Portugal’s economic climate indicator, which measures business confidence, fell to 0.2 in August from 0.4 in July, its lowest reading since May 2006, the National Statistics Institute (INE) said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 09:56:07

INSTANT VIEW 1-Norway registered jobless flat in August OSLO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Norwegian registered unemployment was flat at 1.8 percent of the workforce in August, though seasonally adjusted numbers of jobless inched up, Norway’s Labour and Welfare Organisation (NAV) said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 09:54:57

TABLE-Breakdown of HK July merchandise trade HONG KONG, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Census and Statistics Department released the following data showing a visible trade deficit of HK$19.48 billion in July (rounded figures in billions of H.K. dollars):

2008 2008 2007

Jul Jun Jul

Trade balance -19.48 -23.97 -8.19

Domestic Exports 8.75 7.68 10.45

Re-exports 256.35 215.54 228.07

Total exports 265.10 223.22 238.53

Imports 284.58 247.20 246.71

2008-08-28 09:50:24

Hong Kong July exports up 11.1 pct on yr by value vs down 0.6 pct in June HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Hong Kong’s exports in July surged 11.1 pct year-on-year to 265.1 bln hkd, after declining 0.6 pct in June, the government said.

2008-08-28 09:41:45

INSTANT VIEW 1-Hong Kong July exports surge 11.1 pct yr/yr HONG KONG, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s exports in July jumped 11.1 percent by value from a year earlier, well above forecasts and rebounding from June, helped by strong demand from Asia and Germany.

2008-08-28 09:38:40

1-Norway interest rates have peaked, stats office says OSLO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Norwegian economy is in a “moderate slowdown” and interest rates have peaked and are likely to fall next year, Statistics Norway said on Thursday in its quarterly economic forecast.

2008-08-28 09:35:35

TABLE-HK July exports rise 11.1 pct from year ago HONG KONG, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s total exports in July rose 11.1 percent from a year earlier in value terms, beating market expectations for a 4.6 percent expansion, as China’s trade continued to surge.

2008-08-28 09:30:07

Hong Kong July exports up 11.1 pct on-yr by value vs down 0.6 pct in June HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Hong Kong’s exports in July surged 11.1 pct year-on-year to 265.1 bln hkd, after declining 0.6 pct in June, the government said.

2008-08-28 09:28:34

German August adjusted jobless down 40,000 from July - Labour Office FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - The number of jobless people in Germany declined by 40,000 in August in seasonally adjusted terms compared with July, the Labour Office said.

2008-08-28 09:28:25

Euro zone retail PMI shows contraction in August BERLIN, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Retail sales in the euro zone contracted for a third straight month in August, a survey of around 1,000 retail executives showed on Thursday.

2008-08-28 09:26:46

1-UK house prices in biggest annual fall since 1991 LONDON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - British house prices fell almost two percent on the month in August to post their biggest annual drop since monthly records began in 1991, the Nationwide building society said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 09:25:58

Euro area July M3 growth at 9.3 pct year-on-year vs 9.5 pct in June FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - Euro area M3 money supply grew 9.3 percent year-on-year in July, compared with 9.5 percent in June.

2008-08-28 09:16:12

Italy July PPI up 0.5 pct vs June; up 8.3 pt yr-on-yr MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Producer prices rose 0.5 percent in July compared with June and increased 8.3 percent year-on-year, according to the statistics office ISTAT.

2008-08-28 09:14:51

TABLE-Austria Aug PMI rises to 48.6 from 47.0

2008-08-28 09:10:53

TABLE-Norway August registered jobless flat at 1.8 pct issued the following registered unemployment data on Thursday:

NORWEGIAN UNEMPLOYMENT Aug 08 July 08 Aug 07

Unemployment (pct) 1.8 1.8 2.0

Unemployed 44,364 44,102 48,887

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED FIGURES

Unemployed/training 50,632 50,402 54,052

Unemployed 40,166 40,021 44,423

NOTE - A Reuters poll of nine economists had found a median expectation that registered unemployment would stay unchanged at 1.8 percent in August. For the seasonally adjusted figures, which include people in job training schemes, forecasts by six economists gave a median estimate of 50,700.

2008-08-28 09:06:33

1-Spain signals weaker euro zone inflation MADRID, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Spanish inflation slowed more quickly than expected in August, raising expectations of lower inflation in the wider euro zone as energy costs fall.

