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That may relieve pressure on the central bank to alter its longstanding ultra-lax monetary policy and raise its benchmark interest rate from minus 0.1%. Inflation has been cooling enough that the Federal Reserve has hinted it may cut its main interest rate several times this year. Reports showing the U.S. economy and job market remain remarkably solid, along with some comments from Fed officials, have been forcing the delays. In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude rose 27 cents to $77.19 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 149.67 Japanese yen from 149.34 yen.

Persons: Germany's DAX, Australia's, Korea's Kospi, ” Yeap Jun Rong, that’s Organizations: TOKYO, CAC, FTSE, Dow Jones, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, IG, Federal Reserve, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: Asia, China , Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose nearly 0.1% to 36,897.42, slipping back from earlier gains that took it briefly to a 34-year high. In prior months, such a report may have hurt the stock market because of concerns that it would mean a longer wait for cuts to interest rates from the Federal Reserve. The latest set of earnings reports from big U.S. companies also kept the stock market mixed overall. It gave a forecast for expected profit across 2024 that fell short of analysts’. In other trading, benchmark U.S. crude lost 6 cents to $76.16 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Persons: Shinichi Uchida, Australia's, ”, Ryan Detrick, Ralph Lauren Organizations: TOKYO, Nikkei, Investors, Bank of Japan, SoftBank Group Corp, Nissan, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Carson Group, Federal Reserve, Walt Disney Co, Arm Holdings, PayPal, Global, New York Community Bancorp, Traders, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S . Locations: U.S, Asia, U.K

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday, tracking gains on Wall Street, although Tokyo's benchmark slipped slightly. Those developments had pushed Chinese shares, including those in Hong Kong, sharply higher on Tuesday. The mostly small cap stocks traded in the southern Chinese market of Shenzhen were up 1.4%, and the CSI 1000, an index that tracks highly volatile “snowball derivatives" was up 4.2%. Wall Street drifted higher through a quiet Tuesday as the bond market calmed following some sharp swings. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury relaxed following its slingshot ride higher in recent days.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Seng, Australia's, Korea's Kospi, Brent Organizations: TOKYO, Hong, CSI, Nikkei, Toyota Motor Corp, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Federal, GE Healthcare Technologies, Palantir Technologies, FMC, CVS Health, Walt Disney Co, PepsiCo, Treasury, U.S Locations: U.S, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Asia, Brazil

Last week, Chinese stocks capped their worst week in five years. On Friday, Big Tech stocks once again carried Wall Street to a record, even though the majority of stocks fell due to renewed worries about risks of a hot economy. The Big Tech stocks, which are two of Wall Street’s most influential, also vaulted the Nasdaq composite up by 1.7%. But the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has less of an emphasis on tech, rose by a more modest 0.3% to 38.654.42. They’re both members of a small group of Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent Seven” responsible for the majority of Wall Street’s run to a record.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hang Seng, Australia’s, it’s, Stocks, Jerome Powell, They’re Organizations: China Securities Regulatory Commission, Nikkei, Big Tech, Meta, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Charter Communications, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, U.S, China, Hong, Asia

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Friday, helped by optimism about technology shares following a Wall Street rally led by big tech stocks. On Wall Street, U.S. stocks bounced back in a widespread rally following their worst day since September. Such data could give the Federal Reserve more of the evidence it wants of a slowdown in inflation before it will deliver the cuts to interest rates that investors crave. Traders are increasingly betting the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates in May, after pushing back expectations from March. High interest rates intentionally slow the economy, and they undercut prices for investments.

