Tokyo stocks sharply up after Fed taper decision |
- Tokyo stocks sharply up after Fed taper decision
- Humans fight to survive in ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ (VIDEO)
- Cameron Diaz to release book on health and nutrition
- Dollar touches 5-year high versus yen after Fed reduces stimulus
- Winnie Mandela blasts family feud reports
| Tokyo stocks sharply up after Fed taper decision Posted: 18 Dec 2013 05:02 PM PST
The Nikkei 225 index gained 1.87 per cent, or 291.95 points, to 15,879.75 a few minutes after the start. After 30 minutes of trade the benchmark index was up 1.58 per cent. "The taper decision is naturally a plus for Japanese stocks," said Kenji Shiomura, market analyst at Daiwa Securities. "Interest rates continue to be stable while the yen is lower. "Positive factors are lined up for Japanese stocks," he said, noting the market was bullish enough to gain ground even after 2.0 per cent advance the previous day. The Federal Reserve announced today it would start tapering its huge stimulus programme next month, giving a vote of confidence in the recovery of the US economy and jobs market. The Fed will spend US$75 billion (RM244 billion) on bonds each month from January, down from the US$85 billion (RM277 billion) monthly asset purchases it has made for a year, the Federal Open Market Committee said after a two-day monetary policy meeting. The Fed decision boosted the dollar and US share prices yesterday. The greenback was at 104.13 yen early Thursday against 104.20 yen in New York yesterday afternoon. The dollar was below 103 yen in Tokyo Tuesday afternoon. The euro bought US$1.3685 and 142.51 yen early today compared with US$1.3680 and 142.56 yen in US trade. New York stocks surged to new records. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1.84 per cent to 16,167.97, while the broad-based S&P 500 jumped 1.66 per cent to 1,810.65. Both were records. — AFP  |
| Humans fight to survive in ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ (VIDEO) Posted: 18 Dec 2013 04:56 PM PST LOS ANGELES, Dec 19 — Fox has uploaded the first trailer for next summer's epic science-fiction blockbuster. The first images from "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," the sequel to "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011), sets a dark and foreboding tone. The last survivors of the viral epidemic that decimated the human race at the end of the last film will finally confront Caesar (Andy Serkis), the leader of the apes who lord over Earth. The trailer is based primarily on a speech by Gary Oldman in the role of Dreyfus, who tries to instil hope in his human comrades. Jason Clarke also makes an appearance in the role of Malcolm, who heads to the jungle to demand an audience with Caesar. "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," directed by Matt Reeves, arrives in US and Canadian theatres on July 11. — AFP-Relaxnews |
| Cameron Diaz to release book on health and nutrition Posted: 18 Dec 2013 04:55 PM PST
The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body is due out December 31 and available for preorder via Amazon for US$16.43 (RM53.50). Rather than focusing on a seven-day or month-long diet plan, the book "offers a holistic, long-term approach to making consistent choices and reaching the ultimate goal: a long, strong, happy, healthy life," a promo reads. Diaz, 41, also focuses on debunking the hype around food groups, explains the benefits of vitamins and minerals, and delves into the rationale of embracing "the instinct of hunger to satisfy it with whole, nutrient-dense foods." A renowned fitness fan and surfer, Diaz also focuses on the much-needed benefits of a daily workout to stave off disease and boost mood and energy levels. But she admits that she wasn't always such a health eater. "If you are what you eat, I was a bean burrito with extra cheese and extra sauce, no onions," she said, adding that her formerly poor diet negatively affected her skin and body. To make changes, she began learning about nutrition and well-being, and says her new book is a result of all that she's learned. — AFP-Relaxnews |
| Dollar touches 5-year high versus yen after Fed reduces stimulus Posted: 18 Dec 2013 04:50 PM PST
