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☆ Dollar pauses rally as markets brace for U.S. nonfarm payrolls test
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar dipped on Friday but traders were largely keeping to the sidelines in both the currency and U.S. Treasury markets as they looked to U.S. nonfarm payrolls data later in the day for potential catalysts. The dollar index , which earlier in the week hit a roughly 11-month high of 107.34, last settled at 106.37, but remained on track for 12 straight weeks of gains. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield last stood at 4.7269%, while the two-year yield settled at 5.0267%. The pause in the dollar's rally has also provided a much-needed reprieve for the yen , which last bought 148.48 per dollar. Sterling edged 0.03% lower to $1.2188 and was likewise headed for five straight weeks of losses, struggling against a dominant dollar.

Persons: Rodrigo Catril, We've, Vishnu Varathan, Thierry Wizman Organizations: . Treasury, greenback, U.S, Treasury, National Australia Bank, Bank of Japan, Ministry of Finance, Mizuho Bank ., Sterling, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Reserve Bank of Australia, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New Locations: U.S, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

[1/2] Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. The dollar fell as low as 147.30 yen versus the Japanese currency, after hitting a one-year high of 150.165. Tuesday's low in the dollar was its weakest level in three weeks versus the Japanese currency. The euro dropped to a roughly two-month low against the yen of 154.39 yen and was last down 0.7% to 155.99. That earlier drove the dollar higher as real interest rates factor in inflation.

Persons: Florence Lo, Shunichi Suzuki, Colin Asher, Sterling, Marc Chandler, Jeremy Stretch, JGB, Herbert Lash, Gertrude Chavez, Dreyfuss, Lucy Raitano, Joice Alves, Marguerita Choy, Sharon Singleton Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Japan, Japanese Finance, New York Federal Reserve, Mizuho, Bannockburn Global, U.S . Labor, Labor, Survey, CIBC Capital Markets, UST, Federal Reserve, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Swiss, Thomson Locations: Japan, London, Bannockburn, New York

☆ Australia central bank holds rates at 4.1% for fourth month
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SYDNEY, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank held interest rates steady on Tuesday for a fourth month, but again warned that further tightening might be needed to bring inflation to heel in a reasonable timeframe. Wrapping up its October policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held rates at 4.10% and said recent data were consistent with inflation returning to its 2–3 percent target over time with output and employment still growing. Markets had wagered heavily on a steady outcome this month, though there is still some chance of a hike in November depending on how inflation progresses over the third quarter. Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson

☆ Dollar hits new high on upbeat data, yen teeters near intervention line
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Brigid Riley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The euro also traded near a one-year low against the greenback, dropping below January's 1.0482 nadir, as manufacturing surveys released in both Europe and the U.S. on Monday highlighted the divergence between the two economies. The dollar index rose around 0.5% to 107.06, at one point hitting as high as 107.12, its highest since November 2022. Japan's key economic ministers warned again on Monday that authorities were watching with a "strong sense of urgency" as the yen slid. The yen was last at 149.80 against the dollar, just off the overnight low of 149.88. (This story has been corrected to fix euro milestone to near one-year low, not over one-year low, in paragraph 2)Reporting by Brigid Riley Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Carol Kong, Kong, Sterling, Brigid Riley, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, PMI, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Europe

☆ Asian stocks slip on rate worries, yen in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. Federal Reserve officials said that monetary policy will need to stay restrictive for "some time" to bring inflation back down to the Fed's 2% target. Still, the hawkish rhetoric from the Fed officials comes as an ongoing debate over another possible rate hike this year rages on. "If it were down to us, we would wait for another month of rising inflation and the third-quarter inflation numbers. The yen was last at 149.83 per U.S. dollar in Asian hours, having scaled a fresh near 12-month low of 149.895 earlier in the session. The dollar index , which measures the U.S currency against six major rivals, rose 0.093% to scale a fresh 10-month peak.

Persons: Hong, Michelle Bowman, Rob Carnell, Shunichi Suzuki, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Federal Reserve, Japan's Nikkei, . Federal, Fed, Reserve Bank of, Reuters, ING, Japanese Finance, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Reserve Bank of Australia

[1/2] Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. The sharp move lower suggested the Bank of Japan had intervened in the market to keep the yen from falling further. "It has all the hallmarks of intervention in all honesty," said Michael Brown, market analyst at Trader X in London. "The continued uptrend in UST-JGB encouraged the 150 to be breach in the wake of the better-than-expected JOLTS data. The dollar slipped 0.51% against the yen to 149.08 after hitting 150.165 on the JOLTS report.

