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European stocks fell for a fifth day, posting their biggest weekly selloff since September, amid signs of slowing growth in China and continued concern that Greece will have to leave the euro area.

Almost $4 trillion has been wiped from global equity markets in May amid mounting concern Greece will have to leave the euro currency union. The country’s credit rating was reduced one level by Fitch Ratings late yesterday amid concern it will not muster the political support needed to remain a member of the 17-nation euro area.

Moody’s lowered the debt ratings of 16 Spanish banks after the close of U.S. trading yesterday, citing mounting loan losses, the country’s recession, restricted access to funds and the reduced ability of the government to support lenders as its own creditworthiness diminishes.

National benchmark indexes retreated in 14 of the 17 western-European market that opened today. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 slid 1.3 percent, while Germany’s DAX slid 0.6 percent. France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.1 percent.

Rio Tinto, the world’s third-biggest mining company, retreated 2.4 percent to 2,788 pence. Vedanta Resources Plc lost 2.7 percent to 958.5 pence and Xstrata Plc dropped 4.3 percent to 914.7 pence.

Volkswagen dropped 2 percent to 128.20 euros, Porsche SE slid 2.4 percent to 39.93 euros and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG lost 2.3 percent to 61.31 euros. Volvo AB sank 4.6 percent to 78.45 kronor.

LSE jumped 2.9 percent to 992 pence after Europe’s oldest independent bourse posted profit for the six months to the end of March that surged to 405.9 million pounds ($641 million), boosted by money earned from deposits at its Italian central counterparty.

The euro touched a four-month low against the dollar as German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said financial-market turmoil may last another two years, adding to concern Europe’s crisis is worsening. The 17-nation currency reversed its losses as a technical indicator signaled its recent decline came too fast. The euro was headed for a fourth weekly decline versus the yen before a meeting of Group of Eight nations’ leaders beginning today.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and fellow European leaders will face pressure from their G-8 counterparts to do more to quell the turmoil after speculation Greece will exit the euro wiped almost $4 trillion from global stock markets this month.

Fitch lowered Greece’s ranking to CCC from B-, saying the strong showing of “anti-austerity” parties in elections on May 6 and subsequent failure to form a government underscored the lack of public and political support for the country’s bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Moody’s yesterday lowered the credit ratings of Spain’s biggest banks including Banco Santander SA (SAN) and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, citing economic weakness and the government’s mounting budget strain.

The yen has risen versus all of its 16 major counterparts this week as a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia yesterday showed its general economic index unexpectedly fell to the lowest since September. Japan’s Finance Minister Jun Azumi said today he is watching currency moves with great interest and more caution. Azumi said Japan will take appropriate steps if needed in the foreign-exchange market.

U.S. stocks fell, sending benchmark gauges down a sixth day, as Facebook Inc.’s debut failed to inspire optimism after its record initial public offering.

Stocks rose earlier today after Facebook’s record IPO made the social network more costly than almost every company in the S&P 500. Nasdaq had said it would start quoting Facebook at 10:45 a.m. New York time and begin trading of Facebook at about 11 a.m. It then delayed the open by five minutes before sending the notice that there was a problem. The shares started trading at 11:30 a.m.
Facebook sold 421.2 million shares at $38 each to raise $16 billion. That values the Menlo Park, California-based company at $104.2 billion, or 107 times trailing 12-month earnings, more than every S&P 500 member except Amazon.com Inc. and Equity Residential.

Oil dropped to a six-month low in New York on concern that Greece will have to leave the euro, deepening Europe’s debt crunch and curbing fuel demand.

Futures fell as much as 1 percent after German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that financial market turmoil caused by the euro-zone crisis may last two more years. Prices are heading for the third straight weekly decline as U.S. consumer confidence dipped and American crude supplies climbed to the highest level since 1990.

Crude oil for June delivery fell to $91.60 a barrel, the lowest level since Nov.3 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices have retreated 4.3 percent so far this week.

