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The dollar was back on the front foot on Wednesday, making modest gains after earlier losses from renewed bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, while the yen eased towards the 155 per dollar level and kept intervention risks from Tokyo high. The dollar was back on the front foot on Wednesday, making modest gains after earlier losses from renewed bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, while the yen eased towards the 155 per dollar level and kept intervention risks from Tokyo high. Analysts have said that any intervention from Tokyo would only serve as a temporary respite for the yen, given stark interest rate differentials between the U.S. and Japan remain. Analysts expect the central bank to leave the door open to lower interest rates as early as June. The Australian dollar fell 0.2% to $0.6585, pressured in part by a less hawkish outlook from the Reserve Bank of Australia than anticipated after it held interest rates steady on Tuesday.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Shunichi Suzuki, they'll, Carol Kong, Neel Kashkari, Kashkari, Rodrigo Catril Organizations: Federal, U.S, Bank of Japan, country's Finance, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New Zealand, greenback, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Fed, National Australia Bank, Bank of, Reserve Bank of Australia Locations: Tokyo, Beijing, Japan, Bank, U.S, Minneapolis

☆ Bank of America says do not sell in May and go away
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Investors should ignore the adage about selling off equities in May as a big preelection summer rally could be coming, according to Bank of America. "Do not sell in May and go away," Stephen Suttmeier, the firm's technical research strategist, told clients in a Tuesday note. He pointed to the fact that June through August has been the second strongest three-month stretch for the S & P 500 for all years since 1928. In those three months alone, the broad market index has gained 65% of the time with an average return of 3.2%, according to Bank of America data. .SPX YTD mountain S & P 500, YTD And there's a key factor Suttmeier sees changing the narrative for the better this year: the presidential election.

Persons: Stephen Suttmeier, It's, Jerome Powell, Suttmeier, Williams Organizations: Bank of America, Dow Jones, Federal

☆ The US dollar is so strong that China's central bank, among others, just keeps loading up on gold
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Central banks are on a gold-buying spree, contributing to record-high spot gold prices. Other central banks are also snapping up gold to diversify their assets on the back of a strong greenback. Other central banks are also loading up on gold. Emerging market central banks that bought gold in the first quarter of the year include Kazakhstan, Oman, Kyrgyzstan, and Poland. There are political motivations for central banks to diversify their assets, too.

Persons: —, it's, bode Organizations: Service, People's Bank of China, greenback, Gold, JPMorgan, Allianz Locations: China, Turkey, India, Kazakhstan, Oman, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, United States

☆ People in Korea are buying gold from vending machines and convenience stores amid 2024's frenzy for the precious metal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Korea's convenience stores and vending machines are selling gold, with younger people flocking to buy. Bite-sized gold bars have been selling since April, weighing in between 0.1 and 1.87 grams. AdvertisementGold bars are displayed for sale alongside packaged kimchi and ramen in convenience stores across Korea, with the yellow metal gaining among younger consumers in 2024. AdvertisementYoung Koreans are leading the pack of buyers snapping up gold from CU stores, accounting for 41.3% of the total purchases, according to data from the company's app. However, the country's central bank hasn't joined the gold rush, keeping its gold reserves steady at 104.4 tons since 2013.

Persons: —, hasn't, China —, David Rosenberg, Ed Yardeni Organizations: Service, Printing Corporation, Chosun, CNBC, World Gold Council Locations: Korea, South, South Korea, Asia's, China

☆ For US renters, the chance of owning a home is going from bad to worse
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —The American dream of homeownership is looking more like a nightmare. With inflation heating up again, the Federal Reserve is in no position to consider lowering interest rates at its upcoming meetings. That’s according to a New York Fed survey gauging consumers’ expectations of the housing market, released Monday. Consumers are gearing up for even bigger increases compared to the expected rise in mortgage rates over the next year, the New York Fed survey found. The issue of rent affordability is particularly pronounced in New York City, where housing costs have always been notoriously high compared to other parts of the country, absent a brief respite during the pandemic.