Persons: Florence Lo, Michael Brown, Marc Chandler, Jeremy Stretch, JGB, Stretch, Shunichi Suzuki, Wei Liang Chang, Russia's rouble, Herbert Lash, Brigid Riley, Alun John, Joice Alves, Kevin Buckland, Marguerita Choy, Sharon Singleton Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Bank of Japan, New York Federal Reserve, Trader, Bannockburn Global, CIBC Capital Markets, UST, Finance, DBS, Strong U.S, Federal Reserve, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Swiss, Thomson Locations: London, Bannockburn, New York, United States, Europe, Tokyo

☆ Morning Bid: This Fed's not for turning
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The U.S. Federal Reserve building is pictured in Washington, March 18, 2008. That thought was echoed by Cleveland Fed chief Loretta Mester, who said: "I suspect we may well need to raise the fed funds rate once more this year." Either way, this is not the sound of a Fed who thinks the inflation battle is won. Fed hawkishness, however, has kept futures markets pricing a 50-50 chance of another quarter point rate hike to the 5.50-5.75% range by year-end. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Jason Reed, Mike Dolan, they've, Michelle Bowman, Loretta Mester, Michael Barr, hawkishness, Raphael Bostic, Susan Fenton Organizations: U.S . Federal, REUTERS, Reserve, Cleveland Fed, Institute, Supply, Bank of Japan, Reserve Bank of Australia, Big Tech, Atlanta Federal Reserve, Treasury, McCormick, PMI, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington, U.S

☆ Asia-Pacific stocks fall ahead of Australian central bank rate decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The full moon, otherwise known as a strawberry supermoon, is seen over the Skyline of the CBD in Sydney, Australia June 15, 2022. Asia-Pacific markets fell ahead of a rate decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was trading down 1.1% ahead of an RBA meeting, where the central bank is expected to hold rates at 4.10%, according to a Reuters poll. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.63% in its first hour of trade. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.67% to close at 13,307.77— CNBC's Hakyung Kim and Alex Harring contributed to this report.

Persons: Hakyung Kim, Alex Harring Organizations: Skyline, Reserve Bank of Australia, Nikkei, Dow Jones, Nasdaq Locations: Sydney, Australia, Asia, Pacific, Japan, U.S

☆ Dollar weakens against the yen after yen breaches key 150 level
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Japanese yen has fallen about 25% year-to-date against the greenback. The sharp move lower suggested the Bank of Japan had intervened in the market to keep the yen from falling further. "The continued uptrend in UST-JGB encouraged the 150 to be breach in the wake of the better-than-expected JOLTS data. The dollar slipped 0.51% against the yen to 149.08 after hitting 150.165 on the JOLTS report. The dollar index, which tracks the unit against six peers, was up 0.13% at 107.16, at its highest since November.

Persons: Michael Brown, Marc Chandler, Jeremy Stretch, JGB, Stretch, Shunichi Suzuki, Wei Liang Chang, Russia's rouble Organizations: greenback, The, Bank of Japan, New York Federal Reserve, Trader, Bannockburn Global, U.S, CIBC Capital Markets, UST, Finance, DBS, Strong U.S, Federal Reserve, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Swiss Locations: London, Bannockburn, New York, United States, Europe

Oct 3 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Investors in Asia are also awaiting the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest policy decision and guidance on Tuesday. But it is the relentless rise in U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar that will set the tone across the region. But the yen continues to slide, suggesting it is still being driven by U.S. yields and the dollar side of the equation. All but two of 32 economists in a Sept. 27-28 poll expected the RBA to hold its official cash rate steady.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Deepa Babington Organizations: Treasury, Investors, Reserve Bank, Australia's, Bank of Japan, Aussie, ., Reserve Bank of Australia, PMI, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Asia, U.S, Japan, Tokyo, Australia, PMIs, South Korea

Oct 2 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. But Chinese purchasing managers index data over the weekend, which pointed to mixed levels of services and manufacturing activity last month, may put a dampener on that. Investors will be looking to start the fourth quarter on a positive note after a pretty awful third quarter. Monday's batch of PMI reports include the latest snapshots from Australia, Japan and Indonesia, while Japan's closely watched 'tankan' survey of business sentiment and activity will also be released. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia, Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Reserve Bank of India are all expected to keep their key interest rates on hold at 4.10%, 5.5% and 6.5%, respectively.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Japan's, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S . Congress, PMI, Golden, Monetary, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reserve Bank of New, Reserve Bank of, Bank of Japan, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Beijing, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, India, New Zealand, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Reserve Bank of India

