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☆ Safe-haven gold firms as Biden move sparks market uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A one kilogram gold bar sits on top of silver bars at London bullion dealers Gold Investments in London, United Kingdom, on April 4, 2013. Gold prices firmed on Monday as the dollar eased following U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, with investors turning to bullion as a hedge against an uncertain political and market outlook. Spot gold rose 0.2% at $2,405.40 per ounce, as of 0510 GMT, while U.S. gold futures gained 0.3% to $2,407.20. The prospect of rate cuts and political uncertainty in the United States are supporting gold prices, and conditions are in place for gold to see another record high before the end of 2024, said Kyle Rodda, a financial market analyst at Capital.com. Among other metals, spot silver fell 0.5% to $29.11 per ounce, platinum slipped 0.3% to $959.99, while palladium rose 1.1% to $916.18.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Kyle Rodda, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Gold, Rodda Organizations: London, Investments, Republican, U.S Locations: London, United Kingdom, United States, U.S, China

☆ Dollar firm as euro wallows; yuan brushes aside China data
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The dollar was firm on Monday as the euro hovered near a more than one-month low amid continued concerns about the political outlook in Europe. The yuan held close to a multi-month low after China released a slew of economic data that pointed to an uneven recovery in the world's second-largest economy. A Reuters poll published last week showed 63 of 65 economists thought a first cut would not come until Aug. 1. Elsewhere, the yuan was mostly flat at 7.2550 per dollar after domestic data showed a mixed economic picture in China. China's central bank left a key policy rate unchanged as expected on Monday as the weak yuan continued to hamper policy easing.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron's, Matt Simpson, Neel Kashkari, Index's Simpson, Sterling, Kazuo Ueda, bitcoin Organizations: U.S, Gazprom, European Central Bank, Reuters, Index, . Minneapolis Federal, Bank of England, Bank of Japan Locations: Poland, Bulgaria, Europe, China, U.S

☆ Gold subdued as investors seek more data for Fed rate cues
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices eased on Monday as investors awaited more U.S. economic data, while reports from last week showed that inflation was stabilizing and lifted hopes for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates later this year. Data released last week showed some weakening in price pressures in the U.S., suggesting that the labor market was losing momentum, keeping hopes alive for a September rate cut. Traders are seeing a 68% probability of a cut in September, according to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool, compared to 63% before the producer prices data on Thursday. However, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari on Sunday said it's a "reasonable prediction" that the U.S. central bank will cut interest rates once this year, waiting until December to do it. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

Persons: Kyle Rodda, Rodda, Neel Kashkari, it's Organizations: Federal Reserve, ., Minneapolis Locations: Birmingham, England, U.S

☆ Dollar calm as traders await clues on U.S. rate path
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In this photo illustration, a person seen holding a 100 US dollar bill in his hand. The dollar was broadly steady on Monday as investors awaited further clues to help chart the U.S. interest rate path in the wake of cautious comments from Federal Reserve officials, even as inflation shows signs of cooling. The Japanese yen was flat at 155.74 per dollar, with traders on alert for any signs of government intervention. That has prompted traders to trim the amount of easing expected this year to about 46 bps, with only a rate cut in November fully priced in. In other currencies, sterling touched a two-month high of $1.2711 ahead of the crucial UK inflation report due on Wednesday.

Persons: Brian Jacobsen, Powell, Jackson, Flash PMIs, Paul Mackel, BoE, Charu Chanana Organizations: Federal Reserve, Annex Wealth Management, ANZ, European Central Bank, Bank of England, HSBC, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New, Saxo Locations: Tokyo, Germany, U.S, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

☆ Asia stocks hold gains as confidence grows on rate outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China's benchmark share index (.CSI300) fell 0.16% on Thursday, with the real estate sub-index (.CSI931775) retrieved earlier losses to gain 2.11%. Chinese government advisers will recommend to an annual policymakers' meeting that economic growth targets for next year be set at 4.5% to 5.5%, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Markets have generally been buoyant this month, with stocks rallying on expectations of a more benign interest rate backdrop. The next set of forward-looking flash November PMIs will help investors to assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts might begin. The minutes of the European Central Bank's October meeting and flash PMIs for a host of European countries are Thursday's highlights.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, shrugged, Redmond Wong, Brent, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao, Bitcoin, Selena Li, Edmund Klamann, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Bloomberg, Garden Holdings, HK, Reuters, U.S, The, Federal Reserve, Saxo Markets, Nikkei, Nasdaq, European Central, PMI, OPEC, FTSE, UK Finance, Thomson Locations: Exchange, Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Asia, Pacific, Japan, United States, The U.S, Greater China, Australia, Britain, U.S

☆ Morning Bid: Watching what the ECB giveth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Vidya Ranganathan. The forward-looking flash November PMIs due out globally should help investors assess recession risks and how quickly rate cuts will begin. Interest rate futures show the market is pricing in rate cuts by April and more aggressively so in June . Later on Thursday, Sweden's central bank will announce its latest policy decision in what is expected to be a very close call on whether to hike again. A Reuters poll showed 10 of 19 economists looked for a rise, while market pricing is leaning against a move.