Persons: That’s, Kenny Lee, Aditya Bhave, Neel Kashkari, Bhave, ” Bhave, “, Perdue “, ”, Read, TikTok, Joe Biden, Brian Fung, Bytedance Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal, New, Fed, Zillow, Bank of America, CNN, Minneapolis, Bloomberg, United States Department of Labor, Seaboard Triumph Foods, Perdue, Labor Department, Seaboard, Labor, Packers Sanitation Services, Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit Locations: New York, New York City, Fayette, DOL, Sioux City , Iowa, Accomac , Virginia, China

☆ Gold slips as dollar firms, traders brood on rate cut timing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Spot gold was down 0.1% at $2,311.07 per ounce as of 0235 GMT. The dollar index rose 0.1%, making greenback-priced gold more expensive for other currency holders. If the upcoming reports show scary inflation, then the Fed can't cut rates and it will pressure gold, he added. Bullion is used as a hedge against inflation, but higher rates reduce the appeal of holding the non-yielding asset. Markets are currently seeing a 65% chance of a U.S. rate cut in September, as per CME's FedWatch Tool.

Persons: Ilya Spivak, Neel Kashkari, Spivak Organizations: University of, Minneapolis Locations: U.S, China's, China

"The Fed is the central bank most able to chart its own course," Citi economist Andrew Hollenhorst said in a client note Wednesday. It was the first time the Riksbank had cut since 2016 and takes its main policy rate down to 3.75%. The Riksbank's move was the second central bank cut of the year, as the Swiss National Bank reduced its key rate a quarter point in March in what was seen as a surprise action. Reductions from the Bank of England and European Central Bank are expected to come next, possibly within a month. "With the exception of Japan, developed markets are embarking on a program of rate cuts," Hollenhorst said.

Persons: Andrew Hollenhorst, BOE, Mark, Bailey, Citi's Hollenhorst, Christine Lagarde, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Lagarde, Hollenhorst Organizations: U.S . Federal, Citigroup, Citi, Sweden's, Swiss National Bank, Bank of England, European Central Bank, Bank of America Locations: U.S, Japan

☆ Treasury yields inch higher as investors weigh interest rate outlook
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Yields and prices have an inverted relationship and one basis point equals 0.01%. ET the yield on the 10-year Treasury was up by more than 1 basis point at 4.479%. U.S. Treasury yields were slightly higher Wednesday as investors weighed the latest remarks from Federal Reserve officials, looking for clues on the path ahead for interest rates. Last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed was unlikely to hike rates at its next meeting. More comments from Fed officials are expected throughout the week, which investors will be scanning for hints about the monetary policy outlook.

Persons: Neel Kashkari, Tom Barkin, Jerome Powell Organizations: Treasury, U.S, Federal Reserve, Minneapolis, Richmond Fed

☆ Australia's central bank will probably be unable to cut rates in 2024, economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAustralia's central bank will probably be unable to cut rates in 2024, economist saysPaul Bloxham, chief economist for Australia, New Zealand and global commodities at HSBC, discusses the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to keep rates on hold and the outlook for its monetary policy.

Persons: Paul Bloxham Organizations: HSBC, Reserve Bank Locations: Australia, New Zealand

☆ A 'proper' economic downturn is looming, which could trigger steep rate cuts as soon as this year, economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Economist Frances Donald told Bloomberg TV that a sharper Fed pivot is ahead. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementMarkets are right to price in a Federal Reserve policy pivot but should brace for a rate-cutting cycle that's sharper than expected, economist Frances Donald told Bloomberg TV. "We believe we are heading into a proper downturn that will require a proper easing cycle." So we're not exiting the period in which rate hikes become really impactful in the economy," she said.

