The Federal Reserve is likely to start a series of interest-rate cuts next week and keep going through the end of the year, traders bet on Wednesday after tamer-than-expected producer price inflation last month calmed worries that price pressures would hold the central bank back from policy easing. Traders stuck to bets the Fed will start with a quarter-point reduction at its meeting next week, and continue with same-sized cuts through year-end, based on pricing of futures contracts that settle to the Fed's policy rate. The producer price index increased 2.6% in August from a year earlier,...
Crude edged lower after the International Energy Agency said oil markets are set to see a growing surplus at the end of this year and into next. Global benchmark Brent fell as much as 0.9% to around $66 a barrel, extending Tuesday's small decline. Oil inventories are set to grow at the fastest pace on record next year and hit a 46-month high in June, the agency said, a day after the US government also bolstered its view for a surplus this year. Against that backdrop, traders are looking ahead to a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart in Alaska on Friday...
The British pound rose to $1.355, a three-week high, after UK labour data showed smaller-than-expected job losses in July, easing concerns about the economy. Payrolls fell just 8,000, well below forecasts of 20,000, and earlier months were revised lower, suggesting the labour market is holding up despite the Labour government's £26 billion tax increase. Unemployment remained at 4.7%, while private-sector wage growth eased slightly to 4.8%, still above the Bank of England's 2% inflation target. The data highlights the BoE's delicate balancing act between sticky inflation and a softening...
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, is extending its losses for the second successive session and trading around 97.80 during the European hours on Wednesday. The Greenback faces challenges amid easing risk aversion following the latest United States (US) inflation data, which strengthened expectations for a US Federal Reserve rate cut in September. The CME FedWatch tool indicates that markets are now pricing in approximately 96% odds of a Fed rate cut at the September meeting, up from 86% a day ago. The US Consumer Price...
Gold edged higher on Wednesday, supported by a weaker dollar after mild U.S. inflation data cemented bets for an interest rate cut in September, while investors awaited this week's U.S.-Russia talks over the war in Ukraine. Spot gold was up 0.3% at $3,355.30 per ounce, as of 0651 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery gained 0.2% to $3,405.50. "The fall in the USD enabled a moderate bounce in the gold price, with the precious metal oscillating around the $3,350 level ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting on Friday," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade. "If the meeting in...
Silver prices rose 1% to around $38.30 an ounce on Wednesday (August 13), strengthening for the second straight session as the latest US inflation data reinforced expectations of a Fed rate cut next month. Headline inflation held steady at 2.7%, beating projections for a rate hike to 2.8%, while core inflation edged up to 3.1%, its highest level in six months. Markets currently price in a 94% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut in September, with another rate cut before the end of the year also reflected in expectations. Meanwhile, investors await this week's US-Russia talks in Alaska...
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...