Finance news

• US home prices climb in October, helped by solid job market

  29-12-2015 23:19 via news.yahoo.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Steady job growth, low mortgage rates and tight inventories helped fuel rising U.S. home prices in October.
  
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• Apple and Amazon deliver rally on Wall Street

  29-12-2015 22:38 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Following a recent selloff over concerns about potentially soft iPhone sales, Apple jumped 1.80 percent and was the biggest influence on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Amazon climbed 2.78 percent and closed at a record high of $693.97. Chevron rose 0.98 percent, helping push the S&P energy sector up 0.69 percent after oil prices edged up on the prospects of colder weather in Europe and North America, raising hopes of a short-term uptick in the tepid demand that has plagued the commodity this ye
  
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• US stocks are ending 2015 mostly flat, capping volatile year

  29-12-2015 22:02 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The U.S. stock market took investors for a wild ride in 2015, but in the end it was a trip to nowhere.
  
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• REFILE-Ferrari short sellers face higher costs; shares in short supply

  29-12-2015 21:38
  
  SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Short sellers waiting for recently listed shares of Ferrari NV to swerve off the road may soon face higher costs to maintain their bets on the luxury sportscar...
  
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• Georgia, with eye on 2016 election, switches prime minister

  29-12-2015 21:27 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Margarita Antidze TBILISI (Reuters) - Lawmakers in Georgia voted on Tuesday to approve Georgy Kvirikashvili as the ex-Soviet state's new prime minister, an appointment widely seen as an attempt to boost the ruling coalition's flagging popularity amid an economic slump. Kvirikashvili, his replacement, was previously foreign minister. Opposition politicians and analysts linked the switch to a decline in the popularity of the ruling Georgian Dream party, saying it wanted to overhaul its image be
  
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• Apple and Amazon push S&P 500 over 1 percent higher

  29-12-2015 20:46 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Wall Street surged on Tuesday, pushing the S&P 500 into a small gain for the year as Amazon and Apple led tech stocks higher and recovering crude prices bolstered energy shares. Chevron rose 1.37 percent, helping push the S&P energy sector up 0.89 percent after oil prices edged up on the prospects of colder weather in Europe and North America, raising hopes of a short-term uptick in the tepid demand that has plagued the commodity this year. Amazon climbed 2.8 percent and hit a life high
  
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• KaloBios submits request to appeal Nasdaq delisting

  29-12-2015 19:06 via news.yahoo.com
  
  (Reuters) - KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc, which fired its controversial Chief Executive Martin Shkreli earlier this month, said it had requested an appeal of Nasdaq's decision to delist its shares. The embattled drugmaker said last week it had been notified by Nasdaq that its stock would be delisted using the exchange operator's "discretionary" authority. KaloBios on Monday said two directors - Tom Fernandez and Marek Biestekhad - had resigned in the wake of Shkreli's arrest for alleged securiti
  
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• Tech rally drives indexes; S&P 500 positive for year

  29-12-2015 18:58 via news.yahoo.com
  
  The S&P 500 was up 0.78 percent for the year, while the Nasdaq Composite extended gains and was up 7.56 percent. "I think equities on average are destined to end 2015 in uneventful fashion," said Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management in Minneapolis. Lower oil prices put the pace of global growth in question and could translate to lackluster earnings, he added.
  
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• Saudi Arabia, Turkey to set up 'strategic cooperation council': Saudi FM

  29-12-2015 18:45 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Saudi Arabia and Turkey agreed on the need to set up a "strategic cooperation council" to strengthen military, economic and investment cooperation between the two countries, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Tuesday. "The meeting produced a desire to set up a high-level strategic cooperation council between the two countries," Jubeir told a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart after talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, between Saudi King Abdullah and Turkish President Ta
  
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• European stocks, Wall Street climb as oil price steadies

  29-12-2015 18:38 via news.yahoo.com
  
  European stock markets rose Tuesday on steadier oil prices which also lifted Wall Street, with many traders away for an extended festive break. The benchmark indices in Paris and Frankfurt showed healthy gains, after losses on Monday following the Christmas holiday. The key Paris index CAC 40 even broke through the key 4,700 level in late business.
  
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• Barclays in $13.75 million U.S. settlement over mutual funds

  29-12-2015 18:32
  
  (Reuters) - Barclays Plc will pay more than $13.75 million to settle U.S. regulatory charges that it let retail brokerage customers make unsuitable mutual fund transactions, including more than 6,100...
  
