International markets roundup
Market watch top headlines
Australian reports
- Aust markets: Aust stocks close lower
- Aust dollar report: $A finishes the day higher
- Aust credit close: Aust bonds weaker
World reports
- World commodities: Commodities markets summary
- World markets: International markets roundup
AAP
2012-06-15
A roundup of trading on major world markets:
NEW YORK - US stocks pushed higher Thursday amid speculation of more stimulus from the Federal Reserve after another batch of poor data releases.
Rumours of central bank coordination to head off contagion in the markets took stocks through a roller coaster late in the day, as Greece's weekend election and next week's crucial G20 summit kept investors on edge.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 155.53 points, or 1.24 per cent, at 12,651.91.
The S&P 500-stock index advanced 14.22 (1.08 per cent) to 1,329.10, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite added 17.72 (0.63 per cent) to 2,836.33.
A rise in weekly initial jobless claims and a fall in monthly consumer prices in May for the first time in two years underpinned fresh signs of weakness in the US economy.
LONDON - European stock markets were mixed in choppy trade with Spain's borrowing costs rising to a euro-era record following a ratings downgrade tempered by a bout of optimism about Greek elections.
London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dropped 0.31 per cent to 5,467.05 points and in Frankfurt the DAX 30 shed 0.23 per cent to 6,138.61 points, but in Paris the CAC 40 bucked the trend to add 0.08 per cent to 3,032.45 points.
Milan jumped 1.47 per cent and Madrid gained 1.22 per cent despite the turmoil in the bonds markets.
Meanwhile Greek shares soared more than 10 per cent on speculation that voters will elect a government committed the austerity policies key to it receiving further bailout aid and staying in the euro.
In foreign exchange deals, the euro rose to $US1.2612 from $US1.2556 late on Wednesday in New York.
HONG KONG - Asian markets mostly fell as dealers followed losses on Wall Street while selling pressure was also stoked by fears over Spain and nervousness ahead of weekend Greek polls.
Tokyo fell 0.22 per cent, or 19.95 points, to 8,568.89 and Hong Kong was 1.15 per cent, or 218.12 points, down at 18,808.40.
Shanghai lost 0.99 per cent, or 22.97 points, to close at 2,295.95.
However, Seoul gained 0.65 per cent, or 12.16 points, to 1,871.48.
With the eurozone's 100 billion euros ($A127 billion) loan for Spain's banking sector almost a distant memory, the country has seen its borrowing costs surge to unsustainable levels and traders are growing concerned about its own financial state.
WELLINGTON - The NZX 50 rose 34.36 points, or one per cent, to 3416.09.
