpected fall in U.S. durable-goods orders hammered equities and spurred demand for haven plays.

Source : MarketWatch

Dollar Rises as Central Banks Diverge After Singapore Eases

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The dollar rose to almost the highest in a decade with the Federal Reserve seen continuing to move toward raising interest rates after Singapore became the latest nation to ease monetary policy, highlighting the diverging paths of global central banks.

The greenback advanced versus the euro amid plunging Greek markets as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stood by pledges to renegotiate the nation™s bailout. Policy makers in Washington are forecast to hold interest rates steady today as the end a two-day meeting before raising them by year-end. Singapore™s dollar tumbled to a four-year low. China™s yuan fell to a record discount against the central bank™s reference rate. Australia™s dollar rose.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, a gauge of the currency™s performance against 10 major peers, rose 0.3 percent to 1,157.57 as of 11:34 a.m. in New York. It closed at 1,161.42 in New York on Monday, the highest in data back to 2004. The measure has rallied after every Fed meeting since June.

The U.S. dollar appreciated 0.4 percent to $1.1334 per euro, after weakening 1.3 percent the previous day, the most since Oct. 15. It reached $1.1098 on Jan. 26, the strongest since September 2003. The yen rose 0.1 percent to 117.79 per dollar and strengthened 0.5 percent to 133.51 per euro.

Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Decline as Energy Slump, Fed Overshadow Apple Rally

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U.S. stocks fell, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its biggest two-day loss in a year, as energy shares plunged and the Federal Reserve cited international risks to the American economy amid concerns about weakness in multinational earnings.

Energy companies slumped 3.9 percent as a group after oil retreated. Apple Inc. climbed 5.7 percent after reporting a record $18 billion in quarterly profit, one of the biggest in corporate history. Boeing Co. advanced 5.4 percent as it posted a quarterly profit that beat analysts™ estimates.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index fell 1.4 percent to 2,002.24 at 4 p.m. in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 192.88 points, or 1.1 percent, to 17,194.33. The gauge fell 2.8 percent over two days. The Nasdaq 100 Index dropped 0.6 percent, erasing an earlier rally of 1.7 percent. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, known as the VIX, added 17 percent to 19.09, its biggest jump of the year.

The Fed also boosted its assessment of the economy and labor market, even as it expects inflation to decline further.

Fed officials are confronting divergent economic forces as they weigh the timing of the first interest-rate increase since 2006. Surprisingly strong job gains argue for tightening sooner, while inflation held down by a plunge in oil prices and a cooling global economy provides grounds for delay.

Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Advance as Apple, Yahoo Spur Tech Rally Before Fed

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U.S. stocks rose, with the Nasdaq 100 Index rebounding from its biggest drop since April, as Apple Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. rallied while investors awaited a Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.

The Nasdaq 100 added 1.5 percent at 9:32 a.m. in New York, after a 1.2 percent drop Tuesday. The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index increased 0.6 percent to 2,041.93.

Disappointing results from Caterpillar Inc. and Microsoft Corp. weighed on U.S. equities Tuesday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling 1.7 percent.

While the dollar™s climb is reducing profits at U.S. companies from Procter & Gamble Co. to Pfizer Inc. and Microsoft, more than 77 percent of S&P 500 members have still beaten analysts™ estimates so far this earnings season, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Source : Bloomberg

Hong Kong Share end 0.22% Higher

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Hong Kong shares edged up 0.22 percent Wednesday, reversing morning losses as investors brushed off a heavy sell-off on Wall Street that was fuelled by weak US data and disappointing corporate reports.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index gained 54.53 points to 24,861.81 on turnover of HK$80.37 billion (US$10.37 billion).

But in mainland China the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.41 percent, or 47.22 points, to 3,305.74 on turnover of 341.6 billion yuan ($55.7 billion).

The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, lost 0.71 percent, or 11.07 points, to 1,538.86 on turnover of 252.3 billion yuan.

Source : AFP

Gold Futures Climb After U.S. Durable Goods Orders Decline

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Gold futures climbed as a slump in orders for U.S. durable goods signaled that weaker foreign economies are weighing on American expansion, boosting demand for haven assets.

Demand for all durable goods -- items meant to last at least three years -- declined 3.4 percent, the worst performance since August, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Slowing expansion may prompt the Federal Reserve to hold off on raising interest rates. Policy makers will meet this week.

The metal is up more than 9 percent this year as stagnating economies challenge policy makers to generate new ways to buoy growth. The euro traded near an 11-year low against the dollar after the European Central Bank last week expanded its bond-buying program to include government bonds, boosting demand for gold as an alternative to currencies that are being revalued.

Gold futures for April delivery rose 1 percent to settle at $1,292.90 an ounce at 1:55 p.m. on the Comex in New York. Prices climbed in the previous three weeks.

