DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Morning Bid: Gold makes the running as oil fails to fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oil failed to sustain an early rally that followed news of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Notably, oil prices lost early gains and Brent eased around 57 cents to $78.31 a barrel amid doubts that OPEC+ would be able to maintain planned output cuts, particularly by some African countries. At the same time, U.S. oil output is at record levels above 13 million barrels a day and rig counts are still rising. A commodity faring better is gold, which surged suddenly this morning to top $2,111 an ounce for the first time before paring the gains to $2,086. Yields on U.S. two-year notes rose almost 4 bps, but that follows a drop of 40 bps last week.

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Wayne Cole, Treasuries, Yemen's, Brent, Bundesbank, Christine Lagarde, Bonds, Goldman Sachs, Anna Breman, Riksbank, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, Bulls, ECB, Thomson Locations: Novosibirsk, Siberian, Russia, Wayne, Red, U.S, Saudi Arabia

☆ Asia shares turn mixed, gold tops $2,100 an ounce
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was still up 0.4%, led by gains in South Korea and Australia. Trade figures for China are due later in the week with the recent trend being softening exports to the U.S. overshadowing gains in Asia. S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1%, after finishing at a 20-month high on Friday, while Nasdaq futures lost 0.2%. The dive in yields and the dollar has been a boon for non-yielding gold, which added 0.9% to $2,088 an ounce, after hitting a record of $2,111.39 an ounce . Oil prices have not been so fortunate, amid doubts OPEC+ will be able to maintain planned output cuts.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Jerome Powell, Claudio Irigoyen, Joachim Nagel, Christine Lagarde, Brent, Wayne Cole, Sam Holmes Organizations: Nikkei, payrolls Shipping, Japan's Nikkei, FTSE, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan's, European Central Bank, ECB, Sea, Thomson Locations: Red Sea, SYDNEY, U.S, Israel, Red, Asia, Pacific, Japan, South Korea, Australia, China, Canada

☆ Morning Bid: Treasuries on cusp of best month since 2008
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Let's start with Treasuries because, if this were sports, we'd be calling it a comeback for the ages. Now, with some encouraging hints from Fed officials, 10-year notes are poised to celebrate their best month since the 2008 global crash, with yields down 61 basis points for November so far. Yields on two-year paper are down 31 bps just this week, the steepest drop since the U.S. mini-banking crisis in March. The European Union has inflation data of its own later on Thursday and analysts suspect the risks are for a downside surprise following subdued readings from Germany and Spain. The dollar index looks set for its worst month since November last year, with a loss so far of 3.7%.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Wayne Cole, Let's, we'd, Governor Waller, dovishness, Powell, Williams, Lagarde, Greene, Governor Bunge, Edmund Klamann Organizations: U.S . Treasury, REUTERS, Fed New, European Union, China PMI, BoE Monetary, CPI, PPI, Chicago PMI, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Wayne, U.S, Germany, Spain, China, BoE, EU, Chicago

☆ Australia Oct inflation slows more than expected as goods prices fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

For the month, CPI fell 0.3%, driven by declines in petrol, rent and holiday travel. A closely watched measure of core inflation, the trimmed mean, rose an annual 5.3% in October, easing from 5.4% the previous month. "It's hard to find bad news in Australia's October inflation print," said Harry Murphy Cruise, an economist at Moody’s Analytics. Prices for tradable goods fell 1.6% in October from a month earlier. It also left the door open to further tightening if necessary to meet its annual inflation target of 2-3%.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Harry Murphy Cruise, Jonathan Kearns, Wayne Cole, Stella Qiu, Lincoln, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., Australian Bureau, Statistics, Moody’s, Reserve Bank Board, Reserve Bank of Australia, Challenger, Thomson Locations: Australia

☆ BoE leads central bank chorus on need for restrictive policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking of the Bank of England Dave Ramsden attends a press conference concerning interest rates, at the Bank of England, in London, Britain, November 2, 2023. Speaking at a central bank conference in Hong Kong, Bank of England (BoE) Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden also said he saw no financial stability grounds to lower interest rates, which are currently up at 5.25%. “We think that monetary policy is likely to need to be restrictive for an extended period of time," he said. Even with all that tightening, Ramsden said inflation was not expected to return to 2% until the end of 2025. Markets have started to position for the first rate cut, with a move seen as soon as April or June.

