A.M. market numbers for February 10, 2010

| North American markets | International markets | Bonds | Currency | Commodities |

World stock markets rose Wednesday on hopes a government debt crisis in Europe can be quarantined to smaller economies.

Investors turned optimistic amid expectations plans are being developed in the European Union to rescue Greece. That raised hopes that policymakers will take bigger steps to contain debt troubles in other weak European economies including Portugal and Spain.

Japan’s Nikkei stock benchmark gained nearly 1 per cent at one point while benchmarks in Britain, Germany and France opened higher by 0.5 per cent or more.

Futures pointed to modest losses Wednesday on Wall Street. S&P futures were off 2.3 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 1,064.10. Oil prices fell after surging to near $74 a barrel on Tuesday while the dollar rose against the euro and the yen.

Greece’s government has vowed wage and pension reform in an effort to gain credibility in its plan to drive down its debt load. However, nationwide strikes were planned for Wednesday, possibly undercutting any confidence in the country’s plan. Some experts believe the European Central Bank may come up with a form of support which would not require a bailout, such as guarantees for debt. Alternatively, big economies like Germany and France could offer support.

Only South Korea bucked the regional trend with the Kospi index slipping 0.37 point, less than 0.1 per cent, to 1,570.12. Gains in Asia were moderate with Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock average up 31.09, or 0.3 per cent, at 9,963.99 after earlier surmounting the 10,000-mark.

Australia’s benchmark gained 0.2 per cent to 4,513.40 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 131.94, or 0.7 per cent, to 19,922.22.

China’s Shanghai index advanced 1.1 per cent to 2,982.50, helped by strong trade figures for January, indicating a recovery in both global demand and Chinese consumption is on track.

(The Canadian Press)

North American markets

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	Open	Change	YTD
Dow Jones	10,058.64	+150.25 or +1.52%	-3.54%
S&P 500	1,070.52	+13.78 or +1.30%	-4.00%
NASDAQ	2,150.87	+24.82 or +1.17%	-5.21%
TSX Composite	11,274.24	+158.94 or +1.43%	-4.02%

International markets

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	Open	Change	YTD
Nikkei	9,963.99	+31.09 or +0.31%	-5.52
Hang Seng	19,922.22	+131.94 or +0.67%	-8.92
SENSEX	15,922.17	-120.01 or -0.75%	-8.83
FTSE 100	5,167.55	+55.71 or +1.09%	-4.53
CAC 40	3,660.42	+47.66 or +1.32%	-7.01
DAX	5,570.74	+72.48 or +1.32%	-6.49

Bonds

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Bonds	$Current	$Previous	%Yield
Cdn. 10-year bond	102.92	103.18	3.38
Cdn. 30-year bond	116.35	116.70	4.01
U.S. 10-year bond	97.89	97.84	3.63
U.S. 30-year bond	96.88	96.77	4.57

Currency

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BoC Close	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.9394	0.9364
US $	1.0645	1.0679

Euro Spot Rate	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.6810	0.6794
Euro	1.4685	1.4719

Commodities

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Gold	AM	PM
London Gold Fix ($US)	$1,075.50	$1,071.25

Oil	Open	Change
WTI Crude Future (US)	$74.26	+$0.51 or +0.69%

(02/10/10)