Brent oil for July settlement slipped 37 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $107.12 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The European benchmark dropped to $106.40, the lowest level since Dec. 21.

Gold prices rose on a background of a small restoration of the euro, which boosted demand for precious metals, closing short positions could lead to further price increases.

Euro has recovered from a minimum of four months against the dollar, reached in earlytrading Friday, a little softened downward pressure on gold, however, confidence in the currency remains weak.

Since the beginning of the crisis the ratio of gold to an increased risk of rejection was pretty shaky. Last year, gold rose to record levels, partly because investors bought the precious metal as a safe asset, but after the U.S. dollar and government bonds also regained its position, gold prices slipped after the euro.

However, the fall in gold prices to new lows in January attracted investors.

The cost of the June gold futures on the COMEX today rose to a high of $ 1597.5 per ounce.

Though pair still hampered by the reported supply ahead of $1.2750.

Resistance 3:1330 (May 17 high)

Resistance 2:1324 (resistance line from May 15)

Resistance 1:1310 (session high)

Current price: 1304,75

Support 1:1293 (session low)

Support 2:1277 (area of 61,8 % FIBO 1197-1420 and МА (200) for D1)

Support 3:1242 (Dec 28-29 lows)

EUR/USD $1.2670, $1.2700, $1.2900, $1.2615-1.3615

USD/JPY Y79.00, Y79.75, Y80.00

EUR/GBP stg0.8000

AUD/USD $0.9900

USD/CAD C$1.0100

U.S. stock futures advanced as better-than-estimated corporate profits tempered concern about a worsening of Europe’s debt crisis.

Facebook Inc. (FB) is set to start trading today after a record initial public offering that made the social network more costly than almost every company in the S&P 500.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  8,611.31 -265.28 -2.99%

Hang Seng 18,951.85 -249.08 -1.30%

Shanghai Composite 2,344.52 -34.37 -1.44%

Closed 725.54 -21.62 -2.89%

FTSE  5,294.78 -43.60 -0.82%

CAC  3,008.05 -3.94 -0.13%

DAX 6,307.45 -1.51 -0.02%

Crude oil $92.24 (-0.35%).

Gold $1587.70 (+0.82%).

EUR/USD

Offrers $1.2780, $1.2750/60, $1.2710/25

Bids $1.2650/40, $1.2625, $1.2600 

GBP/USD

Offers $1.6020, $1.6000, $1.5950/55, $1.5900/10, $1.5850

Bids $1.5755/50, $1.5720, $1.5700, $1.5680, $1.5650, $1.5600

Resistance 3: Y80.55/60 (area of high of May)
Resistance 2: Y79.90 (МА (200) for Н1)
Resistance 1: Y79.50 (session high)
Current price: Y79.38
Support 1: Y79.10 (session high)
Support 2: Y78.55 (МА (200) for D1)
Support 3: Y78.20 (earlier resistance, area of high of December’2011 and January’2012)

Resistance 3: Chf0.9600 (area of high of January)
Resistance 2: Chf0.9540 (top border of upchannel from May 1)
Resistance 1: Chf0.9500 (session high)
Current price: Chf0.9460
Support 1: Chf0.9430 (bottom border of upchannel from May 1)
Support 2: Chf0.9410 (May 16 low)
Support 3: Chf0.9330 (May 15 low)

Комментарии: пара продолжает тестировать линию сопротивления от ноября 2010 года. Для ее преодоления паре необходимо закрыть неделю выше уровня Chf0,9440. На D1 индикатор RSI поднялся выше отметки 70 пунктов, что является сигналом перекупленности и указывает на высокие шансы начала коррекции.

