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☆ China tips into deflation as efforts to stoke recovery falter
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Liangping Gao | Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Customers select tomatoes at a stall inside a morning market in Beijing, China August 9, 2023. The consumer price index (CPI) dropped 0.3% year-on-year in July, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Wednesday, compared with the median estimate for a 0.4% decrease in a Reuters poll. The producer price index (PPI) declined for a 10th consecutive month, down 4.4% and faster than the forecast 4.1% fall. Asian shares were on the defensive on Wednesday as the Chinese price data confirmed its economic recovery was losing steam. Beijing has set a consumer inflation target of around 3% this year, which would be up from 2% recorded in 2022, and for now, authorities are downplaying concerns about deflation.

Persons: Wang, Japan’s “, ”, Gary Ng, Liu Guoqiang, Xia Chun, Tommy Wu, Wu Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, “, Asia Pacific, Natixis, Commerzbank Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Asia, Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong

☆ Gazprom subsidiary files $472-million lawsuit against UniCredit in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Unicredit Bank logo is seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoMOSCOW, Aug 7 (Reuters) - RusKhimAlyans, 50%-owned by Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM), has filed a lawsuit seeking 45.7 billion roubles ($472 million) from Italy's UniCredit [RIC:RIC:UCCDB.UL], a guarantor of a project held up by EU sanctions, Russian court documents show. The court documents were filed at the Court of Arbitration of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. In January, the same court ordered nearly $500 million of assets belonging to Linde , to be frozen at RusKhimAlyans's request. ($1 = 96.8150 roubles)Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Kevin LiffeyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Linde, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Kevin Liffey Organizations: REUTERS, Gazprom, Deutsche Bank, Linde, Industries, Ust, Thomson Locations: Petersburg, Leningrad Region, Baltic, Ust, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Germany risks falling back into recession as car industry sputters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Industrial production in Europe’s biggest economy fell 1.5% in June compared with May, driven by a 3.5% drop in Germany’s vast automotive sector. The decline in German industrial output, much steeper than forecast by economists, raises the risk that the manufacturing heavyweight will contract again later this year, potentially falling back into recession. The construction sector, where output shrank by 2.8%, also had a negative impact on overall industrial production, the country’s statistics office said Monday. “German industry remains in rough waters,” Salomon Fiedler, economist at Berenberg, said in a note Monday, noting last year’s energy price shock and weakness in US and Chinese demand, among other factors. Berenberg expects Germany to fall back into “a mild recession” in the second half of this year, Fiedler added.

Persons: “, ” Franziska Palmas, Jörg Krämer, Hildegard Müller, ” Salomon Fiedler, Fiedler, — Mark Thompson, Anna Cooban Organizations: London CNN —, Capital Economics, Auto, German Automotive Industry Association, Volkswagen Locations: Germany, Europe, China, Russia, Ukraine, “

☆ Commerzbank CFO signals the ECB will not increase rates further
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCommerzbank CFO signals the ECB will not increase rates furtherCommerzbank CFO Bettina Orlopp comments on the German lender's latest set of results.

Persons: Bettina Orlopp

☆ Analysis: China's importance to German exporters on the wane
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China's emergence as a market economy in the 2000s provided a massive boost to German companies and has proved a big contributor to the overall health of the German economy since. That China is increasingly able to produce goods it previously bought from Germany is weighing on German exports, Brzeski noted. However, the dependence of many companies on the Chinese market will no longer be so visible in export figures, but in their balance sheets," Stamer said. For example, many German carmakers are increasingly producing locally for the Chinese market. Weaker demand from China has had a strong impact on the German manufacturing sector.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Joerg Kraemer, Carsten Brzeski, Brzeski, Vincent Stamer, Stamer, Rene Wagner, Maria Martinez, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, ING, Reuters Graphics Germany, Kiel Institute, PMI, Thomson Locations: Bremerhaven, Germany, China, BERLIN, Berlin, Beijing, U.S, United States

☆ No rate hikes or cuts — Commerzbank CFO says the European Central Bank has likely hit pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The European Central Bank has likely pressed pause on its rate hiking cycle, the chief financial officer of Commerzbank told CNBC on Friday. The ECB raised interest rates in July, completing a full year of rate increases. ECB President Christine Lagarde flagged that the central bank could continue or pause rate hikes at its next meeting in September, but definitely will not cut. Commerzbank is the second largest lender in Germany by market capitalization, and its performance is closely linked to the interest rate environment. Orlopp added that: "If there were to be another interest rate hike like in the fall, that would be again an upside potential for us."

