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☆ Russia to widen scope of digital rouble testing from Aug. 15 -central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Elena Fabrichnaya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russia, like many countries, has been developing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) - digital tokens issued by central banks - over the last couple of years in a bid to modernise its financial system and head off cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. "We expect to test operations with real customers," the central bank's First Deputy Governor Olga Skorobogatova said on Wednesday. The pilot test will include opening digital wallets, making purchases with digital roubles and transfers between around 600 customers and 30 companies from 11 cities. The digital rouble is scheduled to be widely introduced in 2025. Next year, the central bank will expand the list of participants, with another 19 banks keen to join the pilot, Skorobogatova said.

Persons: Maxim, Olga Skorobogatova, Skorobogatova, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Council, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Moscow, Caribbean, Nigeria, U.S, China, Ukraine

☆ Falling prices in China could be a blessing in disguise for the world economy's ongoing fight against inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But falling prices there could end up being good news for the rest of the world. However, falling prices there aren't necessarily bad news for everyone else. In China, prices are falling rather than risingData from the National Bureau of Statistics published Wednesday showed China's factory-gate prices, as measured by the producer price index, plunging 4.4% year-on-year in July for a tenth straight month of declines. Falling prices in the world's second-biggest economy could "give central bankers in the US, UK and Europe pause for thought when they weigh up their next steps," according to AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. So deflation in China might end up being bad news for Beijing – but a blessing in disguise for the rest of the world.

Persons: it's, China's, Hargreaves Lansdow n's, Steve Lansdown, AJ Bell, Russ Mould Organizations: Service, Privacy, Apple, Nike, Federal Reserve, National Bureau, Statistics, Beijing, Bank of England Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, West, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ Italy windfall tax: European bank stocks bounce after tax blow is watered down
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Banking stocks in Italy and elsewhere in Europe rebounded Wednesday after the country watered down a plan to whack its banks with a surprise one-off 40% tax on their windfall profits. The government’s climbdown eased investors’ fears over European banks more broadly. The Stoxx Europe 600 Banks index, which tracks 42 big banks in the European Union and the United Kingdom, gained 1.7% after shedding 3.5% the previous day. Late Monday, the government said it would impose a one-off windfall tax of 40% and would use the proceeds to support first-time home buyers and cut taxes for families and businesses. Several European countries, including Spain and the Czech Republic, have announced taxes on banks’ windfall profits in the past year as interest rate hikes by central banks have beefed up many lenders’ earnings.

Persons: ’, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Remo Casilli, Jeremy Hunt, Moody’s Organizations: London CNN — Banking, Banco, European Union, Reuters, Deutsche Bank, DB, Bank Locations: Italy, Europe, United Kingdom, Rome, Spain, Czech Republic

Aug 10 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Lingering concern over China's slide into deflation and caution ahead of U.S. inflation data will keep markets in check on Thursday, as investors also eye India's interest rate decision, wholesale inflation from Japan and Philippine GDP data. Although Chinese stocks fell for a third day on Wednesday the rest of Asia shrugged off the Chinese deflation figures, and the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index rose 0.5% for its best performance so far this month. Also on the inflation front, the annual rate of Japanese wholesale price inflation is expected to have fallen to 3.5% in July from 4.1% in June. Interest rate markets are pricing in a decent chance of a quarter-point hike, if not this week then certainly by the end of the year.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Asia shrugged, Fitch Organizations: Reserve Bank of India, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Japan, Philippine, United States, China, Asia, India, Philippines

Da Ponte denied a Bloomberg report that the payments processor paused development of its stablecoin in February. But da Ponte argues this troubled backdrop is exactly why PayPal is poised to succeed. Then there's the hypothetical digital dollar that would be the Fed's take on a central bank digital currency, or CBDC. "We have a large base of consumers; we have a large base of merchants," da Ponte said of PayPal's "two-sided network." Da Ponte sees PayPal's more than 20-year tenure in the payments space as one of the company's chief advantages in the stablecoin market.

