The dollar declined significantly against most major currencies after data from the Conference Board showed that by the end of April, consumer confidence has grown significantly ahead with the experts' forecasts. According to the report, this month's consumer confidence indicator rose to the level of 68.1, compared with a revised downwards index for March at 61.9, while the originally reported value at 59.7. Note that the April figure was the highest since November 2012. According to the average forecasts of experts, this indicator had improved to the level of 60.6. Moreover, the data showed that consumer expectations for economic activity in the next six months, rose nearly 10 points to 73.3, compared with a revised figure for the last month at 63.7 (initially reported on the index at 60.9.) Note that the index, which measures current economic conditions rose to 60.4 from a revised figure for March at 59.2.

Value of the pound rose today, registering its biggest monthly gain against the dollar since October 2011, as the report showed that in March, British banks have issued more loans to buy homes than analysts predicted, adding to signs that the economy is improving. As it became known that the number of mortgage approvals in March amounted to 53,504 against 51,947 in February, and net consumer credit rose in March to 923 million pounds (1.43 billion dollars) against a 1.3 billion pounds in February. Lending companies continued to decline. Lending to non-financial companies fell in March to 554 million pounds, while lending to small and medium-sized businesses fell by 117 million pounds. The data indicate that the joint program of the Bank of England and the Treasury, designed to stimulate lending in the country, has no effect on the companies. Authorities fear that it will deter investment and spending. Meanwhile, we note that the money supply increased in March. M4 money supply, which does not take into account the cash circulating in the financial system, increased by 0.3% compared to February and by 4.5% compared with the same period last year.

The Canadian dollar was higher against the U.S. dollar after the data presented showed that the GDP of Canada in February rose by 0.3%, driven by increased activity in the mining and oil exploration sector. Activity in the manufacturing sector in Canada in February rose a second straight month. Thanks to the return of professional hockey in the sub-sector, entertainment, recreation and the arts was an increase of 3.3%. Economists had expected GDP growth of 0.2% in February. Experts say that after weak growth in the second half of 2012, Canada's economy is slowly returning to the path of recovery in early 2013. But even if the GDP will remain unchanged in March, Canada's GDP growth in Q1 could reach 2.3% compared with the same period last year.

European stocks declined, paring an 11th straight month of gains, as a report showed business activity in the U.S. unexpectedly shrank this month.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.2 percent to 296.72 at the close of trading, after earlier climbing as much as 0.5 percent. The gauge has still risen 1 percent in April, completing the longest stretch of monthly gains since 1997 amid speculation central banks will add to stimulus efforts. The measure has climbed 6.1 percent this year.

Business activity in the U.S. shrank in April for the first time in more than three years. The MNI Chicago Report's business barometer fell to 49, the lowest since September 2009, from 52.4 last month. A reading less than 50 signals contraction. The median forecast of economists was 52.5.

The U.S. Federal Reserve began a two-day policy meeting today. Policy makers may shift discussion away from when to reduce monetary stimulus, given data showing the economy is weakening.

A report today showed the euro-area jobless rate rose to a record 12.1 percent in March.

National benchmark indexes climbed in 13 of the 18 western European markets today, including Sweden, which closed early for a public holiday.

FTSE 100 6,430.12 -27.90 -0.43% CAC 40 3,856.75 -11.93 -0.31% DAX 7,913.71 +40.21 +0.51%

Lonmin retreated 5.7 percent to 269 pence, the biggest drop in two weeks. The world's third-largest platinum producer suspended production at its Number Two furnace at Marikana in northwestern South Africa following an unspecified incident.

Fiat Industrial sank 5.3 percent to 8.57 euros, the most since May 23 last year. The truck and tractor maker cut earnings and sales targets for 2013 as a recession in Europe led to a first-quarter loss at its Iveco vehicle unit.

UBS rallied 5.7 percent to 16.60 Swiss francs as Switzerland's largest bank reported first-quarter net income of 988 million francs ($1.06 billion) because of higher revenue at the investment bank and the wealth-management business. That beat the 412.3 million-franc average estimate.

Deutsche Bank surged 6.1 percent to 34.91 euros. The bank announced plans to raise capital even after co-Chief Executive Officer Anshu Jain said a share sale wasn't in investors' interests three months ago. It also said first-quarter net income rose to 1.65 billion euros, exceeding the 1.21 billion- euro average estimate.

BP Plc increased 2.1 percent to 466.4 pence, its largest gain in three months. Europe's second-largest oil company reported earnings, adjusted for one-time items and inventory changes, of $4.2 billion pounds, beating the average estimate of $3.2 billion from analysts survey.

Oil prices fell today, dropping at the same time below $ 103 a barrel as concerns about demand prospects outweighed expectations for the meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, which may contribute to further stimulate the world economy. Note that in the month of April, oil prices fell more than 6 percent, heading for its biggest monthly drop since May last year.

