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☆ Aussie hit by China stimulus scepticism; US dollar firm on Fed outlook
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Aussie dropped as much as 0.51% to $0.6669, the lowest since Sept. 12, before changing hands down 0.38% at $0.6678 as of 0133 GMT. The New Zealand dollar sank as much as 0.69% to $0.6041, a level last seen on Aug. 19. China will hold a press conference on Thursday to discuss promoting the "steady and healthy" development of the property sector. The dollar was little changed at 149.135 yen , not far from Monday's high of 149.98 yen, the strongest since Aug. 1. The euro edged 0.05% lower to $1.08875, and earlier touched $1.0882, matching the low from Tuesday, which was the weakest level since Aug. 8.

Persons: There's, Ray Attrill, there's, Attrill Organizations: New Zealand, National Australia Bank, Statistics, U.S, Traders, Fed, European Central Bank Locations: New Zealand, Beijing, China, Statistics New Zealand

☆ Dollar hovers near two-month peak as Fed easing bets ebb before inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. dollar traded near a two-month peak against major peers on Thursday as markets grew more confident about a patient approach from the Federal Reserve to further monetary easing, even as a key inflation report loomed later in the day. The U.S. dollar traded near a two-month peak against major peers on Thursday as markets grew more confident about a patient approach from the Federal Reserve to further monetary easing, even as a key inflation report loomed later in the day. The euro languished near its lowest since Aug. 13, while against the yen, the dollar hovered close to its strongest level since Aug. 15. The dollar index was little changed at 102.86 as of 0024 GMT, sticking close to Wednesday's high of 102.93. The greenback eased 0.18% to 149.035 yen , but was not far from the overnight peak of 146.365.

Persons: Kyle Rodda, —, Rodda, Mary Daly Organizations: U.S ., Federal Reserve, Reuters, U.S, CPI, Francisco Fed, Traders, New Locations: U.S

☆ Russia's ruble hits the lowest level in a year against the dollar and the yuan
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's ruble continued to sag against the dollar and the yuan, hitting its lowest level in a year. That drop comes ahead of a key US Treasury license expiring this month. AdvertisementRussia's ruble sank to its lowest level in a year against the US dollar and China's yuan this week. The ruble fell to around 97 against the dollar on Thursday, its lowest level against the greenback since October of 2023. The ruble traded around 13.72 against the yuan, also the lowest level against China's currency in a year.

Persons: — Organizations: Treasury, Reuters, Service, Moscow Exchange, National Clearing Center, US Treasury Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Russia can rely on China for the yuan, but China can't rely on anyone else
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Western sanctions have forced Russia to rely on the Chinese yuan for reserves and trade. China's financial system is deeply tied to the greenback, limiting diversification options. These include the entrenched role of the greenback in the global commodities trade and much larger foreign reserves than Russia, wrote Greene, a former senior advisor at the US Treasury. However, many CIPS participants are highly connected to the dollar financial system and potentially subject to the reach of US sanctions. The dollar is still kingIn short, China just can't copy Russia's sanctions-proofing playbook and is likely to continue orbiting around the dollar financial system in the near-term.

Persons: —, China —, Robert Greene, Greene, China's, It's, dollarization, James Lord, Morgan Stanley's, Michael Zezas Organizations: Service, Carnegie Endowment Asia, US Treasury, Patomak Global Partners, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Locations: Russia, China, Beijing, Russia's, Ukraine

☆ Gold prices flat as dollar strength counters safe-haven demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold bar bullions ingot, selective focus, crisis safe haven for investment or reserve for country economics. Gold prices were flat on Wednesday, as a firmer dollar partially offset safe-heaven demand amid heightened Middle East tensions, while investors awaited U.S. data for further economic cues. Spot gold held its ground at $2,659.79 per ounce, as of 0325 GMT, after rising more than 1% in the previous session. "Gold benefited from safe-haven demand during a risk-off session on Tuesday. Meanwhile, physical demand for gold in key markets has dropped due to high prices, with some retail consumers selling their holdings to lock in profits, industry players and analysts said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Bullion, Matt Simpson, payrolls, Simpson Organizations: Israel, Index, Federal Reserve, NFP, Traders Locations: Iran, Tehran

