Oil prices stabilized on Thursday (February 12th), as the market reassigned a risk premium to US-Iran tensions despite US inventory data showing swelling domestic supplies. This movement confirms one thing: geopolitical headlines are still more "noise" than signals of a short-term surplus. As of 3:50 PM WIB, Brent was at $69.60/barrel (+0.29%) and WTI was at $64.83/barrel (+0.31%). The gains were moderate, but enough to keep prices near the psychological $70 level for Brent. From a geopolitical perspective, market focus is on the potential for escalation in the Middle East. Recent reports...
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, but reined in the number of rate cuts ahead on concerns about sticker inflation amid a brighter economic outlook. The Federal Open Market Committee, the FOMC, cut its benchmark rate by 25 bps to a range of 4.25% to 4.5%. In what was the third rate cut of the year since the first cut in September, Fed members now appear to be easing away from a deep rate cut cycle, betting on fewer rate cuts ahead. Fed members now see the benchmark rate falling to 3.9% for next year, suggesting just two rate cuts, compared with a prior...
The Fed announced another 25bps cut to the federal funds rate in December 2024, marking the third consecutive reduction this year and bringing borrowing costs to the 4.25%-4.5% range, in line with expectations. The so-called dot plot suggested policymakers will probably would only lower twice more in 2025.(Cay) Newsmaker23 Source: Trading Economi
Markets are pricing in a near certainty that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by a quarter point on Wednesday, bringing the target range to 4.25% to 4.5%. The focal point for investors is central bank policymakers' economic outlook and the path forward for rate policy. The Fed will issue its decision at 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, followed by Chair Jerome Powell's press conference at 2:30 p.m.Loan interest rates remain high even as Fed has reduced ratesThe Federal Reserve has dialed back interest rates by three-quarters of a point since the end of its September meeting, but...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped on Wednesday as traders looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's December interest rate decision. The Dow was higher by about 126 points, or 0.2%. The 30-stock average posted a nine-day losing streak on Tuesday, its longest since 1978. If the Dow were to fall for a 10th day on Wednesday, it would be its worst losing streak since an 11-day slide in 1974. The S&P 500 inched up 0.1%. The Nasdaq Composite was higher by 0.07%. Nvidia which fell into correction territory earlier this week, climbed more than 4%. Nvidia entered the Dow last month....
US stocks were mixed on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 trading around the flatline and the Nasdaq down 0.1% while the Dow Jones rose about 90 points, ending a nine-session losing streak, its longest since 1978. Investors are focused on the upcoming FOMC decision later in the day, where the Fed is widely expected to announce a 25bps cut to the federal funds rate. Additionally, the Fed will release its latest economic projections, including the closely watched "dot plot" that outlines policymakers' expectations for future interest rate moves. On the corporate side, Nvidia shares rose nearly...
The Hang Seng rose 164 points, or 0.9%, to close at 19,865 on Wednesday, snapping a three-session slide. The rally was driven by a significant increase in U.S. interest rate futures as investors anticipated a 25bps rate cut by the Fed later in the day and its outlook for a reduction in 2025. The index rebounded from its lowest level in more than a week amid indications that China will boost fiscal spending in 2025 by raising its budget deficit to a record 4% of GDP, up from 3% this year. Meanwhile, Chinese regulators have asked state-owned companies to boost their market value through...
European stocks opened higher on Wednesday as investors await the latest monetary policy decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Traders are pricing in a 95% chance of a quarter-point cut on Wednesday, according to CME Group's Fed Watch tool. Investors will also be looking closely at the Fed's Summary of Economic Projections and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference, for clues on what might happen in the coming months. The central bank is widely expected to temper runaway expectations for further interest rate cuts in the coming year, especially as inflation remains stubbornly...
The Nikkei 225 index fell 0.72% to close at 39,082 while the broader Topix index fell 0.31% to 2,720 on Wednesday, with Japanese shares falling for a fourth straight session and tracking losses on Wall Street overnight as investors braced for the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy announcement. At home, traders analyzed data showing Japan's export growth accelerated to a three-month high in November, while imports unexpectedly fell. Attention also turned to this week's Bank of Japan policy meeting, where the central bank may hold off on raising interest rates as policymakers take time to assess...
Gold rises in the early Asian trade. There's a broad commodities uptrend, driven by macro uncertainty, a weaker dollar, and persistent demand for "hard" assets, says Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst...
Oil extended declines after OPEC+ agreed to a bigger-than-expected production increase next month, raising concerns about oversupply just as US tariffs fan fears about the demand outlook.
Brent...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakened against its US counterpart and reversed part of Friday's recovery from the lowest level since July 23 following Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda's remarks....