Persons: Commerzbank, Christine Lagarde, Bettina Orlopp, —, Orlopp, Akshay Singal, CNBC's Organizations: European Central Bank, CNBC, ECB, Revenue, Citi, Bank of England, Federal Reserve Locations: Germany

☆ European markets choppy after downbeat week; Commerzbank down 5%
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Commerzbank shares were down 5% in the first hour of trading, despite announcing strong half-year results, with net profits up by almost 50% to 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion). Commerzbank completed its first share buyback program in June, in which it purchased more than 12 million of its own shares, with a value of 122 million euros at an average price of around 10.05 euros per share. The bank's CFO Bettina Orlopp told CNBC's Silvia Amaro that Commerzbank was "satisfied" with the strong results, in an interview that took place before European markets opened. Commerzbank also raised its outlook for net income interest from 7 billion euros to 7.8 billion euros, well above the net income for 2022, and showed optimism for the upcoming year. "We are very confident that we will reach our 2024 targets, so there are no worries here," Orlopp said.

Persons: Commerzbank, Bettina Orlopp, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, Orlopp, — Hannah Ward, Glenton

☆ Poland's mBank hopes to offer 2% mortgage loan in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Commerzbank's Polish unit mBank's logo is seen in Warsaw, Poland, May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File PhotoGDANSK, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Poland's mBank (MBK.WA) expects a drop in write-offs in future quarters from those in the second quarter, its chief executive said on Wednesday. CEO Cezary Stypulkowski also said the bank hopes to offer 2% mortgage loans in September, a special product with state subsidised instalments. We hope that in September we will be able operationally to offer the loan," said Stypulkowski. He added that for the bank's customers, this is an important product to offer.

Persons: Kacper, Cezary Stypulkowski, homebuyers, Anna Banacka, Louise Heavens, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, GDANSK

Bolstered by supply cuts from the OPEC+ alliance announced earlier this month, both oil benchmarks gained nearly 5% for the week - a fifth straight week of gains. The benchmarks are on track to gain over 13% for the month. In an interview on Friday, Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) chief Darren Woods said he expected record oil demand this year and next. On the supply side, U.S. oil rigs fell by one to 529 this week, their lowest since March 2022, energy services firm Baker Hughes (BKR.O) said on Friday. Saudi Arabia is expected to extend the voluntary oil output cut for another month to include September, five analysts said, to provide additional support for the oil market.

Persons: Brent, Phil Flynn, Jerome Powell's, Tamas Varga, Darren Woods, Baker Hughes, Stephanie Kelly, Natalie Grover, Laura Sanicola, Andrew Hayley, Deepa Babington, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: drillers, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, U.S, West Texas, Price Futures, Federal, Exxon Mobil, Thomson Locations: France, Spain, China, OPEC, United States, U.S, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, New York, London, Washington, Beijing

Summary German inflation falls modestly in JulyStronger declines expected starting in SeptemberCore inflation easesBERLIN, July 28 (Reuters) - German inflation fell in July, resuming the decline since the start of the year that was interrupted the previous month due to the base effects in June's data. Although inflation fell in July, economists called the pace of decline sluggish mainly due to the comparison with last year. By comparison, inflation fell to 5.0% in France and it rose to 2.1% in Spain. Italian and euro zone inflation data is due on Monday. Economists polled by Reuters expect euro zone inflation to fall to 5.2% in July from 5.5% in June.

Persons: Ralph Solveen, Thomas Gitzel, Maria Martinez, Miranda Murray, Rachel More, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Union, Analysts, Reuters, European Central Bank, VP Bank Group, ECB, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, France, Spain, Germany

Copper prices have been range-bound in recent months after a January slide from their highest in more than seven months and a May rebound from a slump below $8,000 a metric ton. Analysts forecast a copper surplus this year of 111,000 metric tons, with oversupply rising to 188,000 tons next year. Analysts expect a market deficit this year of 191,750 metric tons, dropping to 66,000 tons in 2024. Analysts expect LME cash nickel prices to average $20,000 a metric ton in the fourth quarter, down 11% from the previous poll. They expect the global nickel market to show a surplus of 199,000 metric tons this year and 150,000 tons in 2024.

Persons: Dan Smith, Goran Djukanovic, Nguyen, Eric Onstad, Ananya, David Goodman Organizations: Amalgamated Metal Trading, Study, London Metal Exchange, Reuters, Indonesia, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, China, YUNNAN, Yunnan, Yunnan province, Indonesia, Commerzbank, London, Bengaluru

☆ China signals more support for real estate with a 'big change' in tone
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Construction on a real estate project in Yantai, Shandong province, gets under way on July 8, 2023. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China is changing its tone on the struggling real estate sector, paving the way for policy support. The statement reflects a "much clearer understanding about the seriousness of the situation," said Qin Gang, executive director of China real estate research institute ICR. He expects policies beneficial to the real estate market and consumption will come out in coming days. So far, the biggest real estate policy change has been this month's extension of measures to support developers, which were first revealed in November.

Persons: Larry Hu, Hu, Qin Gang, Ricky Tsang, China's, Tsang, It's, Zong Liang, Zong, Tommy Wu, Wu Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, CNBC, Macquarie, People's Bank of China, Qin, Seng Property Development, National Bureau of Statistics, Bank of China Locations: Yantai, Shandong province, BEIJING, China

That will leave investors guessing whether another rate hike is coming in September or if July marks the end of the ECB's fastest-ever tightening spree. While markets had fully priced in another rate hike just a few weeks ago, investors are now split, with many expecting July's move to be the last. "We see a 60% probability that the ECB will hike again by a final 25bp on 14 September," Berenberg's Salomon Fiedler said. "Softer data such as the drop in the Eurozone composite PMI indicate a rising chance that the central bank will stay put in September already." This is a key reason why the balance of expectations has started to shift away from another rate hike, with economists increasingly focusing on how long rates will stay high.

Persons: July's, Berenberg's Salomon Fiedler, Isabel Schnabel, Jerome Powell, Anatoli Annenkov, Christine Lagarde, Commerzbank's Marco Wagner, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, PMI, U.S . Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT

☆ Oil climbs, fuelled by tighter supplies, China stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday, buoyed by evidence of tightening supplies and economic stimulus in slow-recovering China. Brent futures were up $1.02 at $80.66 a barrel by 1134 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed $1 to $76.65 a barrel. "Demand from China and India could therefore shift more towards other suppliers, which would push up oil prices," the analysts said. "That tightness in supply is already showing up in inventories," analysts from ANZ Bank said. "The announcement remains short on detail but notions of China buying more cars gives rise in hope for oil investor bulls," PVM analyst John Evans said.

Persons: Brent, John Evans, Natalie Grover, Arathy Somasekhar, Andrew Hayley, Louise Heavens, David Holmes Organizations: U.S, West Texas, Energy Information Administration, ANZ Bank, Thomson Locations: China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, U.S, London, Houston, Beijing

Brent crude futures fell $1.31, or 1.7%, to $80.05 a barrel by 11:18 a.m. EDT (1518 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $1.34, or 1.7%, to $75.55 a barrel. A stronger greenback reduces oil demand, making crude more expensive for investors holding other currencies. Oil prices remained on course for a weekly gain of more than 2%, after supply disruptions in Libya and Nigeria heightened concerns that the markets will tighten in coming months. Separately, Shell suspended loadings of Nigeria's Forcados crude oil owing to a potential leak at a terminal.

Persons: Brent, Dollar, John Kilduff, John Evans, Shariq Khan, Natalie Grover, Sudarshan, Katya Golubkova, David Evans, Mark Potter, Louise Heavens, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Again, U.S, Shell, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Libya, Nigeria, Bengaluru, London, Singapore, Tokyo

☆ Brent oil hovers above $81 after supply disruptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On Thursday some oilfields in Libya were shut down because of a local tribe's protest against the kidnapping of a former minister. Separately, Shell suspended loadings of Nigeria's Forcados crude oil owing to a potential leak at a terminal. With the "market in thrall of a ‘tightening’ narrative", any more outages will push the oil price to levels that not even the most ardent bull would have predicted for the second half of the year, Evans added. Both Brent and WTI futures were down slightly at 1207 GMT, with Brent 9 cents lower at $81.27 a barrel and WTI down 11 cents at $76.78. Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, this month agreed to deepen oil cuts in place since November last year, providing further support to crude prices.

Persons: John Evans, thrall, Evans, Brent, Craig Erlam, Natalie Grover, Sudarshan Varadhan, Katya Golubkova, David Evans, Mark Potter Organizations: Shell, Brent, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, National Australia Bank, U.S ., U.S . Federal, OANDA, Thomson Locations: Libya, Nigeria, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, London, Singapore, Tokyo

☆ Gold scales 1-month peak as dollar, yields drop on rate-hike pause hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices hovered near 1-month highs on Thursday as the dollar and Treasury yields fell on expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve could end its rate-hike cycle soon. Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,958.16 per ounce by 11:50 a.m. EDT (1550 GMT), after hitting its highest since June 16. U.S. gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,964.60. "After yesterday's data, we saw a strong rally in the gold market. This comes a day after data showed that U.S. consumer prices rose modestly in June, registering their smallest annual increase in more than two years.

Persons: Phillip Streible, Commerzbank Organizations: Aurum, Treasury, . Federal, Blue, Federal, Market Locations: Chicago

[1/2] U.S. dollars are counted out by a banker counting currency at a bank in Westminster, Colorado November 3, 2009. Markets are now focusing their attention on U.S. consumer prices data due out on Wednesday, which will provide more clarity on the progress the Fed has made in its fight against stubbornly high inflation. The pound has been rallying on a stronger economy and aggressive repricing of expectations for tighter BoE policy, according to Danske Bank FX analyst Kirstine Kundby-Nielsen. "There have been no signs of relief in the labour market data and markets continue to price in more. Given the rising inflation backdrop in Japan, the market is starting to become more wary that perhaps a policy tweak could come."

Persons: Rick Wilking, Shaun Osborne, Kirstine Kundby, That's, Kundby, Nielsen, Moh Siong Sim, Samuel Indyk, Rae Wee, Edmund Klamann, Alex Richardson, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Federal, Scotiabank . Markets, Sterling, Bank of England, Danske Bank, Nielsen, Swiss, greenback, Swiss National Bank, Singapore, Bank of Japan, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New, Thomson Locations: Westminster , Colorado, U.S, Norwegian, Swedish, Swiss, Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

U.S. interest rate expectations have been a key driver of the dollar since the Fed began its tightening cycle last year. A survey from the New York Federal Reserve on Monday showed waning near-term inflation expectations among Americans, who said last month they were expecting the weakest near-term inflation gains in just over two years. Sterling , meanwhile, hit a near 15-month high of $1.2913 after British wage growth hit a joint record high, heaping pressure on the Bank of England to tighten policy further to bring inflation under control. The pound has been rallying on a stronger economy and aggressive repricing of expectations for tighter BoE policy, according to Danske Bank FX analyst Kirstine Kundby-Nielsen. Elsewhere, the euro rose 0.1% to $1.1012, the Australian dollar steadied at $0.6680, while the New Zealand dollar fell 0.2% to $0.6198.

Persons: Rick Wilking, Shaun Osborne, Sterling, Kirstine Kundby, That's, Kundby, Nielsen, Moh Siong Sim, Samuel Indyk, Rae Wee, Shri Navaratnam, Edmund Klamann, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Federal, Fed, Scotiabank . Markets, New York Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Danske Bank, Nielsen, Singapore, Bank of Japan, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Westminster , Colorado, U.S, . U.S, Japan, China's

☆ Oil prices rise 2% as market weighs supply cuts against economic outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed 2% on Tuesday as markets weighed August supply cuts by top exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia against a weak global economic outlook. The total cuts now stand at more than 5 million bpd, or 5% of global oil output. "Clearly, the Saudis are taking proactive and pre-emptive steps to stabilize the price of crude oil as well as see gains to reach $80 a barrel to sustain their domestic budgets," said Andrew Lipow, president of Houston-based Lipow Oil Associates. Even so, the market will wait to verify Russia's announced cuts, and concerns continue that high interest rates will weigh on global demand, Lipow said. Oil benchmarks settled about 1% down in the previous session, as a gloomy macroeconomic outlook served to erase early gains.

Persons: Tamas Varga, Andrew Lipow, Russia's, Lipow, Craig Erlam, Natalie Grover, Rod Nickel, Arathy Somasekhar, Trixie Yap, Mark Potter, Alexander Smith, David Goodman, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Houston, Lipow Oil Associates, Independence, International Energy Agency, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, Algeria, OPEC, China, Europe, U.S, London, Winnipeg , Manitoba, Houston, Singapore

