commodities
January 2021 in Figures
January 29, 2021
Sovereign debt yields rose more rapidly in North America than in Europe or Japan during January. Among central banks followed in this feature, no policy interest rates were changed this month. Equity selling in the final week of the month resulted in slight net losses for most markets in January, and newfound caution aided the […] More
February in Figures
February 28, 2018
February was unlike January. The dollar had declined across the board in the first month of 2018, but declined, except against the yen, during February. Likewise, share prices performed well in January but experienced a difficult February, including the biggest U.S. monthly drop in just over two years. Stocks were spooked by speculation that the […] More
April in Figures
April 29, 2017
In April, ten-year sovereign debt yields fell a little more sharply in the United States than other economies, but the dollar was mixed, falling against the euro, sterling, and Swiss franc but not the yen. The dollar advanced solidly against commodity-sensitive currencies, and West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped back below the $50 per barrel […] More
March and First Quarter in Figures
April 1, 2017
March saw an introspective pause to the market euphoria of the first two months of 2017, but the quarter still experienced a broadly lower dollar and strong stock market gains for the most part, the Japanese Nikkei being a notable exception. Ten-year sovereign debt yields were mixed and resulted in less supportive U.S. premiums at […] More
February in Figures
February 28, 2017
Equities were bid sharply higher in February, and the dollar appreciated mostly. Ten-year sovereign debt yields, which had risen during January, reversed course. Short-term interest rates were steady, and commodity prices climbed. 10-Yr Yield o2/28/17 01/31/17 Chg v End-Jan U.S. 2.38% 2.45% -7 Basis Points Germany 0.20% 0.43% -23 Japan 0.04% 0.07% -3 U.K. 1.15% […] More
January in Figures
January 31, 2017
The slumping dollar was the fulcrum of financial market activity in January. Dollar lows for the month were hit on January 31 against the euro, yen, Swiss franc, Australian dollar and kiwi, and the monthly highs occurred on either the third of second day of the months. From their lows to their highs, the Aussie […] More
November in Figures
November 30, 2016
World financial markets spent most of November grappling with the implications of Donald Trump’s unexpected victory and the Republican Party’s coming control of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government, as well as most state governorships and legislatures. A possible December hike of the federal funds target became a virtual certainty after […] More
Optimistic Mood
October 25, 2016
Commodity prices are higher, led by metals. WTI oil and Comex gold climbed 0.6% and 0.5% to $50.84 per barrel and $1,269.80 per ounce. Markets are discounting a higher likelihood of a fed funds hike this year, but investors increasingly believe the U.S. economy can tolerate such action. U.S. political opinion polls continue to indicate […] More
September and the Third Quarter in Figures
October 1, 2016
Ten-year sovereign debt yields remained very low last quarter. British gilts dropped over a half percentage point for the second consecutive quarter, helped by a halving the Bank of England’s policy interest rate and resumption of quantitative stimulus there. The dollar fell mostly last quarter, but the loss against sterling was trimmed in September. Equities […] More
May in Figures
May 31, 2016
In May, long-term interest rates fell. On the monetary policy front, confidence climbed that the Federal funds rate would be raised before much longer, while speculation grew that more stimulus would be forthcoming in Japan and possibly the eurozone. An appreciation of the dollar and oil prices was balanced by a decline in gold. Most […] More