Persons: Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal's, Da Ponte, Paxos, it's, Ponte, stablecoins, Nic Carter, Stablecoins, Carter, Andy Bromberg, Andreessen Horowitz, Bromberg, PYUSD, Jeremy Allaire, Allaire, Patrick McHenry, McHenry Organizations: PayPal, CNBC, Bloomberg, SEC, New, Regulators, Valley Bank, U.S ., U.S, Castle, Ventures, Companies, Eco, Coinbase Ventures, Paypal, Facebook, Financial Services, America Locations: U.S, New York, Bromberg, web3, United States, R, DexTools

Containers are seen at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port in Shanghai, China October 19, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoAug 9 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Producer prices in China have been falling on an annual basis every month since October, and more importantly, the pace of decline has accelerated this year. The range of PPI forecasts is -6.1% to -2.9%, and the CPI range is -0.9% to 0.5%, according to Reuters polls. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Aly, Jamie McGeever, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Wall Street, CPI, Bridgestone, Honda, Sony, Nasdaq, China CPI, PPI, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Shanghai, China, Japan, Asia, South Korea

☆ China's July exports contracted the most since the start of the pandemic. It shows a tough external market for the world's factory when it needs it the most.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China's exports contracted 14.5% on-year in July, worse than the 12.5% fall analysts had expected. Imports into China fell 12.4% on-year in July, far more than the 5% decline analysts had expected. The two readings reflect weak demand both, externally and internally for China's post-COVID economy. China's exports in dollar terms contracted 14.5% in July from a year ago, making their worst on-year contraction since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020, according to the official data. In particular, high-tech products — which make up a quarter of China's total goods exports — fell 4.4% on-month in July, marking its fourth straight month of decline, Loo added.

Persons: Louise Loo, Loo, Nomura Organizations: Imports, Service, Reuters, European Union, Oxford Economics, Nomura Locations: China, Wall, Silicon

In the two months since hedge funds began bailing on their record net short position in S&P 500 futures their equity returns have accelerated, narrowing the yawning year-to-date underperformance versus the broader market. Against that backdrop, perhaps not, although the weekly momentum on funds' S&P 500 futures positioning is the most bullish since December 2021. Reuters ImageReuters ImageReuters ImageThe latest CFTC figures show that hedge funds' net short position in e-mini S&P 500 futures at the end of July was around 200,000 contracts, the smallest net short since March. Just two months ago, at the end of May, funds were net short to the tune of 434,000 contracts, the largest net short position on record since these contracts were launched in 1997. If equity strategy-based hedge funds are slowly turning their poor 2023 performance around, their macro fund peers continue to struggle.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Jamie McGeever, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, HFRI, Futures, Reuters, CFTC, ICE, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, ORLANDO, Florida

☆ JPMorgan's top stock guru says stay underweight equities, investors are too optimistic about economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

JPMorgan's top stock picker Marko Kolanovic says investors should stay underweight equities. But Kolanovic said investors are ignoring the risks that could still lead to a recession. These include the small chance that central banks in developed markets around the world would ease back on interest rates anytime soon. Given this, the strategist advised investors remain underweight equities, particularly in riskier growth stocks. "As such, we maintain an overall defensive stance in our model portfolio, and continue to be UW equities and credit vs. OW in cash and commodities," he said.

Persons: Marko Kolanovic, Kolanovic, Moody's, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Reserve, Regional Banking

☆ Oil and food prices are rising, and so are wages. Inflation isn’t beaten yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Oil and food prices have jumped in recent weeks, and wages are still growing strongly in some of the world’s biggest economies. The UN global Food Price Index rose in July, notching only the second monthly increase in a year of steady declines. Oil supply cutsGlobal oil prices have shot up in recent weeks. The International Energy Agency has forecast that global oil demand will rise to a record 102 million barrels this year. Rising oil prices have spurred a jump in US gasoline prices, which hit an average of $3.82 a gallon Tuesday.

Persons: ” Randall Kroszner, “, Price, Chris Ratcliffe, Richard Bronze, ”, —, unraveled, ” Kroszner, — “, Michelle Bowman Organizations: London CNN, US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, US Federal Reserve System, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, CNN, UN, Bloomberg, Getty, West Texas Intermediate, International Energy Agency, OPEC, Agriculture Organization, United Nations, Capital Economics, “ Labor, Bank Locations: Ukraine, United States, United Kingdom, Brent, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Moscow

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoLONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices continued to climb as Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend its unilateral production cuts and signs of decelerating inflation and a soft landing in the United States improved sentiment among investors. The total position climbed to 563 million barrels (46th percentile for all weeks since 2013) on Aug. 1, up from just 282 million barrels (5th percentile) on June 27. The most recent week saw a significant number of new bullish long positions initiated (+37 million barrels) as well as former bearish shorts closed out (-14 million). If implemented in full, extra cuts announced by Saudi Arabia and Russia would remove a further 115 million barrels from the market between July and September. In the most recent week, funds were buyers of European gas oil (+20 million barrels), Brent (+19 million), U.S. gasoline (+6 million), U.S. diesel (+4 million) and NYMEX and ICE WTI (+3 million).