Silver futures for March delivery gained 0.6 percent to $18.084 an ounce on the Comex.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, platinum futures for April delivery added 0.7 percent to $1,264.30 an ounce, while March palladium futures fell 0.1 percent to $780.75 an ounce.

Source : Bloomberg

Dollar Slides on Signs of Slowing Economic Growth; Ruble Gains

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The dollar declined from the highest level on record after U.S. durable-goods orders unexpectedly decreased in December as Federal Reserve policy makers began a two-day meeting in Washington.

The U.S. currency fell against most major counterparts as home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose at a slower pace in the year ended in November, another report showed on Tuesday. The euro rose after a Swiss National Bank official said it remained ready to intervene in markets. Traders are betting on an October increase in interest rates by Fed Chair Janet Yellen and colleagues. Russia™s ruble rose from a record.

The Bloomberg Dollar Index, a gauge of the currency™s performance against 10 major peers, slid 0.5 percent to 1,155.20 at 1:26 p.m. New York time. It closed at a record 1,161.42 in New York on Jan. 26.

The dollar fell 1 percent to 1.1356 against the euro after rising to 1.1098 yesterday, the strongest since September 2003. It declined 0.4 percent to 117.96 yen. The shared currency appreciated 0.6 percent to 133.97 yen.

The euro rose 1 percent to 1.02548 francs after appreciating as much as 2.3 percent to 1.03826, the strongest level since the SNB lifted its currency cap on Jan. 15.

Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Shares Drop as Microsoft to Caterpillar Results Disappoint

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U.S. shares tumbled as a drop in durable-goods orders and disappointing results from Caterpillar Inc. to Microsoft Corp. heightened concern about the economy™s strength.

Technology shares in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index plunged 3.3 percent for the biggest drop since November 2011. Microsoft lost 9.3 percent, the most in 18 months, as software-license sales to businesses were below forecasts. Caterpillar plunged 7.2 percent after forecasting 2015 results that trailed estimates as plunging oil prices signal lower demand from energy companies. Procter & Gamble Co. slid 3.5 percent as a surging U.S. dollar cut into its earnings.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index slipped 1.3 percent to 2,029.61 at 4 p.m. in New York, below its average price for the past 50 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 291.30 points, or 1.7 percent, to 17,387.40, after losing almost 400 points earlier in the day.

Trading in S&P 500 companies was 15 percent above the 30-day average as exchanges opened for a full day despite a snow storm that shut down travel around New York City overnight and during part of the morning.

Source : Bloomberg

Dow Drops Most Since October as Microsoft to Caterpillar Plunge

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U.S. stocks tumbled, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average poised for its worst day since October, as a drop in durable-goods orders and disappointing results from Caterpillar Inc. to Microsoft Corp. heightened concern about the economy™s strength.

Technology shares in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index had the biggest drop in more than three year. Microsoft lost 9 percent as software-license sales to businesses were below forecasts. Caterpillar plunged 7.5 percent after forecasting 2015 results that trailed estimates as plunging oil prices signal lower demand from energy companies. DuPont Co. dropped 2.8 percent as a stronger dollar cuts into the chemical maker™s profit. Procter & Gamble Co. and United Technologies Corp. declined at least 1.3 percent after saying the surging greenback will lower full-year earnings.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index slipped 1.4 percent to 2,027.78 at 12:15 p.m. in New York, below its average price for the past 50 days. The Dow declined 347.17 points, or 2 percent, to 17,331.53, poised for the biggest drop on a closing basis since October.

Trading in S&P 500 companies was 23 percent above the 30-day average for this time of the day as exchanges opened for a full day despite a snow storm that shut down travel around New York City overnight and during part of the morning.

Source : Bloomberg

European Stocks Fall as Siemens Disappoints, Greek Banks Slide

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European stocks declined from a seven-year high, snapping their longest winning streak since April, as Siemens AG and Royal Philips NV posted disappointing earnings, and Greek stocks tumbled.

Siemens slid 3 percent, contributing the most to a drop in a gauge of industrial companies, after Europe™s largest engineering firm reported a decline in first-quarter profit. Philips lost 5.9 percent after saying it is behind on its 2016 financial targets. Greek banks dragged a gauge of lenders down.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 1 percent to 368.7 at the close of trading, after earlier falling as much as 1.4 percent. The index on Monday capped eight days of gains amid optimism about European Central Bank stimulus, while Greek shares slid as opposition party Syriza won the election on Sunday. The Swiss Market Index rose 1.3 percent today, its third day of gains, as Swiss National Bank Vice President Jean-Pierre Danthine said it is willing to intervene in currency markets even after giving up its cap on the franc.

The ASE Index fell for a second day, erasing its Friday rally, as new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took office promising to end austerity. The gauge dropped 3.7 percent, with Eurobank Ergasias SA, National Bank of Greece SA, and Piraeus Bank SA plunging at least 12 percent to record lows.