Persons: Bank of England Dave Ramsden, HENRY NICHOLLS, BoE, Dave Ramsden, Ramsden, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Pablo Hernández de Cos, Cos, Wayne Cole, Selena Li, Xie Yu, Jamie Freed, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Markets, Banking, Bank of England, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of Spain, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, HONG KONG, Australia, Spain, Hong Kong

[1/4] A trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 27, 2023. In precious metals, gold hit a six-month high with a boost from the softer dollar and expectations for a pause in Fed tightening. There's a growing sense the economy is slowing, that price growth will likely continue to fall, that profit growth will likely fall," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Cresset Capital, in Chicago. The U.S. dollar index slid against most major currencies on Monday and was on track for a monthly decline of more than 3%, which would be its biggest monthly drop in a year. The dollar index was down 0.203%, with the euro up 0.11% to $1.0951.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Brent, Jack Ablin, Ablin, Christine Lagarde, Jim Barnes, Sterling, Sinéad Carew, Chuck Mikolazczak, Harry Robertson, Wayne Cole, Stephen Coates, Ed Osmond, Chizu Nomiyama, Christina Fincher Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Treasury, U.S, Federal Reserve, Cresset, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, European Central Bank, Central, Reuters Graphics Oil, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Europe, OPEC, Chicago, Bryn Mawr, Berwyn , Pennsylvania, Israel, New York, London, Sydney

☆ Asia stocks swing lower, gold climbs as oil slips
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

One mover was gold, which climbed to $2,009.87 an ounce and briefly hit a six-month top of $2,017.82. S&P 500 futures eased 0.2% and Nasdaq futures lost 0.4%. "Indeed, this message of patience is likely to be notable in upcoming DM policy communications in response to recent financial market developments." Markets priced in 80 basis points of U.S. easing next year, and around 82 basis points for the ECB. Reports suggest African oil producers are seeking higher caps for 2024, while Saudi Arabia may extend its additional 1 million bpd voluntary production cut, which is due to expire at the end of December.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jerome Powell, Bruce Kasman, Christine Lagarde, Brent, Wayne Cole, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Nikkei, SYDNEY, Japan's Nikkei, Nasdaq, Federal, JPMorgan, European Central Bank, EU, ECB, CBA, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United States, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Saudi Arabia, OPEC

☆ Asia stocks turn lower, gold jumps as oil slips
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

S&P 500 futures eased 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures lost 0.4%. That in turn has been a drag on the dollar which has lost 3% on a basket of major counterparts this month . Reports suggest African oil producers are seeking higher caps for 2024, while Saudi Arabia may extend its additional 1 million bpd voluntary production cut, which is due to expire at the end of December. "Saudi Arabia and OPEC+ faces a challenge in convincing markets that it can help keep oil markets tight in 2024," wrote commodity analysts at CBA in a note. "OPEC+ will have to show significant supply discipline, or at least jawbone such ability, to alleviate market worries of a deep surplus in oil markets next year."

Persons: Issei Kato, Jerome Powell, Bruce Kasman, Christine Lagarde, Brent, Wayne Cole, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Nikkei, SYDNEY, Japan's Nikkei, Nasdaq, Federal, JPMorgan, European Central Bank, EU, ECB, Australian, CBA, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United States, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Saudi Arabia, OPEC

☆ Asia stocks steady ahead of inflation tests, OPEC+ meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The approach of month end could also cause some caution given the hefty gains investors are sitting on. "Indeed, this message of patience is likely to be notable in upcoming DM policy communications in response to recent financial market developments." Markets priced in almost 90 basis points of U.S. easing next year, and around 83 basis points for the ECB. The oil market faces a tense few days ahead of a meeting of OPEC+ on Nov. 30, a meting that had originally been slated for Sunday but was postponed as producers struggled to find a unanimous position. Reports suggest African oil producers are seeking higher caps for 2024, while Saudi Arabia may extend its additional 1 million bpd voluntary production cut, which is due to expire at the end of December.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jerome Powell, Bruce Kasman, Christine Lagarde, Brent, Wayne Cole, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Nikkei, SYDNEY, Japan's Nikkei, Nasdaq, Federal, JPMorgan, European Central Bank, EU, ECB, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United States, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Saudi Arabia

☆ Morning Bid: Markets turn risk-averse after bumper month
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Staff Acquire Licensing RightsA look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. Most regional share markets are modestly lower, as are Wall Street and European futures. Data on EU inflation is also due Thursday, along with measures for Germany and Spain. Core EU inflation is forecast at 3.9%, the lowest since the middle of last year. If realised, this will support market wagers of no more rate hikes, and policy easing in 2024.