Persons: Mike Segar, Brent, John Kemp, Mark Potter Organizations: Bayway, REUTERS, ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Petroleum, Traders, U.S ., ICE, U.S . diesel, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Phillips, Linden , New Jersey, U.S, Saudi, United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine

That would be a lag of eight months, significantly longer than the average gap between last hike and first cut going back decades. "In the past markets have tended to underestimate how high rates are raised and underestimate how low rates are cut. Inflation targeting, more sophisticated financial markets, transparent central bank communications, and greater central bank autonomy since the 1990s have all contributed as well. Brazil's central bank, one of the first to raise rates in early 2021, has started cutting them after a 12-month pause. Current market pricing suggests that will not come until 2025, which would be an even longer lag.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Andrew Kelly ORLANDO, Richard de Chazal, William Blair, de Chazal, Joe Lavorgna, BoE, Milton Friedman's, Jamie McGeever, Richard Chang Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Nikko Securities America, Bank of, Reuters, The Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: New, New York City, U.S, Andrew Kelly ORLANDO , Florida, Brazil's

Containers are seen at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port in Shanghai, China October 19, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. China's July trade data top a heavy regional economic calendar on Tuesday, with current account, bank lending and household spending reports from Japan, current account data from South Korea and Australian consumer sentiment also on tap. But for the world's manufacturing and factory engine, focus is on the alarming weakness in exports. At -54.7, it is at its 'highest' level since June 30, but will soon be heading lower again if Tuesday's trade data disappoint.

Persons: Aly, Jamie McGeever, swatted, John Williams, Dow, Japan's Organizations: REUTERS, Wall, Treasury, New, Nasdaq, Equity, Nikon, Mazda, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Shanghai, China, Asia, Japan, South Korea, Beijing, U.S, Australia

Aug 7 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. The U.S. yield curve steepened by 20-30 basis points last week - the biggest steepening since March - and the steepening of the 2-year/30-year yield curve by 30 basis points was one of the biggest weekly moves in over a decade. U.S. fiscal worries are also growing, however, and the Bank of Japan's recent 'yield curve control' surprise has lifted Japanese bond yields. Several potential market-moving data releases and events in Asia are also due, as well U.S. consumer price inflation for July. Monday's calendar in Asia is fairly light, with Indonesian Q2 GDP and Thai inflation for July the main releases.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, JP Morgan, Diane Craft Organizations: Nasdaq, Bank of, Sony, Reuters, Reserve Bank of India, China FX, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, Philippines, Asia, Japan, U.S, China, Beijing, Thailand

☆ Inside Prague's Institute of Crypto Anarchy — where they're plotting to bring down the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Today, that union of minds finds refuge in Prague in a retrofitted factory building called Paralelní Polis, or "parallel world." The dark stucco of Polis' Prague headquarters is an outlier among the ornate, brightly-colored buildings that tower over it. ETHPrague 2023 was held at Paralelní Polis in the Czech Republic Pavel SinaglThe 'parallel world' concept is sticky. The Vienna branch goes so far as to self-describe as a living example of how "the Paralelní Polis cryptoliberation virus is spreading." The most popular Czech bitcoin YouTuber boasts 90k subscribers, while the annual Czech-only bitcoin conference called Chaincamp attracts around 2000 visitors, even during the bear market."

Persons: Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl, Ztohoven —, Ztohoven, provocateurs, Václav Benda, Dan Ligocký, Ligocký, William Lobkowicz, ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum, Pavel Sinagl, Prague MacKenzie Sigalos, Holy, William, Ileana Lobkowicz, Josef Tětek, Tětek, isn't, biohacking, —, Carl Menger, Friedrich Hayek, BTCPrague, Michael Saylor, Satoshi cryptographer, Adam Back, Saifedean Ammous, bitcoin, Gary Gensler, bitcoin maximalist, Vaclav, — Matěj Žák, Jan Čapek, Christoph Kassas, YouTuber Jakub Vejmola, Jameson Lopp, Stephan Livera, Robert Breedlove, Stani Kulechov, Ondrej Polak, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl Ligocky Organizations: Paralelní, CNBC, European Union, Polis, of Cryptoanarchy, Austrian, Securities, Exchange, Czech Craft, U.S, Treasury, Casa, Ethereum Foundation, Czech Blockchain Association, optimist Locations: Paralelní Polis, Czech Republic, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl PRAGUE, Czech, Bohemian, Prague, It's, Polis, Polis —, Lobkowicz, Nazi, Vienna, Barcelona, Bratislava, Slovakia, Košice, Austrian, ., Alza, Bohemia, Europe, Old Town, Holešovice

☆ How interest rates impact your money — from savings to mortgages
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The world of central banks and their policies, which include interest rates, may seem abstract — but they affect everyone. Interest rates — the rate at which you are charged or rewarded — are set by central banks, like the Fed or Bank of England. Pros and consHow consumers are affected by interest rates varies according to whether rates are higher or lower. On the flip side, higher interest rates can boost your savings, Mould added. Interest rates versus inflationInterest rates often go hand in hand with inflation (rising prices).