Resistance 3 : $1.5990 (intraday high on May 16)

Resistance 2 : $1.5930 (May 17 high)

Resistance 1 : $1.5820 (session high, МА (200) and МА (100) for Н1)

Current price: $1.5786

Support 1 : $1.5730 (session low)

Support 2 : $1.5700 (psychological level)

Support 3 : $1.5600 (psychological level, low of March)

Resistance 3 : $1.2870 (May 15 high)
Resistance 2 : $1.2750 (May 16-17 high)
Resistance 1 : $1.2700 (area of session high and resistance line from May 11)
Current price: $1.2690
Support 1 : $1.2640 (session low)
Support 2 : $1.2620 (low of January)
Support 3 : $1.2600/90 (low of August’2008)

Комментарии: на D1 индикатор RSI упал ниже отметки 30 пунктов, что является сигналом перепроданности и указывает на высокие шансы начала коррекции. Кроме того, пара приблизилась к области сильной поддержки $1,2620/590.

European stocks dropped after Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Spanish lenders.

Moody’s lowered debt ratings at 16 Spanish banks, citing mounting loan losses, the country’s recession, restricted access to funds and the reduced ability of the government to support lenders as its own creditworthiness diminishes.

Currently:

FTSE  5,284.59 -53.79 -1.01%

CAC  3,003.36 -8.63 -0.29%

DAX 6,293.45 -15.51 -0.25%

Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index erasing this year’s gains, after U.S. economic data missed estimates and ratings agencies downgraded Spanish banks and Greece as Europe’s debt crisis deepens.N

Nikkei 225 8,611.31 -265.28 -2.99%

Hang Seng 18,901.01 -299.92 -1.56%

S&P/ASX 200 4,046.46 -110.95 -2.67%

Shanghai Composite 2,344.52 -34.37 -1.44%

Samsung Electronics Co., a consumer-electronics maker that gets 40 percent of sales from Europe and America, dropped 4.7 percent in Seoul as exporters tumbled.

Japanese machinery makers plunged in Tokyo after sales growth slowed at industry bellwether Caterpillar Inc.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies fell as much as 20 percent from its high for the year on Feb. 29 after home prices slid in a record number of mainland cities during April.

EUR/USD $1.2670, $1.2700, $1.2900, $1.2615-1.3615

USD/JPY Y79.00, Y79.75, Y80.00

EUR/GBP stg0.8000

AUD/USD $0.9900

USD/CAD C$1.0100

Yesterday the yen extended its gain against the dollar after data showed U.S. jobless claims for unemployment benefits were unchanged last week and another report showed Philadelphia- area manufacturing decreased in May.

The euro fell to a four-month low as Spain’s borrowing costs rose at an auction, stoking concern that the region’s financial contagion is spreading from Greece.

Europe’s shared currency declined against most of its major counterparts as the European Central Bank said it will temporarily stop lending to some Greek banks.

Spain sold bonds due in January 2015 at an average yield of 4.375%, compared with 2.89% when they were last auctioned in April. Investors bought bonds maturing in July 2015 at 4.876%, compared with 4.037% on May 3 and bonds due April 2016 at 5.106%.

Moody’s Investors Service is set to downgrade the credit ratings of Spanish banks.

The pound was down after the published yesterday quarterly inflation report the Bank of England, in which the British central bank has lowered projections for economic growth in the country and raised its forecast for inflation. Against this background of increased market participants' expectations regarding the continuation of the Bank of England policy of quantitative easing.

EUR/USD: yesterday the pair fell, updated monthly low.

GBP/USD: yesterday the pair fell to a figure, lowered below $1.5800.

USD/JPY: yesterday the pair fell to a figure, lowered below Y79.50.

European data starts at 0600GMT with Germany PPI. At 1000GMT, ECB Executive Board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo is due to give a lecture on "Perspectives from the ECB", in London. Ahead of the weekend, G8 leaders meet at Camp David outside Washington.

Asian stocks rose, with the regional gauge poised to end a six-day losing streak, as faster-than- estimated economic growth in Japan and optimism the Federal Reserve will do more to stimulate the U.S. economy outweighed concern Greece’s debt crisis is worsening.

