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☆ Morning Bid: Will CPI fit the Fed-on-hold narrative?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, September 12, 2023. Reuters GraphicsMoreover, the labour market remains tight by many measures and the climb in crude oil is a concern. For Andrew Bailey and his cohorts, today will be a busy one for analysing data that includes GDP and factory production. Sagging stocks though don't bode well for the European open, as Asian investors continued the sell-off seen on Wall Street. Key developments that could influence markets on Wednesday:- UK GDP, industrial production (July)- EZ industrial production (July)- US CPI (Aug)Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin Buckland, Jerome Powell, Andrew Bailey, bode, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, U.S, CPI, Reuters, Fed, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, ECB, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Jackson, China

☆ Dollar steady ahead of key US inflation data, yen retraces gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Brigid Riley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In the broader currency market, the dollar stood firm, though moves were subdued as traders stayed on guard ahead of the closely-watched U.S. inflation reading out later on Wednesday. Wednesday's U.S. consumer price index (CPI) data for August comes just a week before Federal Reserve officials gather to decide on interest rate policy. While the central bank is largely expected to keep rates on hold at next week's meeting, according to CME's FedWatch Tool, the Fed's next move in November remains more uncertain. "In recent months, European inflation, core inflation in particular, has fallen more slowly than expected. "The high inflation rate warrants another rate hike, but the economic indicators ... signal that a recession is imminent."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Kazuo Ueda, Alvin Tan, Ueda, Hiroshige Seko, Sterling, CME's, Tina Teng, Brigid Riley, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Asia FX, RBC Capital Markets, Federal Reserve, U.S, Wednesday's, Fed, CMC Markets, European Central Bank, Reuters, Rabobank, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, Wednesday's U.S

In 2022 the bond market crash saw the value of central banks' Treasuries holdings plunge by $435 billion, Bertaut and Judson's estimates show. This doesn't suggest central banks are dumping Treasuries, be it for financial or political reasons. What's more, these figures don't account for what analysts describe as stealth or shadow central bank demand not included in the official data. Reuters Image Acquire Licensing RightsIt is undeniable, however, that the collective central bank footprint in the Treasuries market is nowhere near what it used to be. For now, central banks are still buying, just not as much as they used to.

Persons: Abraham Lincoln, Gary Cameron, chunky, Carol Bertaut, Ruth Judson, That's, Steven Englander, Judson, Lehman Brothers, Jamie McGeever, David Holmes Organizations: Engraving, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, of America, Bank of America, BANK, Standard Chartered, Treasuries, Fed, ICE, Treasury, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington, Rights ORLANDO , Florida, Beijing, China, Saudi Arabia, American Republic, North America, Belgium

☆ Birkenstock IPO: German sandal maker heads for Wall Street in another blow to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —German shoemaker Birkenstock has filed for an initial public offering in New York, becoming the latest European company to choose the United States as the place to raise money on the stock market. The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported Tuesday that Birkenstock was seeking a valuation of more than $8 billion. The family business traces its origins back to 1774 when church archives mention Johannes Birkenstock, who worked as a cobbler in Langen-Bergheim, Germany. The planned IPO marks another milestone for the shoemaker, which joins the ranks of high-profile European companies seeking a public offering across the pond rather than at home. British chip designer Arm is gearing up for a blockbuster IPO on the Nasdaq this week.

Persons: Birkenstock, Johannes Birkenstock, LVMH, Dior, Christian, Alex Birkenstock, Instacart, ” Craig Erlam, Susannah Streeter, Hargreaves Lansdown, “, ” Organizations: London CNN, US Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Stock Exchange, Financial, Tiffany, Nasdaq, CNN, Hargreaves Locations: New York, United States, Langen, Bergheim, Germany, British, London

Sept 14 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. The global policy picture, however, could be a lot clearer on Thursday when the European Central Bank delivers its latest rate decision. The Asian and Pacific economic data calendar has a few top-tier releases lined up for Thursday, including Australian unemployment, Japanese machinery orders, Indian wholesale inflation and Indian trade. Annual wholesale inflation in India is expected to be negative for a fifth straight month but continue moving further away from July's 4% deflation. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Josie Kao Organizations: Reserve, European Central Bank, Reuters, hawkish Bank of Japan, Apple, Commission, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: U.S, India, July's, China, Beijing, Australia, Japan

☆ Dollar steady as U.S. inflation data awaited, yen retraces gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

More broadly, the dollar held firm, though moves were subdued as traders awaited a closely watched U.S. inflation reading due later on Wednesday. Analysts attributed the slide to an unwinding of long dollar positions after a recent run of resilient U.S. economic data. Wednesday's U.S. consumer price index, or CPI, data for August comes just a week before Federal Reserve officials gather to decide on interest rate policy. "In recent months, European inflation, core inflation in particular, has fallen more slowly than expected. "The high inflation rate warrants another rate hike, but the economic indicators ... signal that a recession is imminent."