Persons: James McManus, —, Sarah Coles, Hargreaves Lansdown, Russ Mould, AJ Bell, Mould, McManus Organizations: CNBC, . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Fed

☆ Wall St shares pare losses after choppy trading as yields spike
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Lawrence Delevingne | Thomson Reuters | Delevingne Works Primarily On Enterprise Stories Related To Finance. He Joined Reuters In | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Wall Street investors weighed another rise in Treasury yields with the latest batch of economic data and earnings. U.S. long-term Treasury yields hit nine-month highs on Thursday after employment and other economic data pointed to easing inflation, maintaining their high levels in the afternoon. EURO SHARES DOWNEuropean shares (.STOXX) slipped 0.6%, the third straight day of losses, bruised by disappointing earnings reports and elevated U.S. bond yields. In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.2%, extending losses after a drop of 2.3% a day earlier. Spot gold ticked up 0.1% to $1,934 an ounce, held in check by a robust dollar and elevated bond yields.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, BoE, Gennadiy Goldberg, Goldberg, Sterling, Stuart Cole, Morgan Stanley, Brent, Lawrence Delevingne, Tom Wilson, Stella Qiu, Jonathan Oatis, Will Dunham, Alexander Smith Organizations: Dow Jones, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Wall Street, Nasdaq, TD Securities, Reuters Global, . Labor Department, FTSE, Bank of England, Equiti, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Japan, China, Saudi, Boston, London, Sydney

European shares (.STOXX) slipped 0.6%, bruised by disappointing earnings reports and elevated U.S. bond yields, on course for their third straight day of losses. Sterling extended losses after the BoE decision, falling as much as 0.7% to its lowest since June 30. The BoE decision was closely watched for clues on how central banks globally will balance taming inflation and maintaining growth. U.S. 10-year yields hit a new nine-month peak of 4.17%, while 30-year yields rose to a fresh nine-month top. In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.4%, extending losses after a drop of 2.3% a day earlier.

Persons: Sterling, BoE, Stuart Cole, Morgan Stanley, Tom Wilson, Stella Qiu, Mark Potter, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Sterling, LONDON, Bank of England, FTSE, Equiti, Nasdaq, Treasury, U.S, AMAZON Investors, Apple, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Asia, Pacific, Japan, China, London, Sydney

European shares (.STOXX) slipped 1.1% after falling on Wednesday to two-week lows as rating agency Fitch cut the U.S. government's credit rating. UK shares (.FTSE) fell 1.3%, with the Bank of England (BoE) expected to raise interest rates later in the day. Pressuring stocks were a climb in long-term U.S. Treasury yields after stronger-than-expected private employment data and the announced refunding of the U.S. government's maturing debt. U.S. 10-year yields hit a new nine-month peak of 4.17%, while 30-year yields rose to a fresh nine-month top. The risk, investors said, was that a repeat of June's surprise half-point increase could fuel bets that major central banks are not done tightening yet.

Persons: Issei Kato, Fitch, BoE, Jonathan Petersen, Morgan Stanley, Sterling, Tom Wilson, Stella Qiu, Kim Coghill, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Apple, LONDON, Bank of England, Nasdaq, Treasury, U.S, Capital Economics, APPLE, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, SYDNEY, Pacific, China, London, Sydney

☆ Asian shares hesitant after Wall Street sell-off, dollar buoyant
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Both S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures added 0.2%, following a heavy wave of selling on Wall Street overnight. In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) slipped 0.2%, having also suffered a colossal drop of 2.3% just a day earlier. U.S. 10-year yields hovered at 4.0856% in Asia, just a touch below a nine-month top of 4.1260% hit overnight. The risk-sensitive Australia dollar snapped a key support level to hover at $0.6532, just a touch above its 2023 low of $0.6459. Brent crude futures were up 0.2% at $83.33 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 0.1% to $79.6.

