The US Dollar Index (DXY) continued its rise for the third consecutive session and hovered around 98.60 in European trading on Friday (December 19). Market participants are now awaiting the release of the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for December, which could provide additional clues about the direction of the economy and the dollar's movement. Despite its strength, the dollar's upside is considered limited as markets increasingly consider the possibility of a Fed interest rate cut after US inflation fell below forecasts. Data showed that US CPI in November slowed to 2.7%...
US citizens filing new applications for unemployment insurance rose to 248K for the week ending May 31, the US Department of Labor (DOL) reported on Thursday. This was higher than the initial estimate and in line with the previous week's revised count. The report also highlighted the seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate at 1.3%, while the four-week moving average rose by 5K to 240.250K from the previous week's revised average. Additionally, Continuing Jobless Claims increased by 54K to 1.956M for the week ending May 24. (alg) Source: FXstreet
US producer prices edged up 0.1% month-over-month in May 2025, following an upwardly revised 0.2% decline in April and compared with a 0.2% increase expected. Goods prices rose 0.2%, with tobacco costs rising 0.9%. Prices for gasoline, processed poultry, roasted coffee, household natural gas, and oilseeds also rose. In contrast, jet fuel prices fell 8.2%. In addition, service costs edged up 0.1%, with the margin for wholesale sales of machinery and vehicles jumping 2.9%. Costs for traveler accommodation services; retail sales of clothing, footwear, and accessories; retail sales of alcohol;...
The UK economy shrank in April following declines in both the services and production sectors, in a month marked by volatile US tariff announcements and higher local taxes. Britain's monthly gross domestic product fell 0.3% in April after rising 0.2% in March, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Thursday. The latest figure is worse than the expected 0.1% decline, signaling the worst monthly drop in the UK GDP since October 2023. Annually, the British economy grew 0.9%, slowing from the previous 1.1% expansion. In the quarter to April, UK GDP increased 0.7%...
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday said the Trump administration is prepared to "roll the date forward" with trading partners negotiating in good faith if the deadline marking the end of the 90-day pause on President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs is reached with no deal. "It is highly likely that those countries - or trading blocs as is the case with the EU - who are negotiating in good faith, we will roll the date forward to continue the good-faith negotiations," Bessent told the House Ways and Means Committee. "If someone is not negotiating, then we will...
In a post published on Truth Social on Wednesday (11/6), US President Donald Trump said that a trade deal with China is done and added that the deal is now waiting for final approval from himself and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "The complete magnets, and the rare earths that are needed, will be supplied, up front, by China. Likewise, we will provide what has been agreed to to China, including Chinese students who use our colleges and universities (which is always nice of me!)," Trump said, adding: "We get a total tariff of 55%, China gets 10%. Very good relationship! Thank you for your...
U.S. core inflation rose less than forecast in May for a fourth straight month, suggesting businesses are looking for ways to limit how much of their higher rates cost customers. The consumer price index, which excludes the often volatile food and energy categories, rose 0.1% from April, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Wednesday. It was up 2.8% from a year ago. (alg) Source: Bloomberg
The US and China ended two days of high-stakes trade talks with a plan to revive the flow of sensitive goods — a framework that now awaits the blessing of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. After about 20 hours of negotiations in London, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the two sides had laid out a framework for implementing the Geneva consensus that lowered tariffs last month. "First of all, we have to get rid of the negatives," he said. "Now, we can move forward to try to have positive trade, to increase trade." While the more upbeat tone should reassure investors worried about the...
For months, Donald Trump has imposed unprecedented levels of tariffs and trade restrictions on China, part of a strategy to force Xi Jinping into talks that the U.S. president hopes will help cut the trade deficit and boost American manufacturing. With U.S. tariffs soaring to 145% and the Trump administration boasting that it has the upper hand over China, Beijing has turned the tables, essentially halting exports of the one thing the modern world can't live without: rare-earth magnets. As slowing shipments of products containing obscure elements like dysprosium and terbium begin to pinch...
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....