World stock markets opened the new year with gains on Friday after a dismal 2008, while the dollar rose against major currencies and prices in crude and gold fell. Global stocks as measured by the MSCI world index advanced 0.7 percent on the first trading day of 2009, with the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 up 1.6
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World stocks rose on the first trading day of the year after a dismal 2008, while the dollar gained. Crude oil and metal prices fell, as did government bonds. Global stocks as measured by the MSCI world index were up 0.5 percent, with Japan's Nikkei average up 1.3 percent and the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 gaining
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British house prices fell by a record 16.2 percent year-on-year in December, taking them to their lowest level since August 2004, data from the country's biggest mortgage lender, Halifax, showed on Friday. Prices fell by a bigger-than-expected 2.2 percent in December alone, and are now 20 percent below the peak set before the start of
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European shares pushed higher at midday on Friday, with banks and commodities taking the lead on the first trading day of the year, despite a dismal reading in the Euro Zone manufacturing index and UK house prices falling more than expected. By 1137 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up
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The Czech Republic took over yesterday, for the first time since it joined the EU in 2004, the European Union six-month rotating presidency from France. In an interview with CNA, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cyprus Jan Bondy has stressed that Turkey has to fulfill all its obligations in the framework of its
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Cyprus’ accession to the euro-area acts as a protection shield against the fallout of the current international financial crisis, the Governor of the Central Bank Athanasios Orphanides believes. In a message, to mark one year since joining the euro, he said the EU currency, which Cyprus adopted as its legal tender on January 1 this
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Britain's top share index gained 0.5 percent in early trade Friday, starting the first trading session of 2009 in positive fashion, led by gains in miners, oils, banks and retailers following a strong end to 2008. By 0842 GMT, the FTSE 100 index was up 19.76 points at 4,453.93. The UK blue chip index closed
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John Lewis, the employee-owned group seen as a barometer of UK retail spending, said on Friday sales surged at both its department stores and upmarket grocery chain in the days before and after Christmas. The group said sales at its 27 department stores rose 1.2 percent on the same period last year to 71.03 million
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President-elect Barack Obama plans to meet on Monday with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders to discuss their legislative agendas, including how to jump-start the struggling U.S. economy, a Democratic congressional aide said on Thursday. Obama plans to meet first with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and they will later be
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World stock markets closed out the year on Wednesday with some having registered their worst annual losses in history, although December looked set to end on a rare up note and there was some optimism about 2009. Dollar was broadly higher while oil fell below $39 a barrel, a 60 percent loss for the year.
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