The Australian and New Zealand dollars sank to one-week lows on Thursday against their U.S. counterpart, which was buoyed by expectations of earlier-than-expected policy tightening by the Federal Reserve in response to rapid inflation.
By Reuters Staff
1 Min Read
BERLIN, May 11 (Reuters) - Investor sentiment in Germany surged in May thanks to a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic tailing off, a survey showed on Tuesday, pointing to a significant upswing in Europe’s largest economy in the coming six months.
The ZEW economic research institute said its survey of investors’ economic sentiment rose to 84.4 points from 70.7 in the previous month. A Reuters poll had forecast a rise to 72.0.
“The slowing down of the third COVID-19 wave has made financial market experts even more optimistic,” ZEW President Achim Wambach said in a statement.
“The experts expect a significant economic upswing in the coming six months,” he added.
By Reuters Staff
2 Min Read
TOKYO, May 13 (Reuters) - Japan’s biggest oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp raised its net profit forecast for 2021 by 40% on Thursday thanks to higher than expected oil prices but left its capital expenditure plans unchanged so it can repay more debt.
Inpex is now forecasting a net profit of 140 billion yen ($1.3 billion) this year, up from its February prediction of 100 billion yen, after it raised its assumption for average Brent oil prices this year to $60.3 a barrel from $53.0.
“This will mean a V-shaped earnings recovery from last year, when we were forced to book a hefty net loss as the COVID-19 pandemic hit fuel demand and oil prices,” Inpex Managing Executive Officer Daisuke Yamada told a news conference.
By Reuters Staff
(Corrects to show rise in online job ads referred to hospitality sector)
LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - Spending on British credit and debit cards in the week to May 6 was 106% of its February 2020 level, up from 99% a week earlier as consumers spent more on travel, eating out and other activities that are being freed up from coronavirus rules.
Other figures published on Thursday showed a net 7% of 34,940 firms surveyed by the Office for National Statistics reported an increase in turnover in March compared with March 2020.
The proportion of the workforce on the government’s job-protecting furlough scheme was 11% in the period between April 19 and May 2, down from a previous reading of 13%, the ONS said.