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• UPDATE 2-Pennsylvania governor rejects Republican budget, says it's 'garbage'

  29-12-2015 18:20
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec 29 (Reuters) - Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf on Tuesday rejected a budget proposed by Republican-led lawmakers, calling it 'garbage,' but allowed spending on education and some...
  
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• S&P 500 turns positive for year; tech stocks rally

  29-12-2015 18:04 via news.yahoo.com
  
  U.S. stock indexes were higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 logging a small gain for the year, as tech stocks rallied and energy stocks reflected a recovery in crude prices. The S&P 500 was up 0.8 percent for the year, while the Nasdaq Composite extended gains and was up 7.59 percent. "I think equities on average are destined to end 2015 in uneventful fashion," said Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management in Minneapolis.
  
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• Brazil's budget sinks deeper into red

  29-12-2015 18:04 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Brasília (AFP) - Brazil's government accounts headed deeper into the red last month, according to figures released Tuesday, fueling worries over the ailing health of the world's seventh largest economy. The South American giant posted a primary budget deficit of 19.6 billion reais ($5.1 billion) in November, up sharply from $3 billion in October, the central bank said. Brazil is struggling through a deep recession and a political crisis that has led to impeachment proceedings against emba
  
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• Polish bank BPH to cut workforce by up to a third in 2016

  29-12-2015 17:42
  
  WARSAW, Dec 29 (Reuters) - GE's Polish bank BPH plans to cut its workforce by up to a third next year to save 200 million zlotys ($52 million) a year from 2017, the lender said on Tuesday.
  
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• UPDATE 2-Brazil primary budget deficit swells, debt seen climbing

  29-12-2015 17:37
  
  BRASILIA, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Brazil's primary public sector budget deficit widened sharply in November, the central bank said on Tuesday, as falling tax revenues undermined government efforts to...
  
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• Pennsylvania governor rejects Republican budget, calls it 'garbage'

  29-12-2015 17:16
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec 29 (Reuters) - Pennsylvania's Governor Tom Wolf rejected on Tuesday a budget proposed by Republican-led lawmakers, calling it 'garbage,' but allowed spending on education and...
  
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• GLOBAL MARKETS-Stabilising oil lifts shares and bond yields

  29-12-2015 17:15
  
  NEW YORK, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Stocks rose around the world and bond yields edged up on Tuesday as oil rebounded from 11-year lows on prospects for lower temperatures on both sides of the...
  
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• UPDATE 1-Barclays in $13.75 mln U.S. settlement over mutual funds

  29-12-2015 16:55
  
  * No admission of wrongdoing (Adds details of allegations, comment, byline)
  
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• UPDATE 1-Italy's Renzi puts job on the line over 2016 referendum

  29-12-2015 16:54
  
  ROME, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi staked his political future on Tuesday on a referendum over constitutional reform next year, saying he would consider his career in...
  
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• TREASURIES-Bond yields edge up, traders eye U.S. 5-year auction

  29-12-2015 16:40
  
  NEW YORK, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Yields on U.S. Treasuries rose on Tuesday in light, choppy trading as dealers awaited a five-year note auction later in the session and as oil prices recouped losses.
  
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• US consumer confidence rebounds in December

  29-12-2015 16:28 via news.yahoo.com
  
  US consumer confidence rebounded in December after a one-month slump but some worries remained over the medium-term outlook, the Conference Board reported Tuesday. The Board's consumer confidence index rose to 96.5 from 92.6 in November, with survey responses showing an improvement especially in consumers' assessment of the current situation in the economy. "Looking ahead to 2016, consumers are expecting little change in both business conditions and the labor market," said Lynn Franco, director
  
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• European stocks climb as oil price steadies

  29-12-2015 16:20 via news.yahoo.com
  
  European stock markets rose Tuesday on steadier oil prices which also lifted Wall Street at the opening, with many traders away for an extended festive break. The benchmark indices in Paris and Frankfurt showed healthy gains, after losses on Monday following the Christmas holiday. London returned to action on Tuesday with more modest gains but the homebuilding sector jumped on demand hopes in the wake of flooding in northern England.
  
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• CANADA FX DEBT-C$ firms as crude oil prices rebound

  29-12-2015 16:20
  
  * Canadian dollar at C$1.3856 or 72.17 U.S. cents * Bond prices higher across the maturity curve TORONTO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar firmed against its U.S. counterpart on Tuesday, helped...
  
