Asia 

Japan Bank Lending Hits 4-Year High As BoJ Pumps Money. Japanese bank lending marked its biggest annual increase in four years in June, suggesting the central bank's aggressive monetary stimulus and brightening economic prospects are spurring fund demand for fresh investment. Outstanding loans held by Japanese banks rose 1.9 % in June from a year earlier, Bank of Japan data showed on Monday, marking the 20th straight month of increase and posting the biggest gain since July 2009. (Reuters)

Taiwan Exports Rise 8.6%. Taiwan’s exports grew nearly four times faster than expected in June, boosted by brisk electronics shipments and sales to China and Japan, but analysts cautioned that momentum might not sustain. Exports in June rose 8.6% from a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Finance showed, against 2.3% growth forecast. That compared with a rise of 0.9% in May and 1.9% fall in April. (Reuters)

USA

Consumer Borrowing In U.S. Rises $19.6 Billion, Most In Year. Consumer borrowing in the U.S. climbed in May by the most in a year as Americans put more purchases on their credit cards and took out more school and automobile loans. The $19.6 billion increase in credit followed a revised $10.9 billion gain the previous month that was less than initially reported, Federal Reserve figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey called for a $12.5 billion advance. (Bloomberg)

Europe

Greece Secures A Further 6.8bn Euros Of Bailout Funds. Greece has passed another hurdle in its bailout programme, by securing the next installments of funds that are keeping the country afloat. The money, totalling 6.8bn euros ($8.7bn), will come from the troika of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But they said that Greece's reform programme is moving too slowly. The troika added that the country's economic outlook remains uncertain. (BBC)

German Exports In Sharpest Fall Since 2009. German exports saw their sharpest fall since 2009 as demand in China eased off and eurozone exports fell by 9.6%. Germany exports around 40% of its goods to the 16 other countries that use the euro, many of which are in recession. Overall exports, according the Federal Statistics Office, were 2.4% lower in May, while imports rose by 1.7% as domestic demand remained steady. Exports to countries outside of Europe fell by 1.6%, with the slowdown in China affecting demand. (BBC)

German Industrial Production Decreased In May. German industrial production dropped more than economists predicted in May, adding to signs that Europe’s sovereign debt crisis is weakening a recovery in the region’s largest economy. Production fell 1 % from April, when it gained a revised 2 %, the Economy Ministry in Berlin said today. That’s the first decline since January. Economists forecast a drop of 0.5 %, according to the median of 38 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. From a year earlier, production decreased 1 % when adjusted for working days. (Bloomberg)

Euro-Area Investor Sentiment Drops Amid Portugal Government Woes. Euro-area investor confidence unexpectedly deteriorated in July after political turmoil in Portugal sparked renewed tensions in financial markets, the Sentix research institute said. An index measuring sentiment in the euro region fell to minus 12.6 from minus 11.6 in June, the Limburg, Germany-based institute said today in an e-mailed statement. Economists had predicted an increase to minus 11.4, according to the median of 18 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. A gauge of economic expectations remained unchanged at 7.3, while a measure of current conditions dropped to minus 30.5 from minus 28.8. (Bloomberg)

Currencies

Dollar Index Slips From 3-Year High As Yields Fall. The U.S. dollar lost ground Monday, with a closely watched index of the currency’s  value retreating from a three-year high as investors kept a close eye on bond yields influenced by expectations the Federal Reserve  will begin to slow stimulus to the economy later this year. The ICE dollar index, traded at 84.172, down from 84.449 late Friday in North America. The euro rebounded to $1.2871, up from around $1.2825 late Monday. The British pound advanced to $1.4950 from $1.4894. Against the Japanese yen Monday, the dollar traded at ¥100.96, compared with ¥101.18 late Friday. Australia’s dollar fetched 91.28 U.S. cents, compared with Friday’s level around 90.65 U.S. cents. (Market Watch) 

Commodities

Brent Crude Edges Lower As Supply Concerns Ease. Brent crude oil fell on Monday as the announced returns of a Libyan oilfield and an Iraqi pipeline eased concerns about global oil supplies following an early rally to a three-month high above $108 a barrel because of continuing unrest in Egypt. Brent, the European benchmark, was down 40 cents at $107.32 a barrel by 12:39 p.m. EDT (1639 GMT) after hitting $108.04, its highest since April 4. U.S. crude slipped 10 cents to $103.12 after earlier touching a new 14-month high of $104.12. (Reuters)

Gold Rises On U.S. Dollar's Fall, Bargain Hunting. Gold rose 1 % on Monday as a weaker U.S. dollar triggered bargain hunting after the yellow metal's two-day slide caused by concerns the Federal Reserve could soon start tapering its monetary stimulus. Spot gold rose 1 % to $1,235.49 an ounce by 4:11 p.m. EDT (2011 GMT). Among other precious metals, silver rose 0.8 % to $19.02 an ounce. Platinum gained 2.6 % to $1,357.49 an ounce and palladium was up 2.4 % to 694.41 an ounce, as platinum group metals were helped by news of renewed strike disruptions in major producer South Africa. (Reuters)