Markets are kicking around the idea of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September, but Morgan Stanley isn't sure, warning that the odds may be closer to 50-50 despite widespread expectations. Strong economic indicators including solid GDP growth, healthy financial conditions, and low volatility stand in the way of a clear case for easing, the bank said in a recent report. Nominal GDP growth remains robust at over 5%, unemployment holds steady at 4.2%, and retail sales continue surpassing expectations, reflecting an economy far from needing stimulus, Morgan Stanley's economists said. "It cannot...
Israel is potentially days away from a cease-fire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Israeli ambassador to the US said. Prices extended losses after Axios reported that Israel and Lebanon have accepted the terms of a ceasefire agreement. The parties haven't yet announced an agreement, it said. Bullion tumbled as much as 3% as traders unwound positions built last week amid rising geopolitical tensions, which helped the metal register the biggest weekly rally in 20 months. Traders were also digesting President-elect Donald Trump's pick of Scott Bessent for Treasury...
Gold tumbled as traders digested Donald Trump's pick of Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary and looked toward the Federal Reserve's next interest-rate decision. Bullion slid as much as 2.1%, after capping the biggest weekly rally in 20 months on Friday as an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict bolstered the metal's haven appeal. Prices fell on Monday even as the dollar and US bond yields weakened, moves that typically benefit gold. Markets broadly welcomed the choice of Bessent for Treasury Secretary as a measured choice that would inject more stability into...
The dollar fell and US government bonds rallied after Donald Trump picked Scott Bessent to run the Treasury, a Wall Street veteran who investors expect will take the sting out of the administration's more aggressive trade and economic policy proposals. A gauge of the greenback fell as much as 0.6% on Monday, its biggest decline in over two weeks, with the euro rebounding from the weakest level since 2022 reached last week. The yield on 10-year Treasuries fell as much as eight basis points to 4.32%, the lowest level since mid November. Bessent, who runs macro hedge fund...
Oil dipped as Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent pushed for increased US production and Israel said it's potentially days away from a cease-fire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah. Brent crude fell below $75 a barrel after jumping almost 6% last week on increased geopolitical risks in Ukraine and Iran. Bessent advised President-elect Donald Trump to push for millions of barrels a day more of oil production or its equivalent, according to the Wall Street Journal. That push comes at the same time OPEC is set to decide on whether to add extra barrels to the market and...
EUR/USD faces selling pressure near the psychological resistance of 1.0500 in Monday's European session after a solid opening that lost some steam as the US Dollar (USD) attempts to rebound. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which gauges the Greenback's value against six major currencies, broadly consolidates at around 107.00 as investors digest the selection of fund manager Scott Bessent for the role of Treasury Secretary by President-elect Donald Trump. The Greenback fell sharply early in the Asian session, as did 10-year US Treasury yields, in a warm welcome by bond markets given Bessent's old...
President Donald Trump said he would fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors if she does not resign her post over mortgage-fraud accusations from a top...
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained its cash rate at 4.1% during its April meeting, holding borrowing costs unchanged after slashing 25 bps in the February meeting, aligning with market...