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☆ Australia Sept retail sales climb at fastest pace in 8 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales rose at the fastest pace in eight months in September, suggesting some resilience in consumer spending which would add to the case for an interest rate hike as soon as next week. The Australian dollar rose 0.4% to $0.6360, while three-year government bond yield hit a fresh 12-year high of 4.388%. "Downside risks to household consumption have been a key focus of the RBA, but those do not look to have been realised so far." The broad softening in consumer spending has been one major reason that the RBA has left interest rates unchanged for four straight months now. However, a sustained rebound in housing prices could lend some support to household consumption.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Ben Dorber, Taylor Nugent, Downside, Stella Qiu, Tom Hogue, Edwina Gibbs, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of, Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Australia Bank, Thomson Locations: Sydney's, Australia, Reserve Bank of Australia, Queensland

☆ Australia's tight rental market forces tenants to make tough choices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Reuters GraphicsNEARING THE PEAKMany tenants, particularly in the most expensive city Sydney, have already been priced out of houses. PropTrack data showing house rents nationally were unchanged at A$550 per week, or about A$2,380 ($1,508) per month, in the September quarter. Apartment rents nationally jumped 4% during the quarter, double the June quarter rate of increase, to an average of A$520 per week, making them almost as costly. Prices across Australia's entire rental stock rose 7.6% in the third quarter from a year ago, the largest increase since 2009, according to official data, and similar to gains seen in the U.S. where rental costs have also surged. ($1 = 1.5780 Australian dollars)Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Wayne Cole and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lara Weeks, Weeks, Cameron Kusher, Michele Bullock, Christian Postiglione, Tim Beattie, Beattie, Stella Qiu, Wayne Cole, Jamie Freed Organizations: REA, Reuters Graphics, Reserve Bank of Australia, Nationwide, ANZ, Housing, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, Sydney, U.S, Bondi, Australia, Western Australia, Adelaide

☆ Inflation to dog world economy next year, postponing rate cuts: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Hari Kishan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Despite broad success in bringing inflation down from its highs - the easier bit - prices are still rising faster than most central banks would prefer and hitting their inflation targets is likely to be tough. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which often leads the interest rate cycle, was also forecast to wait until July-September 2024 before cutting. The majority backing no cuts until the second half of 2024 has also grown stronger for the Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank Indonesia and the Reserve Bank of India. Even the Bank of Japan, the outlier sticking to ultra-loose policy through this entire round of inflation, is now expected to abandon negative interest rates next year. Crucially, most economists agree the first easing steps will not be the beginning of a rapid series of cuts.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Christine Lagarde, Douglas Porter, it's, Nathan Sheets, Hari Kishan, Ross Finley, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: El Progreso Market, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Reuters, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, ECB, Fed, BMO, Reserve Bank of New, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank, Reserve Bank of India, Bank of Japan, Citi, Thomson Locations: Mount Pleasant, Washington ,, BENGALURU, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Bank Indonesia, Bengaluru, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Istanbul, Johannesburg, London, Shanghai, Tokyo

☆ Big central banks hit pause, with rate cuts far off
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

On Oct. 23, Fed Chair Jay Powell said a strong economy and tight jobs market could warrant more rate rises. Interest rate futures show traders believe the BoE will not cut rates, now at their highest since 2008, until at least June 2024. "The Governing Council’s past interest rate increases continue to be transmitted forcefully into financing conditions," the ECB said, adding it would follow a "data-dependent" approach and future decisions would be based on incoming data. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told parliament last week interest rates may have peaked. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics8) AUSTRALIAThe Reserve Bank of Australia held rates steady at 4.1% for a fourth meeting in October.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Jay Powell, BoE, Jonas Gahr Stoere, Michele Bullock, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Alun John, Yoruk Bahceli, Samuel Indyk, Chiara Elisei, Kripa Jayaram, Pasit, Riddhima, Sumanta Sen, Vineet, Amanda Cooper, Giles Elgood Organizations: . Federal, REUTERS, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, UNITED, Reuters, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, BRITAIN, Bank of Canada, BoC, ECB, Norges Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Washington, Japan, hawkish, dovish, NORWAY, SWEDEN Sweden, SWITZERLAND, Swiss, Gaza, JAPAN

