European Government Notes Head for Third Weekly Drop as Confidence Climbs

(Bloomberg) -- European two-year government notes are
headed for a third weekly decline after a report showed German
consumer confidence rose more than expected in June.

Benchmark two-year yields held near the highest in five
years after a report yesterday showed business sentiment in
Europe's biggest economy stayed near a record in May. Futures
trading shows investors are raising bets the European Central
Bank raising rates at least twice more this year.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Gold ticks up but dented by dollar, TOCOM slides

(Reuters) - Gold crawled up on Friday on light short-covering but held within sight of its lowest level in nine weeks, pressured by the recovery of the dollar, which had prompted investment funds to slash positions in the metal.

Key Tokyo Commodity Exchange gold futures fell 1.6 percent to a seven-week low as Japanese investors heavily liquidated their position after this week's falls.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Converium, Julius Baer, Swiss Reinsurance: Swiss Stock Market Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
on the Swiss and Virt-x exchanges. Stock symbols are in
parentheses and prices are from the last close.

The Swiss Market Index of the 24 largest and most actively
traded companies lost 81.75, or 0.9 percent, to 9357.02. The
broader Swiss Performance Index dropped 63.67, or 0.8 percent, to
7614.41.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Eastern Australia Natural Gas Use, Prices Jump as Drought Cuts Coal Power

(Bloomberg) -- Eastern Australian natural gas
consumption and prices jumped in the first quarter as drought
cut production from hydropower and coal-fired generators,
EnergyQuest said.

Gas production in eastern Australia rose 20 percent in the
first quarter compared with a year earlier, the Adelaide-based
consulting firm said yesterday in a report. The average spot gas
price in Victoria state surged 27 percent to A$3.38 ($2.76) a
gigajoule, it said.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Yen Gains Most In a Week in Two Months on Inflation Data, Asia Stock Slump

(Bloomberg) -- The yen headed for the biggest weekly
gain against the euro in more than two months as Japanese
inflation data and a slump in Asian stocks prompted traders to
pare investments in higher-yielding assets.

The yen advanced versus 13 of the 16 most-active currencies
as a slower decline in consumer prices supported the central
bank's case for higher interest rates. The currency traded near a
two-week high to the euro as investors reduced so-called carry
trades, in which they borrow in Japan to buy securities with
better returns overseas.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Philippine Trade Deficit Widens as Imports Rise at Fastest in Four Months

(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines trade deficit widened
in March after imports rose at the fastest pace in four months,
signaling that exports may accelerate in following months.

The shortfall was $119 million, from $10 million a year
earlier, the National Statistics Office said in Manila today.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

India's Government Bonds Decline; Investors May Sell Before Debt Auction

(Bloomberg) -- India's 10-year bonds fell for a
fourth day on speculation some investors sold part of their
holdings to make room for a government debt sale today.

The yield on the benchmark bond, which moves inversely to
the price, rose to a two-week high as the federal government
prepares to auction 80 billion rupees ($1.97 billion) of eight-
year and 15-year bonds as part of its annual borrowing program.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News