Source : Bloomberg

Euro Up From 11-Year Low on Fading Greek Exit Odds; Ruble Drops

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The euro climbed from an 11-year low amid speculation the victorious Syriza party in Greek elections will pursue its anti-austerity agenda without forcing an exit from the currency bloc.

The Russian ruble closed at the weakest level on record after Standard & Poor™s cut the nation™s credit rating to junk. The dollar gained versus the yen with the Federal Reserve forecast to to raise interest rates this year. The central bank starts a two-day meeting Tuesday. The euro tumbled 3.5 percent against the greenback the previous two days after the European Central Bank said it will pump 1.1 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion) under quantitative easing into the economy. Brazil™s real and China™s yuan dropped.

The euro climbed 0.3 percent to $1.1238 at 5 p.m. in New York after sliding to $1.1098, the weakest level since September 2003.

The common currency advanced 0.9 percent to 133.12 yen and strengthened 3 percent to 1.0151 Swiss franc, as currencies perceived as havens were among the biggest losers versus the 19-nation euro. The yen slipped 0.6 percent to 118.46 per dollar.

Three-month implied volatility on the euro against the dollar was at 11.69 percent, compared with an average of 6.81 percent during the past 12 months.

Source : Bloomberg

Gold Falls Most This Year as Euro Rebound Cuts Demand

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Gold futures fell the most this year on speculation that an election victory in Greece by the anti-austerity political party won™t result in the country™s exit from the euro zone, crimping demand for haven assets.

The euro rebounded from an 11-year low against the dollar as Greek Prime Minister-elect Alexis Tsipras pledged to keep the nation within the single currency area. Gold rose for three straight weeks partly as Europe™s flagging economy drove demand for a store of value.

After posting two straight annual declines, gold last week reached a five-month high after the European Central Bank announced plans to increase economic stimulus, raising the appeal of alternatives to currencies that are being revalued. The metal dropped 29 percent in the previous two years as the American economy improved.

Gold futures for February delivery dropped 1 percent to settle at $1,279.40 an ounce at 1:44 p.m. on the Comex in New York, the biggest decline for a most-active contact since Dec. 31. Aggregate trading was 38 percent more than the 100-day average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Source : Bloomberg

Asian Futures Pace U.S. Gains as Euro Holds Jump; Bonds Decline

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Asian index futures advanced with U.S. stocks, while the euro held gains versus major peers amid optimism the actions of Greece™s new government won™t force the nation™s exit from the currency bloc. Australian bonds fell.

Futures on Japan™s Nikkei 225 Stock Average climbed more than 1 percent in Osaka and Chicago, as contracts on indexes from Sydney to Seoul increased. The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index added 0.3 percent in New York, with trading volumes below average amid forecasts for a blizzard. The euro was steady after gaining at least 0.3 percent against the yen and the dollar Monday, while ruble forwards weakened after Standard & Poor™s cut Russia™s credit rating to junk. Ten-year Australian bond yields rose four basis points, pacing gains in Treasury rates.

European finance ministers have signaled their willingness to work with Greek Prime Minister-elect Alexis Tsipras, as long as the leader of the victorious Syriza Party drops his demand for a debt writedown. China will report on industrial company profits today, while Sri Lanka reviews interest rates and the Philippines posts trade data. The Federal Reserve starts a two-day meeting to review U.S. interest rates and monetary policy for the first time in 2015.

Source : Bloomberg

S&P 500 Advances Amid Greek Vote, Deals as Energy Shares Gain

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The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index rose, following its first weekly advance this year, as gains in energy companies overshadowed a drop in technology shares as investors considered possible fallout from Greek elections.

The S&P 500 added 0.3 percent to 2,056.90 at 4 p.m. in New York, extending gains in the final 30 minutes of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 5.52 points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 17,678.12. The Nasdaq 100 Index slipped 0.1 percent.

The last time NYSE™s trading hours were changed because of a snowstorm was on Jan. 8, 1996, according to the exchange™s website. Weather shut American equity markets for two days in October 2012 in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Source : Bloomberg

Pasca Pemilu Yunani, Bursa AS Berfluktuasi

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Saham-saham AS berfluktuasi, mengikuti penguatan mingguan pertama tahun ini untuk indeks S&P 500, setelah gain dalam perusahaan-perusahaan energi mengimbangi penurunan pada saham-saham teknologi akibat investor menganggap kemungkinan terjadi penurunan dari pemilu Yunani.

Indeks S&P 500 naik 0,1% menjadi 2,054.06 pada pukul 12:16 siang di New York. Indeks Dow Jones Industrial Average kehilangan 1,68 poin, atau kurang dari 0,1%, ke 17,670.92. Perdagangan perusahaan dalam indeks S&P 500 adalah 4,8% di bawah rata-rata 30-hari pada hari ini.