2008-08-28 09:00:13

German July new machinery, plant orders down 8 percent year-on-year - VDMA FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - New orders for machinery and industrial plants placed with German companies in July fell 8 percent in real terms from a year earlier, the VDMA industry association said.

2008-08-28 08:57:49

INSTANT VIEW 1-Danish July unemployment stable at 1.6 percent COPENHAGEN, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Denmark’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 1.6 percent of the workforce in July, unchanged from June, the National Statistics Office (DS) said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 08:48:15

INSTANT VIEW 1-Swedish retail sales weaken in July STOCKHOLM, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Retail sales in Sweden fell 0.5 percent in July from June and rose 1.3 percent from a year earlier, the statistics office said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 08:40:01

Swedish July retail sales fall month-on-month STOCKHOLM, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Retail sales in Sweden fell 0.5 percent in July and rose 1.3 percent from a year earlier, the statistics office said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 08:35:33

Danish July unemployment stable at 1.6 percent COPENHAGEN, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Denmark’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 1.6 percent of the workforce in July, unchanged from June, the National Statistics Office (DS) said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 08:18:37

TABLE-Swiss non-farm payrolls up 2.4 pct yr/yr in Q2 ZURICH Aug 28 (Reuters) - Switzerland’s non-farm payrolls rose 2.4 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, the Federal Statistics Office said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 08:18:21

INSTANT VIEW 1-Spanish Aug inflation falls to 4.9 pct MADRID, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Spain’s EU harmonised inflation fell to a lower-than-expected 4.9 percent in August from 5.3 percent in July, Spain’s National Statistics Institute reported in a preliminary estimate on Thursday.

2008-08-28 08:12:41

Spanish Aug inflation 4.9 pct, below forecast MADRID, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Spain’s EU harmonised inflation fell to a lower than expected 4.9 percent in August from 5.3 percent in July, Spain’s National Statistics Institute reported in a preliminary estimate on Thursday.

2008-08-28 08:05:39

French 2008 industry investment seen up 6 percent PARIS, Aug 28 (Reuters) - French industrial investment is expected to rise by 6 percent this year, national statistics office INSEE said on Thursday, lowering its forecast from a previous 8 percent.

2008-08-28 08:05:13

INSTANT VIEW 1-French 2008 industrial investment seen up 6 pct PARIS, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Aug 28 (Reuters) - Investment in French industry should rise 6 percent in 2008, national statistics office INSEE said on Thursday in its quarterly survey of French industrials.

2008-08-28 07:59:46

TABLE-French 2008 industrial investment seen at +6 pct LONDON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Aug 28 (Reuters) - Following are the main elements of the figures provided by French national statistics office INSEE in its quarterly industrial investment survey.

2008-08-28 07:56:37

1-Poland needs one more rate hike soon-c.banker WARSAW, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Polish economy needs one more interest rate hike soon in order to contain inflation, Monetary Policy Council member Marian Noga said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 07:41:00

Polish C/A gap may reach 6 pct by end-2008-c.banker WARSAW, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Polish current account deficit may widen to 6 percent by end of this year, central bank governor Slawomir Skrzypek said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 07:09:45

UK house prices fall 1.9 pct m/m in Aug-Nationwide LONDON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - British house prices fell 1.9 percent in the month of August to post their biggest annual drop since monthly records began in 1991, the Nationwide building society said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 06:59:23

ECB, Fed to make it easier for banks to obtain liquidity in crisis - report FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - The European Central Bank, the U.S. Federal Reserve and other major central banks are planning to make it easier for banks to obtain liquidity in times of crisis, Financial Times Deutschland reported, without citing sources.

2008-08-28 06:55:42

Poland - Factors to Watch on Aug 28 WARSAW, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Poland’s financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland GMT + 2 hours): NO RATE CUTS IN 2009

Expectations of Polish interest rate cuts next year are unjustified as yet, with a slowdown in the economy likely to be less severe than elsewhere in Europe, central bank policymaker Dariusz Filar said on Wednesday. [ID:nLR170249]

2008-08-28 06:47:25

BOJ Suda: rate move needed when sure about economy TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan board member Miyako Suda said on Thursday that once the BOJ is sure about the economy it is desirable to take rate action, but she also said she has no bias towards a rate move at present.

