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