Persons: Vidya Ranganathan, haven't, Mario Centeno, Joachim Nagel's, Christine Lagarde's, Jeremy Hunt's, Van Haaren, ECB's Isabel Schnabel, Robert Holzmann, Francois Villeroy de, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Vidya, European Central, PMI, ECB, Reuters, Ubezpieczen SA, Virgin Money, Bank of France, Thomson Locations: Japan, United States, Britain, U.S, Sweden's

☆ Gold ticks higher as weaker US dollar, yields lend support
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

One kilo gold bars are pictured at the plant of gold and silver refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 23 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged higher on Thursday, hovering close to a key $2,000 per ounce level, as an overall weaker dollar and lower U.S. Treasury yields buoyed demand for bullion. FUNDAMENTALS* Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,992.59 per ounce, as of 0143 GMT, after hitting a three-week high of $2,007.29 on Tuesday. * Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding gold. DATA/EVENTS (GMT) 0745 France Business Climate Mfg, Overall Nov0815 France HCOB Mfg, Serv, Comp Flash PMIs Nov0830 Germany HCOB Mfg, Serv, Comp Flash PMIs Nov0900 EU HCOB Mfg, Serv, Comp Flash PMIs Nov0930 UK Flash Comp, Mfg, Serv PMIs NovReporting by Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, CME's, Serv, Brijesh Patel, Rashmi Organizations: REUTERS, Treasury, . Federal Reserve, Trust, Climate Mfg, France HCOB, Germany HCOB, Mfg, Thomson Locations: Mendrisio, Switzerland, France, Germany, Bengaluru

☆ Morning Bid: Markets in a holiday mood
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsNov 23 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Lewis Krauskopf, markets correspondent. Markets were buoyant ahead of Asia trading and the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., with stocks resuming their massive rally this month that has been fueled by hopes of a more benign interest rate backdrop. Japanese markets were also set to be closed for a national holiday on Thursday. While speculation that the Bank of Japan could exit from negative interest rates early next year stands to help stabilize the yen, the Japanese currency still faces strong headwinds. Trading volumes were set to be subdued for the rest of the week with markets in the U.S. closed on Thursday.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Lewis Krauskopf, Josie Kao Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Nasdaq, Federal, Nvidia, Amazon, Microsoft, Nikkei, Reuters, Bank of Japan, Singapore CPI, Indonesia Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Santa Claus, New York City, U.S, Lewis, Asia, China, Beijing, Singapore

☆ Gold gains on softer U.S. bond yields, Mideast uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gold prices rebounded on Tuesday as benchmark U.S. Treasury yields pulled back, while investors awaited economic data for guidance on interest rates and monitored growing tensions in the Middle East. Spot gold was up 0.2% at $1,976.99 per ounce by 0349 GMT, while U.S. gold futures was steady at $1,988.10. "The importance of geopolitics and gold is really highlighted very clearly by how strong gold has been despite stronger bond yields," said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive. "Once markets digest geopolitics, yields would become more of a meaningful factor," he added. Spot silver was up 0.7% to $23.15 an ounce, platinum fell 0.1% to $895.66 and palladium firmed 1.1% to $1,129.79.

Persons: Ilya Spivak, Israel, Spivak Organizations: Treasury, Gaza, U.S

In the United States, the manufacturing sector pulled out of a five-month contraction on a pickup in new orders, and services activity accelerated modestly amid signs of easing inflationary pressures. HEADACHE FOR THE ECBIn the euro zone, business activity drooped as demand fell in a broad-based downturn across the region, causing the bloc to enter the fourth quarter on the wrong foot and suggesting it may slip into recession. "The flash PMIs mark a poor start to October for the euro zone, especially after showing some early signs of recovery in September," said Rory Fennessy at Oxford Economics. Suggesting a recession is well underway in Germany, Europe's largest economy, business activity contracted there for a fourth straight month as the downturn in manufacturing was matched by a renewed decline in services, its PMI showed. In France, the euro zone's second-largest economy, business activity remained in contraction territory in October, PMI data showed, improving just slightly from September's near three-year low.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Chris Williamson, Christine Lagarde's, Rory Fennessy, Williamson, Ajay Banga, Dan Burns, Jonathan Cable, Lindsay Dunsmuir, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle, REUTERS, P Global, Composite, Federal, Commerce Department, Reuters, P, P Global Market Intelligence, P Global PMI, September's, European Central Bank, Oxford Economics, PMI, European Union, Bank of, Palestinian, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Dearborn , Michigan, U.S, United States, joblessness, Germany, Europe's, France, September's, Britain, Gaza, Ukraine

