Nikkei eases in choppy trade before Fed; volume lowest since Dec

Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:14am BST

TOKYO, June 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average edged down
in choppy trade but managed to end above 13,000 on Tuesday, with
most investors on the sidelines awaiting the outcome of the U.S.
Federal Reserve's meeting for clues on when it may begin
tapering back stimulus.

The Nikkei slipped 0.2 percent to 13,007.28 points
after trading as high as 13,139.48 earlier. The broader Topix
gained 0.2 percent to 1,086.40.

Volume was light, with only 2.43 billion shares changing
hands, the lowest since last December.

FTSE100 slightly higher but weak miners hamper progress

GBP CPI y/y 2.7% 2.6% 2.4%

GBP PPI Input m/m -0.3%% 0.1% -2.3%

GBP RPI y/y 3.1% 3.1% 2.9%

GBP Core CPI y/y 2.2% 2.1% 2.0%

GBP HPI y/y 2.6% 2.6% 2.7%

GBP PPI Output m/m 0.0% 0.0% -0.1%

FTSE100 makes strong gains midday, with easyJet flying

ECB rates becoming more effective again - Draghi

JERUSALEM | Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:33pm BST

(Reuters) - The European Central Bank is ready to act to aid the euro zone economy if needed, while signs of market stabilisation mean interest rates are becoming a more effective tool again, ECB chief Mario Draghi said on Tuesday.

Speaking in Jerusalem at a farewell conference for Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, Draghi said there were numerous measures the ECB could and would deploy if needed, and that it was ready to tackle any unintended consequences.

USD Building Permits 0.97M 0.98M 1.01M

USD Core CPI m/m 0.2% 0.2% 0.1%

USD CPI m/m 0.1% 0.1% -0.4%

USD Housing Starts 0.91M 0.95M 0.85M

skinny, I have to say that your gold chart here
updates quicker than the kitco one. Jolly good.

Extra hamsters! :-)

FTSE100 ends with solid gains, with Whitbread the leader