☆ China's stock surge has echoes of the 2015 bubble. What's different this time
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBEIJING — The rocket higher in Chinese stocks so far looks different from the market bubble in 2015, analysts said. Major mainland China stock indexes surged by more than 8% Monday, extending a winning streak on the back of stimulus hopes. Stock market leverage by percentage and value were far higher in 2015 than data for Monday showed, according to Wind Information. He added that there are market risks from how unprepared the stock trading system was for the surge of buying. Reports indicate brokerages have been overwhelmed with new requests, echoing how individuals piled into the stock market nearly a decade earlier.

Persons: Aaron Costello, We're, Xi Jinping, Zhu Ning, Stephen Roach, Yale Law School's Paul Tsai, Costello, Peter Alexander, it's, —, Alexander Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, Cambridge Associates, U.S ., greenback, U.S, CSI, People's Bank of China, Nikkei, Yale Law, Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center, Ministry of Finance, Ben Advisors, Shanghai Stock Exchange Locations: Hangzhou, China, BEIJING, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Asia, MSCI, People's Republic of China, Beijing

☆ Dollar drifts, risk-sensitive currencies lifted by China optimism
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The dollar wobbled on Friday, poised for a fourth straight week of declines as investors weighed U.S. data to gauge the pace of interest rate cuts, while China's spree of stimulus measures kept risk-sensitive currencies aloft. The dollar wobbled on Friday, poised for a fourth straight week of declines as investors weighed U.S. data to gauge the pace of interest rate cuts, while China's spree of stimulus measures kept risk-sensitive currencies aloft. "This suggests a more cautious approach to interest rate cuts, prioritizing a balance between the Fed's employment mandate and keeping an eye on inflation risks." The risk-sensitive Australian and New Zealand dollars also held near multi-year highs due to China stimulus plans. AUD/On Thursday, China's leaders pledged to support the struggling economy through "forceful" interest rate cuts and adjustments to fiscal and monetary policies, stoking expectations for more stimulus.

Persons: Ryan Brandham, Sterling, China's Organizations: Federal Reserve, North America, Validus Risk, New, Communist Party, ING Locations: U.S, China, New Zealand

☆ Gold, silver head for weekly gains on U.S. rate-cut momentum
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold and silver prices retreated on Friday from record highs, but were positioned for weekly gains on growing anticipation of another bumper U.S. interest rate cut this year, as markets awaited a key inflation report for additional guidance. Gold and silver prices retreated on Friday from record highs, but were positioned for weekly gains on growing anticipation of another bumper U.S. interest rate cut this year, as markets awaited a key inflation report for additional guidance. Silver prices surged due to bullion's strong performance and China's stimulus measures, though some analysts warn that the rally may fade due to concerns over industrial demand. The Federal Reserve's larger-than-usual half-percentage-point reduction last week ignited a rally in gold, which hit consecutive record highs and has gained about 1.8% so far this week. Gold prices are currently supported by anticipated U.S. Fed interest rate cuts and China's stimulus measures, both of them are weakening the dollar, said Kyle Rodda, financial market analyst at Capital.com.

Persons: Kyle Rodda Organizations: FedWatch, U.S, BMI Locations: U.S

☆ Gold touches record high on rate-cut bets, weaker U.S. dollar
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold bars sit in a vault at the Perth Mint Refinery, operated by Gold Corp, in Perth, Australia, on August 9, 2018. Gold hit a record high on Wednesday, boosted by a softer U.S. dollar and hopes of more interest rate cuts, while investors looked for new signals for the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory. Spot gold was steady at $2,658.08 per ounce, as of 0557 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $2,670.43 earlier. On Tuesday, China announced a slew of support measures including outsized rate cuts, after the U.S. Fed cut rates by 50 basis points last week. Inflows to gold exchange-traded funds, particularly from Western investors, will rise in the coming months, providing further support for record-high bullion prices, analysts said.