Underlining the difficulties facing the European economy, data released today showed that the unemployment rate in the euro area rose in March to a level of 12.1 percent, while the volume of retail sales in Germany fell, registering with the second monthly drop in a row. In addition, the added negative data from Spain, which revealed that by the end of the first quarter the economy contracted, noting the seventh consecutive quarterly decline.

At the same time, today it was announced that Japan's crude oil imports from Iran rose in March by 4.5 percent, compared with the same month a year earlier, as the third-largest oil importer won his third rejection of U.S. sanctions on Tehran to reduce the supply of the country. Economists note that the increase in imports of Iranian oil, Japan indicates a decrease in the demand for oil from other regions.

The cost of the June futures on U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) fell to 93.27 dollars per barrel, the lowest intraday level since Dec. 19.

June futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture fell $ 1.41 to $ 102.35 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold prices fell today as many investors prefer to stay on the sidelines ahead of a meeting of central banks in Europe and the United States. Note also that in view of the fact that China's public holiday, the demand in the physical market in China has declined.

Investors believe that the ECB will lower its interest rate, and the Committee on Open Fed will expand monetary stimulus measures, but traders say that the result of these actions is uncertain. As for the Fed, it is likely that the results of the two-day meeting will decide to continue the monthly purchases of longer-dated Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed bonds.

Note also that the drop in the value of gold contributed to the weak U.S. data, which showed that the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) Chicago adjusted down by the end of April to the level of 49.0, up from 52.4 in March.

In addition, other data showed that the gold reserves in the SPDR Gold Trust, which is the largest gold exchange-traded fund in the world, fell on Monday by 0.22% to 1,080.64 tons, while reaching the lowest level since September 2009.

The cost of the June gold futures on COMEX today dropped to 1466.60 dollars an ounce.

EUR/USD $1.2900, $1.3050, $1.3090, $1.3095, $1.3100

USD/JPY Y97.50, Y97.95, Y98.00, Y98.20, Y98.35, Y98.50, Y99.00

EUR/GBP stg0.8475

USD/CHF Chf0.9425

AUD/USD $1.0260, $1.0290, $1.0330, $1.0350, $1.0400

USD/CAD C$1.0150

U.S. stock futures were little changed as investors weighed corporate earnings and awaited a report on consumer confidence.

Shares of Pfizer Inc. fell more then 3% as the world's biggest drugmaker reported first-quarter earnings that fell short of analysts' projections.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 13,860.86 -23.27 -0.17%

Hang Seng 22,737.01 +156.24 +0.69%

FTSE 6,446.43 -11.59 -0.18%

CAC 3,868.31 -0.37 -0.01%

DAX 7,934.89 +61.39 +0.78%

Crude oil $94.04 -0.49%

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Walt Disney (DIS) target raised to $72 from $63 at Stifel Nicolaus

EUR/USD

Offers $1.3170/80, $1.3145/50, $1.3135, $1.3120/30, $1.3090/100

Bids $1.3055/50, $1.3030/10, $1.3000, $1.2980, $1.2960/50

GBP/USD

Offers $1.5600/10, $1.5575/85, $1.5550

Bids $1.5460/50, $1.5430/20, $1.5410/00

AUD/USD

Offers $1.0500, $1.0475/80, $1.0450, $1.0420, $1.0395/00, $1.0380

Bids $1.0330, $1.0310/00, $1.0265/60, $1.0250

USD/JPY

Offers Y98.45/50, Y98.30, Y98.10/15, Y97.80/85

Bids Y97.30, Y97.20/00, Y96.80, Y96.55/50

EUR/JPY

Offers Y128.75/80, Y128.45/50, Y128.15/20, Y127.80/85

Bids Y127.30, Y127.00, Y126.55/50, Y126.20, Y126.10/00

EUR/GBP

Offers stg0.8580/85, stg0.8530/35, stg0.8500/05, stg0.8480/85

Bids stg0.8360/50

EUR/USD $1.2900, $1.3050, $1.3090, $1.3095, $1.3100

USD/JPY Y97.50, Y97.95, Y98.00, Y98.20, Y98.35, Y98.50, Y99.00

EUR/GBP stg0.8475

USD/CHF Chf0.9425

AUD/USD $1.0260, $1.0290, $1.0330, $1.0350, $1.0400

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index heading for the highest closing level since June 2008, after U.S. housing sales gained and amid speculation central banks will keep stimulating growth.

Nikkei 225 13,860.86 -23.27 -0.17%

Hang Seng 22,737.01 +156.24 +0.69%

S&P/ASX 200 5,191.22 +65.41 +1.28%

Shanghai Composite Closed

Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea's biggest exporter of consumer electronics, rose 2.6 percent.

