European stock exchanges are closed today for a public holiday. U.S. data on Average Hourly Earnings, Nonfarm Payrolls and the Unemployment Rate will be in the focus today. Yesterday a preliminary framework of a deal between Iran and Western powers was reached. Sanctions will probably lifted on a step-by-step basis. Today Greek deputy finance minister said will pay a loan tranche due on April 9th to the IMF after the Greek interior minister proposed that Greece should rather use the money for pensions and wages.

Yesterday FTSE 100 closed +0.35% quoted at 6,833.46 points. Germany's DAX 30 closed at 11,967.39 points -0.28%. France's CAC 40 closed at 5,074.14 points, +0.24%.

BLOOMBERG

Germany Urges Greece to Win Over ECB in Quest for Funding

Germany's top envoy for Europe urged Greece to end its spat with the European Central Bank, saying ECB President Mario Draghi is an ally in the country's struggle for funding.

Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Roth said he made the point in talks with Greek government officials in Athens this week. Confrontation with the ECB won't help Greece and it would be "disastrous" if Europe failed to put the country on the path to prosperity, he said in an interview in Berlin.

As Greece and its European creditors seek a financing deal, Roth's trip reflects a German effort to smooth relations and keep Greece in the euro area. A week after Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for talks and dinner, Roth met Nikos Pappas, Tsipras's chief of staff, and Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-02/germany-urges-greece-to-win-over-ecb-in-quest-for-funding

REUTERS
Solid U.S. job growth anticipated despite weak economy

(Reuters) - U.S. job growth likely remained solid in March, which should allay fears over recent economic weakness and keep the Federal Reserve on course to start raising interest rates this year.

Nonfarm payrolls probably increased 245,000 last month after rising 295,000 in February, according to a Reuters survey of economists. March would mark the 13th straight month of job gains above 200,000, the longest streak since late 1993.

The labor market has largely shrugged off a harsh winter, a buoyant dollar, weaker global demand and a now-resolved labor dispute at West Coast ports, which have combined to undermine economic activity in the first quarter.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/03/us-usa-economy-idUSKBN0MU07X20150403

BLOOMBERG

Samsung Said to Win Apple A9 Chip Orders for Next IPhone

Samsung Electronics Co. will manufacture the main chip in Apple Inc.'s next iPhone model, regaining a customer previously lost to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Samsung will start making Apple A9 processor chips at its Giheung plant in South Korea, the people said, asking not to be identified because the contract hasn't been discussed publicly. Additional orders will go to Samsung's partner Globalfoundries Inc., according to another person familiar with the arrangement.

Winning this order from Apple will help the world's second-largest chipmaker rebound against TSMC, which last year ended Samsung's monopoly over contracts to make iPhone and iPad chips. Both manufacturers have boosted capital expenditures to gain business from Apple and Qualcomm Inc. in the more than $300 billion semiconductor industry.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-03/samsung-said-to-win-apple-a9-chip-orders-for-next-iphone

European stock exchanges are closed today for a public holiday. U.S. data on Average Hourly Earnings, Nonfarm Payrolls and the Unemployment Rate will be in the focus today. Yesterday a preliminary framework of a deal between Iran and Western powers was reached. Sanctions will probably lifted step-by-step basis.

Yesterday FTSE 100 closed +0.35% quoted at 6,833.46 points. Germany's DAX 30 closed at 11,967.39 points -0.28%. France's CAC 40 closed at 5,074.14 points, +0.24%.

U.S. stocks moderately added gains on Thursday before being closed for a public holiday today and ahead of U.S. data on Average Hourly Earnings, Nonfarm Payrolls and the Unemployment Rate. Yesterday the number of initial jobless claims in the week ending March 28 in the U.S. fell by 20,000 to 260,000 from 288,000 in the previous week, beating expectations for a decline by 3,000. The previous week's figures was revised down from 282,000. The S&P 500 closed +0.35% with a final quote of 2,066.96 points. The DOW JONES index added +0.37%, closing at 17,763.24 points.

Chinese stocks were trading higher and are heading for a fourth week of gains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is currently trading +0.77% at 25,275.64 points. China's Shanghai Composite rose to 3,838.07 points currently up +0.32%. Chinese stocks are supported by speculations on further economic stimulus by the Chinese Government.

The Nikkei rose in thin trade on Friday extending yesterday's gains. The index climbed +0.63% to close at 19,435.08.

(Time/ Region/ Event/ Period/ Previous/ Forecast/ Actual)

00:00 Australia Bank holiday

00:00 New Zealand Bank holiday

01:30 Japan Labor Cash Earnings, YoY February 1.3% 0.7%

01:45 China HSBC Services PMI March 52.0

06:00 Germany Bank Holiday

06:00 Switzerland Bank holiday

The U.S. dollar is trading broadly lower against its major peers in thin trading with most stock exchanges closed for a public holiday but ahead of U.S. data on Average Hourly Earnings, Nonfarm Payrolls and the Unemployment Rate. Yesterday the number of initial jobless claims in the week ending March 28 in the U.S. fell by 20,000 to 260,000 from 288,000 in the previous week, beating expectations for a decline by 3,000. The previous week's figures was revised down from 282,000.

The Australian dollar traded higher against the U.S. dollar.

Chinese data on the HSBC Services PMI was reported. The PMI came in at 52.3 for March compared to a reading of 52.0 in February.

New Zealand's dollar lost against the greenback during the Asian after a seven day losing streak.

The Japanese yen is trading higher against the greenback in the Asian session.

EUR/USD: the euro traded higher against the greenback

(time / country / index / period / previous value / forecast)

07:00 United Kingdom Halifax house price index March -0.3%

07:00 United Kingdom Halifax house price index 3m Y/Y March 8.3%

08:00 United Kingdom Bank holiday

12:00 Canada Bank holiday

12:00 U.S. Bank holiday

12:30 U.S. Average hourly earnings March 0.1% 0.2%

12:30 U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls March 295 251

12:30 U.S. Unemployment Rate March 5.5% 5.5%

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

HANG SENG 25,264.94 +182.19 +0.73%

TOPIX 1,554.17 +25.18 +1.65%

SHANGHAI COMP 3,812.04 +1.74 +0.05%

FTSE 100 6,833.46 +23.96 +0.35 %

CAC 40 5,074.14 +11.92 +0.24 %

Xetra DAX 11,967.39 -33.99 -0.28 %

S&P 500 2,066.96 +7.27 +0.35 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,886.94 +6.71 +0.14 %

Dow Jones 17,763.24 +65.06 +0.37 %