Persons: Frances Donald, —, Donald, We're, Danielle DiMartino Booth Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Manulife Investment Management

☆ Gold prices inch higher on U.S. rate-cut bets, Middle East woes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

One kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold prices edged higher on Tuesday, steered by bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve would cut interest rates later this year and safe-haven demand for bullion as Gaza ceasefire remains uncertain. Spot gold was up 0.1% at $2,324.75 per ounce, as of 0148 GMT after rising more than 1% in the previous session. Fed Bank of New York President John Williams said on Monday that at some undefined point the U.S. central bank will lower its interest rate target. Lower rates increase the appeal of holding non-interest bearing gold.

Persons: that's, Matt Simpson, John Williams, Simpson, Israel, Heraeus Organizations: Co, U.S . Federal, Index, Fed Bank of New York, Investors, Hamas Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Gaza, U.S, Palestinian, Rafah

☆ Treasury yields fall as investors consider Fed policy path
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The 2-year Treasury yield was last over one basis point lower to 4.8095%. U.S. Treasury yields declined on Tuesday as investors considered the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy following the latest economic data and remarks from central bank officials. In recent weeks, expectations have moved toward there being fewer rate cuts in 2024 than previously expected, or even none. Barkin's comments came after a weaker-than-expected April jobs report released at the end of last week had buoyed hopes about rate cuts. More Fed policymakers are slated to make remarks throughout the week, which investors will be watching closely for additional hints about the policy outlook.

Persons: Tom Barkin Organizations: Treasury, U.S, Federal Reserve, Investors, Richmond Federal, Fed

☆ Inflation-hit Germans are demanding a legal cap on the price of a doner kebab. They're not joking.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A German political party proposed a government cap on doner kebabs. Around €7 billion, or around $7.5 billion, worth of doner kebabs are sold every year in Germany, according to The Guardian and The Independent. The party plans to propose a government price cap of €4.90 (around $5.30) or €2.90 (around $3.10) for young people, The Guardian reported. If those decrease, then kebab prices also decrease," Gebel told BI. "The kebab price will remain high if the government does not change anything," she said.

Persons: Chancellor Scholz, —, Kathi, Gebel, Olaf Scholz, Virginia Mayo, Scholz, Putin … I'm Organizations: Guardian, Service, Independent, Left Party, AP, European Central Bank, Federal Statistical Office Locations: Germany, Brussels, Virginia

☆ These bond funds offering yields upward of 5% could take off as Fed policy becomes uncertain
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

That shakiness around when the cuts are coming, as well as the expectation that rates could remain higher for longer creates an opportunity for active managers. Rick Rieder, BlackRock's global chief investment officer of fixed income, told CNBC in a phone interview. Indeed, core bond funds were among the winners in the 2008 crisis. For starters, they should think about the role they want a given bond fund to play within their portfolio: Is it to offset equity risk or to boost returns? "You're not investing in bond funds to shoot the lights out and build your wealth pile," said Morningstar's Jacobson.

Persons: Rick Rieder, Rieder, Eric Jacobson, Morningstar, John Croke ,, Morningstar's Jacobson, Jaime Quinones, they're, Quinones Organizations: Federal Reserve, Barclays, Bank of America, Citigroup, CNBC, Bloomberg, SEC, Morningstar, Vanguard, Stockade Wealth Management, Mutual Locations: Marlboro , N.J

☆ Yen eases despite intervention threat, Aussie steady before RBA
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The yen continued to drift lower against the dollar on Tuesday as gaping interest rate differentials weighed on the currency, despite fresh warnings from Japanese officials following two rounds of suspected dollar-selling intervention last week. The U.S. dollar gained 0.22% to 154.235 yen in early Asian trading, adding to its 0.58% rally from Monday. The Aussie edged up 0.17% to $0.6636, heading back towards the high of $0.6650 from Friday, a level last seen on March 8. All but one of the 37 economists surveyed in a Reuters poll expect the RBA to keep rates on hold, with the other predicting a quarter point rate hike, amid stubbornly high inflation. "A different set of central bankers would have had the policy rate higher sooner on the same set of data," Taylor Nugent, a markets economist at National Australia Bank, wrote in a note.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Masato Kanda, Carol Kong, Bullock, Taylor Nugent Organizations: U.S, Reserve Bank of Australia, The U.S ., Bank of Japan, Japan's Ministry of Finance, Federal, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of, National Australia Bank Locations: The, Japan