Persons: Issei Kato, Fitch, Matt Simpson, nonfarm, Stella Qiu, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Asia, Apple, Bank of, Nasdaq, Japan's Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Index, Inc, U.S, Bank of England, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, SYDNEY, Asia, Pacific, Brisbane, U.S

Aug 4 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. The long end of the U.S. Treasury curve is getting crushed, triggering a surge in long-dated yields and 'steepening' of the curve. The Asian economic data and corporate events calendar on Friday is light, with only Philippines inflation and Singapore retail sales on tap, leaving regional markets beholden to global risk sentiment. The 10-year and 30-year yields are at their highest levels since November, comfortably above 4.0%, and the latter is on track for its biggest weekly rise this year. Global currency market and S&P 500 equity volatility are the highest in two months, and implied volatility in dollar/yen trading is registering its steepest weekly rise since March.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Deepa Babington Organizations: Investors, U.S, Treasury, Apple, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Asia, Singapore, Japan, Philippines

☆ Morning Bid: Markets brace for BOE as China PMI cheers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The BOE is leaning toward a 25 basis point hike after the inflation gods took some pity on the UK last month. Investors and economists will be sure to inspect the BOE's growth and inflation forecasts for indications of just how sticky the central bank thinks inflation has become. Not to be overshadowed by monetary policy, earnings reports roar back into focus on Thursday with Apple (AAPL.O) at the forefront. China kicks off a long line of PMI releases today with better-than-expected services activity, giving markets a bit of good news after disappointing data on Monday. In Japan, the stock market continued to feel the drag from U.S. chip firms on Thursday morning, with the Nikkei (.N225) seeing broad-based losses.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Brigid Riley, BOE, Jerome Powell isn't, hasn't, Stryker, Fed's Barkin, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Bank of England, City of, REUTERS, Bank of, CPI, Reuters Graphics, ECB, Apple, Moderna, PMI, HK, Nikkei, Royce, Infineon, Adidas AG, BMW, Fed's, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, United States, China, Japan, U.S, Expedia, France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Euro

☆ BoE’s inflation firefighting will outlast peers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Bank of England on Thursday raised UK interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to a 15-year peak of 5.25%. Governor Andrew Bailey and his colleagues also vowed monetary policy would remain “sufficiently restrictive for sufficiently long” to bring inflation down to the BoE’s 2% target. As for the BoE, traders are betting that rates will hit 5.5% in September and stay elevated for the whole of next year. Despite an early start, Bailey’s fight against stubborn inflation is likely to drag on for longer. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Andrew Bailey, BoE, Bailey, Bailey’s, Francesco Guerrera, Lisa Jucca, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Bank of England, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank ., ECB, Twitter, Thomson

☆ Big central banks hike again with end of tightening in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Major central banks are tentatively eyeing the end of aggressive interest rate hikes as price pressures finally show signs of abating. So far, nine developed economies have raised rates by a combined 3,865 basis points (bps) in this cycle. This may have marked the end of a 20-month hiking cycle, with economists polled by Reuters expecting the central bank to stay put for the rest of 2023. Canada's inflation rate fell to 2.8% in June. Reuters Graphics10) JAPANThe Bank of Japan, the world's most dovish major central bank, kept its interest rate target at -0.1% in July, but shook markets by making its yield curve control policy more flexible.

Persons: Jerome Powell, BoE, Riksbank, Nell Mackenzie, Alun John, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Chiara Elisei, Vincent Flasseur, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Tomasz Janowski, Toby Chopra Organizations: UNITED, Federal Reserve, ZEALAND, Reserve Bank of New, Reuters, BRITAIN, Bank of England, bps, Bank of Canada, BoC, European Central Bank, ECB, Reserve Bank of Australia, Norges Bank, Swiss, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, NORWAY, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND Swiss, JAPAN

☆ Stocks fall, Treasuries gain after Fitch downgrades US rating
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/file photoHONG KONG, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Asian stocks traded lower while U.S. Treasury yields declined on Wednesday, after ratings agency Fitch unexpectedly downgraded the United States' top-tier sovereign credit rating. Asian stocks were also weighed by declines on Wall Street overnight. Fitch cut the United States by one notch to AA+ from AAA, citing fiscal deterioration, a decision announced after the Wall Street close on Tuesday. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields declined by about 2 basis points to 4.025% in Tokyo. The United States publishes fresh data on jobless claims and unemployment later this week.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Fitch, Hong Kong's, HSI, Manishi Raychaudhuri, counterintuitively, Steven Ricchiuto, Brent, Xie Yu, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Treasury, United, Japan's Nikkei, AAA, Asia, BNP Paribas, Standard, U.S ., Mizuho Securities, West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, HONG KONG, United States, Asia, ., U.S, China

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