US Jobless Claims, Euro-Zone Debt Worries Mount - 5.4.2012

US Dollar U.S economy growth indicated that is healthy since the Jobless Claims fell to a four year low the previous week. The Labor Department reported today that the Unemployment Claims fell to 357,000, 6,000 less than the previous figure. As the labor market is improving the consumer sentiment and spending is increasing as well and together with easier credit, the U.S economy should continue the path that leads to robust growth. The US dollar on Thursday the 5th of April kept advancing against the Swiss franc, it broke the resistance level at the 0.9182 and now is trading at the 0.9209 level. The greenback against the Yen was losing ground today, it found support at the 81.82 and moved higher after the labor data from US, USDJPY was lastly seen at the 82.14 level. Versus the dollar the precious metal touched fresh lows the previous trading session and today jumped up to the 1630.12 resistance level, it was mainly in sideways on Thursday. The Australian Dollar held its ground today against the greenback and remained in a range between the 1.0320 resistance level and the 1.0243 support level. US stock indices opened today lower, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down by 44.00 points, or by 0.34 per cent, at the 12,961.00 level. The S&P’s 500 Index is lower by 0.33 per cent, trading at the 1,388.60 level. Euro Euro-Zone concerns about the debt crisis were renewed today due to falling Spanish bonds prices. The 10-year Spanish bond yield rose to 5.83 per cent and the spread between similar-maturity German bonds increased to 400 basis points for first time in 2012. The common currency against the greenback has been trading into fresh lows today, extending losses further after the beginning of bearish sentiment yesterday. The Euro dropped to the 1.3036 support level and is trading now close to that. European stocks were on a slippery slope today, the France’s CAC40 Index is now trading at the 3,300.46 lower by 0.39 per cent and the Germany’s DAX Index is now trading at the 6,721.22 negative by 0.93 per cent. British Pound The Bank of England committee decided today to leave their asset-purchase program unchanged at 325 billion pounds and hold the rates at 0.50 per cent as expected. British pound strengthened against the Euro for a third day, the EURGBP pair fell to the 0.8237 support level. Against the greenback however the sterling dropped to a new low at the 1.5804 support level, recently penetrated 1.5832 key support level. The FTSE 100 Index is trading 0.36 per cent lower or dropped by 21.02 points at the 5,682.32 level. Loonie The greenback was trading 0.76 per cent lower today versus the Canadian, after data were announced about the economy of Canada. The building permits were unexpectedly higher at 7.6 per cent while the forecast was at 2.6 per cent. The labor data was much better than expected, the persons employed in March increased by 82.3K while the estimate was that they will increase at 11.3K. The Loonie is trading now at the 0.9927, finding earlier support at the 0.9920.