☆ Take Five: Roll on Q4!
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A possible shutdown would be further evidence of how political polarization in Washington is weakening fiscal policymaking, Moody's says. Economists polled by Reuters expect the U.S. economy created 150,000 jobs in September versus 187,000 in August. 2/ NEW CHIEF IN TOWNThe Reserve Bank of Australia's new governor Michele Bullock, the first woman to head the bank, chairs her first meeting on Tuesday. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Reserve Bank meets on Wednesday. With the cost of living a key election battleground, the drastic cut brings relief to those struggling with mortgage repayments.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Ira Iosebashvili, Kevin Buckland, Harry Robertson, Karin Strohecker, Marc Jones, Joe Biden, Moody's, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Adam Glapinski, Dhara Ranasinghe, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, ., China, Democratic, Reuters, Reserve Bank of, New, Reserve Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Equity, Treasury, Reserve, ING reckons, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, there's, Australia, Poland, Ira, New York, Tokyo, London, Washington, China, Beijing, Poland's

☆ Australia Aug retail sales post tepid rise, add to rate pause case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales rose modestly in August as consumers continued to cut back on spending in the face of elevated living expenses and high borrowing costs, signalling interest rates may not have to rise further. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday showed nominal retail sales rose 0.2% in August from July, missing analysts' forecast of a 0.3% gain. Sales of A$35.4 billion ($22.56 billion) were up just 1.5% from a year earlier, the lowest gain in percentage terms since August 2021. Data from Commonwealth Bank of Australia showed that younger Australians who are renting or have mortgages are cutting back on purchases, while older Australian who benefit from higher savings rates are still spending. ($1 = 1.5694 Australian dollars)Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ben Dorber, Stella Qiu, Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed Organizations: Australian Bureau of Statistics, FIFA, Reserve Bank of Australia, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson

☆ UBS says Zurich and Tokyo are the cities most at risk of being in a housing bubble. Here are the other 15 markets where they warn home prices are overvalued — and the 6 most vulnerable to declines.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This is driving up mortgage rates after years of lower-rate policies, crushing affordability and sinking home prices in some metropolitan areas. In the note, the pair released UBS's most reading of its Global Real Estate Bubble Index. Two cities — Zurich and Tokyo — top the list and are considered to be in "bubble risk" territory by being at least 1.5 standard deviations out of their index norm (Zurich at 1.71 and Tokyo at 1.65). UBS"Such high multiples come from an excessive appreciation of housing prices in the wake of previously low interest rates," Saputelli and Holzhey said. "House prices in all these cities remain vulnerable to corrections should interest rates remain elevated for longer or continue to rise further."

Persons: Claudio Saputelli, Matthias Holzhey, Holzhey Organizations: Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Reserve Bank of India, Bank of England, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of, Central Bank of, Bank of Canada, UBS, Swiss, —, Tokyo —, Miami Locations: Bank of Korea, Central Bank of Brazil, — Zurich, Tokyo, Zurich, Munich, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Toronto, Geneva, Los Angeles, London, Tel Aviv, Vancouver, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Paris, Sydney

☆ Dollar firm but softens against yen ahead of FOMC
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Brigid Riley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The dollar remained firm on Wednesday but softened slightly against the yen ahead of a much-anticipated rate decision by the Federal Reserve later in the day. The U.S. dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of rivals, stayed mostly flat at 105.13 as traders awaited the Fed's rate decision. Dollar/yen could see some upside pressure after a hawkish FOMC meeting, she added. The yen last sat nearly 0.1% higher at 147.77 versus the greenback, off Tuesday's low of 147.92 though hovering near the 10-month trough against the dollar ahead of the FOMC announcement. The New Zealand dollar ticked up over 0.2% against the dollar near $0.5950.

