Global stocks were lacklustre Friday after Japan reported mixed economic data and investors waited for revised U.S. growth figures.
KEEPING SCORE: In early trading, France's CAC-40 was little changed at 4,911.03 and Germany's DAX gained 0.05 per cent to 11,332.45. Britain's FTSE 100 was steady at 6,949.04. Wall Street gave no indication of major moves in store. The future for the Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.04 per cent. The Standard & Poor's 500 futures contract fell 0.1 per cent. The previous day, the Dow shed 0.1 per cent and the S&P lost 0.3 per cent. The Nasdaq gained 0.4 per cent.
US ECONOMY: The Commerce Department issues its second of three estimates of how fast the U.S. economy grew in the October-December quarter. In its first estimate, the government said gross domestic product expanded at a 2.6 per cent annual rate. That was slower than the previous quarter, but a burst in consumer spending bolstered confidence that growth will strengthen this year.
JAPAN SIGNALS: Industrial output in the world's third-largest economy behind China and the U.S. jumped by 4 per cent month-on-month in January compared with December's 0.8 per cent rise, government data showed. That raises production to levels recorded ahead of last year's sales tax hike, which crimped consumer spending. At the same time, retail spending fell 1.3 per cent month-on-month. That weakness adds to pressure on the Bank of Japan to roll out new stimulus measures, according to Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics.
THE QUOTE: "Stimulus seems to be working a treat for some of the key markets around the world, including Japan and the Eurozone," said IG strategist Stan Shamu in a commentary. "Recent data out of Europe has also been showing some positive signs and this has really encouraged investors to drive equities higher."
ASIA'S DAY: The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.4 per cent to 3,310.30 and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 rose 0.1 per cent to 18,797.94. Seoul's Kospi shed 0.4 per cent to 1,985.80 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.3 per cent at 24,823.29. India's Sensex gained 1.4 per cent to 29,145.22. Sydney and New Zealand gained while Singapore and Bangkok declined.
ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude was up $1.18 at $49.35 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Thursday, the contract shed 60 cents to close at $48.17. Brent crude, used to price international oils, added $1.26 to $60.72 after giving up 46 cents on Thursday to $60.05.
CURRENCIES: The dollar gained to 119.31 yen from Thursday's 119.24 yen. The euro rose to $1.1224 from $1.1209.
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