☆ Dollar firms, yen weakens to intervention-wary level
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. The Japanese yen touched a fresh one-year low of 150.32 per dollar overnight and was last at 150.26. Japanese finance minister Shunichi Suzuki warned investors against selling the yen again on Thursday, saying authorities were closely watching moves. The New Zealand dollar also touched an 11-month low of $0.5780 and was last down 0.22% at $0.5788. Soft European economic data and negative interest rate differentials between Europe and the US will likely keep a lid on euro/dollar."

Persons: Florence Lo, Shunichi Suzuki, Suzuki, Carol Kong, Rodrigo Catril, CBA's, Sterling, bitcoin, Ankur Banerjee, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of Japan, Reuters, Australian, New Zealand, Benchmark, National Australia Bank, Canadian, Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Europe, Singapore

☆ Australia's surprisingly strong Q3 inflation raises odds of Nov rate hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Markets are wagering both the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are done with hiking. HAWKISH MESSAGINGThe recent messaging from the central bank has been on the hawkish side. The biggest contributors to the third quarter inflation were fuel, rents, and electricity. Fuel prices rose 7.2% from a year ago, reversing two quarters of price falls, with the conflict in the Middle East potentially set to further stoke inflationary pressures. The central bank forecast in August that inflation was only projected to return to the top of the bank's target band of 2-3% in late 2025.

Persons: David Gray, Worryingly, Adam Boyton, Gareth Aird, Michele Bullock, Woolworths WOW.AX, Taylor Nugent, Stella Qiu, Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Wednesday, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ANZ, Economics, CBA, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Woolworths, National Australia Bank, NAB, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Dollar bounces, euro heavy on US/euro zone growth outlook divergence
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] U.S. Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. Against the dollar, the euro was last 0.05% higher at $1.0595, having declined 0.75% on Tuesday. The euro is the most heavily weighted currency in the dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six peers. "By contrast, the U.S. Federal Reserve could continue to raise interest rates just because the economic data looks strong." Pressure is mounting on the Bank of Japan to change its bond yield control as global interest rates rise.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Tina Teng, Matt Simpson, Bitcoin, John Glover, Rae Wee, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Wednesday, European Central Bank, CMC Markets, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Australia, Wednesday .

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Asian markets on Thursday are set to open on the defensive, with sentiment battered by one of the biggest selloffs of the year in U.S. tech stocks and a renewed spike in longer-dated U.S. Treasury bond yields the day before. The fog of uncertainty descended further over China's embattled property sector after it was reported on Wednesday that China's largest private lender Country Garden has defaulted on a U.S. dollar bond for the first time. But the broader tone in Asia on Thursday will be set by another decline in U.S. stocks and bonds. The global market moves represented a familiar pattern since the flare-up in Middle East violence nearly three weeks ago - higher bond yields, a 'bear steepening' of the U.S. yield curve, a stronger dollar, and higher oil and gold prices.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jamie McGeever, Michele Bullock's, Bullock, Josie Kao Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Treasury, Reserve Bank of Australia, Central Bank, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Singapore, Asia, East, Korean, Korea

☆ Dollar bounces, euro heavy on U.S./euro zone growth outlook divergence
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar was on the front foot on Wednesday, drawing support from yet another resilient U.S. economic data reading, while the euro struggled to make headway on the back of a darkening growth outlook in the bloc. Against the dollar, the euro was last 0.05% higher at $1.0595, having declined 0.75% on Tuesday. The euro is the most heavily weighted currency in the dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six peers. "By contrast, the U.S. Federal Reserve could continue to raise interest rates just because the economic data looks strong." Pressure is mounting on the Bank of Japan to change its bond yield control as global interest rates rise.

