Asia

China Opens 80 Projects In State-Run Sectors To Investors. China will offer 80 projects in industries dominated by state-owned entities for private investment as the nation seeks to let markets play a bigger role in the economy. The opportunities are in industries including railways, ports and clean energy, according to a statement posted on the central government’s website yesterday that cited a State Council meeting. The projects are also in information technology, oil and gas pipelines, coal-to-chemicals and petrochemicals, it said. (Bloomberg)

Japan Says No Trade Deal With U.S. As Obama Prepares To Depart. Japan and the United States have made progress in trade talks but not reached the deal that they were hoping to seal at a bilateral summit, Economy Minister Akira Amari said on Friday. "This time we can't say there's a basic agreement," Amari told reporters after a second day of nearly around-the-clock talks failed to settle differences over farm products and cars. But he said, "Overall, the gaps are steadily narrowing" between the two sides, which did not issue the customary joint statement after Thursday's summit between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Bloomberg)

USA

Manufacturing Powers U.S. Rebound As Orders Rise. Orders poured into American factories in March, putting manufacturing at the center of a projected rebound in economic growth during the second quarter. Bookings for durable goods, those meant to last at least three years, increased 2.6 %, the biggest gain since November, a Commerce Department report showed today in Washington. The advance was broadbased, with makers of computers, machinery and metals among those benefiting.

(Bloomberg)

Consumer Comfort In U.S. Climbs To Highest Level In Eight Months. Consumer confidence rose last week to its highest level since August as Americans were more upbeat about being able to provide for their families than at any time in six years. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index climbed to minus 25.4 in the period ended April 20, the second strongest level since January 2008, from minus 29.1 the prior week. Households’ views of their finances jumped for a second week while gauges of the economy and buying climate also improved. (Bloomberg)

Jobless Claims Rise More Than Forecast In U.S. Holiday Week. More Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week as the Easter holiday period made it more difficult to adjust the data for seasonal variations. Jobless claims increased by 24,000 to 329,000 in the week ended April 19, the most in a month, a Labor Department report showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 44 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for an increase to 315,000. The adjustment during spring holidays is hard to quantify from year to year, a Labor Department spokesman said as the figures were released to the press. (Bloomberg)

Europe

Weaker Inflation Could Prompt Broad Ecb Asset-Buying. The European Central Bank could embark on a broad-based asset buying plan if the euro zone inflation outlook worsens, ECB President Mario Draghi said, adding that a rise in the euro could also trigger policy action. While stressing that the ECB sees inflation remaining low for a prolonged period before rising again, Draghi set out three "contingencies" for the ECB to act. (Reuters)

IFO Surprises With Rise As German Business Strong Despite Ukraine. German business sentiment confounded expectations with a surprise rise in April, signalling that Europe's largest economy is shrugging off tensions between the West and Russia over Ukraine. The Munich-based Ifo think tank's business climate index, based on a monthly survey of some 7,000 firms, increased to 111.2 from an unrevised 110.7 in March. Expectations in a Reuters poll of 40 economists had been for a fall to 110.5. (Reuters)

Currencies

Dollar Falls Against Yen On Ukraine Tensions. The dollar fell against the Japanese yen Thursday as a flare-up in tensions between Ukraine and Russia overshadowed strong economic data. The dollar dropped to ¥102.30 from ¥102.53 late Wednesday. The ICE dollar index , a gauge of the dollar’s strength against six rivals, fell to 79.770 from 79.869 late Wednesday. The euro rose to $1.3832 from $1.3816 late Wednesday. The British pound rose to $1.6801 from $1.6782. The New Zealand dollar edged down to 85.689cents from 85.80 U.S. cents late Wednesday. The Australian dollar eased to 92.64 U.S. cents from 92.88 U.S. cents late Wednesday. (Market Watch)

Commodities

Brent Climbs, Stays Above $109 On Ukraine Tensions. Brent crude futures rose on Thursday, holding above $109 per barrel for a fifth straight session, as a vow by top oil producer Russia to respond if its interests in Ukraine came under attack stoked supply worries. Brent crude had climbed 28 cents to $109.39 a barrel by 0639 GMT, after settling 16 cents lower. U.S. oil increased 27 cents to $101.71. (Reuters)

Gold Turns Higher On Ukraine Worries, Options Buying. Gold rose on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions and options-related buying helped reverse the precious metal's early sharp losses after it fell to a 2-1/2 month low. Spot gold was up 0.8 % at $1,292.95 an ounce by 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT). Among other precious metals, silver was up 1.1 % at $19.62 an ounce, having dropped to a nearly five- month low of $18.91 an ounce earlier. Platinum rose 0.8 % to $1,408.25 an ounce and palladium gained 2.1 % to $799.50 an ounce, reversing a recent sharp pullback. (Reuters)