Bullard Says Markets Are Expecting More Easing From Fed

The Federal Reserve’s policy shift since last year has made monetary policy “considerably more accommodative” than a year ago, but world markets are likely expecting more to come, St. Louis Federal Reserve bank president James Bullard said on Monday. Bullard, who has focused on the fact that some short-term Treasury debt yields have risen above […]

Stock Market Near Record on Topsy Turvy Thursday

Several market moving events unfolded between the close of U.S. stock markets on Wednesday and the open on Thursday. As a result, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were both on the cusp of record highs on Thursday. Here’s what investors need to know. Delayed tariffs Stock futures climbed Wednesday evening after […]

ECB Held Nothing Back But Might Not Be Enough to Boost Economy

The European Central Bank is giving euro zone banks a small reprieve from a penalty charge on their idle cash but this is likely to prove too little, too late for a sector hurt by years of low interest rates. In its latest bid to shield the euro zone’s economy from a global economic slowdown, […]

US and China Building Groundwork for Possible Trade Agreement

The United States on Thursday welcomed China’s promise to buy agricultural goods while maintaining the threat of U.S. tariff hikes as the world’s two largest economies sought to prepare the ground for upcoming in-person talks. Lower-level U.S. and Chinese officials are expected to meet within days in Washington ahead of talks between top trade negotiators […]

US Inflation Firming Up but will Not Derail Fed Rate Cuts

U.S. underlying consumer prices increased solidly in August, leading to the largest annual gain in a year, but rising inflation is unlikely to deter the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates again next week to support a slowing economy. Other data on Thursday showed the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits dropped to […]

ECB Rate Cut and QE Boost Was Short-lived As Doubts Remain

German bond yields and the euro rebounded on Thursday and European banking shares were whipsawed as doubts crept in about the effectiveness of the ECB’s decision to cut interest rates and pledge an indefinite supply of asset purchases. The ECB cut its deposit rate by 10 basis points to a record low of -0.5%, promised […]

US CFOs Still Sceptical About a US-China Trade Deal

If you follow the markets, there’s been recent reason for optimism about a U.S.-China trade deal. Some investors are buying it — literally — with recent gains in stocks attributed to positive signals from the U.S. and China after a volatile August. But there’s one group of market insiders not buying the talk: corporate executives. […]

China Adds US Farm Goods to Tariff Exclusions

China plans to exclude American farm goods, including soybeans, from tariffs in the latest move to ease trade tensions before the two countries restart trade talks next month. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Friday that China welcomed President Donald Trump’s decision to delay tariffs by two weeks and said it will exempt U.S. agricultural […]

Pound Soars on No-Deal Brexit Declining Possibility Even as Doubts Remain

The pound has hit its highest level against the dollar since July amid hopes a no-deal Brexit can be avoided. Sterling jumped more than 1% on Friday to over $1.24 against the dollar, its highest level in seven weeks. The pound was boosted after a report in the Times said the DUP, Northern Ireland’s largest […]

Gold Higher on US dollar Softness

Gold prices rose back above the key $1,500 level on Friday as the U.S. dollar slipped on the back of a strong euro, though hopes for a thaw in Sino-U.S. trade tensions supported equity markets, capping bullion’s gains. Spot gold was up 0.6% to $1,507.96 per ounce as of 1156 GMT, up marginally for the […]