Persons: Australia's, Korea's Kospi, Merck, Etsy Organizations: TOKYO, Nikkei, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Big Tech, Apple, Meta, Facebook, Federal, crave, Elliott Investment Management, , New York Community Bancorp, Valley Bank, Signature Bank, New York Community Bancorp, Institute for Supply Management, Traders, Federal Reserve, Fed, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S . Locations: Shanghai, U.S, ,

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday as markets awaited a decision on interest rates by the Federal Reserve, while China reported manufacturing contracted in January for a fourth straight month. South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.1% to 2,497.09 after Samsung Electronics reported reported an annual 34% decline in operating profit for the last quarter. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s estimates, and it also gave a forecast for full-year revenue in 2024 that was weaker than expected. Treasury yields were also mixed in the bond market following reports that showed the economy remains stronger than expected. The Federal Reserve began its latest policy meeting on interest rates Tuesday, but virtually no one expects it to cut rates this time.

Persons: Seng, India’s Sensex Organizations: Federal Reserve, Nikkei, Samsung Electronics, PMI, Reserve Bank, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Whirlpool, General Motors, Treasury, Traders, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, China, Shanghai, U.S

☆ Gold set for monthly dip on rate caution; Fed in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee handles one kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Spot gold edged 0.1% lower to $2,033.88 per ounce by 0513 GMT, after touching a two-week high of $2048.12 in the previous session. The chances of a March rate cut have dropped to 44% from about 90% a month ago. "With renewed hopes of a truce in Gaza, today's FOMC meeting runs the risk of disappointing doves and weighing on gold," said Simpson. Spot silver dropped 0.5% to $23.05 per ounce, platinum slipped 0.2% to $918.79, and palladium rose 0.2% to $977.67.

Persons: it's, Matt Simpson, Simpson, Jerome Powell Organizations: Co, Federal Reserve, Fed, Index, Traders, Treasury Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, U.S, Gaza

☆ Gold directionless ahead of US central bank decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee handles one kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold headed for a weekly gain after US price data came in cooler than forecast, reinforcing expectations for multiple interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve next year. Gold prices were in a tight range on Tuesday as traders awaited the U.S. central bank's decision on key policy rates and remarks from Chair Jerome Powell. A Reuters poll showed on Monday that uncertainty about the economy and U.S. interest rate cuts could drive record gold prices in 2024. Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding bullion.

Persons: Gold, Jerome Powell, Ajay Kedia, Powell Organizations: Co, Federal Reserve, Traders, U.S, Kedia Commodities, Wednesday, Treasury Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, U.S, U.S . Federal, Mumbai, United States

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian markets opened the week on a positive note, with Chinese regulators announcing measures to support the country’s teetering stock markets while heavily indebted property developer China Evergrande was ordered to undergo liquidation. China's securities regulator announced on Sunday that beginning Monday, China will suspend the lending of specific shares for short selling, a move to support the country’s declining stock markets. The Federal Reserve’s meeting this week will likely end with no change to interest rates, but traders are split on whether it could begin cutting rates in March. It's trying to slow the economy and hurt investment prices enough through high interest rates to get inflation fully under control. Traders are betting the Fed will cut interest rates as many as six times this year, according to data from CME Group.

Persons: China Evergrande, Evergrande, Australia’s, It's Organizations: China Evergrande, Hong, Hong Kong High Court, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Intel, Fed, Treasury, Traders, CME Group, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, Bangkok

Thursday on Wall Street, the S&P 500 added 0.4% to 4,894.16 and set a record for a fifth straight day. IBM helped lead the market with a gain of 9.5% after it reported a better profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The electric-vehicle maker reported earnings and revenue that fell short of forecasts and warned of lower sales growth this year. Such a resilient economy should drive profits for companies, which are one of the main inputs that set stock prices. On the losing end of Wall Street, Humana tumbled 11.7% after the insurer reported worse results for the end of 2023 than expected.

Persons: ” Robert Carnell, Seng, Tesla, ”, Jamie Cox Organizations: TOKYO, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, ING, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, IBM, U.S ., Federal Reserve, Harris Financial, Treasury, . American Airlines, Humana, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent Locations: U.S, Asia, Pacific, Shanghai, Australia, Wall

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Thursday, with Chinese stocks extending gains after Beijing announced a raft of policies to support sagging markets. Late Wednesday, the Chinese central bank announced a set of rules to govern lending to property developers. Earlier, it said it would cut bank reserve requirements to put about 1 trillion yuan ($141 billion) into the economy. The Chinese economy has slowed, with growth forecast below 5% this year, its lowest level since 1990 excluding the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.17% from 4.14% late Tuesday.

