07.05.14

Good morning,

New Zealand saw their unemployment figures remain unchanged at 6.0% when analysts had predicted a 5.8% rate to be published. The miss in the expectations caused the NZD to lose ground against the USD to currently trade at 0.8685 Japanese sales tax has increased but consumer spending remains steady according to the BOJ board meeting minutes. USDJPY was trading at 101.47, with the Nikkei losing ground due to the stronger JPY and Ukraine concerns.

The NIKKEI was trading at 14033.45 down 424.06 points or minus 2.93%

Ukraine fears have dominated the past weeks, with escalation of violence feared throughout the country. There is talk of a further referendum in the Donbass region similar to that which took place in Crimea last March. Inflation rising in the Euro-Zone area is likely to see no change in ECB policy regards QE, with EURUSD trading at 1.3919 This morning saw the Swiss unemployment rate announced, unchanged, at 3.2%

The FTSE100 closed at 6798.56 down 23.86 minus 0.35% while the DAX closed at 9467.53 down 61.97 points or minus 0.65%

The FED Chair Janet Yellen today will give congressional testimony later today. Canada will publish building permit figures for March. USDCAD was trading at 1.0882 EIA Crude Oil Stocks change figures will be released following Yellen’s speech, with USOIL currently trading at 100.16 dollars per barrel at time of writing.

The DOW closed at 16401.02 down 129.53 points or minus 0.78%

Hope you all have a good day.