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• Spanish two-year yields fall as leftist alliance looks unlikely

  29-12-2015 16:09
  
  LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Spanish two-year yields fell on Tuesday as the country's bonds outperformed their euro zone peers in a sign that some investors see the chances of parties forming an...
  
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• US home prices higher in October

  29-12-2015 15:55 via news.yahoo.com
  
  "Generally good economic conditions continue to support gains in home prices," said David Blitzer, head of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, in a statement. Blitzer said that the Federal Reserve's decision two weeks ago to begin raising interest rates was not expected to push up historically low mortgage rates quickly.
  
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• Ukraine expects $10 billion from international lenders in 2016

  29-12-2015 15:54
  
  KIEV, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Ukraine expects to receive around $10 billion from international lenders in 2016, almost the same as this year, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on...
  
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• Barclays in $13.75 mln U.S. settlement over mutual funds

  29-12-2015 15:51
  
  Dec 29 (Reuters) - Barclays Plc will pay more than $13.75 million to settle a U.S. regulator's charges that it allowed customers to make more than 6,100 unsuitable mutual fund switches, and failed to...
  
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• U.S. home prices rise slightly in October, top forecast

  29-12-2015 15:34 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Annualized U.S. single-family home prices rose in October at a slightly faster pace than in September and above market expectations, a closely watched survey showed on Tuesday. The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas gained 5.5 percent in October on a year-over-year basis compared with 5.4 percent in the year to September. "Generally good economic conditions continue to support gains in home prices," said David M. Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the index com
  
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• German Mittelstand upbeat but says refugees won't solve problems

  29-12-2015 15:07 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Klaus Lauer BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Mittelstand, the small and medium-sized companies seen as the backbone of Europe's biggest economy, are optimistic about next year but say 2015's huge influx of refugees will not solve their shortage of skilled labor. A survey by BVMW Mittelstand association published on Tuesday showed that 63 percent of the 2,400 firms questioned viewed their business situation as good or very good, and that some 38 percent expect to post higher revenues in 2016. "Des
  
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• EMERGING MARKETS-Latam currencies up as oil steadies in thin pre-holiday trade

  29-12-2015 15:04
  
  By Bruno Federowski SAO PAULO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Latin American currencies strengthened on Tuesday as oil prices steadied near 11-year lows, curbing a recent bout of risk aversion. A rebound in...
  
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• Saudi rulers weigh political cost of tough economic reforms

  29-12-2015 14:55 via news.yahoo.com
  
  By Angus McDowall RIYADH (Reuters) - The queues of cars stretching outside petrol stations in Saudi Arabia on Monday night to fill up before higher fuel prices came into effect underscored the immediate impact of economic changes in the kingdom and pointed to the risks facing reformers. By raising petrol prices by half, from a negligible $0.16 a liter to a merely cheap $0.24 a liter, Saudi Arabia's new rulers showed willing to make some tough decisions in their quest to enact sweeping economic r
  
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• Retirees see economy glass as half empty

  29-12-2015 14:27
  
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - With 69 straight months of job growth, unemployment at a seven-year low, the Dow Jones Industrial Average near all-time highs and the Federal Reserve confident enough to hike...
  
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• UPDATE 1-Brazil primary budget deficit swells in November

  29-12-2015 14:24
  
  BRASILIA, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Brazil's primary budget deficit widened sharply in November from the previous month, central bank data showed on Tuesday, in further evidence that plummeting tax revenues...
  
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• Spanish PM Rajoy says wants to lead party if fresh elections are held

  29-12-2015 13:45 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Tuesday he would want to be candidate for leader of his People's Party (PP) if fresh elections were held after the inconclusive outcome of this month's ballot. Rajoy told a news conference the best outcome for Spain now would be a government led by the PP, which came first in the elections with 123 seats, with broad support from parties that could agree on issues such as Spanish unity. Rajoy also said the Spanish economy would grow by 3.2 perce
  
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• Brazil posts primary deficit of 20 bln reais in November

  29-12-2015 13:39
  
  BRASILIA, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Brazil posted a public sector primary budget deficit of 19.567 billion reais ($5.07 billion) in November, central bank data showed on Tuesday.
  
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• Italy's Renzi says his political future hinges on 2016 referendum

  29-12-2015 13:06
  
  ROME, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Tuesday he would consider his political career "to have failed" if he loses a referendum on constitutional reform next year.
  