Persons: Sydney's, Brent Organizations: TOKYO, Beijing, Shanghai, China Evergrande Holdings, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Fed, Global, U.S Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul . U.S, Shanghai, U.S

☆ Gold hovers near 1-week low on firm dollar; U.S. data, ECB in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Three 1kg gold bullion bars worth over 155,00 GBP lay on the counter in a gold dealers in Birmingham's jewelry quarter on December 13, 2023 in Birmingham, England. Gold prices have increased since the Ukraine War but have soared to record highs since the start of the Hamas-Israel war. Other factors are the weakening US dollar and expected rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Spot gold rose 0.2% to $2,015.83 per ounce by 0424 GMT. Spot silver rose 0.4% to $22.76 per ounce, platinum climbed 0.3% $901.53, and palladium gained 0.1% to $964.07.

Persons: Kyle Rodda Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, European Central Bank Locations: Birmingham, England, Ukraine, Israel, U.S

☆ Gold holds steady as traders anticipate US economic data
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Spot gold edged 0.1% lower to $2,026.39 per ounce by 0348 GMT. U.S. gold futures fell 0.1% to $2,028.00. The odds of a Fed rate cut in March have dropped to 49% from about 71% two weeks ago, according to LSEG's interest-rate probability app IRPR. The U.S. dollar index fell 0.1%, while yields on benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury notes slipped from a more than a month high to 4.1111%. Spot silver fell 0.2% to $22.55 per ounce, platinum was steady at $898.95, and palladium fell 0.1% to $945.88.

Persons: Matt Simpson Organizations: Federal, U.S, PMI Locations: Singapore, U.S

HONG KONG (AP) — Shares rose in most Asian markets Monday after Wall Street returned to record heights Friday, while Hong Kong’s benchmark dropped more than 2%, hovering near a 15-month low. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gained 1.2% to 36,376.50. Wall Street's run-up was driven in part by hopes for rate cuts as U.S. inflation remained tame. Treasury yields have already relaxed significantly on expectations for rate cuts, and that helped the stock market’s rally accelerate sharply in November. The Fed itself has hinted that rate cuts are coming, though some officials have indicated they may begin later than the market is hoping for.

Persons: Australia’s, that’s, Brent Organizations: Wall, Hong, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, People’s Bank of China, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Broadcom, Texas Instruments, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, U.S, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, Bangkok, Taiwan

☆ Gold heads for worst weekly fall in six as rate-cut view tempers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices have increased since the Ukraine War but have soared to record highs since the start of the Hamas-Israel war. Other factors are the weakening US dollar and expected rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Spot gold was little changed at $2,022.07 per ounce by 0404 GMT, but has fallen 1.3% so far in the week. Markets were betting on 139 basis points (bps) of Fed rate cuts this year, down from 150 bps a week earlier, according to LSEG's interest rate probability app, IRPR. The odds of a Fed rate cut in March have dropped to 54% from about 71% last week, according to IRPR.

Persons: Bullion, Hugo Pascal, Pascal, Raphael Bostic Organizations: Federal Reserve, hawkish Fed, U.S, Atlanta Federal Reserve Locations: Birmingham, England, Ukraine, Israel, InProved, IRPR

HONG KONG (AP) — Asia markets mostly advanced Friday after Wall Street recouped most of the week's earlier losses and Japan reported slowing inflation, which may keep its ultra-low interest rates steady. Japan’s inflation slowed for a second straight month, increasing the chance that the Bank of Japan will keep its ultra-low interest rates unchanged at its meeting next week. Hong Kong stocks were on track for their third consecutive week of losses as investors remain worried about the gloomy economic prospects. The market was broadly steadier as Treasury yields in the bond market slowed their jump from earlier in the week. On the losing end of Wall Street were several financial companies that reported weaker results for the end of 2023 than analysts expected.

