Euro recorded strong growth of over 2 percent against the U.S. dollar yesterday, gaining support from weak U.S. economic data and encouraging signals of financial stability in the euro area. This caused a significant drop in the price of oil and gold, which yesterday lost more than 3% of its value. The single currency has reached the level 1,25 EUR / USD, which is its highest value since June 21. The appreciation came after news of another problem in the U.S. housing market and because of data problems in the labor market and the slowing of production activity. Meanwhile, the ECB yesterday organized an auction for commercial banks’ lending, which was used quite a bit of financial institutions. This and the success of the bond issue in Spain, have strong support of the single currency. On the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, oil contracts with delivery in August dropped by 3.5 percent to 72.95 dollars a barrel. This is the lowest cost of raw material from 8 June onwards, and earlier this morning quotes remain at the same level. This means that travel week black gold has dropped by as much as 7.2 per cent, taking the greatest decrease in the week since May 7.
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Year after China called on U.S. fiscal policy “irresponsible” Asian country shows signs of increasing confidence in the policies of U.S. President Barack Obama. This is evident from the data on the size of China’s position in U.S. government bonds. In March and April this year grew by 2.6 percent to 900.2 billion after last year between November and February that she was reduced to 6.5 per cent. So long series of negative has been reported a decade, official data showed. During the two months considered China increased its position in U.S. government bonds with 22.7 billion dollars. This is only part of the increase in foreign assets of the Asian country, which amounted to 205.2 billion dollars. Purchases in recent months have focused on the acquisition of long-term U.S. debt. Unlike now, in 2008 China increased mainly purchases of short-term bonds. For the 12 months to the end of April this year the increase of the position in U.S. bonds with a maturity of two years or more with 46 percent, data show. With the acquisition of long-term bonds China helps the U.S. to keep its funding costs at a record low. Analysts also support companies and consumers in the U.S. and accelerates the process of economic recovery.
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The crude oil price is back below $ 70 a barrel last night, blotting out its minimum height of yesterday’s trading session in New York. The decrease is mainly due to renewed subsidence of the euro, which in turn is under pressure because of problems in the banking sector in Spain. At the time the single currency is moving to a serious decline 1,2280 EUR / USD, which is a retreat from more than 100 pips for the night. This is due to fears that Spain is facing a banking crisis, since Saturday the country was nationalized Savings Bank CajaSur. Exchange in New York yesterday, the price of U.S. light crude rose 0.2 percent to 70.21 dollars a barrel. At night, however, quotes about lost 1.5 per cent this morning raw material traded on 69.13 dollars a barrel. Yesterday in London Brent with delivery in July fell 51 cents to 71.17 dollars per barrel, but this morning the price of raw materials fell by more dollars to 70.17 dollars a barrel. The price of crude oil supported the strong US Dollar and in end of Asian markets session, the USD reached new high levels.
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The soft drinks manufacturer PepsiCo plans to invest 2.5 billion dollars in China over the next three years. The money will be invested in new factories in the country in research and promotional campaigns, reported AFP. These funds are added to the already announced $ 1 billion investment company, which announced in 2008 and are planned to be invested by the end of this year. Speaking of the leadership of the group shows that Pepsi’s investment program reflects confidence in this important, growing market. Manufacturer’s plans include the construction of between 10 and 12 new plants in China, which currently has 27 factories of Pepsi. There are plans to expand the portfolio of products tailored for the local market. Last year the competitive Coca-Cola also announced big plans in China, the company plans to invest $ 2 billion there for three years. The investment is quite big for the company, which recovered from hard drop in sales for the months of financial crisis. This investment should recover the placement in the largest country of the world and is basically required by the high consumption of the soft drinks in Asia.
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The crude oil back above the level of 84 dollars a barrel and more expensive for a second day today after data from the American Petroleum Institute yesterday showed that inventories of crude oil in the country fell unexpectedly by 741 thousand barrels last week. Good financial results of several large U.S. companies from financial, technological and consumer sector also supported the positive investor sentiment about economic recovery, which would increase energy demand for raw materials sent Bloomberg. U.S. light crude oil is traded on the New York Petroleum Exchange, more expensive by 0.7 percent to 84.41 dollars a barrel in today’s times of e-commerce. The price of the June oil futures rose 72 cents to finish yesterday’s session at the level of 83.85 dollars a barrel. Oil with delivery in May, whose futures expired yesterday, rose $ 2 to 83.45 dollars a barrel. Meanwhile, the International Petroleum Exchange in London Brent crude supply in June with more expensive by 0.7% to 85.40 dollars a barrel in electronic trading today. The June futures ended yesterday oil session to increase the price of 57 cents, or 0.7 percent, to 84.80 dollars a barrel.
