DAILY

27th March 2014

PSI20: +0.11% DAX30: +0.03% FTSE100: -0.26% S&P500: -0.19% NIKKEI225: +1.01%
PSI-20 gained 0.11% to 7515.31 points, after swinging between gains and losses in the final stages of negotiation. The index heavy-weight PT declined 1.82%, after the approval of shareholders to advance with the capital increase that will lead to the merger of PT and Oi. More >>

Portugal and Greece are the only two eurozone countries in which labor costs have declined since the
beginning of the crisis in 2008, according to data released by Eurostat on Thursday. In fact, between 2008 and 2013 Portugal recorded a negative change in labor costs of 5.1%. More >>

European equities edged higher on Thursday, lifted by a rise in telecoms equipment maker Alcatel and oil group Total which were both boosted by new Chinese deals. The euro zone's blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index inched up by 0.1 percent to 3,133.75 points. More >> Retail sales in the U.K. rose much more than expected in February, underlining optimism over the countrys economic outlook, official data showed on Thursday. The U.K. Office for National Statistics said retail sales increased by a seasonally adjusted 1.7% last month. More >>

U.S. stocks slid on Thursday after mixed economic reports cast a favorable light on the labor market while also illustrating the economy expanded less than economists expected at the end of last year. More >> In a report, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said gross domestic product grew at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.6% in the fourth quarter, below expectations for growth of 2.7%. More >> The National Association of Realtors said on Thursday its pending home sales index, based on contracts signed last month, fell 0.8% to 93.9 in February. That was the lowest level since October 2011. More >>

Asias benchmark stocks gauge rose toward the highest close in two weeks, reversing earlier losses, as utilities advanced. More >> The New Zealand dollar reached an 11-month high and Australias currency extended gains versus most major peers amid signs of resilience in the South Pacific nations economies. More >> South Korean Consumer Confidence remained unchanged at 108, from 108 in the preceding month. Analysts had expected South Korean Consumer Confidence to rise to 110 last month. More >>

OIL (WTI: $101.25/bl, +1.08% ; BRENT: $107.64/bl, +0.62% ): WTI advanced after supplies at Oklahoma, the delivery point for the contract, reached a two-year low. Brent gained in London. More >> NATURAL GAS ($4.530/MmBtu, +3.12%): Natural gas futures shot up on Thursday after data revealed Americans demanded more of the commodity last week than expected. More >>

GOLD ($1292.00/oz t, -1.16%): Gold prices fell after strong U.S. quarterly growth and weekly jobless claims solidified expectations for the FED to wind down monthly asset purchases this year. More >>

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