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Alvin Tan, Ueda, Hiroshige Seko, Sterling, CME's, Tina Teng Organizations: Bank of Japan, Asia FX, RBC Capital Markets, Federal Reserve, U.S, Fed, CMC Markets, European Central Bank, Reuters, ECB, Rabobank Locations: U.S, Asia

Workers walk through the Canary Wharf financial district, ahead of a Bank of England decision on interest rate changes, in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. The unemployment rate rose, the number of people in work fell sharply and vacancies dipped below 1 million for the first time in two years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday. Yet if incoming data doesn't turn definitively, another hike to a terminal rate of 5.75% is absolutely on the table." The unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in the three months to July from 4.2% a month earlier, its highest since the three months to the end of September 2021, the ONS said. Including bonuses, pay rose by 8.5% compared with the 8.2% consensus, boosted in part by backdated pay for healthcare workers.

Persons: Toby Melville, BoE, Hugh Gimber, they've, Andrew Bailey, Jeremy Hunt, Andy Bruce, David Milliken, Sachin Ravikumar, David Holmes Organizations: Bank of, REUTERS, Bank of England, National Statistics, Morgan Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Bank of England, London, Britain

☆ Asian stocks steady, Japan, China central banks interrupt dollar's ascent
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese government bonds remained under pressure on Tuesday, with 10-year JGB yields up 1 basis point to a fresh high of 0.71%. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) rose 0.61%, with markets looking to U.S. inflation data and this week's European Central Bank meeting to set interest rate expectations and the mood. Overnight, the weaker dollar and upgrade on Tesla from analysts at Morgan Stanley helped U.S. stock markets gain. "There is a sense that ECB is already done for the cycle," said Maybank analysts in a note to clients. "Recent PMI prints suggest that growth outlook could be deteriorating and puts the euro at risk of further downside.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Chris Weston, Matt Simpson, Christopher Wong, Morgan Stanley, bitcoin, Lincoln, Simon Cameron, MOore Organizations: Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Reuters, Investors, HK, Mainland Properties, Japan's Nikkei, Central Bank, Arm Holdings, New Zealand, ECB, PMI, Fed, Brent, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, China, Japan, Melbourne, Hang, Asia, Pacific, British, New York

A Wall Street sign is pictured outside the New York Stock Exchange in New York, October 28, 2013. Investors await August consumer prices data, due on Wednesday, and producer prices scheduled on Thursday, followed by the Fed's policy decision on Sept. 20. A recent uptick in oil prices and strong economic data have fueled concerns over stubborn inflation, clouding the outlook for an end to U.S. monetary tightening. Investors will also monitor the European Central Bank's policy decision on Thursday, where it is seen holding rates after nine consecutive hikes. ET, Dow e-minis were down 48 points, or 0.14%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 9 points, or 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 27.5 points, or 0.18%.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Wall, Morgan Stanley, BoE, Mohit Kumar, Ankika Biswas, Shristi, Arun Koyyur, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Kappa, Dow, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Investors, Fed, ECB, Jefferies, Dow e, Oracle, Paramount Global, Amusements, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Israel central bank says digital shekel launch an 'open question'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Bank of Israel in November 2021 stepped up its research and preparation for the possible issuance of a digital shekel to create a more efficient payments system after first considering issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in late 2017. "Whether or not we will issue a digital shekel is still an open question, as it is in most if not all other advanced economies," Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron said at a conference on digital currencies. Israel's central bank has been experimenting with a digital shekel with its Hong Kong counterpart and the Bank for International Settlements. Deputy Governor Andrew Abir said that for Israel, issuing a digital shekel would provide more competition in a financial system dominated by a few large banks and institutions. "I believe central banks should return to examine the possibility (of) remunerated CBDCs – that is, for the central bank to pay interest CBDC directly to the end users who hold it, and enjoy the security provided by the central bank.

Persons: Amir Yaron, Yaron, Israel, Andrew Abir, Abir, Steven Scheer, Alexander Smith, Mark Porter Organizations: The Bank of Israel, Bank of Israel, Hong Kong, Bank for International, Thomson Locations: Israel

Giant cranes are seen at the Hanjin Shipping container terminal at Incheon New Port in Incheon, South Korea, September 7, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Acquire Licensing RightsSept 13 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. The real fireworks will come after Asian markets close, with the release of U.S. CPI for August. Annual core inflation is expected to ease to 4.3% from 4.7%, but headline inflation is predicted to rise to 3.6% from 3.2%. Year-on-year oil prices are now turning positive for the first time this year, something investors and policymakers could do without.

Persons: Kim Hong, Jamie McGeever, Brent, Kazuo Ueda, Josie Kao Organizations: Hanjin Shipping, Incheon New, REUTERS, U.S, CPI, Bank of Japan, Nikkei, Bank of America's, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Incheon, Incheon New Port, South Korea, Japan, China, Korea

Brent crude settled down 1 cent to $90.64 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled down 22 cents to $87.29. "Much of this reduced supply has simply served to offset a major slowdown in global oil demand," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois. Meanwhile, Europe is expecting a light refinery maintenance season this autumn as refiners look to profit from high margins, which could support crude demand. The IEA last month lowered its 2024 forecast for oil demand growth to 1 million bpd, citing lacklustre macroeconomic conditions. OPEC's August report, meanwhile, kept its 2.25 million bpd demand growth forecast unchanged.

Persons: Brent, Wally Adeyemo, Jim Ritterbusch, Ras Lanuf, Wood Mackenzie, Naeem Aslam, OPEC's, Robert Harvey, Natalie Grover, Florence Tan, Emily Chow, Emelia Sithole, Andrea Ricci, Chizu Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS, West Texas, Monday U.S, Ritterbusch, Associates, U.S, Zaye, European Central Bank, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, IEA, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Galena , Illinois, U.S, Libya, Zueitina, Brega, Es Sidra, Europe

☆ Yen jumps on BOJ's comments; dollar dips as US inflation eyed
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. Aside from data on consumer prices due Wednesday, investors will also see producer prices and retail sales numbers on Thursday. Traders have been closely watching for any signs of intervention from Japan to shore up the yen since it weakened past the 145 per dollar threshold last month. The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against peers including the yen, was last down 0.32% to 104.51, after falling to 104.41, its lowest since Sept. 5. Against the softer dollar, sterling gained 0.5% to $1.2527, continuing to recover from a three-month low of $1.2445 hit last week.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, Edward Moya, CME's, Chuck Mikolajczak, Mark Potter Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, Traders, Thomson Locations: Ueda, New York, Japan

Stock prices were mostly higher in Asia on Monday as investors awaited an update on U.S. inflation and China’s latest economic data. The futures for the S&P 500 and Dow were trading higher. That could lead the Federal Reserve and other central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer, which would hurt prices for shares and other investments. On Friday, stocks edged higher on Wall Street, but markets still ended their first losing week in the last three. High interest rates are supposed to slow the economy and hurt the job market, which should ultimately help undercut inflation.

Persons: Zichun Huang, Hong, Hang Seng, Australia's, Kroger, ” Stephen Innes, Brent, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Dow, Federal Reserve, Economics, Nikkei, U.S, Labor, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Albertsons, Treasury, Management, New York Mercantile Exchange, Bank of Japan Gov Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, China

What's more, recent history suggests that when funds go long dollars, they tend to stay long for a while. The latest Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data shows that funds cut their net short dollar position to $7.17 billion, the smallest bet against the dollar since mid-June and a third of what it was six weeks ago. Reuters Image Acquire Licensing RightsA short position is essentially a wager an asset's price will fall, and a long position is a bet it will rise. That was followed by a year being net short dollars, nearly two years of being net long, before swinging back to being net long for over a year. CFTC data show that funds are still holding a substantial net short yen position worth around $8.2 bln.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ben Bernanke, Jamie McGeever, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Futures Trading Commission, Fed, Reuters, Bank of, CFTC, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Rights ORLANDO , Florida, Japan, Bank of Japan, Germany

☆ Jamie Dimon says it's a 'huge mistake' to think economy will boom with so many risks out there
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Monday that while the U.S. economy is doing well, it would be a "huge mistake" to believe that it will last for years. Healthy consumer balance sheets and rising wages are supporting the economy for now, but there are risks ahead, said Dimon, who was speaking at a financial conference in New York. "To say the consumer is strong today, meaning you are going to have a booming environment for years, is a huge mistake," he said. But the U.S. economy has proven resilient, leading more economists to expect that a recession might be avoided. "If and when you have a recession, which you're eventually going to have, you'll have a real normal credit cycle," Dimon said.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase, Dimon, Topping Organizations: JPMorgan Chase &, Institute of International Finance, JPMorgan Locations: Washington , DC, U.S, New York, Ukraine

