Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: currency news — 15-02-2012.

The euro declined after reaching a two-month high versus the yen as Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos accused some euro-area nations of wanting the Greece to leave the union. The 17-nation currency fell against the dollar after European policy makers delayed a decision on the nation’s bailout scheduled for today. The euro earlier advanced after China said it will help tackle Europe’s debt crisis. Venizelos leveled the accusation after a decision slated for tonight on aid totaling 130 billion euros ($170 billion) was postponed until Feb. 20 at the earliest. China will invest in Europe’s bailout funds and maintain its holdings of the region’s assets, central bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said today in Beijing. With the world’s largest foreign-exchange reserves of $3.18 trillion, the Asian nation has previously signaled it wants to diversify the holdings away from dollar-denominated assets.

The dollar remained lower against its higher-yielding counterparts as manufacturing in the New York region expanded in February at the fastest pace since June 2010.

European stocks rose as China said it will help resolve the region’s debt crisis and companies from BNP Paribas SA to Heineken NV reported earnings that beat analysts’ estimates.

China offered to invest in Europe’s bailout funds and sustain its holdings of euro assets. The commitment offers an incentive to European finance ministers, who are increasing pressure on Greece to deliver budget cuts in exchange for a second bailout.

Euro-area finance ministers postponed a decision slated for tonight on Greek aid totaling 130 billion euros ($171 billion) until at least Feb. 20 and possibly until after a full-time government emerges from the nation’s elections later this year. Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said that Europe’s wealthier countries are “playing with fire” by toying with the idea of expelling it from the euro area.

Europe’s economy shrank less than economists forecast in the fourth quarter after better-than-predicted performance in Germany and France. Gross domestic product in the 17-nation euro area fell 0.3 percent from the prior three months, the first drop since the second quarter of 2009, the European Union’s statistics office said today.

National benchmark indexes gained in 12 of the 18 western European markets today. France’s CAC 40 and Germany’s DAX rose 0.4 percent each, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.1 percent.

BNP Paribas rallied 4.1 percent to 34.89 euros as fourth- quarter net income declined to 765 million euros from 1.55 billion euros a year earlier. Societe Generale SA rose 2.2 percent to 22.38 euros after three days of losses. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA rallied 11 percent to 33.64 euro cents and UniCredit SpA climbed 2.2 percent to 4.16 euros.

Heineken advanced 3.7 percent to 37.90 euros after the brewer reported increased annual profit and unveiled new cost- saving targets. Earnings before interest and taxes in 2011 rose 2.8 percent to 2.7 billion euros, excluding some one-time items, the Amsterdam-based maker of Amstel said.

TUI AG, the owner of Europe’s largest travel company, rose 3.5 percent to 6.43 euros after saying it will sell a stake in Hapag-Lloyd and may dispose of its remaining holding in the shipper in an initial public offering.

Puma SE rose 3.1 percent to 247.25 euros after Europe’s second-largest sporting goods maker reported profit that beat analysts’ estimates and its own projection and forecast growth in sales and earnings in each of the next two years.

Most U.S. stocks rose as optimism about China getting more involved in a solution for Europe’s sovereign debt crisis tempered concern that officials will delay Greece’s second bailout.

Production at U.S. factories increased in January, reflecting gains in demand for U.S.-made automobiles and business equipment that may keep manufacturing at the forefront of the expansion. Manufacturing in the New York region expanded in February at the fastest pace since June 2010. The Federal Reserve today releases minutes of its last meeting.

Dow 12,799.00 -79.28 -0.62%, Nasdaq 2,931.91 +0.08 +0.00%, S&P 500 1,347.48 -3.02 -0.22%

Comcast rallied 5.2 percent to $28.65. Comcast also increased its annual dividend 44 percent to 65 cents a share. Fourth-quarter profit rose more than analysts estimated and video-customer losses narrowed for the fifth straight period.

Kellogg climbed 5.9 percent to $53.25. The $2.7 billion cash purchase gives Kellogg the world’s second-largest maker of savory snacks, with more than $1.5 billion in sales in 140 countries. Kellogg Chief Executive Officer John Bryant said the company is working to boost its global snacks business, which includes Cheez-It, Townhouse crackers and Keebler.

Dean Foods Co. soared 14 percent, the most in the S&P 500, to $12.39. The biggest U.S. milk processor reported lower raw- milk costs at its fresh dairy business. Average raw-milk costs in the fourth quarter were 12 percent lower than in the previous quarter, the Dallas-based company said in a statement today. The Fresh Dairy Direct segment is Dean’s biggest unit by sales.

Zynga Inc. tumbled 13 percent to $12.47. The biggest developer of games for Facebook Inc.’s site slumped after product-development costs weighed on profit.

Gold is rising, while investors wait for news on the situation in Greece and the euro-zone economy. On Wednesday it was announced that two leaders of the ruling coalition parties, the Greek EU sent a written assurance to comply with loan agreements with the EU. At the same time, according to unofficial information, the media, despite the guarantees, the new international financial support for Greece's 130 billion euro, which must be provided before March 20, some may be delayed until April.

Support markets have statistical data from the eurozone, which, despite the weak figures were better than analysts' forecasts. Thus, Germany's GDP, according to preliminary estimates, declined in the fourth quarter of 2011 by 0.2% compared with the third quarter, but rose 3% year on year. The data were significantly better than analysts' expectations, the projected decrease in GDP by 0.3% q/q and increased by only 2% year. The total GDP and the euro area and EU in the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased by 0.3% in quarterly terms. Analysts had expected a decline rate of 0.4% compared with the third quarter.

The cost of the February gold futures on the COMEX today rose to 1737.0 dollars per ounce.

Oil maintained gains after the U.S. Energy Department said stockpiles of crude and distillates declined. Distillate supplies, which include heating oil and diesel, fell 2.87 million barrels to 143.7 million. Stockpiles were forecast to fall 1.1 million barrels. Inventories of crude oil declined 171,000 barrels to 339.1 million, the department said. Supplies were forecast to grow 1.5 million barrels.

Futures also rose after a report that Iran had cut oil shipments to six European countries and as China pledged to help resolve Europe’s debt crisis.

Oil for March delivery rose to $102.54 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent oil for April settlement gained $1.23 to $118.58 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange.

EUR/USD $1.3000, $1.3150, $1.3210, $1.3220, $1.3230, $1.3300, $1.3350

AUD/USD $1.0700, $1.0725, $1.0800 

USD/JPY Y77.75, Y77.90, Y78.00, Y78.50

EUR/CHF Chf1.2050

NZD/USD Nz$0.8315