Nikkei suffers biggest loss in 3 weeks as strong yen hits sentiment

Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:19am BST
TOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average
suffered its biggest decline in three weeks on Wednesday, hit by
the dollar's tumble against the yen on heightened expectations
the Federal Reserve will keep its stimulus in place until early
next year.

The Nikkei dropped 2.0 percent to 14,426.05, retreating from
a 3-1/2 week high of 14,799.28 touched in the morning session
and breaching its 25-day moving average of 14,432.21.

Traders said that futures selling was triggered by weakness
in the dollar, which slipped 0.8 percent to 97.36 yen.

The Topix declined 1.5 percent to 1,195.98, with
2.72 billion shares changing hands, the highest since Oct 2.

Morning All.

Interesting about that Dollar fall comment Skinny, noticed a couple of my gold stocks on my watch list did zip up a little yesterday.

Stan - gold was on a run yesterday afternoon

and - from the above article :-

"For investors, the dollar's slide is creating opportunities in beaten down areas like precious metals and industrial metals. Both the SPDR Gold Trust GLD -0.03% and the iShares Silver SLV +0.23% have moved over their 20-day moving averages for the first time since August. Copper, represented by the iPath Copper JJC +1.08% , looks ready to punch out of a three-month pennant formation.

Individual stocks in this area, including IAMGOLD IAG -0.40% , also look ready for powerful moves higher. If IAG can merely return to its August high, it would be worth a 40% move from here. I've added IAG to my Edge Letter Sample Portfolio, where you can track the recommendations made in my blogs and columns."

Interesting thanks.

FTSE100 moves modestly lower in early deals today

ECB, on new mission, sets out bank health tests plan

FRANKFURT | Wed Oct 23, 2013 8:23am BST
(Reuters) - The European Central Bank vowed on Wednesday to submit the euro zone's top banks to a comprehensive batch of tests next year, staking its credibility on a review that aims to build confidence in the sector.

The ECB wants to unearth potential risks hidden in banks' balance sheets before supervision is centralised under its roof from November 2014 as part of a European banking union.

GBP MPC Asset Purchase Facility Votes 0-0-9 0-0-9 0-0-9

GBP MPC Official Bank Rate Votes 0-0-9 0-0-9 0-0-9

GBP BBA Mortgage Approvals 43.0K 39.4K 38.2K

FTSE100 remains modestly lower in brisk midday trade

USD Import Prices m/m 0.2% 0.3% 0.0%

Spain out of recession, central bank says

Spain's economy has emerged from recession after growing for the first time in more than two years, according to estimates from the Bank of Spain.

Spain's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.1% between July and September, the bank said.

However, GDP was still 1.2% lower in the quarter compared with the same period last year.

FTSE100 ends range-bound session modestly lower