Di New York, para pejabat mengatakan kepada warga untuk tetap tinggal di rumah setelah diperkirakan badai salju akan melanda dari New York hingga Boston. The New York Stock Exchange berencana untuk beroperasi pada jadwal normal di hari Senin dan Selasa, perusahaan mengatakan dalam sebuah e-mail. Terakhir kali jam perdagangan NYSE berubah karena badai salju pada 8 Januari 1996, menurut situs bursa.

Indeks S&P 500 menguat 1,6% pada pekan lalu setelah Presiden Bank Sentral Eropa Mario Draghi mengatakan, pihaknya akan membeli hingga 1.14 triliun euro ($ 1.28 triliun) surat berharga swasta dan publik.(frk)

Sumber : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Retreat as Earnings Results Offset ECB Stimulus Plan

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U.S. stocks fell, trimming the first weekly gain of 2015, as weaker-than-forecast results at companies from United Parcel Service Inc. to Kimberly-Clark Corp. offset confidence that central banks will support global growth.

UPS slumped 9.9 percent as it said preliminary 2014 earnings were lower than previously forecast. Bank of New York Mellon Corp. and State Street Corp. led financial shares lower after both said the falling euro hurt revenue from the region. Kimberly-Clark dropped 6.1 percent after forecasting 2015 earnings that missed estimates.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index lost 0.6 percent to 2,051.82 at 4 p.m. in New York, paring a weekly gain to 1.6 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 141.38 points, or 0.8 percent, to 17,672.60. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.2 percent. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rallied 1.7 percent a day after the European Central Bank expanded its stimulus plan.

About 6.5 billion shares changed hands on U.S. exchanges today, in line with the three-month average. Selling accelerated in the final 30 minutes of trading as materials producers extended declines to 1.6 percent and investors anticipated the results of an election in Greece on Sunday. Opinion polls show the anti-austerity party may win enough votes to take power.

Source: Bloomberg

Japan Stocks Fall After Weekly Gain as Yen Climbs on Greek Vote

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Japanese stocks fell, after the Topix index posted its first weekly advance in 2015, as the yen gained amid official projections showing Greece™s anti-austerity Syriza party may get close to winning a majority.

The Topix slid 1 percent to 1,388.85 as of 9:00 a.m. in Tokyo after increasing 2.9 percent last week. All 33 industry groups retreated. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 1.2 percent to 17,300.64. The yen added 0.3 percent to 117.41 per dollar after strengthening 0.6 percent on Jan. 23.

Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras said Greece™s era of bowing to international creditors is over, as he celebrated his party™s victory. While it remains unclear whether Syriza will be able to govern alone, the result hands Tsipras a mandate to confront Greece™s program of austerity imposed in return for pledges of 240 billion euros ($267 billion) in aid since May 2010.

Futures on the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index sank 0.8 percent. The underlying equity measure dropped 0.6 percent on Jan. 23, as weaker-than-forecast results at companies from United Parcel Service Inc. to Kimberly-Clark Corp. offset confidence that central banks will support global growth.

Source: Bloomberg

Saham Asia Jatuh Terkait Penguatan Yen Vs Euro Serta Pemilu Yunani

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Saham Asia jatuh karena yen menguat ke level tertinggi sejak September 2013 terhadap euro terkait proyeksi partai politik yang berkomitmen untuk renegosiasi utang Yunani yang akan memenangkan cukup suara untuk mendekati suara mayoritas.

Indeks MSCI Asia Pacific turun 0,4% menjadi 140,59 pada 09:01 pagi di Tokyo, setelah naik ke level tertinggi dua bulan pada hari Jumat pekan lalu. Pemimpin partai Syriza Alexis Tsipras mengatakan era kreditur internasional Yunani berakhir setelah Perdana Menteri Antonis Samaras mengakui kekalahan dalam pemilihan yang didominasi oleh reaksi publik terhadap pemotongan anggaran tahunan. Yen menguat sebanyak 0,9% terhadap euro.(yds)

Sumber: Bloomberg

Euro Falls to 11-Year Low as Syriza Wins Greek Poll

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The euro weakened to an 11-year low against the dollar after Syriza, the party committed to renegotiating Greece™s debt obligations, won a general election.

The 19-nation currency fell for a third day versus the greenback, after tumbling last week on the European Central Bank™s plan to pump 1.1 trillion euros ($1.23 trillion) into the economy to stoke inflation. The yen strengthened versus 13 of its 16 major counterparts amid demand for haven assets. The Australian and New Zealand dollars declined.

The euro fell 0.2 percent to $1.1178 at 9:32 a.m. in Tokyo after sliding to $1.1098, the weakest level since September 2003. The common currency dropped 0.2 percent to 130.71 yen after reaching 130.15, the weakest since September 2013. The yen was little changed at 117.43 per dollar.