Persons: Wayne Cole, Asia, hasn't, Brent, Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Treasury, China PMI, Japan's Nikkei, Federal, Core, Fed, ECB, European Central Bank, EU, Economic, Monetary Affairs, Parliament, CBI, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Wayne, China, Saudi Arabia, Spain

☆ Morning Bid: Nvidia shares take bumpy ride after hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of NVIDIA as seen at its corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, California, in May of 2022. Courtesy NVIDIA/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsA look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. The early focus was on Nvidia (NVDA.O), which in AI tech terms is the only company selling shovels during a gold rush. Volumes were so large and orders so backlogged that the price was - unusually - still moving erratically hours into the Asian day. A Reuters poll showed 10 of 19 economists looked for a rise, while market pricing is leaning against a move.

Persons: Wayne Cole, Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, didn't, Hunt, ECB's Centeno, Elderson, Mester, Macklem, Edmund Klamann Organizations: NVIDIA, Handout, REUTERS, Nvidia, Treasury, Fed Bank of Cleveland, Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: Santa Clara , California, Wayne, China, Sweden's

[1/3] Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., November 17, 2023. Closely watched U.S. treasury yields slipped after auction, while global oil futures gained $2 on the prospect of supply cuts. Europe's benchmark STOXX index (.STOXX) inched up 0.1%, with energy stocks (.SXEP) leading gains. The healthcare sector (.SXDP) fell after shares in Bayer (BAYGn.DE) dropped to their lowest in 14 years. The dollar index fell to 103.26, its weakest since the start of September, as investors appeared to solidify bets that the Fed could start cutting interest rates next year.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Dow Jones, Quincy Krosby, Krosby, Ricardo Evangelista, Goldman Sachs, Moody's, Brent, Chris Prentice, Wayne Cole, Lawrence White, Lincoln, Susan Fenton, Will Dunham, Sharon Singleton, Andrew Heavens Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Nvidia, U.S, Bayer, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Nikkei, Trading, LPL, Tech, European Central Bank, NAB, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, SYDNEY, Thursday's U.S, United States, Europe, Italy, New York, Sydney, London

[1/3] Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., November 17, 2023. The MSCI World Equity Index (.MIWD00000PUS) gained 0.38% by 10:37 a.m. EST (1537 GMT) and Europe's benchmark STOXX index (.STOXX) rose 0.08%. The tech-heavy index (.IXIC) gained 0.44% to 14,187.16, as the Dow Jones (.DJI) rose 0.25% to 35,035.33 and the S&P 500 index (.SPX) gained 0.27% to 4,526.14. The dollar index fell to 103.46, its weakest level since the start of September, as investors appeared to solidify bets that the Fed could start cutting rates next year. "Dovish minutes could trigger some downside risk for the dollar," Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades, said.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Dow Jones, Israel, Ricardo Evangelista, Goldman Sachs, Moody's, Brent, Chris Prentice, Wayne Cole, Lawrence White, Lincoln, Susan Fenton, Sharon Singleton, Andrew Heavens Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Nvidia, Global, U.S, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Nikkei, Hamas, Tech, Treasury, European Central Bank, NAB, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, SYDNEY, United States, Gaza, Europe, Italy, New York, Sydney, London

☆ Japan shares hit three-decade high, yuan shoves dollar down
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Passersby are reflected on an electric stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan April 18, 2023. Financial shares led the gains on Monday as investors prepare for an eventual end to negative rates, while auto makers have been benefiting from a weak yen and high exports. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) gained 0.8%, having climbed 2.8% last week to a two-month high. Chinese blue chips (.CSI300) dipped 0.2% as the country's central bank held rates steady as widely expected, but set a firm fix for the yuan that saw the dollar slip under 7.2000 to a three-month low. Sweden's central bank meets this week and may hike again, given high inflation and the weakness of its currency.

Persons: Issei Kato, Goldman Sachs, Brent, Wayne Cole, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Nikkei, Nvidia, Japan's Nikkei, Financial, Hamas, Nasdaq, Tech, Futures, U.S, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, NAB, ECB, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, SYDNEY, Asia, Pacific, Israel, United States, Gaza, October's

☆ Japan shares hit three-decade high, yuan climbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Passersby are reflected on an electric stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan April 18, 2023. Financial shares led the gains on Monday as investors prepare for an eventual end to negative rates, while auto makers have been benefiting from a weak yen and high exports. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) edged up 0.1%, having climbed 2.8% last week to a two-month high. That outlook helped bonds rally, with 10-year Treasury yields at 4.45% having dropped 19 basis points last week and away from October's 5.02% high. Sweden's central bank meets this week and may hike again, given high inflation and the weakness of its currency.