☆ Bank of England bond sales creating a 'selling gold at the bottom' moment, strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

People walk outside the Bank of England in the City of London financial district, in London, Britain, January 26, 2023. Henry Nicholls | ReutersLONDON — The Bank of England's rapid pace of bond sales is creating a "selling gold at the bottom" moment for investors, according to Christopher Mahon, head of dynamic real return at Columbia Threadneedle. Now, despite the fact that the value of gilts has fallen dramatically since then, the central bank is unwinding those holdings, and fast. In late July, the central bank estimated that it would require the Treasury to indemnify £150 billion ($189 billion) of losses on its asset purchase facility (APF). The Bank of England, for its part, disputes that the asset sales are affecting markets in any substantive way.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, Christopher Mahon, Mahon, BOE, it's, Dave Ramsden, Ramsden Organizations: Bank of England, Reuters LONDON, Columbia, U.K . Treasury, Treasury, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank, U.K, . Bank of England, CNBC, Monetary, BNP Locations: City, London, Britain

☆ Morning Bid: Japan jolt as inflation forks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A man walks past the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan, January 17, 2023. "If we judge that Japan can achieve its inflation target even after ending negative rates, we'll do so," Ueda said. The yen surged 1% against the dollar, knocking the U.S. currency back more generally (.DXY) on the foreign exchange markets. If Japan's does tighten further by yearend, it comes as the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank rate hike campaigns are coming to halt. News of an expected return of headline Chinese consumer price inflation to positive territory last month and above-forecast August lending data helped mainland shares (.CSI300) higher, with the yuan bouncing back from 16-year lows.

Persons: Issei Kato, Mike Dolan, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Alibaba, Daniel Zhang, Bank of England policymaker Catherine Mann, Christina Fincher Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, U.S, Tokyo Stock, Nikkei, Global, Treasury, yearend, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, ECB, Fed, CPI, OpenAI, Wall Street, SoftBank Group, underwriters, Bank of England, Oracle, Graphics, Graphics Reuters, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Hong Kong, Ottawa

[1/2] A man walks in front of the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan, January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 12 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. They now expect the central bank's 'yield curve control' policy to end in October, compared with April 2024, and for the negative interest rate policy to end in January 2024, versus December 2024. Beyond the Japanese policy drama, investors will also have the latest Indian inflation and industrial production data, and Australian business and consumer sentiment figures to digest on Tuesday. The currency is getting little support from the interest rate outlook - economists currently expect the RBI to keep rates on hold then start easing policy the second quarter of next year.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jamie McGeever, Kazuo Ueda, Josie Kao Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, of, Government Bond, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Reserve Bank of India's, Bank, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Indonesian, Philippine, India, Australia, Korea

An electronic board shows Shanghai and Shenzhen stock indexes, at the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai, China October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 11 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. According to Goldman Sachs's real-time indexes, financial conditions in China, emerging markets and globally are now the tightest since last November. The economic data spotlight this week will shine on China. Money supply, loan growth, social financing (a broad measure of credit and liquidity in the economy), retail sales, industrial production, unemployment, house prices and fixed asset investment are all due for release by September 15.

Persons: Aly, Jamie McGeever, Goldman Sachs's, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Nasdaq, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Shanghai, Shenzhen, China, India, Beijing, Asia, Japan, Philippine, Indonesia, Malaysia

☆ What it's like in Europe's popular crypto haven Portugal as the U.S. cracks down
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

They understood the importance of self custody of bitcoin, bitcoin on bitcoin blockchain, not on other chains." Sunrise over Lisbon, Portugal Alexander Spatari | Moment | Getty ImagesThe San Francisco of EuropeA walk through Portugal's capital feels eerily similar to a stroll in San Francisco. "This makes Portugal a really attractive place for crypto users to live," explained Shehan Chandrasekera, a CPA and head of tax strategy at crypto tax software company CoinTracker.io. The only exception to the country's generous crypto scheme relates to companies registered in Portugal that deal in crypto. Cyclists photographed in Lisbon, Portugal, in October 2018.