Persons: Carol Kong, Masato Kanda, Brigid Riley, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Federal Reserve, U.S, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of Japan's, Reserve Bank, Australia's, New Zealand, Bank of England, bitcoin BTC, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, China, bitcoin

☆ Yen flounders, dollar drifts ahead of c.bank bonanza
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. The yen fell 0.1% to 147.76 per dollar and was kept pinned near last week's 10-month low of 147.95 per dollar. The euro meanwhile gave up some of its gains from the previous session and was last 0.12% lower at $1.0678. It had risen alongside euro zone government bond yields on Monday, following hawkish comments from European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers that further rate increases were on the cards. In other currencies, sterling edged 0.04% higher to $1.2390, ahead of an interest rate decision from the Bank of England (BoE) also due this week.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Kazuo Ueda, Rodrigo Catril, Erik Weisman, NAB's Catril, BoE, Rae Wee, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Federal, Wednesday, Bank of Japan's, National Australia Bank, NAB, Reserve Bank of Australia's, U.S, New Zealand, Fed, MFS Investment Management, European Central Bank, ECB, Reuters, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Asia

☆ Asia markets mixed ahead of Australian central bank minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The Sydney Opera House Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Gallo Images | Brand X Pictures | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets are mixed as traders look to minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia for its policy meeting on Sept. 5. The minutes will detail how the RBA came to hold its benchmark policy rate at 4.1%, the third straight month that it has done so. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slid 0.23% in early trade, while both South Korea's Kospi and Kosadaq were trading close to the flatline. Japan's Nikkei 225 slumped 0.76% upon its return from a public holiday, while the Topix saw a smaller loss of 0.16%.

Organizations: Sydney Opera House, Getty, Reserve Bank of Australia, Nikkei Locations: Sydney Opera House Sydney , New South Wales, Australia, Asia, Pacific

☆ Australia's first female central bank chief set to tackle reforms and cost of living crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Australia’s new central bank chief, Michele Bullock, took the helm Monday after a firestorm of criticism over rising living costs engulfed the tenure of her predecessor. Philip Lowe, former governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, speaking in Canberra in August. “Raising interest rates is never popular, but I think given the circumstances, the Reserve Bank had to do something,” noted Oliver. Within the bank, Lowe also faced questions about the culture he’d fostered since taking over in 2016. Should prices fall more slowly than expected, the central bank would face similar pressure to raise rates, Oliver predicted.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Philip Lowe, Shane Oliver, ”, would’ve, wasn’t, Lowe, Oliver, Rohan Thomson, RBA, Nick McKim, ” McKim, “ It’s, ” Oliver, disempowered, ” Bullock, ” Lowe, — Hilary Whiteman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Reserve Bank of Australia, AMP, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Reserve Bank Locations: Hong Kong, Australian, Canberra, Ukraine, Australia, United States, Europe

Sept 19 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. The main exception appears to be oil, which continues to forge new peaks for the year in a steady march towards $100 a barrel. Could the oil price spike feature in the raft of central bank policy decisions and outlooks this week? In Asia, that would be the central bank meetings in Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia on Thursday, and Japan on Friday. Tuesday's Asian and Pacific economic calendar is pretty light, with the Reserve Bank of Australia's last policy meeting minutes the main event.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Brent, South Korea's, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S . Federal, Treasury, Bank of, South, U.S ., Reserve Bank of, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson, Reuters Locations: U.S ., Friday's, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Bank of Japan, India's, Asia, Taiwan, Philippines, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Malaysian, Malaysia

☆ Bullock takes over at Australia central bank with soft landing in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Incoming RBA Governor Michele Bullock delivers the Sir Leslie Melville Public Lecture at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, August 29, 2023 in this handout image. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been on hold for three months after raising interest rates aggressively for more than a year. The tightening has slowed Australia's growth, but analysts think the economy could still achieve a soft landing. If Australia avoids recession and delivers a soft landing, history may judge outgoing Governor Philip Lowe more kindly. In the search to replace Bullock as deputy, Chalmers has indicated the government is looking at candidates inside and outside the central bank.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Leslie Melville, Tracey Nearmy, Bullock, it's, Cherelle Murphy, Philip Lowe, Lowe, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Stephen Halmarick, Stella Qiu, William Mallard Organizations: Australian National University, ANU, REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of Australia, EY Oceania, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Canberra, Australia, Handout, New Zealand, Germany, Europe's, COVID

☆ Australian jobs surge as productivity debate heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Headline indicators report a very strong employment report, but the bias towards predominantly part-time employment should temper exuberance," said Dwyfor Evans, head of APAC macro strategy at State Street Global Markets. Markets maintained bets that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would keep rates steady next month, with an about 40% chance of one final hike early next year. WAGES, PRODUCTIVITYThe strong figures showed Australia's jobs market is still extremely tight more than and a year-and-a-half after the economy shook off its COVID-era border restrictions. loadingTreasurer Jim Chalmers on Thursday welcomed the strong jobs report, but warned that the labour market could slow from here, a consensus view among economists. Adam Boyton, head of Australian research at ANZ, is already seeing signs of slackening in the labour market, with underemployment rate creeping up and hours worked falling.