Persons: Tina Teng, Matt Simpson, Bitcoin, John Glover Organizations: Wednesday, European Central Bank, CMC Markets, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of Australia's Locations: Bogota, Australia, Wednesday .

☆ Asia markets mixed ahead of Australia's inflation figures
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

An aerial view of the central business district and Sydney Opera House on February 17, 2023. David Gray | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets are mixed as investors prepare for Australia's third-quarter inflation figures, which will give clues to the Reserve Bank of Australia's monetary policy decision when it meets on Nov. 3. Economists polled by Reuters expect the headline inflation rate to come in at 5.3%, lower than the 6% seen in the second quarter. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 extended gains from Tuesday, climbing 0.32% in the morning session. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 17,480, pointing to a rebound after the HSI ended at its lowest level since Nov. 10.

Persons: David Gray, Kospi, HSI Organizations: Sydney Opera House, Getty, Reserve Bank, Reuters, Nikkei Locations: Asia, Pacific, Australia

☆ Australia central bank chief weighs whether high Q3 inflation warrants rate rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The head of Australia's central bank on Thursday said the strong third-quarter inflation report was around policymakers' expectations, and they were still considering whether it would warrant a rate rise. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock warned earlier this week that the central bank will not hesitate to raise interest rates further if there is a "material" upward revision to the outlook. Bullock noted that goods inflation is coming down as desired, but services inflation is higher than what policymakers were comfortable with. The third quarter inflation was higher than what the central bank had forecast in August, which raised concerns about whether the RBA can get inflation back to the target band of 2-3% in late 2025, an already protracted path compared with other major economies. Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Leslie Adler, Sonali Paul and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Bullock, Stella Qiu, Leslie Adler, Sonali Paul Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson

☆ Commonwealth Bank of Australia raises $794 mln worth of debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO:A woman walks past a Commonwealth Bank of Australia logo and ATM in Sydney, Australia, February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) on Wednesday announced the issuance of A$1.25 billion ($794.38 million) worth of subordinated notes. The issue of subordinated securities will not have a material impact on its financial position, the country's largest lender said. The bank is issuing A$550 million worth of subordinated fixed to floating rate securities and A$700 million worth of subordinated floating rate securities, both due in a decade. "The subordinated securities potentially exchange into fully paid ordinary shares of CBA if a non-viability trigger event occurs," the bank said.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Sameer Manekar, Shailesh Kuber Organizations: Commonwealth Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Wednesday, CBA, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

Oct 25 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Upbeat U.S. economic data often fuels Fed rate hike expectations, dragging stocks and other asset markets lower. In Asia on Wednesday, South Korea's LG Display is expected to show a fall in quarterly revenue when it reports results. On the economic data front, annual consumer inflation in Australia is expected to slow to 5.3% in the third quarter from 6.0% in the April-June period. The Australian dollar liked what it heard, bucked the global trend of widespread weakness against the U.S. dollar, and goes into the inflation data on the front foot around $0.6360.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Michele Bullock, Lan Foan, Xi Jinping, Josie Kao Organizations: Microsoft, Google, South, LG, Apple, Reserve Bank of Australia, U.S ., South Korea LG, Thomson, Reuters Locations: U.S, Asia, Australia, China, Beijing, South Korea

REUTERS/Issei Kato Acquire Licensing RightsOct 24 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. September's PMIs showed that manufacturing activity in Japan and Australia shrank and services sector activity grew, although growth in Japan was the slowest this year. The big picture, however, is still dominated by the ebb and flow of the U.S. Treasuries market. And while a broad easing of financial conditions on Monday - lower Treasury yields and a weaker dollar - should support emerging market assets, Wall Street's late downward drift will warrant caution. The MSCI Asia ex-Japan and MSCI global emerging market indexes are both down around 13% over the past three months and on Monday both hit their lowest level since Nov. 11 last year.