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The board of Directors (BoD) of the Russian oil company Lukoil has recommended the shareholders to decide on dividend payments for 2009 amounted to 52 rubles (USD 1.79) per share, it said in a statement after today’s meeting of the Board. Dividend paid last year (based on financial results for 2008) was the rate of 50 rubles per share. The total amount of the dividend that will distribute Lukoil for this year is expected to be close to 44.23 billion rubles (about 1.52 billion dollars). This amount represents 20.86% of net consolidated profit of the company’s estimated U.S. accounting standard, which is 7.011 billion dollars. Lukoil approved policy provides for distribution of dividends as dividends to be distributed at least 15% of annual net profit.
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The price of U.S. light crude fell sharply by nearly 3 percent by the end of today’s session of the oil exchange in New York and was its lowest point since the beginning of April, sent Wall Street Journal. The news that U.S. financial regulators have raised accusations against the U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs for fraud mortgage securities, distressed investors on Wall Street and led to increased sales in the financial sector. According to financial analysts, if the financial regulatory authorities in the U.S. fined Goldman Sachs, it may cause the bank to liquidate their bets on oil price rises. The U.S. dollar rose strongly against most major currencies, excluding the Japanese yen, which lowered the price of raw materials, which are traded in dollars, including oil. U.S. light crude for delivery in May ended Friday’s session with a fall in price from U.S. $ 2.27, or 2.65 percent, to 83.24 dollars a barrel. Today’s decline in energy raw material was the strongest since the beginning of February. The price of oil futures varied in the range of 82.52 to 85.44 dollars per barrel during today’s session. Meanwhile, the International Petroleum Exchange in London Brent with delivery in June fell 1.66 dollars or 1.9 percent, to 85.93 dollars a barrel.
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The World financial leaders will negotiate this week on how to give more voting rights in the World Bank to developing economies such as China. The talks are a prelude to a crucial battle for the International Monetary Fund, writes Reuters. World Bank President Robert Zoellick said in an interview with the agency that has plans for a capital increase of the international financial institution with 3.5 billion dollars, which will be the first of more than 20 years. The funds will come from rich countries and developing countries like China. This will help the World Bank to restore its capacity after large loans granted during the standoff. Discuss and question the change of the voting rights in the bank, which will generate additional $ 1 billion in fresh capital, which is quite a complex political issue because it means some countries, particularly in Europe, partly to give up rights their vote. Britain, one of the biggest sponsors in the bank, probably will not take a position before leaving the results of parliamentary elections on 6 May. Scandinavian countries, which are usually generous in terms of aid to developing countries are now reluctant to give up their voting rights. At its meeting in Pittsburgh last year by leaders of the G-20 agreed to transfer 3% of total voting rights at the World Bank and at least 5 percent in the International Monetary Fund.
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The price of crude oil retreated positions in the last day, decreasing by about 1 percent. However, black gold is moving with growth of 1 percent since the beginning of the week. Fall in crude oil prices in the last day due to the strengthening of U.S. dollar positions. Simple movements in favor of the dollar in currency markets led to a restriction of interest in investing in commodities. On the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, oil prices with delivery in April fell by 0,9 percent to 82.20 dollars per barrel. Night quotations continued to retreat this morning were at 82.07 dollars a barrel. So oil is permanently retained over 82 dollars a barrel, after jumping over that line earlier in the week. The reason for the upturn gave the position of the U.S. Federal Reserve, which announced that interest rates in the United States will remain near zero for a long time.
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The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Russian oil company Lukoil Valery Graipher said that the company is considering to buy 10 percent of its shares from its strategic partner – the U.S. ConocoPhillips, if the stake offered for sale. That said newspaper Kommersant stating that ConocoPhillips currently owns 20.6 percent stake in Lukoil. Given the market capitalization of Lukoil, at the moment it 10% of the company’s shares will cost about $ 5 billion, analysts say, indicating that in future this figure may be altered depending on oil prices. Official information about a possible sale of Lukoil shares of ConocoPhillips currently not available. It is believed that this issue can be discussed at the meeting of the Board of Directors of LUKOIL next week. Last fall also had information that the U.S. company intends to sell shares to Lukoil because of the need to cover their own debts, but then rumors were denied by both companies. Nomura Bank analysts suggest that any transaction for the sale of Lukoil shares of ConocoPhillips may be made in several installments over 3 years and is very likely that those shares in the future be used in procedures for mergers and acquisitions. There is no official information about the financial results for 2009, Lukoil recently president of the company and a major owner Cream Alekperov predicted that Lukoil profit for last year will be about $ 7 billion.
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