Economic News

The decline in U.S. stocks on Wednesday followed robust consumer spending data, despite a minor revision to fourth-quarter 2023 U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth. The report, released ahead of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge due Thursday, echoed the cautious sentiments expressed by Fed officials in recent weeks. New York Fed President John Williams emphasized the central […]

The New Zealand dollar experienced a notable decline, slipping 1% alongside government bond yields following the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s (RBNZ) less hawkish commentary on inflation. The central bank’s remarks highlighted a decrease in most measures of price expectations, leading to a subdued market response. As anticipated by economists, the RBNZ maintained its policy rates unchanged.

During the Asian trading session, markets exhibited a mixed sentiment as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of a flurry of economic data releases and speeches from Federal Reserve officials in the coming days. These events are poised to play a crucial role in shaping the outlook for interest rates. Treasury markets saw minimal movement during Asian

Brent crude oil prices edged lower towards $81 a barrel following a more than 2% decline last week, while its U.S. counterpart West Texas Intermediate hovered above $76. Concurrently, gold saw slight losses, and iron ore dropped to its lowest level since October, echoing last week’s nearly 9% slump. Hopes for a resurgence in Chinese steel demand post-Lunar New Year

Market participants remained relatively unperturbed by hawkish commentary from the Federal Reserve, with Treasury 10-year yields exhibiting minimal change at 4.32% on Thursday. Cash Treasury trading in Asia was halted on Friday due to the observance of a Japanese holiday. The Federal Reserve’s increasing confidence in ongoing and sustainable disinflation may eventually prompt a shift in the

The US dollar saw a decline against a basket of Group-of-10 currencies, while the yen remained relatively stable around the 150 per dollar mark. Treasuries exhibited steadiness in Asian trading following a sell-off on Wednesday, which pushed the 10-year yield up by five basis points. This surge in yields across the curve followed a $16 billion sale

Investors are eagerly anticipating the release of the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes on Wednesday, seeking additional insights into the central bank’s stance regarding a potential timeline for interest rate cuts. Concerns over a delay or reduction in rate cuts arose following last week’s unexpectedly rapid inflation figures, causing uncertainty among market participants about the

The price of gold saw a downturn early on Tuesday, slipping below the $2,020 mark after a promising start to the week that saw a three-day recovery rally. This decline comes as the upside potential for gold prices appears to be limited by a resurgence in the US dollar and US Treasury bond yields, with

This week, market participants are closely monitoring European inflation data amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, where negotiations aimed at securing an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and the release of hostages have stalled. In the US, trading activity for Treasuries was halted due to a holiday, but when markets reopened on Friday, Treasury prices experienced a decline.

As Wall Street braces for a pivotal inflation reading that could shape the Federal Reserve’s strategy on monetary policy, the mood among investors remains cautiously optimistic. Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic’s remarks on Thursday emphasized the robustness of the US labor market and economy, indicating that there’s no urgency to implement interest rate cuts. The recent decline in