2008-08-28 06:05:39

France econ min sees resilience in U.S. economy PALAISEAU, France, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. economy is showing signs of resilience in the wake of the credit crisis and bound to remain an economic giant even if it is one day flanked by other powers, France’s economy minister said on Wednesday.

2008-08-28 05:46:59

UK wage deals ease in July, but pressures remain -IDS LONDON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - British pay deals eased slightly in the three months to July, but there are signs that wage settlements in some sectors could be starting to reflect surging living costs, a survey showed on Thursday.

2008-08-28 05:19:04

1-NZ household borrowing growth steady in July WELLINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Growth in New Zealand household borrowing was subdued in July, data showed on Thursday, as the finance minister warned the economy faced its greatest challenge in over two decades.

2008-08-28 05:11:34

1-Philippine Q2 growth slows, rate rise still on cards MANILA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Faltering consumption dragged Philippine annual economic growth down to 4.6 percent in the second quarter but a rate rise was still expected later on Thursday as climbing inflation remains the biggest threat.

2008-08-28 04:53:05

HIGHLIGHTS-BOJ’s Suda: shouldn’t relax guard on inflation TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan board member Miyako Suda said on Thursday the central bank should not relax its guard on inflation risks even as rises in international commodity prices have eased.

2008-08-28 04:28:10

PREVIEW-Hong Kong July exports to rebound, rise 4.6 pct yr/yr HONG KONG, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s exports in July probably rose 4.6 percent by value from a year earlier, rebounding from June, but weak European demand is likely to drag on already slow shipments to the United States, a survey showed.

2008-08-28 04:28:04

NZ household borrowing growth steady in July - RBNZ WELLINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Growth in New Zealand household borrowing was steady in July, data showed on Thursday, suggesting consumer spending remained subdued in the face of a slowing economy.

2008-08-28 04:26:50

BOJ’s Suda: shouldn’t relax guard on inflation TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan (BOJ) board member Miyako Suda said on Thursday the central bank should not relax its guard on inflation risks even as rises in international commodity prices have eased.

2008-08-28 04:21:37

1-Australian business spending surges in Q2 SYDNEY, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Australian business investment surged past all expectations last quarter, led by the booming mining sector, providing vital support to the economy as consumers cut back on their spending.

2008-08-28 04:20:55

TABLE-Philippine Q2 GDP climbs 2.0 pct versus Q1 MANILA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Following are details of second-quarter economic growth data announced by the Philippine government on Thursday.

2008-08-28 03:52:35

INSTANT VIEW-Philippine Q2 GDP up 2 pct vs Q1, up 4.6 pct y/y MANILA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Philippine economy grew a seasonally adjusted 2.0 percent in the second quarter, in line with expectations, but annual growth slipped to 4.6 percent after the government sharply revised first quarter growth.

2008-08-28 03:34:21

Manila revises down Q1 GDP growth to 4.7 pct yr/yr MANILA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Philippines revised annual gross domestic product growth in the first quarter sharply down to 4.7 percent from a previously reported 5.2 percent, officials said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 03:06:14

S.Korea firms’ sentiment improves in Sept on oil SEOUL, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The sentiment among major South Korean companies has improved slightly for September on falling oil and raw material prices and the won’s weakness against the dollar, a private survey showed on Thursday.

2008-08-28 02:45:59

INSTANT VIEW-Australia business investment surges in Q2 SYDNEY, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Australian business investment surged past all expectations last quarter, led by the booming mining sector, providing much-needed support to economic growth as households cut back their spending.

2008-08-28 01:00:19

1-S.Korea sees Aug inflation not rising vs July SEOUL, Aug 28 (Reuters) - South Korea’s consumer inflation in August will not likely rise from a near 10-year high set in July because oil prices have fallen recently, Vice Finance Minister Kim Dong-soo said on Thursday.

2008-08-28 00:19:40

NZ economy facing serious challenges - FinMin WELLINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - New Zealand’s economy is facing serious challenges caused by tight global credit conditions and soaring commodity prices, Finance Minister Michael Cullen said on Thursday.

2008-08-27 23:29:27

S.Korea Sept manufacturing sentiment hits 4-yr low SEOUL, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Sentiment among South Korean manufacturing firms about business conditions next month worsened further to the weakest in nearly four years amid a global economic slowdown, a central bank survey showed on Thursday.

Source: http://www.afxnews.com

Related Content