Persons: Barista Claudio Chimisso, Loren Elliott, Dwyfor Evans, Tim Gurner, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Adam Boyton, Boyton, Stella Qiu, Kim Coghill, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Street Global, Reserve Bank, Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia, ANZ, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, China

☆ Crunch time after string of aggressive central bank rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Major central banks have confounded economists with a string of interest rate rises that, so far, have moderated inflation without causing global recession. So far, nine developed economies have raised rates by a combined 3,915 bps in this cycle. Reuters Graphics2) NEW ZEALANDThe Reserve Bank of New Zealand lifted its cash rate to a 14-year high of 5.5% in May and has kept it there since. Reuters Graphics7) AUSTRALIAThe Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates steady at 4.1% for a third consecutive meeting in September, the last under former Governor Philip Lowe. Reuters Graphics10) JAPANThe Bank of Japan, the world's most dovish major central bank, meets next week.

Persons: BoE, Macklem, Philip Lowe, Lowe's, Michele Bullock, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Samuel Indyk, Nell Mackenzie, Alun John, Yoruk Bahceli, Chiara Elisei, Vincent Flasseur, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Dhara Ranasinghe, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European Central Bank, U.S . Federal Reserve, UNITED, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Reserve Bank of, BRITAIN, of England, CANADA Bank of Canada, Bank of Canada, ECB, Norges Bank, SWEDEN Traders, Swiss, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: U.S, Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, NORWAY, Reserve Bank of Australia, SWEDEN, Swedish, SWITZERLAND Swiss, JAPAN

☆ Australia passes law to encourage competition for main market operator ASX
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A pedestrian is reflected in a window where an investor sits looking at a board displaying stock prices at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in Sydney, Australia February 9, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies ASX Ltd FollowSYDNEY, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Australia passed a law on Wednesday to support competition in post-trade settlement and clearing for financial markets, challenging the near-monopoly status held by ASX Ltd (ASX.AX). After ASX cancelled a costly overhaul of its trading platform, the federal government said it was opening up the market to let other players in. Though Australian financial regulators have called for greater competition in clearing and settlement functions for years, a failed overhaul of ASX's all-in-one legacy software system renewed pressure from market participants to challenge its near-monopoly. In other major financial markets, clearing and settlement, or confirming the transfer of stock ownership and updating share registries, are managed by separate entities to the market operator.

Persons: David Gray, Jim Chalmers, Byron Kaye, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Australian Securities Exchange, REUTERS, ASX Ltd, Senate, Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian Securities and Investments, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Australian economy grows modestly in Q2, eases recession fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.4% in the second quarter, slightly beating forecasts of 0.3%. The world's 12th largest economy got a boost from net exports, with the return of students and tourists, and public investment. "For all its challenges, the Aussie economy remains remarkably resilient," said Harry Murphy Cruise, an economist at Moody's Analytics. Government consumption will also moderate from its elevated levels, and business investment will ease on the back of squeezed profits." Household consumption, which used to be the engine of growth, remained subdued with just a 0.1% gain in the quarter due to spending on essential goods and services.

Persons: Harry Murphy Cruise, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Sean Langcake, Stella Qiu, Jacqueline Wong, Lincoln Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Moody's, Consumers, Reserve Bank of Australia, BIS Oxford, Thomson Locations: China

☆ Dollar firm on growth worries, fragile yen draws warning
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The yen was at 147.66 per dollar in early Asian hours, just shy of 147.8 per dollar, the lowest since Nov. 4 it touched overnight. The Asian currency has hovered around the key 145 per dollar level for the past few weeks, leading traders to keep a wary eye on signs of an intervention. "We won't rule out any options if speculative moves persist," Japan's top currency diplomat Masato Kanda told reporters on Wednesday. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar rose 0.067% to 104.80, not far off the six-month high of 104.90 it touched overnight. The euro was unchanged at $1.0721 in Asian hours, having breached a three-month low of $1.0705 overnight.

Persons: Masato Kanda, Christopher Wong, Sterling, Christopher Waller Organizations: Ministry of Finance, Federal, U.S, Reserve Bank of Australia Locations: China, Kanda, Singapore, Europe, Britain

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