Persons: Gold, Kelvin Wong, OANDA's, Wong, Michelle Bowman, Jerome Powell's, heightening Organizations: Perth Mint Refinery, Gold Corp, U.S, Fed, Asia Pacific, Traders Locations: Perth, Australia, China, Beirut

☆ Chinese yuan hits strongest level against the dollar in over 16 months as investors assess PBOC stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Chinese yuan has weakened sharply against the U.S. dollar in the last several weeks as the greenback strengthens and investors worry about China's economic growth. China's yuan hit its strongest level in over 16 months on Wednesday after Beijing unveiled a slate of stimulus measures to shore up the slowing economy on Tuesday. The Chinese offshore yuan strengthened briefly to 6.9946 per dollar, the strongest since May 2023. China's onshore yuan is currently trading at 7.0319 against the greenback, also holding at the strongest levels since last May. China bonds rallied after the PBOC announcement with 10-year and 30-year yields hitting record lows.

Persons: Ben Emons, Edmund Goh, Zerlina Zeng, CreditSights, Pan Gongsheng, Emons, Hong, — CNBC's Evelyn Cheng Organizations: U.S, Beijing, greenback, Fed Watch, BNP, U.S ., Asia Credit, People's Bank of China Gov, CSI Locations: China, abrdn, Hong Kong, London, Singapore, New York

☆ Australian, New Zealand dollars scale new highs on China boost
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An Australian one-hundred dollar banknote, top, and a New Zealand one-hundred dollar banknote are arranged for a photograph in Hong Kong, China, on Thursday, March 13, 2014. The Australian and New Zealand dollars scaled multi-month peaks on Wednesday while sterling hit its highest in more than two years against a weaker dollar, as China's aggressive stimulus package provided the latest shot in the arm for risk appetite. Data on Tuesday showed U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly fell in September, amid mounting worries over the health of the labor market. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar last stood at 100.28, languishing near a more than one-year low of 100.21. The dollar index had fallen more than 0.5% in the previous session, its largest one-day percentage fall in a month.

Persons: Sterling, Carol Kong, Wells Organizations: New, Bank of, Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, greenback, Markets Locations: Australian, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Bank of England, U.S, Wells Fargo

☆ A stunning sterling rally is about to collide with Britain's political realities
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Sterling breached $1.33 against the greenback for the first time since March 2022 on Thursday, and was trading at $1.3315 early London time Monday. The pound's rally was tied to the BOE communication and "looks fully justified," Chris Turner, global head of markets at ING, said in a Friday note. Higher rates are traditionally a positive for a domestic currency as the higher yield can attract more foreign capital. watch nowGabriella Dickens, G7 economist at AXA Investment Managers, also cautioned on the pound's outlook in a note Thursday. If the government is more stringent on fiscal policy, we think the Bank will be forced to increase the pace of the cutting cycle to offset the hit on both households' and businesses' finances."

Persons: Keir Starmer, BOE, Chris Turner, Turner, Jane Foley, Gabriella Dickens, Dickens Organizations: Bank of England, Labour, Sterling, greenback, London, ING, Fed, U.K, European Union, Rabobank London, CNBC, AXA Investment, Bank, quicken Locations: Britain, –

☆ Bitcoin jumps while Japan holiday dulls most currencies
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged last week and indicated it was not in a hurry to hike them again. That decision, coming just days after the Fed's 50 basis points rate cut, put a pause to the yen's sharp gains this month. With Japan closed for Autumnal Equinox Day, the main driver of trade was expectations around further Fed rate cuts and the gains those have spurred in equities, commodity currencies and other risk assets. The Fed's rate cut "appears to have calmed market fears of a U.S. recession", Goldman Sachs said in a note. Meanwhile, the majority of economists polled by Reuters anticipate two more 25 bps rate cuts at the Fed's final two meetings this year.