☆ Morning Bid: Bitcoin is back, stocks wobble
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. Treasuries remain in the headlines with yields on 10-year notes briefly hitting 5% on Monday before quickly declining. The Japanese currency was at 149.57 per dollar having touched the symbolic 150 level on Friday and on Monday. Meanwhile, bitcoin prices soared on the back of rising speculation about the possibility of a bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Reuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsKey developments that could influence markets on Tuesday:Economic events: Oct flash PMI for Germany, France, UK and Euro zone; UK August ILO unemployment rateEarnings: Barclays, Puma, Microsoft and Google-parent Alphabet.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Ankur Banerjee, Treasuries, Sam Holmes Organizations: La Maison du, REUTERS, Ankur, Microsoft, Google, Barclays, ICE, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Puma, Thomson Locations: La, Paris, France, Israel, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Britain, United States, Germany

☆ Gold slips from 5-mth peak as investors look to U.S. economic data
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold bars and gold coins of different sizes lie in a safe on a table at the precious metal dealer Pro Aurum. Gold prices retreated from last session's five-month peak on Monday as the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields strengthened ahead of crucial economic data this week, with investors looking for any signs of a global fallout of the Middle East conflict. Spot gold was down 0.4% at $1,972.39 per ounce by 0334 GMT, and U.S. gold futures slid 0.5% to $1,983.50. COMEX gold speculators switched to net long position of 41,867 contracts in the week to Oct. 17, adding 56,655, data showed on Friday. Elsewhere, spot silver fell 0.5% to $23.23 an ounce, platinum slipped 0.6% to $889.48 and palladium was down 0.1% to $1,096.15.

Persons: Yeap Jun Rong Organizations: Aurum, U.S ., Treasury, U.S, Trust Locations: Israel

REUTERS/Issei Kato Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. After Monday's surprising resilience on Wall Street, world markets' reversion to type on Tuesday should set the tone for Asia on Wednesday - weakness in stocks, a buoyant dollar, elevated bond yields and souring investor sentiment. China's economic and financial travails remain top of mind for investors, so any sign of further incoming fiscal or monetary stimulus from Beijing will be well received. That is not something Beijing or Tokyo would do lightly, but the higher U.S. bond yields go, the more persistent the selling pressure on their respective currencies becomes. Implied yen volatility is relatively low in the yuan, and low across currency markets more broadly.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jamie McGeever, Xi Jinping, Gina Raimondo, Josie Kao Organizations: U.S ., REUTERS, Asia, Treasury, China's, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Singapore, Beijing, South Africa, U.S, Washington, China, Johannesburg, Australia

Steep falls in the shares of these companies and regional banks, a major source of investor concern, dragged down the main indices. This is the first major economic indicator since new Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda took over earlier this month. Foreign investors poured nearly $12 billion into Japanese equities last week, their biggest weekly net purchases since at least January 2018. Here are three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Friday:- Japan inflation (March)- Japan and Australia flash PMIs (April)- South Korea producer price inflation (March)By Jamie McGeever;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Take Five: How bad is it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

China and Britain release key economic data and officials from the Group of Seven nations talk climate goals. 1/ EARNINGS RECESSIONU.S. earnings season goes up a gear and the outlook is gloomy due to the regional banking crisis and the most aggressive monetary policy tightening in decades. Analysts expect Q1 S&P 500 earnings to fall 5.2% from the year-ago period, Refinitiv I/B/E/S data as of April 7 showed. In a sign of which way the authorities want lending rates to head, smaller regional banks have already cut deposit rates. China GDP vs 1-year MLF rate4/ NO ALARMS, NO SURPRISESIt's a big week for UK data, with February jobs figures on Tuesday and March inflation numbers Wednesday.

☆ Euro zone services firms enjoy buoyant March but factories struggle -flash PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Jonathan Cable | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File PhotoSummary Euro zone March flash PMI at 54.1, a 10-month highData adds to evidence euro zone will dodge recessionGrowth unbalanced, however, as factory activity fallsLONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - Business activity across the euro zone unexpectedly accelerated this month as consumers splashed out on services, but weakening demand for manufactured goods deepened the downturn in the factory sector, surveys showed. S&P Global's flash Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), seen as a good gauge of overall economic health, bounced to a 10-month high of 54.1 in March from February's 52.0. SERVICES SHINEA PMI covering the euro zone's dominant services industry jumped to 55.6 this month from 52.7, well above all forecasts in the Reuters poll which had predicted a decline to 52.5. An index measuring output, which feeds into the composite PMI, slipped back below breakeven to 49.9 from last month's 50.1. The euro zone PMI input costs index slipped to 46.4 from 50.9.