Tsipras™s Coalition of the Radical Left, known by its Greek acronym, took 36 percent of the vote with 90 percent of the ballots counted. That compares with 28.1 percent for Prime Minister Antonis Samaras™s New Democracy. The far-right Golden Dawn placed third with 6.3 percent, followed by To Potami, a potential Syriza coalition partner, with 5.9 percent.

Australia™s dollar dropped 0.2 percent to 78.98 U.S cents, while the New Zealand currency fell 0.3 percent to 74.27 cents. Australian financial markets are shut for a holiday.

Source: Bloomberg

Oil Slides to Near 6-Year Low as U.S. Supply Seen Worsening Glut

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Oil declined to the lowest level in almost six years as data showed U.S. crude inventories in December surged to the highest level for the month since 1930, adding to signs a global supply glut may persist.

Futures slid as much as 2.7 percent in New York and 1.9 percent in London. Crude stockpiles in the U.S., the world™s biggest oil consumer, rose 7.4 percent from last year to end December at 383.5 million barrels, the American Petroleum Institute said in a monthly report. Saudi Arabian King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, who took over after the death of King Abdullah, said he will maintain the policies of his predecessor in a speech on Saudi national television.

Crude slumped almost 50 percent last year as the U.S. pumped oil at the fastest rate in more than three decades while the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries sought to defend market share and resisted calls to cut supply. Producers outside of OPEC will boost output this year at a slower rate than previously forecast, according to a monthly report from the International Energy Agency.

West Texas Intermediate for March delivery fell as much as $1.24 to $44.35 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $44.78 at 9:11 a.m. Seoul time. It dropped 1.6 percent to $45.59 on Jan. 23. Volume of all futures traded was about 163 percent above the 100-day average. Prices slid 6.4 percent last week.

Brent for March settlement slid as much as 94 cents to $47.85 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. It gained 0.6 percent to $48.79 a barrel on Jan. 23. The European benchmark crude was at a premium of $3.41 to WTI, compared to $3.20 at the end of last week.

Source: Bloomberg

Euro Falls to 11-Year Low as ECB Expands Bond-Buying; Real Gains

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The euro dropped to an 11-year low as the European Central Bank expanded its bond-buying program to include government bonds, a policy that tends to debase the currency.

The euro fell 2.1 percent to $1.1368 at 3:25 p.m. in New York and touched $1.1363, the weakest level since September 2003. The last time the euro and dollar traded one for one was in 2002.

The shared currency declined 1.7 percent to 134.67 yen and touched 134.29, lowest since Oct. 16. The dollar added 0.4 percent to 118.44 yen.

Source: Bloomberg

Gold Closes Above $1,300 After ECB Announces Stimulus Measures

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Gold futures settled above $1,300 an ounce for the first time since August after the European Central Bank expanded stimulus measures, boosting demand for the metal as a store of value.

Gold futures for February delivery rose 0.5 percent to settle at $1,300.70 an ounce at 1:42 p.m. on the Comex in New York. Aggregate trading was 51 percent more than the 100-day average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Bullion priced in euros jumped to the highest since April 2013, extending the year™s advance to 17 percent.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, palladium futures for March delivery rose 0.5 percent to $772.30 an ounce. Platinum futures for April delivery rose 0.7 percent to $1,284.80 an ounce.

Source: Bloomberg

Japan Stocks Head for First Weekly Gain in 2015 on ECB Stimulus

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Japanese shares rose, with the Topix index heading for its first weekly gain this year, after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi expanded stimulus.

The Topix advanced 1 percent to 1,403.88 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, heading for a weekly jump of 2.9 percent as all but one of its 33 industry groups rose. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 1.1 percent to 17,516.43, on course for a 3.8 percent increase this week. The yen slid 0.2 percent to 118.71 per dollar.

The ECB pledged to buy government bonds as part of an asset-buying program worth around 1.1 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion). In addition to monthly purchases, the monetary authority also reduced the cost of long-term loans to banks.

Draghi announced an expanded asset-purchase program, including private and public securities, of up to 60 billion euros a month. The buying will continue through September 2016. The announcement came after the ECB kept benchmark rates unchanged at record lows.

Source: Bloomberg

S&P 500 Erases Loss for Year on Earnings, ECB Stimulus Program

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U.S. stocks rallied for a fourth day, erasing losses for the year in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index, as the European Central Bank unveiled an expanded stimulus plan and banks and transportation companies surged amid better-than-forecast earnings.

KeyCorp led gains among banks after fourth-quarter results topped analyst estimates. Southwest Airlines Co. jumped 8.4 percent as profit rose 71 percent on lower jet fuel prices. Union Pacific Corp. added 4.8 percent as a strengthening U.S. economy and growing construction market boosted traffic on the rails in the fourth quarter. EBay Inc. increased 7.1 percent after entering a standstill agreement with activist investor Carl Icahn.

