Equity Indices
|
Closing Price
|
Change
|
|
Closing Price
|
Change
|
On Week
|
YTD
|
On Week
|
YTD
|
Dow Jones
Industrial Average
|
18,011.14
|
0.91%
|
1.06%
|
FTSE 100
|
7,019.68
|
2.66%
|
6.91%
|
S&P 500
|
2,091.50
|
0.83%
|
1.58%
|
Nikkei 225
|
19,713.45
|
1.42%
|
12.97%
|
Nasdaq Comp
|
4,994.73
|
1.16%
|
5.46%
|
Hang Seng
|
24,399.60
|
2.08%
|
3.37%
|
DJ Euro Stoxx 50
|
3,731.35
|
1.61%
|
18.59%
|
MSE Index
|
3,788.845
|
2.13%
|
13.74%
|
U.S. stocks edged slightly lower on the heels of strong gains in the prior week, as investors weighed fluctuations in the dollar and its impact on other markets, including crude prices. Equity markets fluctuated between modest gains and slight losses, tracking the movement of energy stocks as crude oil prices were caught between the weakness in the U.S. dollar and concerns about oversupply. The action in the dollar has closely affected stocks of late as traders anticipate monetary policy tightening by the Federal Reserve sometime later this year.
Interest Rates
Benchmark Bond Yields
|
Current 2yr
Yield
|
Yield Change
|
Current 10yr
Yield
|
Yield Change
|
|
Present Interest Rate
|
Last Variance
|
On Week
|
Since Dec 12
|
On Week
|
Since Dec 12
|
US
|
0.58
|
-0.09
|
-0.09
|
1.88
|
-0.17
|
-0.29
|
FED
|
0.00 to 0.25
|
-0.75 to -1.00
|
16-Nov-08
|
Euro
|
-0.21
|
-0.01
|
-0.11
|
0.22
|
-0.05
|
-0.32
|
ECB
|
0.05
|
-0.10
|
04-Sep-14
|
UK
|
0.42
|
-0.10
|
-0.03
|
1.50
|
-0.20
|
-0.26
|
BOE
|
0.50
|
-0.50
|
05-Mar-09
|
Japan
|
0.03
|
0.02
|
0.05
|
0.33
|
-0.04
|
0.00
|
BOJ
|
0.00 to 0.10
|
-0.10
|
05-Oct-10
|
Australia
|
1.75
|
-0.11
|
-0.44
|
2.34
|
-0.14
|
-0.47
|
RBA
|
2.25
|
-0.25
|
03-Feb-15
|
Canada
|
0.47
|
-0.07
|
-0.54
|
1.31
|
-0.11
|
-0.48
|
BOC
|
0.75
|
-0.25
|
21-Jan-15
|
Malta
|
0.17
|
-0.02
|
-0.29
|
1.32
|
-0.04
|
-0.57
|
|
|
|
|
The Treasury on Tuesday accepted 4 million in 91-day Treasury bills at an average yield of 0% and 1 million in 182-day Treasury Bills at an average yield of 0.01%. Outstanding Treasury Bills now amount to Euro 208,140,000 an increase of 3 million.
Germany's private sector grew in March at its strongest rate since July, in a further sign that Europe's largest economy is gaining pace. Markit's flash composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which tracks manufacturing and services activity accounting for more than two-thirds of the economy, jumped to a eight-month high of 55.3 from 53.8 in February. That was comfortably above the 50 mark dividing growth from contraction for a 23nd consecutive month.
U.S. consumer prices rebounded in February as gasoline prices rose for the first time since June, and there were also signs of an uptick in underlying inflation pressures, keeping the Federal Reserve on course to raise interest rates this year. The economy, which has been on the back foot in recent months, received another boost from newly published data showing new home sales surged to a seven-year high in February and manufacturing activity gained some momentum in March. The upbeat reports came despite harsh weather and a strong dollar, which have contributed to slowing economic activity early in the first quarter
Forex
|
Exchange
Rate
|
Change
|
On Week
|
YTD
|
EUR/USD
|
1.0924
|
3.09%
|
-9.70%
|
USD/JPY
|
119.7200
|
-1.34%
|
-0.05%
|
GBP/USD
|
1.4849
|
0.71%
|
-4.67%
|
EUR/GBP
|
0.7354
|
2.34%
|
-5.29%
|
USD/CHF
|
0.9581
|
-4.77%
|
-3.64%
|
|
|
|
|
The euro rose for a third day against the dollar, touching $1.10, as a report showed output in Germany climbed more this month than economists forecast, boosting demand for the shared currency. After posting its biggest gain in three years last week when the Federal Reserve cut projections for future rates, inflation and growth, the euro is extending the advance with the help of comments from monetary officials.
The Russian rouble rose strongly ahead of monthly tax payments, continuing a rally since February that has taken it to its highest levels against the dollar and euro since the end of last year. The Russian currency has now gained 7 percent against the dollar over the last week, reflecting a weaker dollar globally as well as Russian tax payments, although it is still down almost 40 percent since the middle of last year.
HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c. has based this document on information obtained from sources it believes to be reliable but which it has not independently verified and is for your personal, non-commercial use only. The contents do not constitute a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any investment. Although HSBC makes every reasonable effort to do so, it makes no representations that the information presented is accurate, complete or timely. Expressions of opinion herein are subject to change without notice. Accordingly, HSBC shall not be liable for any decisions made or actions taken in reliance on such information. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance and the value of investments may go down as well as up. Issued by HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c., which is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority.