DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Dollar adrift as traders assess Fed options; Aussie buoyant
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In the broader currency market, the U.S. dollar dipped in early Asia trade, as traders pared back their expectations of a rate hike at next week's FOMC meeting. Against the greenback, sterling rose 0.08% to $1.2432, while the kiwi gained 0.08% to $0.6084. "We don't think the FOMC will hike next week ... but risks again are skewed to the upside," said Kong. The U.S. dollar index slipped 0.03% to 104.05, while the euro rose 0.07% to $1.0698. CRYPTO SHAKEOUTIn the cryptoverse, bitcoin , the world's biggest cryptocurrency, was last marginally higher at $27,273, after jumping nearly 6% on Tuesday.

Persons: Philip Lowe, Carol Kong, Lowe, CRYPTO, Coinbase, Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Tony Sycamore, Rae Wee, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Federal Reserve, Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, U.S, Fed, The U.S, European Central Bank, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, IG Markets, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Asia, U.S, The, Turkish

☆ A new bull market in stocks won't take off until 3 key factors improve, RBA says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The new bull market won't take off until three things improve, RBA said. The firm pointed to the importance of profits, liquidity, and sentiment when evaluating bull markets. Stocks won't begin a bullish trajectory until at least one of those factors improves, the firm added. Those gains have led some commentators to call the start of a new bull market — but that likely isn't the case until key catalysts show improvement, RBA said. "While it is certainly possible for this rally to evolve into a full-fledged bull market, historical precedent suggests it is far from a foregone conclusion," RBA's deputy chief investment officer Dan Suzuki said in a report on Monday.

Persons: RBA, —, Richard Bernstein, RBA's, Dan Suzuki Organizations: Stocks, Service, Richard Bernstein Advisors, JPMorgan

The Bank of Canada's decision to raise rates to a 22-year high of 4.75% was not widely expected. This followed an equally surprising rate hike from Australia the day before, a one-two hawkish punch from policymakers that investors had probably not braced for. The Reserve Bank of India is expected to leave its key interest rate unchanged at 6.50% and for the rest of 2023, according to a Reuters poll of economists. The Australian dollar, which hit a one-month high on Wednesday following the RBA's rate hike, could get a nudge from Australian trade data on Thursday. Here are three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Thursday:- India interest rate decision- Japan GDP (Q1, revised)- Australia trade (April)By Jamie McGeever;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jamie McGeever Organizations: Nasdaq, Mega Tech, Reserve Bank of, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: India, Canada, Australia, Reserve Bank of India, Japan

☆ Greenback gains, Aussie jumps on RBA rate hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Karen Brettell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, June 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar gained against the euro and yen on Tuesday as investors focused on the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will continue hiking rates, while the Aussie jumped after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) surprised with a rate increase. “We’re waiting to see if inflation is going to provide some upside surprises,” said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA in New York. Fed funds futures traders see the Fed as likely to then resume rate increases, with a 65% chance of an at least 25 basis-point increase in July, according to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool. The euro was last down 0.15% against the dollar at $1.0694 and the greenback gained 0.06% to 139.64 yen . ========================================================Currency bid prices at 3:00PM (1900 GMT)Additional reporting by Samuel Indyk in London; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: “, ”, Edward Moya, we’re, Moya, Chris Turner, Samuel Indyk, Sharon Singleton, Chizu Organizations: YORK, U.S ., Federal Reserve, Reserve Bank of Australia, New York Fed, Bank of, BoC, U.S, Canadian, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, London

The Aussie was last up 0.6% at $0.6656, after leaping as high as $0.6686, a level last seen on May 16. "For this week it will be wait-and-see mode for euro-dollar," Al-Saraf said, expecting euro-dollar to remain rangebound around 1.07. Meanwhile, the dollar was flat at 139.58 yen , while sterling fell 0.2% to $1.2410. Elsewhere, bitcoin attempted to find its feet around $25,700, after tumbling 5.1% on Monday in its biggest drop since April 19. Reporting by Samuel Indyk and Kevin Buckland; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill and Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sean Callow, Chris Turner, Mohamad Al, Saraf, bitcoin, Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Samuel Indyk, Kevin Buckland, Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill, Ed Osmond Organizations: Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia, U.S, Westpac, Bank of, BoC, Canadian, CENTRAL FOCUS, Market, Danske Bank, Fed, European Central Bank, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: U.S

In the previous session, the index dropped as data pointing to tepid U.S. business activity sparked profit-taking following gains in the prior week. MSCI's broadest index of world stocks (.MIWD00000PUS) was largely flat, while Tokyo's Nikkei (.N225) gained 0.90% and China's blue-chip index (.CSI300) dropped almost 1%. Three months ago, the question was how fast would rate hikes come. Now, a pause and then more U.S. rates hikes could follow as a result of sticky inflation, said Mike Kelly, head of multi-asset at PineBridge Investments. In oil markets, prices gave up most gains from the previous session after the world's top exporter, Saudi Arabia, said it would further cut output.

Persons: Toby Melville, Germany's DAX, Mike Kelly, We're, Gary Dugan, bitcoin, Nell Mackenzie, Dhara Ranasinghe, Mark Potter Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, City of, REUTERS, Reserve, British Retail Consortium, Tokyo's Nikkei, Reserve Bank of Australia, Fed, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, PineBridge Investments, Saxo Markets, Dalma, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, U.S, Saudi Arabia

Chinese trade data for May will be the main focus, especially imports, which have been sluggish for over a year. It was one of the main catalysts for investors turning bearish on Chinese assets and the economy in recent weeks. Further signs of a struggling economy will likely keep the yuan on the defensive, even if the overall trade surplus is relatively large. The CBOE volatility index - the so-called Wall Street fear index - closed below 14.0 for the first time since February 2020. Here are three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Wednesday:- China trade balance (May)- Australia GDP (Q1)- FX reserves - China, Japan, IndonesiaBy Jamie McGeever;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jamie McGeever Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Aussie, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asia, Pacific, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia

The Reserve Bank of Australia delivers its latest interest rate decision on Tuesday, undoubtedly the centerpiece event for Asian and Pacific markets but potentially of interest to U.S. Fed watchers too. Interest rate futures markets currently attach a 66% chance the RBA pauses, and a one-in-three chance it raises the cash rate by a quarter point to 4.10%. Holders of Australian assets will be pay particularly close attention to policymakers' statement and RBA governor Philip Lowe's press conference after the decision for guidance. Here are three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Tuesday:- Australia interest rate decision- Australia current account (Q1)- Japan household spending (April)By Jamie McGeever;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. 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, Philip Lowe's Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, Fed, Reserve, Australian, Apple, Thomson, Reuters Locations: U.S, Australia, Japan

☆ Aussie housing dip over, prices to rebound into next year on rate view
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Vivek Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary poll dataBENGALURU, June 1 (Reuters) - Australia's housing market outlook has improved significantly, with home prices expected to on average stagnate this year compared to the near double-digit fall predicted three months ago, according to a Reuters poll of housing analysts. They were then forecast to rise 4.5% in 2024, almost twice the expected rate from the previous poll. While ANZ and Westpac forecast no growth this year, CBA expected a 3.0% rise and NAB predicted a 4.0% decline in prices. "We are almost at the top of the RBA's hiking cycle, which means the headwind on property prices from rates ratcheting higher has largely run its course." (For other stories from the Reuters quarterly housing market polls:)Reporting by Vivek Mishra; Polling by Sujith Pai and Veronica Khongwir; Editing by Hari Kishan, Ross FinleyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Adelaide Timbrell, Gareth Aird, Shane Oliver, Vivek Mishra, Sujith Pai, Veronica Khongwir, Hari Kishan, Ross Finley Organizations: Bank of Australia, ANZ, Westpac, CBA, NAB, Economics, AMP, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, New Zealand

☆ Australia employment unexpectedly drops, reinforcing rate pause bets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, May 18 (Reuters) - Australia employment unexpectedly dipped in April after two months of outsized gains, and the jobless rate also ticked up in a sign the red-hot labour market might be cooling, bolstering the case for a pause in interest rate hikes next month. The jobless rate ticked up to a three-month high of 3.7% from a near 50-year low of 3.5%, when analysts had expected no change. Markets reinforced bets of a rate pause next month but were pricing in some risk of a move in August or September. "We expect to see a gradual softening in labour market conditions over 2023 as the impact of interest rate increases to date start to bite," said Sean Langcake, head of macroeconomic forecasting for Oxford Economics Australia. "NAB's view is that there will likely be at least one further rate increase, but we remain close to the peak of this interest rate cycle."

☆ Australian consumer mood bleak in May after surprise rate hike, budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, May 16 (Reuters) - A measure of Australian consumer sentiment fell in May after a surprise hike in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and a "mildly disappointing" federal budget clouded the outlook for family finances and the economy. But Evans expects the RBA to leave rates on hold in June as it awaits more data on inflation and the economy. Some consumers may have had "unrealistic expectations" going into the budget with many expecting more support, Evans said. Higher living costs meant consumers were holding off on buying a major household item, with the index dipping 0.4%. Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia's c.bank hiked in May due to inflation risks, more raises may be required
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, May 16(Reuters) - Australia's central bank decided to hike at its May meeting due to inflation risks from weak productivity growth, persistently high services inflation and faster-than-forecast rental increases, saying more rate rises may be required. Minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's May 2 policy meeting released on Tuesday said board members also considered a pause, but that the inflation risks warranted a 25 basis point increase, after holding rates steady in April. "Members also agreed that further increases in interest rates may still be required, but that this would depend on how the economy and inflation evolve." Inflation is not expected to decline to the top of the Bank's 2-3% target range until mid-2025, leaving little room for upside risks, the May minutes said. Governor Philip Lowe has warned that the central bank cannot take too long to being inflation to heel.

☆ Tunisia synagogue attack toll up to 6, local media says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Members of the security forces stand near the entrance of Ghriba synagogue, following an attack, in Djerba, Tunisia May 10, 2023. REUTERS/StringerTUNIS, May 10 (Reuters) - A Tunisian security officer who was wounded in Tuesday's shooting attack outside a synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba has died, hospital sources said, bringing the death toll to six including the shooter. Israel's Foreign Ministry described the attack as a "lethal shooting incident", with a spokesperson saying it was still under investigation. The United States and France said Tunisian security forces had responded quickly. The pilgrimage has had tight security since al Qaeda militants attacked the synagogue in 2002 with a truck bomb, killing 21 Western tourists.

☆ POLL RBA to hike rates further this year, say economists in snap poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Devayani Sathyan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On May 2, the RBA startled economists and financial markets with a hike. Our expectation is that the final rate hike occurs in August. Over 85% of respondents, 25 of 29, expected no hike from the central bank at its June 6 meeting, while four predicted a 25 basis point hike. Among major local banks, only ANZ forecast a 25 basis point hike in Q3 while Westpac and CBA predicted an extended pause. Median forecasts showed the cash rate remaining at 4.10% until year-end, 25 basis points higher than the peak expected in an April poll.

☆ Australia central bank stuns market with 25-bps hike, says more might be needed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Wrapping up its May policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted rates to 3.85% and said "some further" tightening may be required to ensure that inflation returns to target in a reasonable timeframe. Investors reacted by pushing the Australian dollar 0.9% higher to $0.6687, while three-year bond futures slumped 16 ticks to 96.85. "Given the importance of returning inflation to target within a reasonable timeframe, the Board judged that a further increase in interest rates was warranted today." Home prices are also showing signs of bottoming out, having risen for the second straight month in April, supported by rising migration levels and a chronic shortage in housing supply. Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

May 2 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. The White House said First Republic was "severely mismanaged," the takeover protects depositors and the current banking turmoil bears no resemblance to 2008. Anyone who went long mega tech and short regional U.S. banks on Dec. 31 will be sitting pretty today. Expectations for further tightening this year are far from certain, and are gradually being pushed into the third quarter. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Australia's home prices rise again in sign of market bottom
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, May 1 (Reuters) - Australian home prices rose for a second straight month in April, in a further signal that the nation's property market may have hit a floor ahead of a central bank rate decision on Tuesday. Figures from property consultant CoreLogic released on Monday showed prices nationally rose 0.5% in April from March, when values were up 0.6%, indicating Australian home prices may have bottomed out after slumping 9.1% from May 2022 to February. We now expect home prices to rise by 3% in 2023 and forecast a further increase of 5% in 2024." Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP, also no longer expects a top-to-bottom fall of 15-20% in housing prices, citing "a far worse property demand and supply imbalance" with immigration levels surging and supply remaining tight. PropTrack data on Monday showed that home prices rose 0.14% in April, bringing the cumulative increase this year to 0.75%.

☆ Australia inflation slows in Q1, market leans against rate hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The annual pace slowed to 7.0%, from 7.8%, suggesting inflation had finally peaked after two years of rapid acceleration in costs. For March alone, the CPI rose 6.3% on the year, down from 6.8% in February. Still, core inflation remains far above the RBA's target band of 2-3% and policy makers have been worried it could fuel a price wage spiral absent further tightening. "Headline inflation has peaked, and weaker tradables inflation will contribute to slower inflation over the rest of 2023," said Sean Langcake, head of macroeconomic forecasting for BIS Oxford Economics. "But we think there is enough momentum in core and services inflation to warrant tighter policy settings, and maintain our expectation for another rate hike in May."

☆ Australia's central bank to get new rate-setting board under review shake up
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Philip Lowe, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, speaks during a news conference in Sydney on April 20, 2023. Australia's central bank is expected to get a new specialist board to manage monetary policy that will give independent expert members more responsibility for setting interest rates, a dilution of the bank's traditional power over policy. Importantly for market confidence, the RBA's new Monetary Policy Board (MPB) would retain its independence from government and its flexible inflation target of 2% to 3%. The current mandate is unusual among central banks in having a broad remit for the economic prosperity and welfare of the Australian people. Similar criticisms have been levelled against many central banks over the effectiveness of policy communication to markets and the wider public.

☆ Australia central bank to get new rate-setting board under review recommendations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The central bank should keep its flexible inflation target of 2-3% but aim to return inflation to the mid-point rather than average it over time. Importantly for market confidence, the RBA's Monetary Policy Board (MPB) would retain its independence from government control. Chalmers is also due to announce two new external board members for the RBA later on Thursday, to replace members whose terms are expiring this year. MPB members should be more accountable for their role in setting monetary policy, the review said. Current RBA Governor Philip Lowe has come in for much criticism after telling borrowers in 2021 that interest rates were unlikely to rise until 2024.

☆ Australia nears wide-ranging shake up of its central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, April 17 (Reuters) - Australia's Treasurer on Monday said he was close to announcing details of a wide-ranging review into the country's central bank which would require legal changes for some steps, underlining the scope of the shake-up. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the independent review had provided 51 recommendations for changing how the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) operates and formulates policy. "There are some recommendations which would require legislative change," Chalmers told a media conference. "There are some that would require the governor and the board to change the way that they go about things at the bank." The review is expected to have recommended changes to the RBA's policy making board, which currently consists of two RBA staff, the Treasury secretary and six business people.

April 6 (Reuters) - There will be no Asia Morning Bid on Friday, April 7. Chinese services PMI and Australian trade figures are also on the docket Thursday, while remarks from Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe on could shed further light on the RBA's outlook following Tuesday's policy decision. chartIt's a difficult one to call, and after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's hawkish surprise on Wednesday, investors would do well to be humble in their predictions. Wall Street is finally buckling, rates markets are now gunning for almost 100 basis points of Fed rate cuts this year and the dollar is sagging. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ RBA to hike rates 25 bps on April 4 but decision on a knife edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Shaloo Shrivastava | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BENGALURU, March 31 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank is expected to go for a final 25 basis point interest rate hike to 3.85% on Tuesday, although forecasts from economists polled by Reuters suggest the decision on whether to hike or hold rates is on a knife edge. However, eight of the 13 economists expecting a pause pencilled in a rate hike sometime in the second quarter. Although CBA and Westpac forecast a pause in April, they expect one more rate hike in the second quarter. Minutes from the March meeting showed RBA board members reconsidered the case for a pause at the following meeting, noting monetary policy was already in restrictive territory and the economic outlook was uncertain. Although the median forecast showed the cash rate would remain at 3.85% until the end of 2023, five economists predicted it to peak at 4.10%.

☆ The Fed plans to keep hiking, but Australia is set to pause as it warns of recession risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Brook Attakorn | Moment | Getty ImagesAs Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hints at bigger and possibly faster rate hikes ahead, Australia's central bank could be headed toward a different path. 'Plurals are gone'Comparing the wording from the central bank's previous meeting, Commonwealth Bank of Australia economist Gareth Aird said a pause could come as early as April. "Markets should treat the April Board meeting as 'live' and the RBA could pause," he said in a note shortly after the central bank's announcement. "The reference to assessing 'when' means that the RBA Board has not yet made their mind up around increasing the cash rate in April," he said. Divergence of rhetoricThe Australian dollar hovered at the weakest levels not seen since November 2022 after the central bank's decision.

SINGAPORE/LONDON, March 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar held steady on Tuesday ahead of testimony before Congress by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, while the Aussie slid after the Reserve Bank of Australia hinted it might nearly be done with monetary tightening. Elsewhere, the euro, sterling and yen were all broadly steady with the common currency at $1.0671 , the pound at $1.20245 , and one dollar worth 135.7 yen . That meant U.S. dollar index , which measures the unit against six major rivals, was also flat at 104.3, having slipped 0.26% a day earlier. "If (he) remains cautious ... that could trigger the dollar index to fall further below the 105.00-level ahead of the release of the NFP report on Friday." Investors are also awaiting the final policy meeting for Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Thursday and Friday, when the central bank is set to stick to its ultra-loose monetary path.

Search resuls for: "RBA's"

25 mentions found