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☆ 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

“What we’ve seen with the Taylor Swift tour is something that we’ve not really seen before,” said Richard Clarke, an analyst at investment firm Bernstein. Taylor Swift performs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2015. From Taylor Swift On her birthday in 2019, Swift shared this photo of herself as a child. From Taylor Swift A 13-year-old Swift sings the National Anthem before an NBA game in Philadelphia in 2002. John Mabangalo/Pool/Getty Images Swift performs during a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden in 2009.

Persons: Tokyo CNN —, Taylor, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, we’ve, ”, Richard Clarke, Bernstein, “ It’s, TikTok she’d, curating, Kane Ishiyone, Swift, –, Ishiyone, Richard A, Brooks, Clarke, “, that’s, Christopher Polk, Scott, Andrea Swift, Jesse D, Tim McGraw, Kevin Winter, John Mabangalo, Chad Batka, Bryan Bedder, Larry Busacca, Miley Cyrus, Lucas Till, Hannah Montana, Sam Emerson, Everett, Jonas, Frank Masi, I'm, West, Beyoncé, Jeff Kravitz, Lucy Nicholson, Christopher Morris, Josh Haner, Kevin Mazur, James Taylor, Charles Sykes, Matt Sayles, Mark J, Terrill, Invision, Jimmy Fallon, Douglas Gorenstein, Nicholas Harvey, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Laraine Newman, Bill Hader, Taran Killam, Kristen Wiig, Keenan Thompson, Fred Armisen, Kerry Washington, Betty White, Bradley Cooper, Dana Edelson, Andrea, Ethan Miller, Tim Boyles, Selena Gomez, Jordan Strauss, Mike Coppola, John Shearer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Brandon Urie, Katy Perry, Republic Records Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Will Heath, Seth Wenig, Terence Rushin, David Eulitt, Mitsumasa Etou, Akazawa, haven’t, It’s, Michele Bullock Organizations: Tokyo CNN, People, Kansas City Chiefs, Taylor, Getty, Super Bowl, Chicago Bears, dateline, Vegas, Staples Center, NBA, of Country, Garden, New York Times, New York's Rockefeller Center, Walt Disney Co, Kanye, Madison, MTV, NBC, ACM, Academy of Country, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Universal Pictures, Coachella, Republic Records, New York University, Arrowhead, Chiefs, NET, Tokyo City University, Fuji, Tokyo, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Las Vegas, Philippines, Fukuoka, Japan, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Shibuya, AFP, Asia, Washington, Las Vagas, Los Angeles, West Reading , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, New York, Auburn Hills , Michigan, Newark , New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Frankfurt, London, Arlington , Texas, Tampa, Chicago, Atlanta, Kansas City , Missouri, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Australia, East Coast

☆ Dollar firms near 3-month high as rate cut bets dwindle
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar was perched near a three-month peak on Tuesday, buoyed by elevated Treasury yields, on growing expectations that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates aggressively this year. The U.S. dollar was perched near a three-month peak on Tuesday, buoyed by elevated Treasury yields, on growing expectations that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates aggressively this year. The string of robust U.S. economic data has quashed any lingering hopes of early and steep interest rate cuts by the Fed, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other policymakers also pushing back against the notion. Figures showed that the unemployment rate was likely much lower late last year than previously thought, which could push out rate cuts there, too. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.07% to 148.56 per dollar, hovering around a two-month low of 148.90 it touched on Monday.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Christopher Wong, Michele Bullock, Kristina Clifton Organizations: U.S, Federal, Investor, Reserve Bank of Australia, Investors, Reuters, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Locations: Singapore, Asia

☆ Australia's central bank holds rates steady but retains hiking bias
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Two women walk next to the Reserve Bank of Australia headquarters in central Sydney, Australia February 6, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank held interest rates steady on Tuesday as expected, buying it more time to assess the state of the economy and to determine whether further hikes might be needed next year. Wrapping up its December policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept rates at a 12-year high of 4.35%, adding economic data received since November had been broadly in line with expectations. "Holding the cash rate steady at this meeting will allow time to assess the impact of the increases in interest rates on demand, inflation and the labour market," RBA Governor Michele Bullock said. She has since warned that inflation has become increasingly driven by domestic demand, requiring a more "substantial" response from interest rates.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Stella Qiu, Jamie Freed Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Australia Oct retail sales slip as consumers hold off for Black Friday sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Women shop for clothes on a store in a shopping mall in Sydney's central business district (CBD) Australia, February 5, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales unexpectedly slipped in October as consumers cut back on everything but food, though analysts believe many were merely saving some money to splurge on Black Friday sales that took place this month. Retail sales fell 0.2% from September to A$35.77 billion, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed on Tuesday. "This is a pattern we have seen develop in recent years as Black Friday sales grow in popularity." Data from e-commerce firm Shopify also showed that point-of-sale sales made by its merchants in Australia during this year's Black Friday sales grew 27% from a year ago.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Ben Dorber, Shopify, that's, Marcel Thieliant, Michele Bullock, Stella Qiu, Tom Hogue, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Black, ANZ, Asia Pacific, Capital Economics, Reserve Bank of Australia, 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

While emerging market and Asian equities clocked up decent gains on Tuesday, Wall Street struggled to make much headway despite a seemingly constructive market and economic backdrop. The dollar, Treasury yields, and stock market volatility all fell, and U.S. consumer confidence was higher than expected. Fed Governor Christopher Waller - thought to be close to Fed Chair Jerome Powell's thinking on policy - also signaled that U.S. interest rates could be cut in the months ahead. Thailand's central bank is also expected to keep rates on hold, at 2.50%, through the middle of 2025. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Wednesday:- New Zealand interest rate decision- Thailand interest rate decision- Australia inflationBy Jamie McGeever Editing byOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Issei Kato, Christopher Waller, Jerome Powell's, That's, Michele Bullock, Jamie McGeever Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Wall, Treasury, Fed, Nasdaq, Reserve Bank of New, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Australia, U.S, Thailand's, Zealand

☆ Australia appoints BoE's Andrew Hauser as new RBA deputy governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Andrew Hauser, who has been appointed the next Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, is seen in this undated handout photo distributed on November 27, 2023. Australian Government/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Australia on Monday appointed the Bank of England's (BoE) Andrew Hauser as the new deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), filling a position that had been vacant since Michele Bullock was elevated to the top role in late September. Hauser, who currently serves as the executive director at markets at the BoE, is expected to start before the first RBA board meeting next year. Governor Bullock welcomed the appointment. "I warmly congratulate Andrew on his appointment...He has great experience and will bring a welcome external perspective to the Bank and the Reserve Bank Board."

Persons: Andrew Hauser, BoE, Michele Bullock, Hauser, Governor Bullock, Andrew, Lewis Jackson, Stella Qiu, Kim Coghill, Sam Holmes Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian Government, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Monday, Bank of England's, London School of Economics, Bank, Reserve Bank Board, Thomson Locations: Australia

☆ Australia appoints Bank of England's Andrew Hauser as new Reserve Bank of Australia deputy head
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Andrew Hauser, executive director of markets at the Bank of England, has been appointed the new deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia. Australia on Monday appointed the Bank of England's, or BoE, Andrew Hauser as the new deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, or RBA, filling a position that had been vacant since Michele Bullock was elevated to the top role two months ago. Hauser, the executive director of markets at the BoE, is expected to start his five-year term before the first RBA board meeting next year. "I am humbled and deeply honored to be asked to serve as the RBA's next Deputy Governor," said Hauser, who is British and has 30 years of experience at the BoE. Hauser has a master's degree in economics from the London School of Economics and a degree from Oxford University.

Persons: Andrew Hauser, BoE, Michele Bullock, Hauser Organizations: Bank of England, Reserve Bank of Australia, Monday, Bank of England's, British, London School of Economics, Oxford University Locations: Australia

A man looks at an electric monitor displaying the Japanese yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 28 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. Volatility across major asset classes is low - implied volatility on Wall Street is at its lowest in almost four years, global currency implied vol is the lowest since early last year, and U.S. bond vol is at a two-month low. China's markets, especially, have lagged, although Japanese stocks have outperformed thanks to the weak yen and a historic loosening of wider financial conditions. The Aussie on Monday rose above $0.66 for the first time since Aug. 10 and was one of the biggest winners among major currencies along with the Japanese yen and New Zealand dollar.

Persons: Issei Kato, Goldman Sachs, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Philip Lowe, Bullock's, Fed's Waller, Bowman, Goolsbee, Barr, Jamie McGeever Organizations: U.S ., Nikkei, REUTERS, Reserve Bank of Australia, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Bank for International, New Zealand, Bank of, RBA, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Asia, Hong Kong, Bank of Japan, Australia

☆ Asia stocks slip as dovish Fed cheer fades
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But it fell 0.2% in early trade on Wednesday. Nasdaq futures (.IXIC) were down 0.2% and S&P 500 futures fell 0.1% early in the Asia day. They have fallen about 50 basis points since the Fed held rates steady early in the month. It was broadly steady at $1.0921 to the euro and 148.17 yen in early trade on Wednesday. In commodity markets Brent crude futures held just above their 50-day moving average at $82.64 a barrel.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Naka, Rabobank's, Philip Marey, Jonathan Petersen, Michele Bullock, Changpeng Zhao, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Japan's Nikkei, Nvidia, Nasdaq, Thursday's, Federal Reserve, Fed, Capital Economics, Bank of Japan, Reuters, Wednesday Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Exchange, Hong Kong, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, United States, U.S, Singapore

☆ 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

☆ Australia Thought It Was Done Raising Interest Rates. It Wasn’t.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( James Glynn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Michele Bullock, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, said Tuesday, ‘Inflation in Australia has passed its peak but is still too high.’ Photo: Lisa Maree Williams/Bloomberg NewsSYDNEY—The Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates in response to stubbornly high inflation, ending a four-month pause and diverging from other major central banks that have signaled they might have price pressures under control. The increase takes Australia’s official cash rate to 4.35%, from 4.10%, representing its highest level in more than a decade. The move was widely expected by economists after inflation in the three months through September showed prices of services, fuel, and rents climbing again.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Lisa Maree Williams Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, Bloomberg News SYDNEY, The Reserve Bank of Australia Locations: Australia

☆ Australia's tight rental market forces tenants to make tough choices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Reuters GraphicsNEARING THE PEAKMany tenants, particularly in the most expensive city Sydney, have already been priced out of houses. PropTrack data showing house rents nationally were unchanged at A$550 per week, or about A$2,380 ($1,508) per month, in the September quarter. Apartment rents nationally jumped 4% during the quarter, double the June quarter rate of increase, to an average of A$520 per week, making them almost as costly. Prices across Australia's entire rental stock rose 7.6% in the third quarter from a year ago, the largest increase since 2009, according to official data, and similar to gains seen in the U.S. where rental costs have also surged. ($1 = 1.5780 Australian dollars)Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Wayne Cole and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lara Weeks, Weeks, Cameron Kusher, Michele Bullock, Christian Postiglione, Tim Beattie, Beattie, Stella Qiu, Wayne Cole, Jamie Freed Organizations: REA, Reuters Graphics, Reserve Bank of Australia, Nationwide, ANZ, Housing, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, Sydney, U.S, Bondi, Australia, Western Australia, Adelaide

☆ Big central banks hit pause, with rate cuts far off
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

On Oct. 23, Fed Chair Jay Powell said a strong economy and tight jobs market could warrant more rate rises. Interest rate futures show traders believe the BoE will not cut rates, now at their highest since 2008, until at least June 2024. "The Governing Council’s past interest rate increases continue to be transmitted forcefully into financing conditions," the ECB said, adding it would follow a "data-dependent" approach and future decisions would be based on incoming data. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told parliament last week interest rates may have peaked. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics8) AUSTRALIAThe Reserve Bank of Australia held rates steady at 4.1% for a fourth meeting in October.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Jay Powell, BoE, Jonas Gahr Stoere, Michele Bullock, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Alun John, Yoruk Bahceli, Samuel Indyk, Chiara Elisei, Kripa Jayaram, Pasit, Riddhima, Sumanta Sen, Vineet, Amanda Cooper, Giles Elgood Organizations: . Federal, REUTERS, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, UNITED, Reuters, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, BRITAIN, Bank of Canada, BoC, ECB, Norges Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Washington, Japan, hawkish, dovish, NORWAY, SWEDEN Sweden, SWITZERLAND, Swiss, Gaza, JAPAN

