U.S. dollar's demise may have been greatly exaggerated

(Reuters) - After a bounce this quarter from 20 month lows seen at the end of 2006, the dollar is only marginally lower than three months ago.

Slow but resilient U.S. economic growth, helped by a mild northern hemisphere winter, in the absence of an expected Federal Reserve interest rate cut during the quarter, helped spur a rally in the greenback mostly in January.


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Gold falls one percent on US economic data

(Reuters) - Gold slipped more than one percent on Thursday after data showed the U.S. economy grew more strongly than expected in the fourth quarter of last year.

Spot gold fell as low as $658.30 before recovering to 660.50/661.50 by 1435 GMT, against $666.10/666.66 in New York on Wednesday, when it jumped to a four-week high of $669.50.


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UPDATE 1-U.S. economic growth to slow in 2007-IMF's Rato

(Reuters) - "We will see lesser growth in the United States than in September. We probably see now that number of September going to be reduced but not in significant way," Rato told reporters at a briefing.

Draft figures for global and U.S. economic growth obtained by Reuters earlier this month showed that the IMF was expected to reduce its 2007 U.S. growth estimate to 2.6 percent.


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S.Africa stocks reverse minor gains after Bernanke

(Reuters) - South African stocks closed flat on Wednesday, reversing earlier gains after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke raised the alarm about prospects for the U.S. economy.

The Johannesburg Top-40 index of blue-chip stocks edged 0.01 percent higher to 24,183.98 points, climbing down from earlier marginal gains. The All-share index closed 0.04 percent down at 26,829.80 points.


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Pinning hopes on U.S. jobs may prove a losing bet

The U.S. economy is not falling out of bed, but neither is it tucked in safely.

The job market, it turns out, is not as turbulent as many on Wall Street feared. Worries about a possible decline in hiring were formed mostly in the panic following a massive downdraft in global stock markets.

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Nikkei down as U.S. economy concerns weigh

The Nikkei share average fell 0.46 percent on Wednesday as shares of leading exporters such as Canon Inc. were hit by continuing concerns about the outlook for the U.S. economy.

Caution ahead of Friday's settlement of Nikkei futures and options contracts also weighed on the market, participants said.

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