Monday, May 02, 2005

Quick Overview

  • U.S. construction spending increased by a stronger-than-anticipated 0.5% in March, the Commerce Department said Monday.

  • The Institute for Supply Management reported that Factory activity in the United States slowed for the fifth straight month in April, the ISM index fell to 53.3% from 55.2% in March


  • Brazils government reported a trade surplus of $3.88 billion in April, up from $1.96 billion in the same month last year. Exports in April reached $9.20 billion while imports totaled $5.33 billion.


  • South Korea's trade surplus rose in April compared to the previous month as global demand for locally-made products remained strong despite the won's appreciation against the dollar, the government said Sunday. April's trade surplus came to 1.96 billion US dollars, compared to 1.45 billion dollars in the previous month.

  • OPEC's President said that they have increased production from 27.7 to 29.7 million barrels per day in the last month and a half, the highest daily production in 25 years.


  • The USDA said that 52% of the corn crop was planted, up from 30% a week ago, and 8% of the soybeans are planted.


  • An index of manufacturing in Australia increased from 52.6 to 52.9 in April, the lowest April reading in three years.




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