Persons: Australia’s, Taiwan’s Taiex, homebuilders, KeyCorp, Brent Organizations: —, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Big Tech, Apple, Broadcom, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Discover Financial Services, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, — Asia, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, Bangkok, United States

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares traded mixed Thursday as pessimism spread among investors about any imminent interest rate cut in the United States. Wall Street slipped following another signal that it may have gotten too optimistic about when the Federal Reserve will deliver the cuts to interest rates. Yields climbed after a report showed sales at U.S. retailers were stronger in December than economists expected. Higher yields can crimp profits for companies, while also making investors less willing to pay high prices for stocks. Higher yields hurt all kinds of investments, and high-growth stocks tend to be some of the hardest hit.

Persons: Australia's, Korea's Kospi, Seng, Brent, Stan Choe, Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Nikkei, Shanghai, Federal Reserve, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, U.S, Treasury, Amazon, Fed, Traders, CME Group, European Central Bank, U.S . Bancorp, Sporting Goods, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, JetBlue, U.S ., AP Locations: United States, Hong, U.S, New York

☆ Gold near 5-week low as rate-cut optimism tapers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold bars arranged at the Korea Gold Exchange store in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Gold prices hovered near five-week lows on Thursday, as hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve officials and robust data dampened investors' expectation for deeper and early interest rate cuts in U.S. this year. The dollar has strengthened substantially in the past few days, putting a strain on gold prices, Brian Lan at the Singapore based dealer GoldSilver Central, said. Money markets were betting on 142 basis points of Fed rate cuts this year, while pricing in a 61% chance of a March easing, according to LSEG's interest rate probability app, IRPR. Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding bullion.

Persons: Brian Lan, it's, GoldSilver's Lan, Raphael Bostic, Bostic, Christopher Waller's Organizations: Korea Gold Exchange, Federal Reserve, GoldSilver, Traders, Atlanta Federal Reserve Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Singapore

☆ Stock Market Today: Indexes Finish Lower as Investors Digest Bank Earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stocks finished lower Tuesday after a Federal Reserve official said the central bank could cut interest rates this year but that the process should be "carefully calibrated and not rushed." Benchmark Treasury yields rose to settle at 4.064%, its highest afternoon level of the year so far. In bank stocks: Morgan Stanley fell after reporting quarterly results, while PNC wavered. Shares of leading U.S.-listed Chinese companies fell, with the Invesco Golden Dragon China exchange-traded fund down nearly 4%. Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday sought to reassure investors about opportunities in his country.

Persons: Stocks, Dow industrials, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Tesla, Elon Musk, Yemen's Houthi, Li Qiang Organizations: Federal Reserve, PNC, Boeing, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Oil, Shell, Benchmark Locations: China

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mostly lower on Wednesday after a decline overnight on Wall Street, while Tokyo's main benchmark momentarily hit another 30-year high. S&P 500 futures fell 0.5% to 4,775.25. Companies across the S&P 500 are likely to report meager growth in profits for the fourth quarter from a year earlier, if any, if Wall Street analysts' forecasts are to be believed. But optimism is higher for 2024, where analysts are forecasting a strong 11.8% growth in earnings per share for S&P 500 companies, according to FactSet. The index remains within 0.6% of its all-time high set two years agoFor now, traders are penciling in many more cuts to rates through 2024 than the Fed itself has indicated.

Persons: Australia's, Korea's Kospi, Stephen Innes, Brent, Stan Choe, Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Dow, Nikkei, Companies, Wall, Federal Reserve, Fed, U.S, AP Locations: Hong, Shanghai, New York

☆ Gold extends slide as dollar firms on hawkish Fedspeak
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices extended losses on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened after hawkish comments from a Federal Reserve official dampened expectations for a March interest rate cut, while traders awaited comments from more Fed speakers this week. Spot gold was down 0.2% at $2,023.49 per ounce, as of 0415 GMT, after stooping 1.3% in the previous session - its biggest single-day decline since Dec. 4, 2023. Flow of funds to the U.S. dollar have been a key driver impacting the gold price, said Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals Ltd, forecasting bullion to trade around $2,000/Oz in the near term. With geopolitical tensions escalating, safe-haven flows could provide a floor for the gold price. However, "the short-term fate of the gold price is likely in the hands of the bond market," Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, wrote in a note.