Nikkei 225 8,876.59 +75.42 +0.86%

S&P/ASX 200 4,157.4 -8.13 -0.20%

Shanghai Composite 2,378.89 +32.69 +1.39%

Li & Fung Ltd., a supplier for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., rose 1.7 percent.

Korea Gas Corp. jumped 6.4 percent in Seoul after a report it discovered gas in Mozambique.

Toshiba Corp., the maker of Regza brand televisions, gained 5.6 percent in Tokyo after saying it will stop television production in Japan.

Toll Holdings Ltd., an Australian trucking company, slid 6.8 percent, extending yesterday’s losses after forecasting lower full-year profit.

Resistance 3: Y80.20 (May 16 low)

Resistance 2: Y80.00 (psychological level)

Resistance 1: Y79.65 (May 14 low)

The current price: Y79.45

Support 1: Y79.10 (May 17 low)

Support 2: Y78.70 (Feb 15 high)

Support 3: Y78.15 (Feb 15 low)

Resistance 3: Chf0.9525 (Jan 16 low)

Resistance 2: Chf0.9495 (Jan 18 high)

Resistance 1: Chf0.9480 (May 17 high)

The current price: Chf0.9474

Support 1: Chf0.9440 (May 15 high)

Support 2: Chf0.9410 (May 16 low)

Support 3: Chf0.9375 (high of the Asian session on May 15)

Resistance 3 : $1.5885 (May 16 low)

Resistance 2 : $1.5840 (high of the American session on May 17)

Resistance 1 : $1.5795 (session high)

The current price: $1.5759

Support 1 : $1.5750 (Mar 13 high)

Support 2 : $1.5695 (Mar 16 low)

Support 3 : $1.5635/45 (area of Mar 14-15 low)

Resistance 3 : $1.2815 (low of the Asian session on May 15)

Resistance 2 : $1.2760 (May 16 high)

Resistance 1 : $1.2735 (high of the American session on May 17)

The current price: $1.2675

Support 1 : $1.2665 (May 17 low)

Support 2 : $1.2650 (Jan 17 low)

Support 3 : $1.2625 (low of Jan)

Change % Change Last

Oil       $92.45 -0.36 -0.39%

Gold   $1,574.00  -0.90 -0.06%

Change % Change Last

Nikkei   8,876.59 +75.42 +0.86%

Hang Seng 19,200.93 -58.90 -0.31%

S&P/ASX   4,157.41 -8.12 -0.19%

Shanghai Composite 2,378.89 +32.69 +1.39%

(pare/closed(00:00 GMT +02:00)/change, %)

EUR/USD $1,2681 -0,27%

GBP/USD $1,5780 -0,82%

USD/CHF Chf0,9469 +0,27%

USD/JPY Y79,32 -1,27%

EUR/JPY Y100,59 -1,55%

GBP/JPY Y125,16 -2,12%

AUD/USD $0,9888 -0,23%

NZD/USD $0,7632 -0,13%

USD/CAD C$1,0196 +0,74%

00:00 G8 G8 Meetings -

06:00 Germany Producer Price Index (MoM) April +0.6% +0.4%

06:00 Germany Producer Price Index (YoY) April +3.3% +2.5%

12:30 Canada Consumer Price Index m / m April +0.4% +0.3%

12:30 Canada Consumer price index, y/y April +1.9% +1.9%

12:30 Canada Bank of Canada Consumer Price Index Core, m/m April +0.3% +0.3%

12:30 Canada Bank of Canada Consumer Price Index Core, y/y April +1.9% +1.9%

European stocks declined as the region’s central bank paused lending to some Greek banks and speculation mounted that Spanish banks may have their credit ratings cut at Moody’s Investors Service.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index dropped 1.1% at the close of trading, for the longest losing streak since March 22

Moody’s Investors Service is set to downgrade the credit ratings of Spanish banks later today, said two people with knowledge of the situation, who asked not to be identified because the decision hasn’t been announced.

The nation sold the maximum amount of notes targeted at a bond auction today as borrowing costs rose and 10-year bond yields approached levels that drove Greece and Portugal into bailouts.

