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...
Gold edged lower following a volatile week, in which it was whipsawed by a surging dollar in the wake of Donald Trump's election win and then a Federal Reserve rate cut. Bullion traded near $2,680 an ounce after falling almost 2% last week. The precious metal received support from the Fed reduction, but was buffeted as investors weighed the likely impact of tax cuts, trade tariffs and looser regulations that Trump is pledging. While gold may benefit from demand as a hedge against inflationary pressures resulting from those policies, Wall Street economists now see fewer Fed...
Gold (XAU/USD) fell about half a percent to trade around $2,680 on Friday (08/11), extending a short-term bearish trend that has been in place since it ended on Halloween. The decline came amid market expectations that President-elect Donald Trump's economic policies will be positive for the US Dollar (USD), as higher tariffs and tax cuts could keep interest rates high, supporting foreign capital inflows into the US currency. This, in turn, is expected to pressure Gold lower as it is mostly priced and traded in USD. Gold also won a bid as there was no mention at all of how the US...
Gold fell at the end of a volatile week's trading, as investors assessed the path ahead for US rates and the implications of Donald Trump's election victory. Bullion declined by as much as 1% Friday, on track for its biggest weekly fall since May. The precious metal had gained Thursday, after the Fed cut rates by a quarter point, even as Chair Jerome Powell said he didn't rule "out or in" a further cut in December, noting recent indicators suggested the economy was still expanding solidly. Thursday's gain partially helped to retrace Wednesday's 3% rout, when...
The U.S. dollar was steady on Friday, set to end a volatile week with modest gains as traders digested the implications of a new Trump presidency and a compliant Federal Reserve. At 4:30 a.m. ET (09:30 GMT), the Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, was flat at 104.372. The index is on track for a gain of just 0.2% this week, even after rising 1.5% on Wednesday after Donald Trump's election victory, when it posted its biggest one-day gain since September 2022. The dollar jumped to a four-month high on Wednesday as traders braced for a new Trump...
Gold prices fell on Friday but held around $2,700 as markets reacted to the implications of Donald Trump's presidency and the Fed's latest interest rate decision. The Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points as expected on Thursday, while signaling a cautious and considered stance on any further rate cuts. However, markets are pricing in higher rates from the Fed, as the new US president's policies—focused on raising tariffs, cutting taxes and deregulation—are expected to widen deficits and fuel inflation. Meanwhile, demand for gold remains strong. The World Gold Council reported that...
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...