Persons: Michael Langford, Christopher Waller, Tim Waterer Organizations: U.S ., Federal Reserve, Scorpion Minerals Ltd, Treasury, KCM, U.S Locations: U.S

☆ Stock Market Today: Dow Slips 350 Points; Bank Earnings in Focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stocks turned lower Tuesday after a Federal Reserve official said the central bank could cut interest rates this year but that the process should be "carefully calibrated and not rushed." In Europe, pushback on imminent rate cuts from European Central Bank officials and news that the German economy shrank last year weighed on markets. An index of bank shares fell. Shares of leading U.S.-listed Chinese companies fell, with the Invesco Golden Dragon China exchange-traded fund down 3%. EV company Nio's ADRs were down 8%; Baidu, the owner of China’s largest internet search engine, and e-commerce giant JD.com slid about 4%.

Persons: Stocks, Dow industrials, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Tesla, Elon Musk, Yemen's Houthi, Nio's ADRs Organizations: Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, PNC, Boeing, Shell, Benchmark, EV, Nio's, Baidu Locations: Europe, China

☆ Gold frail as dollar, yields strength dim shine
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee handles one kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold prices were subdued on Tuesday as the dollar and Treasury yields rose, while traders waited to hear from a slew of U.S. Federal Reserve speakers this week for more clarity on the central bank's rate cut prospects. The dollar index touched a 10-day high, making bullion less attractive for other currency holders, while yields on benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury notes rose above 4%. Elsewhere, European Central Bank officials pushed back against market expectations for rapid rate cuts this year. According to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao, spot gold may retrace to $2,042 per ounce, after its repeated failures to break resistance at $2,060.

Persons: Christopher Waller's, Matt Simpson, Christopher Waller, Waller, Simpson, Wang Tao Organizations: Co, . Federal Reserve, Index, Fed, Brookings Institution, Traders, Central Bank Locations: Bangkok, Thailand

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares fell Tuesday in Asia, with Hong Kong’s benchmark down nearly 2%, as jitters over Chinese markets dimmed confidence across the region. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index fell, snapping a New Year’s winning streak that took it to its highest level in 34 years. The dollar weakened against the Japanese yen even as a former central bank official said that the Bank of Japan is preparing to end its longstanding negative interest rate policy. The dollar bought 146.12 yen, up from 145.75 late Monday and at its highest level in more than one month. Traders are largely betting on the Fed cutting its main interest rate six or more times through 2024.

Persons: —, Meituan, Kristalina Georgieva, Kospi, Germany's DAX, It's, Brent Organizations: Dow Jones, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, Tencent, China Garden Holding, Ocean, IMF, CNBC, CAC, Traders, Fed, New York Mercantile Exchange Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, U.S, Shanghai, China, Beijing, South, Australia, Paris

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Monday, with Tokyo extending its New Year rally, as China’s central bank kept its one-year policy loan interest rate unchanged. China’s central bank opted to keep its one-year policy loan interest rate at 2.5% on Monday while injecting funds into the financial system. Traders are largely betting on the Fed cutting its main interest rate six or more times through 2024. The airline and other travel-related companies were also hurt by a rise in oil prices, which put pressure on their fuel costs. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude oil rose 10 cents to $72.78.

Persons: Zhaopeng Xing, Raymond Yeung, “, Ernie, Baidu, Lai Ching, Lai, Taiwan’s Taiex, Australia’s, It's, Yemen’s Houthi, Brent Organizations: ANZ, Baidu, Democratic Progressive Party, Dow Jones, UnitedHealth Group, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Traders, Fed, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Cruise Line Holdings, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, China, Taiwan

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