Analysis for Short Term Option Trading!
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World News
Greece's race to slice €107 billion ($140 billion) off its national debt entered the final stretch Thursday, with markets confident enough investors will accept to write down more than half of the value of their Greek bond holdings.
If too few investors agree and the swap fails, the crisis-hit country will likely default on its debt in l ess than two weeks when a big bond repayment is due, prompting renewed turmoil in financial markets and knocking confidence in the global economy.
Japan has posted one of its largest ever trade deficits, with the January figure widening 246% on year to ¥1.382T ($17.0B). The country's current account deficit totaled ¥437.3B for the same month - larger than the ¥322.4B expected by economists - as nuclear-plant shutdowns drove up energy imports.
US Markets
Stock index futures jumped on Thursday after a Greek official reported a strong uptake by investors for a debt swap that faces a deadline later in the day.
The official told Reuters the percentage of holders accepting a deal was very high, adding that the government was optimistic ahead of a 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) deadline. A debt restructuring is a key element in an international rescue package.
Oil prices hovered above $106 a barrel Thursday in Asia as investors remain skeptical that tensions overIran nuclear program will ease soon.
Benchmark oil for April delivery was up 28 cents to $106.44 at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.46 to settle at $106.16 per barrel in New York on Wednesday.
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