British CPI and PPI
Widening Gap Between Fed and ECB Interest Rate Outlooks, Updated IMF Growth Forecasts, and a Slew of Price Data
April 17, 2024
The dollar and U.S. equities are little changed this Wednesday. Japan’s Nikkei-225 index closed down 1.3%, but share prices rose 2.1% in China and 1.6% in Taiwan. European stocks are up, too. Bitcoin’s price plunged 4.4% overnight, extending its drop over the past five weeks to 17%. WTI oil is down 1.2%, but gold is […] More
Indonesian Election and Euroland GDP Headline Wednesday’s Agenda
February 14, 2024
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto appears headed for victory in today’s Indonesian presidential election. Many votes still need to be counted, but with nearly 60% of the votes among those already tallied, he holds a large lead against his two opponents so far. The second report on fourth-quarter Euroland GDP are unrevised from flash indications reported […] More
Intensifying Equity Correction and Much Fresh Data to Absorb
January 17, 2024
The optimistic investor mood of late 2023 has evaporated. Hawkish central banker-speak has quelled hopes for an early start to the unwinding of tight monetary policy stances, and markets are also concerned about China’s economic performance, Former President Trump’s reelection prospects, and the risks of a full-blown multi-front war in the Middle East and rising […] More
Disinflationary News from U.K. and Germany Ahead of FOMC Statement
September 20, 2023
The dollar slipped overnight by 0.4% against the Australian and New Zealand currencies, 0.2% versus the euro and peso, and 0.1% relative to the Canadian dollar and Swiss Franc. Equities closed down 1.2% in India, 0.7% in Japan, 0.6% in Taiwan and Hong Kong and 0.5% in China but are currently showing overnight gains of […] More
Asian Growth Concerns.. British CPI and Euroland GDP Figures Release.. And Waiting for FOMC Minutes Due Later Today
August 16, 2023
The Chinese economy remains a concern that weighing on its regional neighbors as well. Property prices in China were 0.1% lower in July than a year earlier. That’s follows zero percent in the second quarter and disappointing retail sales, industrial production, corporate investment, and unemployment data reported yesterday. Equity markets today tumbled 1.3% in South […] More
Powell Testimony, British CPI Shocker, and Concern about Growth in China at This Summer Solstice
June 21, 2023
On this longest day of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere, Fed Chairman Powell will testify on U.S. economic conditions and Fed policy before the House Financial Services Committee beginning at 10:00 am EDT. He will be questioned on the precise meaning of the policy pause, the likely peak in Fed interest rates, and the time […] More
Stronger Dollar, Higher Long-Term Interest Rates, and Softer Equities
April 19, 2023
Equities in the United States are down over a half percent in futures trading as investors react to the latest batch of reported corporate earnings. European shares are only marginally lower. In Asia, stocks closed down 1.4% in Hong Kong, 0.7% in China, 0.3% in India and 0.2% in Japan. The Fed Beige Book of […] More
FOMC Day, And Inflation Reports Around the World Aren’t Cooperating
March 22, 2023
Financial markets have positioned for a 25-basis point hike of the federal funds rate later today, which would represent a compromise between conceding the the task of restoring in-target U.S. inflation is still far from accomplished and concern over the way that mid-sized banks have handled the considerable interest rate increase over the past year. […] More
Dollar Lifted by Signs of Stronger U.S. Growth than Assumed
February 15, 2023
The weighted DXY dollar index advanced 0.7% overnight. Gains range from 1.5% against the Aussie dollar and 1.3% versus sterling to 0.8% relative to the Japanese yen and Mexican peso, 0.6% against the euro and loonie, and 0.4% relative to the Chinese yuan and Swiss franc. U.S. stock futures are down 0.5-0.6%. Investors have abandoned […] More
Market Reaction Muted to Missile Strike in Poland
November 16, 2022
A Russian-made missile struck a grain facility inside Poland, but it remains unclear who fired that round or from where such came. World leaders were fortunately already assembled in Bali, Indonesia, for the Group of Twenty annual summit, and an emergency meeting to forestall a direct Nato-Russian military conflict has so far prevented an outsized […] More