A gauge of traders' expectations of currency swings slid to the lowest in three weeks after the Fed reinforced its commitment to keeping borrowing costs lower for longer. The yen traded near the weakest since 2008 against the euro as Bank of Japan policy makers start a two-day meeting today. "With the reduction in quantitative easing, the Fed has bought a ticket to enter into a normalisation of monetary policy," said Masato Yanagiya, the New York-based head of foreign exchange and money trading at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, referring to the central bank's asset purchases. "Lots of people see a weaker yen throughout the next year." The dollar rose 0.1 per cent to 104.35 yen as of 8.14am in Tokyo after earlier reaching 104.37, the highest since October 2008. It strengthened 0.1 per cent to US$1.3671 per euro following a 0.6 per cent gain yesterday. The yen was little changed at 142.67 per euro after touching 142.90 yesterday, the weakest in five years. The Federal Open Market Committee yesterday announced a plan to cut monthly bond purchases to US$75 billion from US$85 billion, taking its first step toward unwinding the unprecedented stimulus that Chairman Ben S. Bernanke put in place to help the economy recover from the worst recession since the 1930s. Data have shown housing starts reached a five-year high last month and the unemployment rate declined to 7 per cent in November from the 2009 high of 10 per cent. Rate outlook The US central bank reiterated that it will hold the benchmark rate at almost zero "at least as long as" unemployment exceeds 6.5 per cent and so long as the outlook for inflation is no higher than 2.5 per cent. Policy makers have kept the target for the federal-funds rate at a range of zero to 0.25 per cent since 2008. The Fed reinforced its assurances that it's a long way from raising borrowing costs, saying its benchmark rate is likely to stay low "well past the time that the unemployment rate declines below 6.5 per cent, especially if projected inflation continues to run below" the Fed's 2 per cent goal. "While we have passed or made significant progress on the labour market and growth hurdles, there is still this concern about inflation," Bernanke said at a press conference after the FOMC's meeting. "If inflation does not show signs of returning to target, we will take appropriate action." JPMorgan Chase & Co's volatility index for the Group of Seven economies' currencies touched 8.1 yesterday, the least since November 27. Bank of Japan officials see significant scope to increase government-bond purchases if needed to achieve their 2 per cent inflation target, according to people familiar with the discussions. The BOJ monetary policy statement is due tomorrow. — Bloomberg |
| Winnie Mandela blasts family feud reports Posted: 18 Dec 2013 04:42 PM PST
According to various media reports the family cut off Mandela's eldest grandson Mandla and heir to the clan title since the icon's died on December 5. But his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela slammed "mischievous innuendos" and "apartheid-style" tactics. "Numerous articles, op-eds, reports, and editorials...have hammered on the idea that the Mandela family is at war with itself since the news first broke that Madiba is no longer with us," said her spokesman Thato Mmereki in a statement, referring to Mandela by his clan name. "These reports have done nothing but use half-truths to case a shadow on the Mandela family during their time of bereavement." According to local media, locks were changed at Mandela's rural Eastern Cape house shortly after his eldest daughter, Makaziwe, arrived there on Thursday — a week after her father's death and three days before his funeral. Water and electricity were disconnected on the eve of Mandela's state burial in Qunu on Sunday at the end of a 10-day official mourning period followed by millions around the world. Makaziwe is said to have overseen the funeral preparations, while Mandla was the public face of the family — remaining with the coffin in a solemn vigil throughout three days of lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last week. Mandla Mandela, accusing some of his aunts of trying to gain control over the Mandela millions, moved the remains of his late father, Makgatho who died of AIDS in 2005, and Mandela's two other deceased children to Mvezo, a village near Qunu where the anti-apartheid hero was born and Mandla is the tribal chief. His family claimed this was a bid to force the statesman's burial there — as Mandela had wanted to be buried with the remains of his children — in order to cash in on the ensuing tourism. Mandla was forced by a court order to return the remains to Qunu. Madikizela-Mandela said yesterday "there is no succession or dynasty debate in the Mandela family". "In accordance with customary law and tradition the eldest daughter, being Ms Makaziwe Mandela, will head the family and will make decisions with the support of her two sisters. "Mr Mandla Mandela is respected as one of Nelson Mandela's grandchildren, the next generation of the Mandela family." — AFP |
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