SEOUL, Jan 30 (Reuters) - South Korean manufacturers' business confidence edged down for February, a central bank survey showed on Tuesday, as companiesgrew more pessimistic because of local economic uncertainties and appreciation of the won.The Bank of Korea's manufacturing business survey index (BSI) for February came in at 80 on a seasonally adjusted basis, nudging down from 83 in January. A re...Read More

Innovation management services provider, Sopheon PLC (LON:SPE) expects 2017 sales and profits will be well ahead of market expectations when the numbers are totted up.The board expects that reported revenues for 2017 will exceed US$28mln, up from US$23mln in 2016.Overall revenue visibility for 2018 stands at US$18mln, compared to US$13m at this time last year.Earnings before interest, tax, depreci...Read More

* Dollar rises but set to decline 3 pct for the month* Euro, pound down* Eyes on Fed meeting, jobs report later in week (New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments)By Stephanie KellyNEW YORK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The dollar rose on Monday against a basket of currencies as U.S. bond yields climbed and traders waited for a Federal Reserve meeting and a U.S. jobs report later in the w...Read More

(Corrects fifth paragraph to show an increase in the number of settlements overall, not just those that did not involve challenges to mergers)By Jonathan StempelJan 29 (Reuters) - The number of class action lawsuits in the United States accusing companies of fraud and other securities law violations soared in 2017, topping one a day even as the value of settlements plunged, a study released on Mo...Read More

Mining Capital's Alastair Ford says zinc, the metal used to make steel, is soaring in price due to the global economy marching forward and a strong demand for all sorts of metals.Ford says because zinc supplies have dwindled, the prices have increased to the highest level in more than 10 years. Ford says he imagines the price of zinc will increase even higher, but he doesn't believe prices wi...Read More

David Lawder, Anthony EspositoMONTREAL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade chief on Monday dismissed Canadian proposals for unblocking NAFTA modernization talks but pledged to stay at the table, easing concerns about a potentially imminent U.S. withdrawal from the trilateral pact.Trump, who described the 1994 pact as a disaster that has drained manufacturing jobs to Mexico, has f...Read More

The U.S. stock market is pulling back from record highs, as shares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) retreat on reports the tech titan has halved its first-quarter iPhone X production target. The speculation has shares of Apple suppliers selling off, too, with Broadcom Ltd (NASDAQ:AVGO), Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS), and Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) among those trading lower today. Here's a closer...Read More

(Retops with budget measures, adds details from news conference)By Marcela Ayres and Mateus MaiaBRASILIA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Brazil's government will tap the nation's sovereign fund and recent surpluses to cut debt and avoid breaking budget rules this year, officials said on Monday, after easily meeting the 2017 fiscal target.The government is 208.6 billion reais ($65.9 billion) short of meeting...Read More

(Adds more quotes and background)WARSAW, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Polish central bank governor Adam Glapinski was quoted as saying on Monday that he would not be surprised if interest rates, presently at 1.5 percent, were raised in the first half of 2019 or if they stay unchanged.This month Glapinski said after a Monetary Policy Council sitting that rates in Poland may stay unchanged until the end of 2...Read More

BOGOTA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Colombia central bank said that with Monday's quarter-point cut in the benchmark interest rate, the cycle of reductions has ended.The seven-member board reduced borrowing costs to 4.50 percent to help bolster the economy. (Reporting by Helen Murphy) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The...Read More

BOGOTA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The decision by Colombia's central bank to cut the benchmark interest rate to 4.50 percent was backed by four of seven members, the central bank said on Monday.The bank said the economy is likely to grow 2.7 percent in 2018. (Reporting by Helen Murphy) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc....Read More

BOGOTA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Colombia's central bank lowered the benchmark interest rate to 4.5 percent on Monday, as policymakers seek a boost to still sluggish economic growth.The board reduced the lending rate by 25 basis points, contrary to the hold expected by the majority of analysts in a Reuters survey. (Reporting by Helen Murphy) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of...Read More

WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. federal government said on Monday it expects to borrow less in the January-March period than previously announced, the Treasury Department said on Monday.The department said in a statement it expects to issue $441 billion through credit markets during the period, assuming an end-March cash balance of $210 billion. It also expects to issue $176 billion in net...Read More

Jan 30 (Reuters) - Newcrest Mining Ltd's second-quarter gold production fell 0.3 percent from a year ago but rose 17.2 percent over the prior quarter, driven by increased production at Cadia, Lihir, Bonikro and Telfer.Newcrest said total gold output from its mines in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Ivory Coast fell to 612,695 ounces in the quarter ended Dec. 30 from 614,715 ounces a yea...Read More

Few stocks have had as hot a start to 2018as Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX). The streaming giant has turned in only two negative sessions in January, and is currently riding a eight day winning streak. The FAANG name is higher again today, up 3.4% to trade at $283.80, and earlier touched a fresh record high of $286.81. The stock is riding higher on news thatcable operator Altice integrated Netflix i...Read More

WARSAW, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Polish central bank governor Adam Glapinski was quoted as saying on Monday that he would not be surprised if interest rates, presently at 1.5 percent, are raised by mid-2019 or would stay unchanged."I would not be surprised if even until mid-2019 interest rates would stay at present level, similarly I would not be surprised if it would be necessary to hike them,&quo...Read More

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) reports fourth-quarter earnings before the open tomorrow, and near-term options traders are unusually put-skewed before the event. For instance, our Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) for PHM comes in at 1.35 and ranks only 2 percentage points from a 12-month high. Looking closer, recent activity has centered at the weekly 2/2 35-strike put, where speculato...Read More

(Adds quotes, updates prices)* 10-year yields break above long-term trendline* Central banks expected to reduce accomodation* Fed meeting, U.S. refunding, data in focus By Karen BrettellNEW YORK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury yields surged to more than three-year highs on Monday after comments from a European Central Bank official added to expectations that central banks globally will reduce s...Read More

The 20 stocks listed in the table below have attracted the highest total options volume during the past 10 trading days. Stocks highlighted in yellow are new entries to the list. Data is courtesy of Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White. Two names to note today are tech andstocks Facebook, Inc. (NASAQ:FB) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Below, we'll break down recent options tradin...Read More

XAUUSD, H4 U.S. personal income and consumption each rose 0.4% in December. The 0.3% rise in income was not revised, but the 0.6% jump in spending was revised higher to 0.8% (and the 0.2% October gain was nudged to 0.3%). Compensation was up 0.4%, the same as in November. Wages and salaries increased 0.5% after the prior 0.4% gain. Disposable income was up 0.3%, as was the case in November (revise...Read More