Equity Indices
|
Closing Price
|
Change
|
|
Closing Price
|
Change
|
On Week
|
YTD
|
On Week
|
YTD
|
Dow Jones
Industrial Average
|
18,036.70
|
0.90%
|
1.20%
|
FTSE 100
|
7,075.26
|
1.63%
|
7.75%
|
S&P 500
|
2,095.84
|
0.94%
|
1.79%
|
Nikkei 225
|
19,908.68
|
1.37%
|
14.08%
|
Nasdaq Comp
|
4,977.29
|
1.37%
|
5.09%
|
Hang Seng
|
27,561.49
|
9.04%
|
16.76%
|
DJ Euro Stoxx 50
|
3,784.53
|
0.42%
|
20.28%
|
MSE Index
|
3,766.453
|
-0.19%
|
13.07%
|
European shares hit a 14-year high before a meeting at which the European Central Bank is expected to affirm its loose policy stance, as weak data from China raised prospects of monetary easing there too, while Chinese shares fought to sustain yet another seven-year peak before the country updates on economic growth, while much of the rest of Asia took a breather after recent hefty gains.
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
|
0.51
|
-0.01
|
-0.16
|
1.89
|
0.00
|
-0.28
|
FED
|
0.00 to 0.25
|
-0.75 to -1.00
|
16-Nov-08
|
Euro
|
-0.28
|
-0.01
|
-0.18
|
0.14
|
-0.05
|
-0.40
|
ECB
|
0.05
|
-0.10
|
04-Sep-14
|
UK
|
0.41
|
-0.01
|
-0.04
|
1.52
|
-0.06
|
-0.24
|
BOE
|
0.50
|
-0.50
|
05-Mar-09
|
Japan
|
0.01
|
0.00
|
0.03
|
0.33
|
-0.02
|
0.00
|
BOJ
|
0.00 to 0.10
|
-0.10
|
05-Oct-10
|
Australia
|
1.70
|
-0.05
|
-0.49
|
2.29
|
-0.06
|
-0.52
|
RBA
|
2.25
|
-0.25
|
03-Feb-15
|
Canada
|
0.51
|
0.01
|
-0.50
|
1.33
|
-0.01
|
-0.46
|
BOC
|
0.75
|
-0.25
|
21-Jan-15
|
Malta
|
0.14
|
0.03
|
-0.32
|
1.15
|
-0.02
|
-0.74
|
|
|
|
|
China grew at its slowest pace in six years at the start of 2015 and weakness in key sectors suggested the world's second-largest economy was still losing momentum, intensifying Beijing's struggle to find the right policy mix to shore up activity. A series of cuts in interest rates, lower reserve ratios at banks and easing measures in the property sector look to have mostly flowed into stock market speculation without delivering much support to fundamentals. Still, the economy's persisting slowdown means more stimulus measures are expected soon.
U.S. retail sales rose in March for the first time since November as consumers stepped up purchases of automobiles and other goods, suggesting a sharp slowdown in economic growth in the first quarter was temporary. An unusually snowy winter undercut activity early in 2015. Labor disruptions at normally busy West Coast ports, a stronger dollar and softer global demand also have hurt growth.
Forex
|
Exchange
Rate
|
Change
|
On Week
|
YTD
|
EUR/USD
|
1.0652
|
-1.50%
|
-11.95%
|
USD/JPY
|
119.3600
|
-0.76%
|
-0.35%
|
GBP/USD
|
1.4776
|
-0.22%
|
-5.14%
|
EUR/GBP
|
0.7205
|
-1.34%
|
-7.21%
|
USD/CHF
|
0.9727
|
0.69%
|
-2.17%
|
|
|
|
|
The International Monetary Fund said recent shifts in exchange rates should help the global economy, boosting Japan and Europe in particular, amid increasing divergence in the growth paths of the world's major economies. In its flagship World Economic Outlook, the IMF kept its forecast for global growth this year at 3.5 percent. For 2016, the IMF expects global gross domestic product to expand 3.8 percent, up from the 3.7 percent it forecast in January. The IMF said monetary policies are driving most of the currency movements, as the U.S. Federal Reserve prepares to raise rates while the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan maintain their monetary stimulus.
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.