☆ The Fed will spark an economic crash by delaying rate cuts, State Street equity research chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe economy is bound to enter a downturn if the Federal Reserve delays cutting interest rates, according to Marija Veitmane, the head of equity research at State Street Global Markets. The Wall Street vet warned of an impending economic crash if the Fed doesn't ease monetary policy soon. Higher interest rates are already taking a toll on economic strength, she noted, even if growth numbers looked fine last quarter. But the economy is already showing signs of strain from the burden of elevated interest rates, Veitmane warned. Markets are largely expecting the Fed to keep interest rates level at its next policy meeting.

Persons: —, Marija Veitmane, Veitmane Organizations: Service, Federal, Street Global Markets, Business, CNBC, AAA

☆ Renters' hopes of being able to buy a home have fallen to a record low, New York Fed survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The share of renters as of February who possess hopes of "residential mobility," or the belief from renters that they one day will be able to afford a home, fell to a record low 13.4% in the central bank's annual housing survey for 2024. Pessimism about future prospects comes amid a confluence of factors conspiring against the likelihood of renters being able to transition to home ownership. Moreover, mortgage rates have remained high by historical standards. Survey respondents expect housing prices to increase 5.1% over the next year, nearly double the 2.6% expected rate in February 2023 and above the pre-pandemic mean of 4.2%. Despite prospects for the Fed to cut interest rates before the end of 2024, respondents think mortgage rates are only going to go higher.

Persons: Freddie Mac, There's Organizations: New York Federal Reserve, New York Fed, National Association of Realtors, Fed, Federal, Market Locations: Manhattan, New York City, New

☆ WSJ's Greg Ip: Everybody's conviction of 2% inflation has to be lower after what we've seen
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWSJ's Greg Ip: Everybody's conviction of 2% inflation has to be lower after what we've seenCNBC's Steve Liesman and Greg Ip, Wall Street Journal chief economics commentator and deputy economics editor, join 'Squawk Box' to discuss the state of the economy, the Fed's inflation fight, impact on the central bank's interest rate path, and more.

Persons: Greg Ip, we've, Steve Liesman Organizations: Wall Street Journal

☆ China's Ant Group doubles down on global expansion with cross-border payments offering Alipay+
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Photo of a person making a mobile payment. Ant InternationalChinese fintech major Ant Group is looking to boost its global presence via its digital offering, Alipay+, as it seeks to connect mobile payment apps around the world. The group's global arm, Ant International, introduced Alipay+ in 2020, allowing foreigners to use apps from their home countries to make payments in China and other countries by scanning QR codes of Ant Group's largely domestically-focused platform Alipay. Ant with its Alipay+ offering seeks to make the most of the early inroads into those markets. "We had the benefit that Alipay was already accepted in many merchants around the world so one of our first steps was [to] convert those merchants to Alipay+ merchants.

Persons: Douglas Feagin, Ant Group's, Ant, Feagin, Alipay Organizations: Ant, Ant Group, CNBC, Ant International Locations: China, Asia, Latam, Europe, U.S, Alipay, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Japan

☆ Australia central bank likely to hold rates: Deep Data Analytics
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAustralia central bank likely to hold rates: Deep Data AnalyticsMathan Somasundaram, founder and CEO of Deep Data Analytics, says "I suspect inflation is going to remain sticky."