The S&P 500 gained 1.5 percent to 2,063.31 at 4 p.m. in New York, the highest since Dec. 30. The gauge climbed above its average price for the past 50 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 264.36 points, or 1.5 percent, to 17,818.64. The Russell 2000 Index surged 2.1 percent. Trading in S&P 500 companies was 24 percent above the 30-day average for this time of the day.

The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, known as the VIX, lost 13 percent, the most since December, to 16.45.

Source: Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Advance on Earnings as ECB Expands Stimulus Program

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U.S. stocks rose, after a three-day rally in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index, as regional banks and transportation companies posted better-than-forecast earnings and the European Central Bank unveiled an expanded stimulus plan.

KeyCorp led gains among regional banks after fourth-quarter results topped analyst estimates. Southwest Airlines Co. jumped 6.2 percent as profit rose 71 percent on lower jet fuel prices. Union Pacific Corp. added 4.2 percent as a strengthening U.S. economy and growing construction market boosted traffic on the rails in the fourth quarter. EBay Inc. increased 4.9 percent after entering a standstill agreement with activist investor Carl Icahn.

The S&P 500 gained 0.7 percent to 2,046 at 12:21 p.m. in New York. The gauge climbed back to its average price for the past 50 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 113.73 points, or 0.7 percent, to 17,668.01. Trading in S&P 500 companies was 22 percent above the 30-day average for this time of the day.

Draghi announced an expanded asset-purchase program, including private and public securities, of up to 60 billion euros ($69 billion) a month. The buying will continue through September 2016. The announcement came after the ECB kept benchmark rates unchanged at record lows.

Source : Bloomberg

Oil Declines as Iraq Signals Output Gain to Offset Price Plunge

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Oil fell as Iraq said it needs to boost crude output and exports to compensate for collapsing prices, exacerbating a global supply glut.

Futures declined as much as 1 percent in New York. Iraq has lost about 50 percent of its revenues because of the price decrease, Rowsch Nuri Shaways, the deputy prime minister of OPEC™s second-biggest producer, said in Davos, Switzerland. U.S. crude supplies probably expanded a second week through Jan. 16, according to a Bloomberg News survey before a report from the Energy Information Administration on Thursday.

Oil slumped almost 50 percent last year as the U.S. pumped crude at the fastest rate in more than three decades and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries resisted calls to cut output. Prices will rebound rather than extend their decline to as low as $20 a barrel, according to Abdalla El-Badri, the secretary-general of the 12-member OPEC.

West Texas Intermediate for March delivery fell as much as 47 cents to $47.31 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $47.39 at 10:46 a.m. Sydney time. The contract gained $1.31 to $47.78 on Wednesday. The volume of all futures traded was about 77 percent below the 100-day average.

Brent for March settlement rose $1.04, or 2.2 percent, to $49.03 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange on Jan. 21. The European benchmark crude ended the session at a premium of $1.25 to WTI.

Source : Bloomberg

Gold loses steam above $1,300 as ECB stimulus measures loom

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Gold lost some of its earlier momentum to snap a seven-day winning streak Wednesday, unable to defend its first foray above $1,300 an ounce since August.

Gold for February delivery relinquished its earlier high to dip 50 cents to settle at $1,293.70 an ounce after settling at its highest price in five months.

Despite Wednesday™s retreat, the precious metal is still up about 9% year to date.

March silver futures meanwhile, advanced 24 cents, or 1.3%, to $18.19 an ounce in electronic trading.

Gold™s recent rally was fueled by investors seeking havens amid ongoing troubles in Ukraine, political uncertainty in Greece, turmoil triggered by the Swiss National Bank, and some bargain hunting on the heels of depressed prices at the end of 2014.

Source : MarketWatch

Japan Stocks Swing as Insurers Drop, Communications Shares Rise

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Japanese stocks swung between gains and losses as insurers fell and communication stocks rose amid speculation the European Central Bank will stimulate growth through asset purchases.

The Topix slipped 0.1 percent to 1,388.76 as of 9:07 a.m. after rising less than 0.1 percent. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 0.2 percent to 17,312.

The ECB announces it policy decision later today. An Executive Board proposal foresees asset purchases of as much as $1.3 trillion through the end of 2016, according to two euro-area central-bank officials who have seen the document.

The Bank of Japan kept its target for the monetary base unchanged yesterday after it boosted an already unprecedented bond-buying program in October. The central bank cut its inflation forecast for fiscal 2015 to 1 percent from 1.7 percent previously amid plunging oil prices.

Source : Bloomberg

Asian Stocks Fall Before European Central Bank Stimulus Decision

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Asian stocks fell even amid speculation the European Central Bank will boost stimulus through a sovereign-bond purchase program under the quantitative-easing strategy.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 0.1 percent to 134.46 as of 9:05 a.m. in Tokyo before markets open in China and Hong Kong. An ECB Executive Board proposal calls for as much as $1.3 trillion in asset purchases through the end of 2016, according to two euro-area central-bank officials who have seen the document. The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index added 0.5 percent and the Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced 0.6 percent to extend a seven-year high yesterday.