☆ Asia off to slow start, lot of easing already priced in
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) edged up 0.1%, having climbed 2.8% last week to a two-month high. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) was little changed, and is up almost 9% for the month so far amid upbeat corporate earnings. A LOT PRICED INMarkets have all but priced out the risk of a further hike in December or next year, and imply a 30% chance of an easing starting in March. Futures also imply around 100 basis points of cuts for 2024, up from 77 basis points before the benign October inflation report shook markets. "If another soft print eventuates, expect pricing for ECB cuts to extend beyond the current 100bps of cuts being priced for 2024."

Persons: Issei Kato, Goldman Sachs, Brent nudged, Wayne Cole, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Nikkei, Nvidia, Hamas, Japan's Nikkei, Nasdaq, Tech, Futures, U.S, European Central Bank, NAB, ECB, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, SYDNEY, Israel, United States, Gaza, Asia, Pacific, October's

☆ Morning Bid: Japanese stocks party like it's 1990
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A man walks past an electronic board displaying Japan's 10-year government bonds level, the current Japanese Yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and Nikkei share average, outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, October 31, 2023. It's been a mixed start for most of Asia in this holiday-truncated week, though Japanese shares extended their bull streak to hit highs not seen since 1990. The Nikkei is up more than 8% so far this month, and almost 29% for the year so far. The entire market capitalisation of the Topix is 454 trillion yen ($3.03 trillion), yet Japanese companies held 555 trillion yen in internal reserves at the end of the financial year. Recent surveys show inflation expectations are finally picking up which may prompt households to invest some of the 1,000 trillion yen they currently keep in cash and deposits into equities and bonds.

Persons: Kim Kyung, It's, financials, de, de Cos, Bank of England Governor Bailey, Fed's Barkin, Wayne Cole, Christopher Cushing Organizations: U.S ., Nikkei, REUTERS, Nasdaq, Bank of Japan's, Hamas, Tech, Nvidia, Futures, PPI, Bank of France, Bank of Spain, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Israel, United States, Gaza, de Galhau

☆ Asia stocks hang onto weekly gains as yields, oil fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The market is pricing in 98 basis points of cuts next year, compared with 73 basis points a week ago. "We forecast the policy rate to drop 100 basis points in 2H24 to end the year at 4.5%, before settling on hold at 3.5% by 1Q25." Treasury investors were looking to price in a little of that right now with yields on two-year treasuries down a whopping 21 basis points for the week at 4.85%. Ten-year note yields stood at 4.44%, having fallen 18 basis points for the week so far, a rousing rally from the 5.02% high hit just a month ago. It fared better against commodity-linked currencies such as the Canadian dollar , which were hampered by the slide in oil.

Persons: Brent, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Xi, Wayne Cole, Sam Holmes Organizations: SYDNEY, Dealers, Walmart, Equity, Nasdaq, Japan's Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Japanese, APEC, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan, 1Q25, Treasury, Fed, Thomson Locations: Asia, Japan, Pacific, U.S, United States, China, 2H24

☆ Morning Bid: Oil slide, Walmart stoke disinflation speculation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oil, miniatures of oil barrels and U.S. dollar banknote are seen in this illustration taken, June 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 17 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. Asia has been in a contemplative mood so far on Friday after another week of wild swings in bonds, equities and commodities. The market now implies 98 basis points of cuts next year, compared with 73 basis points a week ago. U.S. data on housing starts for OctBy Wayne Cole; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Wayne Cole, Brent, Christine Lagarde, De Cos, BoE's Greene, Ramsden, Barr, Daly, Collins, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Walmart, Federal Reserve, Westpac, EU, Thomson Locations: Wayne, Asia, Ukraine, Goolsbee .

☆ Australia employment rebounds in Oct, jobless rate still edges up
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A worker pushes a trolley loaded with goods past a construction site in the central business district (CBD) of Sydney in Australia, March 15, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Australia employment rebounded strongly in October, after a soft patch the previous month, though the jobless rate still ticked higher as more people went looking for work and rapid migration boosted the supply of labour. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showed net employment rose 55,000 in October from September, more than double market forecasts of 20,000. The jobless rate edged up to 3.7%, matching forecasts and largely due to a jump in the participation rate back to an all-time peak of 67%. Over the year to October, jobs growth of a healthy 2.8% was still not enough to match labour force growth of 3.8%.