Locations: Australia

☆ Dollar steady after soft U.S. jobs report; yen starts week on back foot
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar was broadly steady on Monday as a soft U.S. jobs report boosted wagers that the Federal Reserve may still cut rates twice this year, while the yen was a tad weaker to start the week. The dollar was broadly steady on Monday as a soft U.S. jobs report boosted wagers that the Federal Reserve may still cut rates twice this year, while the yen was a tad weaker to start the week. On Monday, the yen weakened 0.43% to 153.62 per dollar in early trading, having touched a three-week high of 151.86 on Friday, as the dollar lost additional ground after the jobs data. But with Japanese authorities choosing last week's quiet periods to intervene in the yen market, traders will be on high alert through the day. Markets are now pricing in 45 basis points of cuts this year, with a rate cut in November fully priced in.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Federal Reserve, Bank of, Fed, Citi Locations: Japan, Britain, Bank of Japan, U.S

☆ Buy stocks in May because inflation is set to plunge through the rest of 2024, Fundstrat's Tom Lee says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

That's because inflation is set to fall "dramatically" through the rest of the year, Lee predicted. AdvertisementInvestors should be buying stocks this month, as inflation is bound for a steep decline for the rest of the year, according to Fundstrat's head of research Tom Lee. Real-time price declines will eventually catch up with the official inflation report. High rates risk tipping the economy into a recession and sparking market volatility, as investors, banks, and consumers grapple with a higher cost of borrowing. It is quite high, and as you know, it's putting a lot of pressure on regional banking ... the cost of money is quite high," Lee said.

Persons: Tom Lee, Lee, —, That's, it'll Organizations: Service, CNBC

☆ Hartford Total Return Bond ETF yields nearly 5% and prides itself on finding value across the market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

HTRB saw a total return last year of 7.15%, and ranked in the 23rd percentile among its peers, according to Morningstar. The portfolio has 51% of its assets in mortgage-backed securities and 25% in investment-grade credit, according to the fund's website. Compared to many of its peers in the intermediate core plus bond Morningstar category, Hartford Total Return Bond ETF leans a bit more on securitized markets instead of investment-grade corporate debt, according to Morningstar. Finding opportunities Right now, one of the areas Goodman sees value in is agency mortgage-backed securities. Goodman also likes structured finance right now, like collateralized loan obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities and nonagency residential mortgage-backed securities.

Persons: Campe Goodman, Morningstar, Goodman, HTRB, Morningstar . Goodman, Mike Mulach, Bonds, Fitch Organizations: Hartford, SEC, Wellington, Bloomberg U.S, Morningstar, BB, Poor's, Federal Reserve Locations: Wellington, Eastern Europe

☆ Has the US cracked the code on avoiding recessions? It would be great news for your job security and stock portfolio.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But some economists have argued that flawed historical economic data puts this claim in question. The further back you go — the NBER data goes to about 1850 — the more common recessions were. He said the NBER's pre-1914 recession data, in particular, is "very poor," and that only economic data collected after World War II is of good quality. "So the growing share of services also means you're going to have more stable economic growth." AdvertisementTo be sure, while a stable economy has its benefits, it's not the only indicator of a healthy economy.

Persons: —, they'll, haven't, George Selgin, what's, NBER, Selgin, Joseph H, Davis, Satyam Panday, Panday, it's, they've Organizations: Service, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cato Institute, of Labor Statistics didn't, US, Vanguard, US Department of Agriculture, Satyam, Federal Reserve, Fed

☆ Wall Street Cruel Summer: Stock Market Crash, Inflation Ends Vacation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Inflation canceled that, and now it's almost certain that Wall Street's summer is canceled, too. That means Wall Street's fantasies of decamping to the Hamptons for the summer have shattered. You can see why this tug-of-war will keep Wall Street on its toes and off Georgica Beach. There is a certain set on Wall Street that does not get to "rosé all day" on Hamptons summer water when currencies trade that way. The simplicity that Wall Street hoped for is one of the few options that's no longer on the table.

Persons: —, Justin Simon, decamping, Jerome Powell, opportunistically, Jamie Dimon, Torsten Slok, Slok, Powell, we'd, David Lefkowitz, dory, McDonald's, Silas Myers, Wall, Zuck, Simon, they're, it's Organizations: Federal Reserve, Jasper Capital, Nasdaq, Hamptons, JPMorgan, Fed, Pepsi, Mar Vista Investments, Wall, Nvidia, Tesla, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, EU Locations: Georgica, Japan

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