☆ Australia central bank chief weighs whether high Q3 inflation warrants rate rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The head of Australia's central bank on Thursday said the strong third-quarter inflation report was around policymakers' expectations, and they were still considering whether it would warrant a rate rise. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock warned earlier this week that the central bank will not hesitate to raise interest rates further if there is a "material" upward revision to the outlook. Bullock noted that goods inflation is coming down as desired, but services inflation is higher than what policymakers were comfortable with. The third quarter inflation was higher than what the central bank had forecast in August, which raised concerns about whether the RBA can get inflation back to the target band of 2-3% in late 2025, an already protracted path compared with other major economies. Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Leslie Adler, Sonali Paul and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Bullock, Stella Qiu, Leslie Adler, Sonali Paul Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson

☆ Australia's surprisingly strong Q3 inflation raises odds of Nov rate hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Markets are wagering both the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are done with hiking. HAWKISH MESSAGINGThe recent messaging from the central bank has been on the hawkish side. The biggest contributors to the third quarter inflation were fuel, rents, and electricity. Fuel prices rose 7.2% from a year ago, reversing two quarters of price falls, with the conflict in the Middle East potentially set to further stoke inflationary pressures. The central bank forecast in August that inflation was only projected to return to the top of the bank's target band of 2-3% in late 2025.

Persons: David Gray, Worryingly, Adam Boyton, Gareth Aird, Michele Bullock, Woolworths WOW.AX, Taylor Nugent, Stella Qiu, Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Wednesday, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ANZ, Economics, CBA, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Woolworths, National Australia Bank, NAB, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Morning Bid: China spends, eyes on whether Europe lends
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A China yuan note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017. Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL.O) each beat forecasts, but their share prices went in opposite directions as investors zeroed in on cloud computing. On the luxury front Kering (PRTP.PA), owner of Gucci and Balenciaga, reported a bigger-than-expected drop in third-quarter sales. Gucci's revamped look, unveiled last month in Milan by designer Sabato De Sarno, is yet to hit stores. European loans data and a survey of German business conditions will be closely watched later on Wednesday.

Persons: Thomas White, Tom Westbrook, Gucci, Balenciaga, LVMH, Birkin, Gucci's, Sabato De Sarno, Michele Bullock, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Giants, Microsoft, Google, Nasdaq, Facebook, . Santander, Deutsche Bank, Dassault, Dassault Systemes, CME Group, Hilton, Boeing, IBM, Meta, Thomson Locations: China, Asia, Milan, Japan

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Asian markets on Thursday are set to open on the defensive, with sentiment battered by one of the biggest selloffs of the year in U.S. tech stocks and a renewed spike in longer-dated U.S. Treasury bond yields the day before. The fog of uncertainty descended further over China's embattled property sector after it was reported on Wednesday that China's largest private lender Country Garden has defaulted on a U.S. dollar bond for the first time. But the broader tone in Asia on Thursday will be set by another decline in U.S. stocks and bonds. The global market moves represented a familiar pattern since the flare-up in Middle East violence nearly three weeks ago - higher bond yields, a 'bear steepening' of the U.S. yield curve, a stronger dollar, and higher oil and gold prices.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jamie McGeever, Michele Bullock's, Bullock, Josie Kao Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Treasury, Reserve Bank of Australia, Central Bank, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Singapore, Asia, East, Korean, Korea

Oct 25 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Upbeat U.S. economic data often fuels Fed rate hike expectations, dragging stocks and other asset markets lower. In Asia on Wednesday, South Korea's LG Display is expected to show a fall in quarterly revenue when it reports results. On the economic data front, annual consumer inflation in Australia is expected to slow to 5.3% in the third quarter from 6.0% in the April-June period. The Australian dollar liked what it heard, bucked the global trend of widespread weakness against the U.S. dollar, and goes into the inflation data on the front foot around $0.6360.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Michele Bullock, Lan Foan, Xi Jinping, Josie Kao Organizations: Microsoft, Google, South, LG, Apple, Reserve Bank of Australia, U.S ., South Korea LG, Thomson, Reuters Locations: U.S, Asia, Australia, China, Beijing, South Korea