Persons: David Gray, Bjorn Jarvis, Wayne Cole, Kim Coghill, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Australia wages see record rise in Q3, unlikely to be repeated
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Australian wages posted the largest increase on record last quarter as a sharp rise in minimum wages benefited millions of workers, while intense competition among employers pushed up many individual pay deals. Annual pay growth picked up to 4.0%, from 3.6%, the fastest since early 2009 and just above market expectations of 3.9%. "Q3 was a perfect storm for wage pressures," said Sean Langcake, head of macroeconomic forecasting for Oxford Economics Australia. Much of the spike was due to a mandated 5.75% rise in the minimum wage which covers more than two million workers. Wage growth in the public sector accelerated to a 12-year high of 3.5%, while the private sector saw growth of 4.2% as firms fought to recruit and retain workers.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Sean Langcake, Wayne Cole, Tom Hogue, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Reserve Bank of Australia, Analysts, Oxford Economics Australia, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Australian inflation fight to be a drawn-out process, central bank assistant governor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A worker is reflected in a wall of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) head office in central Sydney, Australia, March 1, 2016. Speaking at a UBS conference, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Assistant Governor Marion Kohler said inflation was still expected to decline but not expected to reach the top end of the RBA's 2%-3% target until the end of 2025. Consumer price inflation ran at 5.4% in the third quarter, down from a peak of 7.8% last year but above RBA expectations. As a result, the central bank revised up its forecasts for inflation and economic growth in its quarterly statement on policy released last week. Falling goods prices have led the slowdown in inflation, but domestically generated costs continued to rise, Kohler said.

Persons: David Gray, Marion Kohler, Kohler, Wayne Cole, Sam Holmes Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Rights, UBS, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Australia central bank sees risk of upside surprises to inflation in policy outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Earlier this week, it ended a four-month pause by raising its cash rate a quarter point to a 12-year high of 4.35%. Stubborn inflation in the service sector led the RBA to revise up its forecasts for both CPI and core inflation. "There is potential for further upside surprises to inflation," the RBA cautioned, pointing to domestic cost pressures and external factors such as global warming. Such surprises would risk de-anchoring inflation expectations and require even higher interest rates, the RBA said. Growth for end 2024 was lifted by a quarter point to 2.0%, while the forecast for late 2025 stayed at 2.25%.

Persons: David Gray, Wayne Cole Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, AUSTRALIA

☆ Australia's central bank raises rates to 12-year high, tempers hawkish stance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

As a result, the local dollar slipped 0.4% to $0.6460 and bond futures rallied as investors lengthened the odds on a further rise in December. "It was a dovish hike...it's not pointing to any immediate need for a follow-up," said Rob Thompson, rates strategist at RBC Capital Markets. "You'd think they'd have opened the door to a bit more than this, but they are just trying to do as little as possible. INFLATION PROVES STUBBORNThis was Bullock's first rate change since taking over as governor in September, and could go some way to burnish her inflation-fighting credentials. Reporting by Wayne Cole Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michele Bullock, it's, Rob Thompson, Bullock, Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, RBC Capital Markets, CPI, Australia, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, United States, Canada, Europe

The U.S. central bank could even be forced to raise rates to ensure the pace of inflation remains on a downward trajectory and does not bounce back, Goldberg said. Markets also imply about an 80% probability the European Central Bank (ECB) will cut rates by April, while the Bank of England (BoE) is seen easing in August. An outlier is Australia's central bank, which is considered likely to resume raising rates at a policy meeting on Tuesday as inflation there stays stubbornly high. The head of the central bank said on Monday it was closer to achieving its inflation target, but it was still not enough to end ultra-loose policy. The drop in the dollar and yields has helped underpin gold, as investors have cautiously turned back to riskier assets.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Gennadiy Goldberg, Goldberg, Anthony Saglimbene, Saglimbene, We're, BoE, Jerome Powell, Herbert Lash, Wayne Cole, Alun John, Nick Macfie, Will Dunham, Mark Potter, Marguerita Choy Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Wall, Federal Reserve, TD Securities, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, European Central Bank, Bank of England, ECB, The Bank of Japan, ., Germany's, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Europe, New York, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Troy , Michigan, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia

Search resuls for: "Wayne Cole"

25 mentions found