Thursday, September 28, 2006

Quick Overview

  • U.S. corporate profits were up 0.3% in the second quarter.

  • The U.S. Commerce Department estimates US GDP growth in the second quarter at of 2.6%, down from the previous estimate of 2.9%. YoY GDP was up 3.5%.

  • Copper demand growth in China, the world's biggest consumer of the metal, may slow to 5.6 percent this year, as record prices prompt makers of cables, wires and air-conditioners to switch to cheaper substitutes. Consumption may be 3.8 million metric tons, versus 3.86 million tons and last year's growth of 9 percent.

  • The U.S. Labor Department said that jobless claims were down 6,000 last week to 316,000.

  • The International Grains Council lowered global wheat production by 5 million tons to 588 million tons.

  • AWB Ltd. lowered the estimate of Australia's wheat crop from 16.4 million tons to 13.5 million, down from 25.1 million tons last year. Hot and dry conditions have hurt this year's crop.

  • The U.S. Department of Energy said that underground supplies of natural gas rose 77 billion cubic feet to 3.254 trillion cubic feet. Supplies are up 13% YoY.

  • German September unemployment fell 17,000 to 4.43 million, the fifth drop in the past six months.

  • Retail sales in Japan increased 2.0% in August, more than expected.

  • France's GDP increased 1.2% in the second quarter, the best quarterly performance in over five years.

  • Worker productivity in the U.K. increased 1.8%.

  • The Chinese Yuan rose to a new 12-3/4-year high at 7.8957 Yuan/USD

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