International Markets weekly highlights

Weekly News Highlights,

·        Germany’s ZEW index of economic sentiment slipped more than expected in July as Europe’s government debt crisis weighed on optimism despite the continuing strength of Europe’s largest economy.

·         The Bank of England’s last meeting signaled policy makers are less pessimistic about the economy than some investors had anticipated, making further bond purchases unlikely. 

·         On a seasonally adjusted basis, the composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in Germany dropped to a score of 52.2 points in July, the lowest level in 24 months. 

·         The manufacturing PMI in the Euro-zone dropped to a reading of 50.4 points in July, following a reading of 52.0 points posted in June.

·         The rate of new home construction in the United States exceeded analysts' expectations and rose in June by 14.6 percent to an annualized rate of 629,000 units.

 
      ·         Japan's merchandise trade exports (YoY) improved to -1.6 percent in June from -10.6 percent, where the expectations estimate of -4.1 percent
IndiaThe All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Laborers and Rural Laborers for June, 2011 increased by 6 and 5
points respectively to stand at 598 points for Agricultural Laborers and 597 points for Rural Laborers.