Japan™s Topix index slid 0.1 percent. Australia™s S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 0.5 percent and South Korea™s Kospi index added 0.4 percent. New Zealand™s NZX 50 Index added 0.2 percent after yesterday closing at a record high.

The ECB proposal could still be changed significantly, the people said, asking not to be identified as it is confidential. Purchases won™t start before March 1, one of the people said. The central bank will announce its policy decision today.

Source: Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Advance for Third Day Amid Earnings, ECB Speculation

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U.S. stocks rose for a third day as energy shares rallied and speculation grew that the European Central Bank will provide more stimulus.

Netflix Inc. jumped 17 percent as it posted subscriber growth that beat projections and said it will complete its global expansion within two years. Energy companies climbed 1.8 percent for a third day of gains. International Business Machines Corp. slipped 3.1 percent after its earnings forecast trailed some estimates.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index rose 0.5 percent to 2,032.31 at 4 p.m. in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 39.11 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,554.34. The Russell 2000 Index dropped 0.3 percent. Trading in S&P 500 companies was 6.9 percent above the 30-day average for this time of the day.

Two euro-area central-bank officials said the ECB™s Executive Board has proposed quantitative easing of 50 billion euros ($58 billion) a month until the end of 2016.

Source: Bloomberg

Gold Futures Approach $1,300 to Post Longest Rally in 11 Months

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Gold futures approached $1,300 an ounce to post the longest rally in 11 months on speculation that the European Central Bank will boost economic stimulus, increasing demand for the precious metal as a haven.

Assets in the SPDR Gold Trust, the biggest exchange-traded product backed by the metal, last week rose 3.3 percent, the most since May 2010. Futures posted the biggest weekly gain in 18 months after the Swiss central bank unexpectedly abandoned its currency peg against the euro. The International Monetary Fund on Monday made the steepest cut to its global-growth outlook in three years.

The metal on Tuesday climbed to a 20-week high amid speculation that stagnant foreign economies will prompt the Federal Reserve to wait longer before raising interest rates. ECB President Mario Draghi will probably announce a 550 billion-euro ($638 billion) program of quantitative easing this week, economists said in a Bloomberg survey.

Gold futures for February delivery climbed 1.4 percent to settle at $1,294.20 at 1:39 p.m. on the Comex in New York. Earlier, the price touched $1,297.20, the highest for a most-active contract since Aug. 28. The metal advanced for a seventh straight session, the longest rally since Feb. 18.

Source : Bloomberg

Dollar at Almost 10-Year High on Diverging Policy; Loonie Drops

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A gauge of the dollar approached a 10-year high on speculation the U.S. is moving toward raising interest rates as policy makers in Europe and Japan meet to discuss further measures to bolster their stagnant economies.

The U.S. currency climbed for a third day versus the yen as the Japanese central bank considers expanded monetary easing at a policy meeting ending tomorrow. The euro was at almost the lowest level in 11 years before the European Central Bank meets this week amid bets it will announce sovereign-bond buying under quantitative easing. The International Monetary Fund cut growth forecasts almost everywhere except the U.S. Canada™s dollar plunged to an almost six-year low. The Swiss franc gained.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the U.S. currency against 10 major peers, climbed 0.5 percent to 1,145.74 as of 2:15 p.m. New York time. It closed at 1,147.54 on Jan. 8, the highest in data going back to 2004.

The dollar appreciated 1 percent to 118.80 yen. It climbed 0.5 percent to $1.1549 per euro after rising to $1.1460 on Jan. 16, the strongest level since November 2003. The shared currency gained 0.6 percent to 137.21 yen.

Source: Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Advance as Tech Rally Offsets Global Growth Concern

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U.S. stocks rose, with the Nasdaq 100 Index rallying as gains from Apple Inc. to Netflix Inc. helped offset concerns that global growth is slowing.

Yahoo! Inc., Micron Technology Inc. and Apple jumped more than 2.3 percent to lead technology shares. Netflix surged 3.4 percent before reporting results. Delta Air Lines Inc. climbed 7.3 percent after earnings beat projections. Johnson & Johnson tumbled 2.6 percent after forecasting lower earnings in 2015 as competition cuts into revenue for some of its best-selling drugs. A gauge of homebuilders retreated 3 percent, after plunging almost 7 percent last week.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index gained 0.2 percent to 2,022.53 at 4 p.m. in New York, after an earlier decline of 0.7 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 4.5 points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 17,516.07. The Nasdaq 100 Index gained 0.7 percent. Trading in S&P 500 companies was 19 percent above the 30-day average for this time of the day. U.S. exchanges were closed yesterday for Martin Luther King Day.