☆ Gazprom subsidiary files lawsuits against Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, July 4 (Reuters) - RusKhimAlyans, a subsidiary of Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM), has filed lawsuits seeking a total of 31 billion roubles ($348 million) from Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Commerzbank (CBKG.DE), Russian court documents show. RusKhimAlyans, in which Gazprom has a 50% stake, is seeking more than 22 billion roubles from Deutsche Bank and over 8 billion roubles from Commerzbank, according to the documents filed at the Court of Arbitration of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. In 2021, Linde and Renaissance Heavy Industries signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Gazprom and its partners for the Ust-Luga gas complex. Linde notified the customer in May and June 2022 that it had suspended work under the contract due to European Union sanctions imposed after Russia sent thousands of its troops into neighbouring Ukraine. ($1 = 89.0585 roubles)Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by David Goodman and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Linde, Vladimir Soldatkin, David Goodman, Emelia Organizations: Gazprom, Deutsche Bank, Linde, Renaissance Heavy Industries, Ust, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Commerzbank, Petersburg, Leningrad Region, Baltic, Ust, Luga, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Oil up as market weighs supply cuts against gloomy economic outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) - Oil prices ticked higher on Tuesday as markets weighed supply cuts for August by top exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia against a weak global economic outlook. However, oil benchmarks settled down about 1% in the previous session, after an initial rally, on the back of a gloomy macroeconomic outlook. Tuesday morning trade suggests little has changed in oil dynamics despite Monday's announcements, Craig Erlam, OANDA analyst told Reuters. Even before these new cut announcements, International Energy Agency (IEA) data suggested the oil market was set to show a supply deficit of roughly 2 million bpd in the third and fourth quarters, noted Commerzbank analysts. Still, oil prices did not jump significantly on the news, largely due to demand concerns, particularly given sluggish economic recovery in China following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

Persons: Tamas Varga, Craig Erlam, Natalie Grover, Arathy Somasekhar, Trixie Yap, Mark Potter, Alexander Smith Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Reuters, International Energy Agency, Independence, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, Algeria, OPEC, China, Europe, U.S, London, Houston, Singapore

☆ Explainer: Why are OPEC+ supply cuts failing to boost oil prices?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Members Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, deepened oil supply cuts on Monday in an effort to send prices higher. Here are the main reasons why OPEC+ output cuts are failing to significantly lift oil prices:CONCERNS ABOUT WEAK DEMANDData from China has sparked fears that the economic recovery from coronavirus lockdowns in the world's second-largest oil consumer is losing steam. The Energy Information Administration projects U.S. crude oil production will climb by 720,000 bpd to 12.61 million bpd this year, above a prior forecast increase of 640,000 bpd. This compares with around 10 million bpd as recently as 2018. LESS BULLISHIn 2020, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman warned traders against betting heavily in the oil market, saying those who gamble on the oil price would be "ouching like hell".

Persons: Brent, Carsten Fritsch, Tamas Varga, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, pare, Ole Hansen, Maha El Dahan, Ahmad Ghaddar, Mark Potter Organizations: of, Petroleum, Eurasia Group, U.S . Federal Reserve, International Energy Agency, OPEC, Energy Information Administration, Saudi Energy, Saxo Bank, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, LONDON, OPEC, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, U.S, Eurasia, WTI

☆ Inflation in Europe falls again in June
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Inflation in Europe slowed for the second straight month in June. Economists polled by Reuters had expected slightly higher inflation of 5.6% this month. However, core inflation — which strips out volatile food and energy prices — edged up. The increase was because of a statistical anomaly, Christoph Weil, a senior economist at Commerzbank, wrote in a note. Food prices still highFood, alcohol and tobacco prices remained the main driver of inflation, rising 11.7% in June, down from 12.5% the month before.

Persons: That’s, Christoph Weil, Price, ” Weil, Jack Allen, Reynolds, ” Allen Organizations: London CNN, Reuters, Commerzbank, Capital Economics, European Central Bank Locations: Europe, Germany, Europe’s, European

☆ Analysis: Dutch pension fund reform spells investment rethink
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Yoruk Bahceli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The idea is that pension funds will allocate more risk to younger cohorts and less to those nearer retirement. The new rules also mean pension funds can be less strict in protecting against swings in interest rates and exchange rates using derivatives like swaps. Commerzbank expects a "seismic" change to the market, where Dutch pension funds are key players. Pension funds are surveying their members to understand how much risk different age groups are willing to take. Ultimately, interest rates determine how much risk pension funds need to take to generate future payments.

Persons: Eva Plevier, Wim Barentsen, Frank Vinke, Vinke, Jaap Teerhuis, Commerzbank, Onno Steenbeek, PGGM's Vinke, Achmea's, Gerard Moerman, Yoruk Bahceli, Dhara Ranasinghe, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, ABN AMRO, European, Achmea Investment Management, European Central Bank, Asset Management, Reuters Graphics, Aegon Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, AMSTERDAM

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