The ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 48 in July 2025 from 49 in June, missing expectations of a rise to 49.5. This figure marked the fifth consecutive month of contraction in the manufacturing sector and was the weakest since October of last year. The largest negative contributions came from declines in supplier deliveries (45.7 vs. 46.7) and employment (43.4 vs. 45.0). On the positive side, production increased (51.4 vs. 50.3), while declines in new orders (47.1 vs. 46.4) and backlogs (46.8 vs. 44.3) eased. Price pressures also eased, with the price index falling to 64.8 from 69.7. Source:...
Gold price (XAU/USD) maintains its offered tone through the first half of the European session on Wednesday, though it lacks follow-through selling as traders opt to wait for the release of the US consumer inflation figures. In the meantime, the US Dollar (USD) attracts some buyers in the wake of Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell's hawkish remarks on Tuesday. This, along with a generally positive risk tone, undermines the commodity for the second straight day. However, concerns that US President Donald Trump's new levies on commodity imports and promised reciprocal tariffs, along...
The dollar index remained steady around 108 on Wednesday after pulling back in the previous session, as caution prevailed ahead of a critical inflation reading that could provide further guidance on the direction of interest rates. The January CPI report is expected to show a slight acceleration in US core inflation to 0.3% from 0.2% on a monthly basis, while the annual rate is projected to slow slightly to 3.1% from 3.2%. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, in remarks before Congress, reiterated that the central bank is in no rush to cut interest rates, emphasizing the strength...
The USD/CHF pair trades on a flat note around 0.9130 during the early European trading hours on Wednesday. Traders await further information from US President Donald Trump on potential trade tariffs. The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation data will be in the spotlight later on Wednesday. Also, the Federal Reserve's (Fed) Raphael Bostic and Christopher Waller are scheduled to speak. On Tuesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized in testimony before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee that the US central bank does not need to be in a hurry to adjust the monetary...
Oil prices edged down on Wednesday as an industry report showed an increase in U.S. crude stockpiles and tariff worries weighed on sentiment, though stronger refining margins limited the market's downside. Brent futures fell 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $76.75 a barrel by 0408 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 28 cents, or 0.4%, to $73.04 a barrel. The declines snapped a three-day streak of gains for prices with Brent climbing 3.6% while WTI rose 3.7%. Crude oil stockpiles in the U.S., the world's biggest oil producer and consumer, rose by 9.4 million barrels in the...
GBP/USD remains steady after registering gains in the previous session, trading around 1.2450 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. However, the pair could face challenges as US President Donald Trump's 25% tariff hike has increased trade war tensions.Additionally, Fed Chair Jerome Powell's cautious indication regarding the US policy outlook could provide support for the US Dollar (USD) and limit the upside of the GBP/USD pair. Powell said in his semi-annual report to Congress that the Fed officials "do not need to be in a hurry" to cut interest rates due to strength in the job market and...
China's official NBS Manufacturing PMI increased to 49.7 in June 2025 from May's 49.5, matching market expectations while marking the third consecutive month of contraction in factory activity.
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Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
The U.S. will levy a 30% tariff on South African exports next week, after Pretoria failed to reach a trade deal before President Donald Trump's deadline. The new rate is part of a broader executive...