Persons: Bitcoin, Goldman Sachs, Christopher Waller, Fumio Kishida, Takaichi —, —, Shigeru Ishiba, Shinjiro Koizumi, Junichiro Koizumi, Takaichi, pare Organizations: Federal, Bank of Japan, Japan, U.S, U.S ., FedWatch, Treasury, Reuters, House Republicans, Liberal Democratic Party, Barclays, The Bank of Locations: United States, Japan, U.S, The Bank of England

☆ Japan's Nikkei leads Asia-Pacific markets higher as investors digest outsized Fed rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Anniek Bao | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is displayed outside Two International Finance Centre in Hong Kong on June 19, 2013. Japan's Nikkei 225 led Asia-Pacific markets higher Thursday, as traders assessed the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by a half-percentage point. The Fed lowered its benchmark borrowing rate by a half percentage point, bringing its target range to 4.75% to 5%. In lockstep with the Fed, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority cut its interest rate by 50 basis points to 5.25, as the city's currency is pegged to the greenback. Hong Kong markets will return to trade after being closed for a public holiday on Wednesday.

Persons: Hong Organizations: Hong, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, International Finance, Japan's Nikkei, Nikkei, U.S ., Fed Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific

☆ Dollar rebounds after Fed goes big on rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. dollar rose broadly on Thursday, recovering from an earlier tumble in the immediate aftermath of the Federal Reserve's outsized interest rate cut that had been largely priced in by markets. The U.S. dollar rose broadly on Thursday, recovering from an earlier tumble in the immediate aftermath of the Federal Reserve's outsized interest rate cut that had been largely priced in by markets. Fed policymakers on Wednesday projected the benchmark interest rate would fall by another half of a percentage point by the end of this year, a full percentage point next year and half of a percentage point in 2026, though they said the outlook that far into the future is necessarily uncertain. "So to expect an easing today because of what the Fed has done seems a little bit too hard to believe." Elsewhere, the Australian dollar edged up 0.05% against its U.S. counterpart to $0.6768, while the New Zealand dollar advanced 0.04% to $0.6210.

Persons: Jerome Powell, it's, Rodrigo Catril, —, Eric Robertsen, Sterling, NAB's Organizations: U.S, Wednesday, Reuters, National Australia Bank, Bank of England, New Zealand Locations: U.S, Singapore

☆ Hong Kong central bank cuts interest rate, tracks Fed move
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

People wearing face masks walk by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on March 4, 2020 in Hong Kong. HKMA said the U.S. interest rate cut will have a positive impact on the economy of the Asia financial center and will provide some room for easing of local interest rates. "In Hong Kong, our financial and monetary markets have continued to operate in a smooth and orderly manner. "The rate cut cycle has just begun, interest rates will remain at relatively high level in the foreseeble future. The public should carefully assess and continue to manage the interest rate risk when making property purchase, mortgage or other lending decisions," Lee added.

Persons: HKMA, Howard Lee, Lee Organizations: Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong, HK, U.S ., U.S . Federal Reserve, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, United States, U.S, Asia

☆ The biggest threat to the US dollar is America's exorbitant debt load, JPMorgan says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

One of the main takeaways was that the biggest threats to dollar dominance are swelling US debt levels and fiscal deficits, which officials in Washington could step up to tackle. "The biggest challenge to US dollar dominance is the US itself given the mounting public debt levels and elevated fiscal deficits," JPMorgan said, in a note summarizing the webinar. For instance, many alarmists have focused on the dollar's share in foreign reserve holdings, often pointing out that the foreign central banks have piled into gold as an alternative. But this fixation omits the fact that bank deposits, sovereign wealth fund assets, and other dollar instruments have been on the rise among reserve holdings, JPMorgan said. "In China's case, it has had an explicit target to bring down dollar holdings in FX reserve but has shifted USD holdings to state-owned entities.