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd., Australia's third-largest lender, jumped 5.8 percent to close at a record in Sydney after boosting its dividend as first-half cash profit climbed 10 percent.

00:00 China Bank holiday

01:00 Australia Private Sector Credit, m/m March +0.2% +0.3% +0.2%

01:00 Australia Private Sector Credit, y/y March +3.4% +3.1% +3.4%

01:00 New Zealand ANZ Business Confidence February 34.6 32.3

05:00 Japan Housing Starts, y/y March +3.0% +6.3% +7.3%

The dollar traded 0.2 percent from a one-week low versus the euro before the Federal Reserve begins a two-day meeting amid bets it will maintain its quantitative easing bond purchases for the foreseeable future. The greenback is poised for its first monthly drop since January versus the euro ahead of a U.S. report tomorrow forecast to show private employers added the fewest jobs in six months. Private employment rose by 150,000 in April after gaining 158,000 the previous month, data from the Roseland, New Jersey- based ADP Research Institute will probably show tomorrow, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. U.S. payrolls increased by 150,000 workers after an 88,000 gain in March, a separate survey forecasts before a May 3 Labor Department report.

The yen fell against a majority of its most-traded counterparts, adding to monthly declines, as an advance in Asian equities boosted demand for higher-yielding assets. Japanese industrial output grew less than estimated, bolstering the case for continued BOJ action. Data from the trade ministry showed production climbed 0.2 percent in March, less than the median 0.4 percent forecast in a Bloomberg survey.

New Zealand's currency, nicknamed the kiwi, slid against all of its 16 major peers after the statistics bureau said home building approvals fell 9.1 percent in March compared with the median forecast for a gain of 2 percent.

EUR/USD: during the Asian session the pair traded in the range of $ 1.3080-00

GBP/USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $ 1.5475

USD/JPY: during the Asian session the pair rose to Y98.15

Change % Change Last

GOLD 1,470.30 16.70 1.15%

OIL (WTI) 94.23 1.23 1.32%

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 13,884.13 -41.95 -0.30%

Hang Seng 22,547.96 +0.25 0.00%

S&P/ASX 200 5,125.8 +28.29 +0.56%

Shanghai Composite 2,177.91 -21.40 -0.97%

FTSE 100 6,458.02 +31.60 +0.49%

CAC 40 3,868.68 +58.63 +1.54%

DAX 7,873.5 +58.74 +0.75%

Dow +106.05 14,818.60 +0.72%

Nasdaq +27.76 3,307.02 +0.85%

S&P +11.31 1,593.55 +0.71%

(pare/closed(00:00 GMT +02:00)/change, %)

EUR/USD $1,3092 +0,48%

GBP/USD $1,5492 +0,13%

USD/CHF Chf0,9371 -0,62%

USD/JPY Y97,83 -0,21%

EUR/JPY Y128,09 +0,30%

GBP/JPY Y151,55 -0,11%

AUD/USD $1,0344 +0,65%

NZD/USD $0,8555 +0,91%

00:00 China Bank holiday

01:00 Australia Private Sector Credit, m/m March +0.2% +0.3%

01:00 Australia Private Sector Credit, y/y March +3.4% +3.1%

01:00 New Zealand ANZ Business Confidence February 34.6

05:00 Japan Housing Starts, y/y March +3.0% +6.3%

06:00 Germany Retail sales, real adjusted March +0.4% -0.2%

06:00 Germany Retail sales, real unadjusted, y/y March -2.2% -1.4%

06:00 Germany Gfk Consumer Confidence Survey March 5.9 5.9

06:45 France Consumer spending March -0.2% +0.2%

06:45 France Consumer spending, y/y March -2.9% -0.1%

07:55 Germany Factory Orders n.s.a. (YoY) April 13 2

07:55 Germany Unemployment Rate s.a. April 6.9% 6.9%

08:30 United Kingdom Net Lending to Individuals, bln March 1.5 1.3

08:30 United Kingdom Mortgage Approvals March 51.7 52.7

09:00 Eurozone Harmonized CPI, Y/Y (Preliminary) April +1.7% +1.6%

09:00 Eurozone Unemployment Rate March 12.0% 12.1%

12:30 Canada Industrial Product Prices, m/m March +1.4% 0.0%

12:30 Canada Raw Material Price Index March +2.2% +0.1%

12:30 Canada GDP (m/m) February +0.2% +0.2%

12:30 U.S. Employment Cost Index Quarter I +0.5% +0.5%

13:00 U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, y/y February +8.1% +9.0%

13:45 U.S. Chicago Purchasing Managers' Index April 52.4 52.5

14:00 U.S. Consumer confidence April 59.7 60.6

20:30 U.S. API Crude Oil Inventories April -0.9