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• Spanish bonds outperform as leftist alliance looks unlikely

  29-12-2015 12:23
  
  LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Spanish bonds held firm on Tuesday while other euro zone yields rose, signalling that some investors see the chances of parties forming an anti-austerity leftist coalition...
  
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• EMERGING MARKETS-Emerging FX, stocks weaken; budget sinks Saudi bourse

  29-12-2015 11:42
  
  LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Emerging market assets remained under pressure in the final days of 2015 with stocks extending losses on Tuesday as Saudi Arabia's budget announcement weighed heavily on...
  
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• Ruble sinks to new 2015 low over oil price plunge

  29-12-2015 11:17 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Russia's battered ruble on Tuesday continued its slide on the back of low oil prices, reaching a new 2015 low against the dollar and dropping to below 80 against the euro. The slide in oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis have pummelled the oil-dependent Russian economy in recent months. At his annual press conference earlier this month President Vladimir Putin assured the country could weather the headwinds, despite volatility in oil prices.
  
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• Ukraine's central bank governor says 2015 inflation hit 44 percent

  29-12-2015 11:06
  
  KIEV, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Ukraine's central bank governor said on Wednesday that inflation this year had hit 44 percent, up from 24.9 percent in 2014.
  
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• GLOBAL MARKETS-Stabilising oil lifts European shares and bond yields

  29-12-2015 10:29
  
  LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - European stocks rose and euro zone bond yields edged up on Tuesday as oil prices stabilised above 11-year lows on the back of prospects for lower temperatures on both sides...
  
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• Oil prices subdued in Asia

  29-12-2015 10:20 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Oil prices struggled in subdued Asian trade Tuesday on tepid economic data from Japan and indications that major crude exporter Saudi Arabia's 2016 budget is based on prices staying low. Oil struggled in subdued Asian trade Tuesday on tepid economic data from Japan and indications that major crude exporter Saudi Arabia plans to keep prices at multi-year lows in 2016. Prices tanked more than three percent on Monday, effectively dousing a rally that followed Brent crude tumbling to 11-year lows la
  
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• Saudi stock index falls 3 pct after budget announcement

  29-12-2015 09:34 via news.yahoo.com
  
  (Adds individual stocks, analysis) DUBAI, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock market fell sharply in early trade on Tuesday after a 2016 state budget, announced late on Monday, that included spending cuts, rises in fuel, gas feedstock and electricity prices, and tax rises. Saudi Basic Industries, the biggest petrochemical producer, tumbled 8.3 percent while Saudi Kayan lost 4.8 percent. "Saudi petchem producers have lost the cost advantage, and they cannot pass on this cost in their prices t
  
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• Asian shares broadly up despite China fears, weak oil prices

  29-12-2015 09:33 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Asian stock markets broadly rose Tuesday in see-saw trading despite fears about the state of China's economy, a key driver of global growth.
  
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• China December official PMI likely to show fifth month of contraction

  29-12-2015 09:24 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Activity in China's manufacturing sector is expected to have contracted for a fifth straight month in December, a Reuters poll showed, likely consigning the world's second-largest economy to its slowest annual growth in a quarter of a century. The official manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is forecast to inch up to 49.7 from November's 49.6, according to a median forecast of 27 economists in a Reuters poll. Analysts expect only a marginal improvement in the vast manufacturing sector
  
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• BRIEF-Realia says Slim vehicle to convert loan into shares

  29-12-2015 08:39
  
  * Says Inversora Carso to convert part of a loan into Realia shares
  
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• UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Dec 29

  29-12-2015 08:18
  
  Dec 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening up 2 points, or 0.03 percent higher on Tuesday according to financial bookmakers, with futures up 0.08 percent ahead of the cash market...
  
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• RPT-South Africa, France and 'Brexit' top 2016 rating watch list

  29-12-2015 08:00
  
  LONDON, Dec 24 (Reuters) - South Africa's potential demotion to 'junk' credit status, a crunch review of France in April and the risks posed by Britain's 'Brexit' vote top the list of dates to mark...
  
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• Guinea declared free of Ebola virus that killed over 2,500

  29-12-2015 07:57 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Guinea was declared free of Ebola on Tuesday after more than 2,500 people died from the virus in the West African nation, leaving Liberia as the only country still awaiting a countdown for the end of the epidemic. People in the capital, Conakry, greeted the declaration by authorities and the U.N. World Health Organization with mixed emotions given the deaths and the damage the virus did to the economy and the country's health and education sectors. This situation has shown us how much we must fi
  
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