Persons: —, Peter G, Mark Sobel —, Trump, Sobel Organizations: JPMorgan, Service, US, Peterson Foundation, Treasury, Monetary, Financial, greenback Locations: Washington, China

☆ CNBC's Inside India newsletter: What happens when the Fed cuts rates?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Historically, a rate cut has been a signal for central banks in emerging markets, like India, to follow by easing monetary policy in their regions. The latest data shows that the inflation rate appears to be heading in the wrong direction in India. The headline inflation rate rose in August to 3.65% compared to 3.6% in the previous month. Instead, markets have simply hit snooze on a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India for the moment. If there's no global recession, a risk-on sentiment will likely help push up emerging market equities in the medium term after the U.S. central bank cuts rates.

Persons: Shah, Mahesh Nandurkar, Surendra Goyal, CNBC's, BofA, Banks Organizations: Federal, Reserve Bank of India, Reserve Bank, Capital Economics, India, greenback, Federal Reserve, Jefferies, Bank of America, Citi, India Research, Bank Locations: India, U.S

☆ Trump likely wouldn’t need Congress to approve his most controversial trade policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —It’s easy to dismiss many presidential candidates’ campaign promises as empty, because Congress would need to approve them. Alex Durante, an economist at the Tax Foundation, a right-leaning think tank, told CNN that 100% tariffs would threaten the economy. It’s possible he is floating 100% tariffs as just a threat designed to change the behavior of other countries. ‘No question it’s inflationary’The Trump campaign did not provide an explanation to CNN about how Trump would implement 100% tariffs nor what the trigger would be. He said Trump’s tariff plan, if enacted, would risk setting off a market panic like former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss did in 2022.

Persons: New York CNN —, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Trump, “, you’re, ” Maury Obstfeld, Obstfeld, ” Obstfeld, Christine McDaniel, George W, Bush, ”, McDaniel, George Mason University’s, Alex Durante, ” Durante, Brian Hughes, ” Hughes, ‘, Harris, Kamala Harris, ” Kent Smetters, Smetters, Wharton “, it’s, ” Wharton, Liz, Joe Brusuelas, ” “ I’m, Joe Biden, Biden, Brusuelas, Liz Truss, Matt Priest, Trump’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Peterson Institute for International Economics, CNN, International Monetary Fund, Trump, United States Trade Representative, Commerce Department, Tax Foundation, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Penn Wharton Budget, Wharton, ABC, RSM, Democratic, Footwear Distributors, Retailers of America Locations: New York, Wisconsin, United States, China, Russia, “, American

☆ The yen is strengthening, but foreign investors are staying bullish on Japanese equities
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Hakyung Kim | In Hakyungkim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

For investors holding Japanese assets denominated in yen, the decline of the currency led to the value of their gains increasing. McManus isn't the only one who increased his exposure into the Japanese market following the early August sell-off. Before the yen started to strengthen, "Japanese investors could benefit because their lives and portfolios are denominated in yen. As a result, an appreciating yen will help overseas investors realize gains from the Japanese market as it continues its rebound. "This suggests that, if the cycle is heading towards [a] period of persistent yen strength, global investors should overweight Japan," Jefferies said.

Persons: —, we're, Janus Henderson, Julian McManus, McManus, Jefferies, Shrikant Kale, Janus Henderson's McManus, Morgan Stanley, Daniel Blake, Peter Perkins, Perkins Organizations: Toyota, Bank of, U.S, Nikkei, Bank of America, Macro Research, Partners, Federal Reserve Locations: Japan

☆ Oil prices ease as markets refocus on demand worries
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday, breaking a five-day streak of gains, as markets refocused on concerns about demand after OPEC on Monday cut its forecast for demand growth in 2024 due to softer expectations in China. Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday, breaking a five-day streak of gains, as markets refocused on concerns about demand after OPEC on Monday cut its forecast for demand growth in 2024 due to softer expectations in China. Global benchmark Brent crude futures dipped 41 cents, or 0.5%, lower to $81.89 a barrel at 0005 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell to $79.63 a barrel, down 43 cents, or 0.5%. Brent had gained more than 3% on Monday, while U.S. crude futures had risen more than 4%.