Persons: Alexander Spatari, PORTUGAL —, maximalists, Lorenzo Primiterra, He's, Peter Pan, Primiterra, Terra Luna, bitcoin, solana, Greenfield, Portugal Alexander Spatari, Jemson Chan, Chan, CNBC Guy Young, Seb True, CNBC Seb, True, That's, it's, bitcoiners, I've, Stephen Knowles, cryptocurrencies, Shehan Chandrasekera, Katie Ananina, Ethena's Young, —, Deley, Deley doesn't, that's, Didi Taihuttu, They've, Taihuttu Organizations: Campo Pequeno, maxis, CNBC Software, CNBC, titans, Securities and Exchange Commission, British, Abril, European, CPA, Cyclists, European Union, D7, Companies, Algarve Locations: LISBON, PORTUGAL, Lisbon, Italy, Portugal, Almada, Lisboa Region, outranking New York, Berlin, Singapore, European, Sunrise, San Francisco of Europe, San Francisco, bitcoin, Europe, Crypto, U.S, Egypt, Asia, Switzerland, it's, Puerto Rico, Australia, Canada, Ghent, Belgium, cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrencies, Lisbon's, Lagos, Angeles, Algarve

But analysts say more policy support is needed to shore up consumer demand in the world's second-biggest economy, with a labour market recovery slowing and household income expectations uncertain. "In general the inflation (rate) still points to weak demand and requires more policy support for the foreseeable future." DEFLATION PRESSURESCompared with the previous month, CPI rose 0.3%, picking up from 0.2% in July, the statistics bureau said. Pork prices rose 11.4% month-on-month, versus no change in July, due to the impact of extreme weather in some areas. Factory-gate deflation moderated in August due to improving demand for some industrial products and rising international crude oil prices, the statistics bureau said.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Zhou Hao, Bruce Pang, Jones Lang Lasalle, Premier Li Qiang, Kevin Yao, Joe Cash, Sam Holmes, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, Reuters, Guotai, ANZ, Jones, Premier, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, Ukraine

REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Oil prices gained almost 1% to a nine-month high on Friday on rising U.S. diesel futures and worries about tight oil supplies after Saudi Arabia and Russia extended supply cuts this week. "Crude prices continue to trade on supply-side drivers. This week, OPEC member Saudi Arabia and Russia extended their voluntary supply cuts of a combined 1.3 million barrels per day to the end of the year. Rising U.S. diesel prices also supported crude prices with heating oil futures up about 3%. Interest rate hikes can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Edward Moya, Baker Hughes, Nicolas Maduro, John Evans, Natalie Grover, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Xu, Ros Russell, Jason Neely, Susan Fenton, David Gregorio, Leslie Adler Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, U.S, West Texas, of, Petroleum, Energy, Thomson Locations: Midland , Texas, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, U.S, China, Venezuela, CHINA, Hong Kong, Germany, Europe, Riyadh, London, Tokyo, Singapore

Brent futures rose 76 cents, or 0.9%, to $90.68 a barrel by 12:08 p.m. EDT (1608 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 67 cents, or 0.8%, to $87.54. Rising U.S. diesel also lent support to crude futures with heating oil prices up about 3% and on track for their highest close since January. Separately, the U.S. confirmed that it disrupted in April a multimillion-dollar shipment of crude oil by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, seizing more than 980,000 barrels of contraband crude oil that violated U.S. sanctions. Rate hikes can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, WTI, John Evans, Natalie Grover, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Xu, Ros Russell, Jason Neely, Susan Fenton, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, U.S, . West Texas, U.S ., Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Thomson Locations: Midland , Texas, Saudi Arabia, Russia, CHINA, China, Hong Kong, Chevron's, Australia, Germany, U.S, Europe, Riyadh, London, Tokyo, Singapore

REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Oil prices hovered above $90 a barrel on Friday, on track to end the week higher as investors chose to focus on tighter supply, despite broader macroeconomic uncertainty. Both oil benchmarks hit 10-month highs this week after Riyadh and Moscow extended their voluntary supply cuts of a combined 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) to the end of the year. Brent crude futures were up 57 cents to $90.49 a barrel by 1112 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures were up 47 cents to $87.34 a barrel. On the demand side, a key concern is China, the world's largest oil importer. Demand for crude could also benefit from workers going on strike at projects in Australia which produce about 5% of the world's supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Persons: Nick Oxford, Naeem Aslam, Brent, John Evans, Natalie Grover, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Ros Russell, Jason Neely Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, Traders, Zaye, Markets, Brent, West Texas, PVM, Thomson Locations: Midland , Texas, Riyadh, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, China, Australia, United States, Europe

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