Aust dollar weaker at noon

The Australian dollar is almost one US cent lower after American jobs figures boosted the US currency. At 12pm (AEDT) on Monday, the local currency was trading at US77.07c, down from US78.01c on Friday. The local currency hit a low of US77.03c on Monday morning. The US dollar strengthened after official data showed that 295,000 US jobs were created in February, which was better than market expectations of 235,000 positions. The American...

Japan’s Rebound From Recession Was Weaker Than First Estimated

Japan’s rebound from recession was weaker than first estimated by the government following an unexpected decline in business investment. Gross domestic product expanded an annualized 1.5 percent in the three months through December from the previous quarter, less than a preliminary 2.2 percent, according to revised data released Monday by the Cabinet Office. The expansion followed two straight quarters of contraction caused by an increase...

Japan Stocks Fall on Bets of U.S. Rate Rise, Weaker Japanese GDP

Japanese stocks fell after U.S. jobs data spurred speculation of an earlier interest-rate increase in the world’s largest economy, while a report showed Japan’s exit from a recession was weaker than previously reported. Real-estate stocks led declines, with Mitsubishi Estate Co. dropping 1.9 percent. Mobile carriers retreated after Mizuho Financial Group Inc. downgraded NTT Docomo...

Japan Stocks Fall on Bets of U.S. Rate Rise, Weaker Japanese GDP

Japanese stocks fell after U.S. jobs data spurred speculation of an earlier interest-rate increase in the world’s largest economy, while a report showed Japan’s exit from a recession was weaker than previously reported. Real-estate stocks led declines, with Mitsubishi Estate Co. dropping 1.9 percent. Mobile carriers retreated after Mizuho Financial Group Inc. downgraded NTT Docomo Inc., which fell 1 percent. Kyocera Corp. slid 0.5 percent...

China’s Stocks Fall to Three-Week Low as Brokerages Slump

China’s stocks fell to a three-week low amid concern new share sales will divert funds from existing equities and as securities firms tumbled after regulators said they may allow banks to conduct brokerage businesses. Citic Securities Co. and Haitong Securities Co. retreated more than 3 percent after the China Securities Regulatory Commission said it’s considering allowing banks...