Persons: Brent, John Kirby, CME's Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, of, Petroleum, White House, Wednesday's, U.S Locations: China, Iran, United States

☆ Dollar tenses for data verdict on rate cut risks
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The greenback was idling at 147.17 yen , having briefly touched a one-week high of 148.23 overnight before profit-taking emerged. More important will be the consumer price report and retail sales for July which could have a material impact on whether the Fed eases by 25 basis points or 50 basis points in September. The former outcome would likely lift Treasury yields and support the dollar, while the latter would have the opposite effect. The futures market clearly still sees recession as a risk with 101 basis points of Fed easing priced in by Christmas, and more than 120 basis points for next year. "Although the trend is moderating, inflation is too high for the Fed to justify the market pricing 100bp of rate cuts between September and year-end."

Organizations: Federal Reserve, JPMorgan, Swiss, Atlanta Fed, ANZ

☆ Dollar gains after U.S. jobless claims fall more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen banknotes of various denominations are arranged in Kawasaki, Japan, on Friday, June 23, 2023. The dollar rose on Thursday after new U.S. labor market data showed that unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, easing fears of an imminent recession. Initial jobless claims fell to a seasonally adjusted 233,000 for the week ended Aug. 3, the Labor Department said on Thursday, suggesting fears that the labor market is unraveling were overblown. The sharp moves in the yen pushed the dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against six others, including the yen, to a weekly high, before backing off. The Australian dollar rose 1.12% to $0.659, while the New Zealand dollar was up 0.25% at $0.601.

Persons: Shinichi Uchida, Eugene Epstein, Uchida, Marc Chandler, Jerome Powell, Vasu Menon, bitcoin, Ether Organizations: Labor Department, Bank of Japan's, Bannockburn Global Forex, U.S . Federal, Swiss, New Zealand Locations: Kawasaki, Japan, North America, Moneycorp, ., Bannockburn

☆ Nikkei 225: Asian markets make solid gains following global rout
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Asian markets made solid gains Wednesday, with Japanese shares reversing early losses after a central bank official played down the prospect of an immediate hike in interest rates. The gains follow days of volatility, which saw the Nikkei suffering Monday its biggest daily loss since 1987. “We won’t raise interest rates when financial markets are unstable,” he was quoted as saying in a speech to executives in the northern Japanese city of Hakodate. The central bank has hiked interest rates twice this year in a bid to contain inflation. Decades of extremely low interest rates in Japan had seen many investors borrow cash cheaply there before converting it to other currencies to invest in higher-yielding assets.

Persons: Shinichi Uchida, Kospi, Hong, Taiex, Uchida, ”, Olesya Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, US, Dow, Nasdaq Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, South, Hakodate, “, Japan, Europe, London

The day's rout was sparked by a massive sell-off in Japanese stocks. The Nikkei fell 12.4%, its worst day since the 1987 "Black Monday" crash rattled investors around the world. Spencer Platt / Getty ImagesThe Japanese drawdown, in turn, was partly in response to the worse-than-expected jobs report published Friday that showed U.S. unemployment rising to 4.3% and just 114,000 jobs added in July. As soon as that report was published, stocks started erasing some of their earlier losses, while bond purchases, which had surged as investors sought safe-haven assets, faded. It’s a much easier decision to say I want to take my chips and go home here.”

Persons: Stocks, Spencer Platt, Apple, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, ”, Michael Farr, Farr Organizations: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Dow, Nikkei, New York Stock Exchange, Getty, Federal, Institute for Supply Management, Bank of Japan, U.S . Federal Reserve, Nvidia, Intel, Microsoft, Buffett, Miller & Washington Locations: New York City, U.S, Berkshire

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