National benchmark indexes declined in all 10 western European markets open today. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 , Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 all dropped 1.2%. Greece’s ASE lost 3.4% to the lowest level since January 1990. Exchanges in Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Luxembourg and Iceland were closed for the Ascension holiday.

Spanish lender Bankia tumbled 14 %. The stock has dropped for 10 consecutive days, losing 42 %. El Mundo reported that customers have withdrawn 1 billion euros since May 9, when the government said it will take over the bank.

Cookson jumped 5.5 % to 679 pence, the biggest increase since April 2. The world’s biggest maker of ceramic linings for metal smelters said it has started a strategic review and may split its main divisions.

Cut: Catalunya, Murcia, Andalicia and Extremadura. Outlook - negative.

The yen extended its gain against the dollar after data showed U.S. jobless claims for unemployment benefits were unchanged last week and another report showed Philadelphia- area manufacturing decreased in May.

The euro fell to a four-month low as Spain’s borrowing costs rose at an auction, stoking concern that the region’s financial contagion is spreading from Greece.

Europe’s shared currency declined against most of its major counterparts as the European Central Bank said it will temporarily stop lending to some Greek banks.

Spain sold bonds due in January 2015 at an average yield of 4.375%, compared with 2.89% when they were last auctioned in April. Investors bought bonds maturing in July 2015 at 4.876%, compared with 4.037% on May 3 and bonds due April 2016 at 5.106%.

Moody’s Investors Service is set to downgrade the credit ratings of Spanish banks.

The pound was down after the published yesterday quarterly inflation report the Bank of England, in which the British central bank has lowered projections for economic growth in the country and raised its forecast for inflation. Against this background of increased market participants' expectations regarding the continuation of the Bank of England policy of quantitative easing.

U.S. stocks fell a fifth day amid weaker-than-estimated economic data and as Moody’s Investors Service is said to downgrade Spanish banks.

All groups in the S&P 500 declined as manufacturing in the Philadelphia region unexpectedly shrank and an index of U.S. leading indicators retreated. Caterpillar Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped at least 2.6% to pace losses among the biggest companies. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the largest retailer, rallied 5.3% as profit beat estimates.

Stocks fell as data indicated the pace of economic expansion may cool, adding to concern about a worsening of Europe’s crisis. Moody’s is set to downgrade the credit ratings of Spanish banks later today.

Consumer discretionary and industrial shares had the biggest losses in the S&P 500 among industries. Caterpillar sank 3.3% , the most in the Dow, to $88.79. JPMorgan (JPM)retreated 2.6% to $34.55. Home Depot Inc. (HD) declined 2.1% to $47.74.

Crude-oil futures on Thursday rebounded from six-month lows, as the rock-bottom prices enticed some buyers back to the market.

Oil has closed lower for 10 of the past 11 sessions, and on Wednesday settled at its lowest since early November.

Analysts cautioned the bearish elements that brought crude down are still present, however. Market worries have centered around the worsening of the euro-zone debt crisis, weakening U.S. macroeconomic data, potential for a slowdown in China and U.S. crude stockpiles at a two-decade high.

The dollar continued its winning run against other major currencies, keeping the pressure on oil and other commodities.

Crude oil for June delivery rose 0.14% to $92.94 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gold futures rebounded as some investors who had bet on declining prices closed those positions after the metal slumped to a 10-month low.

Gold futures slumped for four consecutive sessions through Wednesday, crumbling to the lowest settlement price since July 2011 as worries about Europe's financial system boosted demand for the U.S. dollar at the expense of precious metals.

Resistance 3:1363 (area of May 10-11 highs)

Resistance 2:1347 (May 15 high, МА (200) for Н1)

Resistance 1:1330 (session high, resistance line from May 15)

Current price: 1319,50

Support 1:1312 (session low)

Support 2:1300 (area of 50,0 % FIBO 1197-1420, psychological level)

Support 3:1296 (Jan 30 low)