Employment at US companies rose in October, signaling stabilization in the labor market after two straight months of declines. Private-sector jobs increased by 42,000 after a revised 29,000 decline in the previous month, according to ADP Research data released Wednesday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists was for a gain of 30,000. (alg) Source: Bloomberg
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has lent his support to Jerome Powell amid regular attacks from Trump administration officials, saying he sees no reason for the Federal Reserve chairman to resign. "Nobody is telling me he should resign now," Bessent said of the US central bank chief, speaking Tuesday on Fox Business. "His term ends in May. If he wants to continue, I think he should. If he wants to leave early, I think he should." Powell has been criticized by President Donald Trump for months for leading the Fed on hold, refusing to continue rate cuts last year due to concerns about the...
Foreign investors are increasingly uneasy about U.S. monetary policy after President Donald Trump's public criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, according to Yardeni Research. Though Trump recently said it was "highly unlikely" he would fire Powell, Yardeni noted the president also added, "I don't rule out anything," leaving markets jittery. "We don't believe President Trump will fire Powell," Yardeni wrote, "but, just in case, we examine the credibility crisis that could ensue if he does." Officials in Tokyo and Beijing reportedly view Powell's ouster as more of a "when" than...
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that he will meet his Chinese counterpart next week and discuss what is likely to be an extension of an August 12 deadline for higher tariffs. Bessent told Fox Business that trade with China was in "a very good place" and the meetings in Stockholm would take place next Monday and Tuesday. "I think we've actually moved to a new level with China, where it's very constructive and very we're able we're going to be able to get a lot of things done now that trade has kind of settled in at a good level," Bessent said Source: Investing.com
The European Union appears to be considering whether to deploy its "Anti-Coercion Instrument" characterized as a "nuclear option" to try to deter trade disputes — as the threat of a 30% tariff on EU imports looms large. A number of EU member states, including France and Germany, are reportedly considering using "anti-coercion" measures targeting the U.S. if the bloc cannot reach a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, EU diplomats told Reuters this week. The measures could see the EU restrict U.S. suppliers' access to the EU market, excluding them from participation in public...
Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, plans to sign a USD 8 billion engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with US engineering firm KBR Inc. to build 17 modular refineries, according to two sources familiar with the matter and an official presentation by the Economic Ministry, as reported by Reuters. The contract is part of a trade pact reached last week between Indonesia and the US, which resulted in a reduction of proposed US tariffs, from 32% down to 19%. Indonesia's Economic Minister, Airlangga Hartarto, who served as chief negotiator for the deal, revealed...
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher, tracking Wall Street gains overnight.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.41% after hitting a fresh record high on Thursday, while the Topix added 0.61%. South...
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...
American consumers struggling to access food assistance payments due to the government shutdown are unable to fill their shopping carts, and that's "hurtful," according to the company behind Stop...