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:...
The Australian dollar (AUD) weakened against the US dollar (USD) amid rising risk aversion amid growing concerns over US-China trade tensions. The AUD/USD pair failed to gain support from the Judo Bank Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) released on Wednesday. The Judo Bank Australia Composite PMI rose to 51.1 in January from 50.2 in December, reflecting modest growth in private sector activity. Meanwhile, the Judo Bank Services PMI rose to 51.2 from 50.8, marking the twelfth straight month of expansion in the services sector. Despite the modest growth, it was the strongest since August. The...
Gold prices (XAU/USD) continued to rise throughout the Asian session on Wednesday (5/2) and climbed to an all-time high, around the $2,858 region in the last hour. Concerns about the economic impact of US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs continued to support demand for the safe-haven bullion. Further, expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will maintain its easing cycle, supported by signs of slowing momentum in the US labor market, contributed to driving flows towards the non-yielding yellow metal. Meanwhile, the US Dollar (USD) languished near weekly lows amid prospects of...
Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday after volatile trading in the previous session as investors shrugged off the impact of China's tariffs on U.S. energy imports though President Donald Trump's renewed push to eliminate Iranian crude exports provided some support. Brent crude futures were down 18 cents, or 0.24%, at $76.02 a barrel by 0210 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) lost 9 cents, or 0.12%, to $72.61. Oil on Tuesday traded in a wide range, with WTI falling at one point by 3%, its lowest since Dec. 31, after China announced tariffs on U.S. imports of oil, liquefied...
Gold rose to a record high, after advancing by almost 1% in the previous session, as the opening salvos of the US-China trade war stoked haven demand. Bullion reached an all-time peak of $2,849.05 an ounce on Wednesday. That came after President Donald Trump hit Chinese imports with a 10% tariff the day before, prompting a swift but more targeted retaliation from Beijing. The response from China was relatively muted compared to Trump's first term, when Beijing hit back with tariffs that were almost on par with the US, but there's still plenty of trepidation about the...
The Australian and New Zealand dollars clung to gains on Wednesday ahead of the resumption of trade in Chinese markets, where eyes are on Beijing's fixing of the yuan midpoint rate following the outbreak of Donald Trump's trade war. The dollar was on the back foot in the early Asian session, giving some respite to heavily battered currencies like the euro, which bounced back above the $1.02 level and last bought $1.0374. Volatility in currency markets eased a little on Wednesday after a turbulent start of the week following Trump's imposition of steep tariffs on top U.S. trading partners,...
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...