March 24 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. It might not be on a par with Powell's assurances - bank stocks still fell - but perhaps sentiment will improve on Friday. But many economists say broader price pressures remain strong throughout the economy, which could force the Bank of Japan to phase out or scrap its yield curve control policy soon. Here are three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Friday:- Japan consumer price inflation (February)- Japan flash PMIs (March)- Australia flash PMIs (March)By Jamie McGeever;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Morning Bid: Cast away
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

With U.S. markets set to reopen after Monday's holiday, investor focus will be squarely on minutes from the Feb. 1 Federal Reserve meeting, scheduled to be released on Wednesday. At that meeting, the central bank raised interest rates by 25 basis points and said disinflation was underway. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin was due to make a speech on Tuesday setting out aims for the second year of his invasion of Ukraine. Europe's largest bank HSBC Holdings (HSBA.L) unveiled plans for a special dividend and share buybacks as rising interest rates swelled net interest income. Earnings from Walmart (WMT.N) later in the day will shed light on American consumers' buying habits in the face of rising expenses.

The economic calendar and market trading grind back into gear on Tuesday, kicking off in Asia with the flash Aussie and Japanese PMIs for February. chartManufacturing activity in Japan has contracted for three months in a row and service-sector activity has expanded for five months, meaning overall economic activity grew in January for the first time in three months. Services and overall business activity as measured by the PMIs have been contracting for four months. This may be a good time to deliver growth-boosting rate cuts or ramp up liquidity injections even more. Here are three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Tuesday:- Japan flash PMIs (February)- Australia flash PMIs (February)- Reserve Bank of Australia policy meeting minutesBy Jamie McGeever; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Morning Bid: Up, up and away
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In Europe, money markets show that investors are already betting on a peak European Central Bank rate around 3.75% by late summer, up from levels around 3.4% earlier this month. Investors are unwinding earlier bets after a string of hawkish comments from policymakers, forcing European shares to retreat further from one-year highs. ECB officials have highlighted their fears about stubborn underlying inflation. Meanwhile, in a week when India hosts the year's first G20 finance and central bank chiefs meeting, from Feb. 22-25, tough global discussions over debt forgiveness for poor nations are going to get even trickier. Key developments that could influence markets on Monday:Economic data: Euro zone Feb consumer confidenceU.S. markets closedReporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Morning Bid: Euro rising
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. It's been a quiet start to the week in Asia with much of the region on holiday. U.S. stocks futures are near flat, but EUROSTOXX futures added 0.5% to extend their recent bullish run. Analysts assume the same sea change will deliver an improvement in the EU flash PMIs for January this week, likely outperforming the U.S. surveys. Key developments that could influence markets on Monday:- ECB's Lagarde and Panetta are appearing- No major economic data due on Monday.

☆ U.S. dollar gains as risk tolerance drops with hawkish central banks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar rose on Friday in choppy trading, extending sharp gains in the previous session as risk appetite soured, as investors grappled with the prospect that borrowing costs still have a long way to climb. New York Fed President John Williams upped the hawkish rhetoric on Friday, saying it remains possible the U.S. central bank raises interest rates more than it currently expects next year. That said, financial markets do not seem to be buying the hawkish Fed stance. The dollar index, which gauges the currency against six major peers, rose 0.2% to 104.69, after rallying more than 0.9% on Thursday. The index has surged around 9% this year as the Fed has hiked interest rates hard, sucking money back towards dollar-denominated bonds.

All the signs - hawkish rhetoric from the Fed and ECB, the selloff on Wall Street and dismal Chinese economic data - point to Asian markets ending a bruising week firmly on the ropes. MSCI's Asia ex-Japan index fell nearly 2% on Thursday - before the broad-based European policy tightening - its biggest fall since Nov. 3. The death toll could soar, and hopes of a quick and widespread economic reopening may have to be tempered. That said, traders may be reluctant to cave to the hawkish noises coming from the Fed - and now the ECB - quite just yet. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Wall Street is determined to bounce on any dip, and is up 15% from the October low. The earnings growth forecast for next year continues to decline, but at around 4% it is still in positive territory. chartBut if Wall Street continues to push higher, as it did again on Tuesday, Asia will follow. Who is on the right track - stocks or bonds? They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Dollar rises amid suspected BOJ intervention; pound choppy as Sunak gets top job
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( John Mccrank | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. Yen overnight volatility surged to its highest since Sept. 21, the day before the BOJ stepped in to prop up the currency for the first time since 1998. At 3:30 p.m. EDT (1930 GMT), the dollar was up 0.089% at 111.93 against a basket of six peer currencies. Sterling was last down 0.16% at $1.12915, off an overnight high above $1.14. The euro was last up 0.18% at $0.98805, while China's offshore yuan plummeted to a new record low against the dollar of 7.3322.

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