The S&P 500 slipped 1.2 percent last week, even with a 1.3 percent rally on Friday, as falling oil, shrinking earnings estimates and concern that slowing global growth will hurt the U.S. economy led to selling. The index is down 1.8 percent for the year.

Source: Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Fall on Weaker Outlook for Earnings, Global Growth

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U.S. stocks fell as results at companies from Morgan Stanley to Johnson & Johnson disappointed investors and the International Monetary Fund lowered its outlook for global growth.

Johnson & Johnson tumbled 3.4 percent after forecasting lower earnings in 2015 as competition cuts into revenue for some of its best-selling drugs. Morgan Stanley slipped 1.5 percent after profit missed analysts™ estimates. Energy shares declined 0.8 percent as oil futures tumbled 3.9 percent. A gauge of homebuilders retreated 3.1 percent, after plunging almost 7 percent last week.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index dropped 0.6 percent to 2,007.22 at 12:01 p.m. in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 139.61 points, or 0.8 percent, to 17,371.96. The Russell 2000 Index tumbled 1.2 percent. Trading in S&P 500 companies was 20 percent above the 30-day average for this time of the day. U.S. exchanges were closed yesterday for Martin Luther King Day.

The S&P 500 slipped 1.2 percent last week, even with a 1.3 percent rally on Friday, as falling oil, shrinking earnings estimates and concern that slowing global growth will hurt the U.S. economy led to selling. The index is down 2.5 percent for the year.

Source : Bloomberg

Europe Stock Gain Fourth Day to Extend Highest Level Since 2008

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European stocks advanced for a fourth day, extending their highest level in seven years, amid speculation that the European Central Bank will announce a plan for quantitative easing this week.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.8 percent to 355.96 at the close of trading, after earlier rising as much as 1.2 percent. Banks and miners led gains among 19 industry groups. The benchmark gauge has rallied 4.8 percent in the four days since the Swiss central bank unexpectedly abandoned its currency peg against the euro, a move that increased speculation of a government-bond buying program from the ECB.

ECB President Mario Draghi will make his biggest push yet to steer the euro area away from deflation by introducing quantitative easing at the Jan. 22 meeting, according to 93 percent of respondents in a Bloomberg News survey. The ECB president will probably announce a 550 billion-euro ($639 billion) bond purchase program, economists say.

Source : Bloomberg

Gold slips from four-month high, haven appeal lends support

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Gold eased from four-month highs on Monday as investors cashed in some of last week's hefty gains, though prices were still supported by wider market volatility that boosted the metal's appeal as a haven from risk.

A market rout after Switzerland unexpectedly abandoned a cap on the franc last week triggered strong bids for gold, often seen as an alternative to risky assets, sending prices to their highest since September at $1,281.50.

Spot gold was down 0.4 percent at $1,274.61 an ounce at 1652 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for February delivery were down $1.50 an ounce at $1,275.40. Spot gold is up nearly 8 percent this year.

Holdings of the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust, climbed 13.7 tonnes to 730.89 tonnes on Friday, its biggest one-day inflow in nearly 3-1/2 years.

Speculators raised their net long position in gold for the third straight week, ending Jan. 13, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday.

Silver was down 0.3 percent at $17.68 an ounce, while platinum was flat at $1,263.25 and palladium up 0.4 percent at $754.22.

Palladium bucked the trend for precious metals last week, falling more than 6 percent.

Source: Reuters

Gold Trades Above Platinum as Bullion ETPs Gain on Haven Demand

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Gold traded at the biggest premium to platinum since April 2013 as bullion was near a four-month high amid demand for a haven.

An ounce of gold bought as many as 1.012 ounces of platinum in London today, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The ratio had mostly held below 1 since April 2013. Holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded products jumped 26.2 metric tons in the two days through Jan. 16, the biggest advance since 2011.

Bullion climbed 4.7 percent last week, the most since August 2013, after the Swiss National Bank decided to let the currency trade freely against the euro and deepened negative deposit rates. Chinese equities lost the most since 2008 today and the European Central Bank may announce additional stimulus measures at a meeting this week.

Gold for immediate delivery lost 0.3 percent to $1,277.14 an ounce by 11:15 a.m. in London, after reaching $1,283 earlier today, the highest since Sept. 2. Platinum fell 0.3 percent to $1,263.25. U.S. financial markets are closed for Martin Luther King Day.

A slump in commodity prices has raised speculation that the Federal Reserve may hold back from increasing its key rate, which has been kept near zero since 2008, as data has showed inflation held below the central bank™s 2 percent target. ECB policy makers meet Jan. 22, three days before Greek elections that™s spurred concern the country may exit the currency bloc.

Silver for immediate delivery declined 0.5 percent to $17.6978 an ounce, reversing an advance to $18.0075 earlier today, the highest since Sept. 19. Prices climbed 7.8 percent last week, the most since August 2013. Palladium rose 1.1 percent to $765.90 an ounce.

Source : Bloomberg