REUTERS/Issei Kato Acquire Licensing RightsOct 24 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. September's PMIs showed that manufacturing activity in Japan and Australia shrank and services sector activity grew, although growth in Japan was the slowest this year. The big picture, however, is still dominated by the ebb and flow of the U.S. Treasuries market. And while a broad easing of financial conditions on Monday - lower Treasury yields and a weaker dollar - should support emerging market assets, Wall Street's late downward drift will warrant caution. The MSCI Asia ex-Japan and MSCI global emerging market indexes are both down around 13% over the past three months and on Monday both hit their lowest level since Nov. 11 last year.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jamie McGeever, bode, Michele Bullock, September's PMIs, Wall, Goldman Sachs, outflows, Goldman, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Reserve Bank of Australia, Nasdaq, Bank of Japan, PMI, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Korean, Australia, Asia, China, South Korea

☆ Australia central bank sees challenging economy, inflation risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SYDNEY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The head of Australia's central bank on Wednesday said the domestic economy was in a "challenging" situation with consumption slowing but inflation still elevated, and monetary policy was on a narrow path to balance these forces. Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock said there were signs that inflation might be difficult to suppress, particularly in services where it was proving to be sticky. She warned that the central bank was very alert to upside risks on inflation and, were it to remain higher than expected, the bank would have to respond with tighter monetary policy. Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Wayne Cole, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson

☆ Australia's central bank sees risks mounting in global markets, China property
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Two women walk next to the Reserve Bank of Australia headquarters in central Sydney, Australia February 6, 2018. In an effort to curb surging inflation, the central bank has lifted interest rates to a decade-high of 4.1%, causing widespread financial stress among households where debt levels are at record peaks. "A small, but rising share of borrowers are on the cusp, or in the early stages, of financial stress," the review stated. "A tightening in global financial conditions could transmit to Australia via linkages in funding markets and risk aversion," the review said. Another area of concern was China's property sector where financial stress was proving a drag on the world's second largest economy and Australia's single biggest export market.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Michele Bullock, Wayne Cole Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Rights, Financial, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, China, U.S, United States, AUSTRALIA

☆ Japan stocks soar as yen hits 1-year low
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A passerby is reflected on an electric monitor displaying the graph of recent moments of the Japanese yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan May 2, 2023. U.S. stock futures rose 0.6%, pointing to a rebound from the S&P 500's 0.3% drop on Friday. Japanese stocks were also boosted by the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey, which showed an improvement in business sentiment. Brent December crude futures rose 18 cents, or 0.2%, to $92.38 a barrel after falling 90 cents at the end of last week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 23 cents, or 0.3%, to $91.02 a barrel, after losing 92 cents on Friday.

Persons: Issei Kato, Korea's, Michele Bullock, Kevin Buckland, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Nikkei, Golden, Bank, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Hong Kong, China, New, expansionary

☆ Take Five: Roll on Q4!
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A possible shutdown would be further evidence of how political polarization in Washington is weakening fiscal policymaking, Moody's says. Economists polled by Reuters expect the U.S. economy created 150,000 jobs in September versus 187,000 in August. 2/ NEW CHIEF IN TOWNThe Reserve Bank of Australia's new governor Michele Bullock, the first woman to head the bank, chairs her first meeting on Tuesday. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Reserve Bank meets on Wednesday. With the cost of living a key election battleground, the drastic cut brings relief to those struggling with mortgage repayments.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Ira Iosebashvili, Kevin Buckland, Harry Robertson, Karin Strohecker, Marc Jones, Joe Biden, Moody's, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Adam Glapinski, Dhara Ranasinghe, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, ., China, Democratic, Reuters, Reserve Bank of, New, Reserve Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Equity, Treasury, Reserve, ING reckons, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, there's, Australia, Poland, Ira, New York, Tokyo, London, Washington, China, Beijing, Poland's

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