DAILY

27th February 2014

PSI20: +0.68% DAX30: -0.76% FTSE100: +0.16% S&P500: +0.49% NIKKEI225: -0.32%
The PSI20 rose 0.68% to 7303.68 points, in contrast with the European Indexes downward trend. The PSI20 edged higher, as the index heavyweights Portugal Telecom (+0.31%), EDP (+0.94%) and J.Martins (+1.64%) climbed. Mota-Engil was the biggest gainer of the day after advancing 3.39%. More >> Data released by the National Statistical Institute of Portugal supports consumer confidence in Portugal increased to -32.60 in February of 2014 from -36.70, last January. The indicator registered the highest value since January 2010 as households expectations about economic conditions improved. More >> European equities pared most of their early losses late on Thursday, with better-than-expected U.S. durable goods data and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen prompting some investors to return to the market. The FTSEurofirst 300 index ended 0.2 percent lower at 1 345.46 points. More >> Consumer price inflation (CPI) in Germany slowed unexpectedly in February, fuelling fears over the risk of deflation in the euro area, data released by the German Federal Statistics Bureau showed on Thursday. CPI accelerated at an annualized rate of 1.2% this month, down from 1.3% in January. More >>

U.S. stocks climbed on Thursday, propelling the S&P 500 to a record close, after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the central bank would probably continue tapering its asset purchases while tracking data to figure how much recent softness in the economy is due to the weather. More >> Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods excluding transportation unexpectedly rose last month as did a gauge of business spending plans. Durable goods orders excluding transportation rose 1.1 percent, the largest increase since May, after falling 1.9 percent in December. More >>

Asian stocks pared losses as Chinese shares rose. Tencent Holdings Ltd. extended a record high while Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN) dragged Australian equities lower. More >> Record payments to dairy farmers and a China-led trade turnaround added to evidence New Zealand will outpace developed-world peers this year. More >> Baidu Inc. (BIDU), the owner of Chinas largest Internet search engine, forecast first-quarter sales that beat estimates as advertisers boost spending to reach an increasing number of mobile users. More >>

OIL (WTI: $102.06/bl; -0.28%; BRENT: $108.80/bl; -0.61%): Brent and WTI crude fell to the lowest level in two weeks as tension increased in Ukraine. More >> SUGAR($18.10/lb; +2.29%): Sugar futures entered a bull market, climbing more than 20 percent from a January low, as dry weather threatens crop yields in Brazil, the worlds top producer. More >> NATURAL GAS ($4.460/Mmbtu; -1.43%): Natural gas futures fell heading for the biggest weekly drop in 17 years, after a government report showed U.S. stockpiles decline lower than forecasts. More >>

DISCLAIMER: Daily Briefs contains a summary of financial news covered on conventional news services around the world. Daily Briefs coverage of subjects is based on t whims of its volunteer contributors. FEP Finance Club is not responsible for any imprecision or error in the content of any news.