Persons: Issei Kato, Jamie McGeever, bode, Michele Bullock, September's PMIs, Wall, Goldman Sachs, outflows, Goldman, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Reserve Bank of Australia, Nasdaq, Bank of Japan, PMI, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Korean, Australia, Asia, China, South Korea

☆ Dollar rebuffed from 150 level vs yen after Powell/Treasuries double-whammy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. Yet this has not translated into a similar boost to the dollar this week, which made only marginal gains while toying with the 150 level against the yen. This number marks the point at which many market participants believe Japan's Ministry of Finance (MOF) could step in to shore up the currency. Speculators have almost doubled their bullish dollar positions against other G10 currencies this month to the most in a year. Money markets show traders fully expect to see no change in rates at the Fed's next policy meeting.

Persons: Florence Lo, Jerome Powell, Jeremy Stretch, Stretch, Omori, POWELL, Powell, Ray Attrill, he's, Sterling, Carol Kong, Rae Wee, Kevin Buckland, Kim Coghill, Angus MacSwan, Gareth Jones Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Federal, Treasury, Swiss, Japan's, of Finance, CIBC Capital Markets, Ministry, Finance, Mizuho Securities, National Australia Bank, Swiss National Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Treasuries, Japan, Tokyo, U.S, Asia, China, Singapore

☆ Dollar toys with 150 level vs yen after Powell/Treasuries double-whammy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. Speculators have almost doubled their bullish dollar positions against other G10 currencies this month to the most in a year. This week's bond sell-off has raised the chances of a break of 150 in the currency. Money markets show traders fully expect to see no change in rates at the Fed's next policy meeting. The Swissie was last down against the dollar, which rose 0.2% to 0.8935 per dollar.

Persons: Florence Lo, Jerome Powell, Jeremy Stretch, Stretch, Omori, POWELL, Powell, Ray Attrill, he's, Sterling, Carol Kong, Rae Wee, Kevin Buckland, Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill, Angus MacSwan Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Federal, Treasury, Swiss, Japan's, of Finance, CIBC Capital Markets, Ministry, Finance, Mizuho Securities, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Treasuries, Japan, Tokyo, U.S, Asia, China, Singapore

☆ Dollar broadly up, threatens 150 yen as benchmark Treasury yield climbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The benchmark 10-year yield , which was last at 4.9813%, has climbed some 35 basis points this week, driven by rising expectations that the Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates higher for longer and mounting U.S. fiscal concerns. "The move up has been driven by the Fed leaving the market as a price insensitive buyer. The dollar/yen pair tends to closely track changes in long-term Treasury yields, particularly in the 10-year maturity. In the broader currency market, the U.S. dollar edged higher, supported by elevated Treasury yields. The New Zealand dollar edged 0.35% lower to $0.5829, after having slid to an over 11-month low of $0.5816 on Thursday.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Brian Jacobsen, Sterling, Jerome Powell, Ray Attrill, he's, Carol Kong, Rae Wee, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Fed, Annex Wealth Management, U.S, National Australia Bank, New Zealand, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, U.S, Asia, China, lockstep

☆ Dollar holds near 150 yen ahead of Fed Chair remarks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A Japanese 10,000 yen and a U.S. 100 dollar banknote juxtaposed against each other in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, June 20, 2016. The dollar held the yen near a two-week low, as growing expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will keep rates higher for longer had the greenback and U.S. Treasury yields on the rise overnight and markets awaited a speech by Fed Chair Powell. The dollar index , which measures the dollar against a basket of currencies, held steady near Wednesday's high of 106.63 in the Asian morning. "I think it highly likely the Fed Chair will reinforce the more cautious commentary heard from Fed speakers over the past week and half," said Sycamore. The Japanese yen strengthened slightly to 149.77 per dollar, off Wednesday's two-week low of 149.94 but still near the 150-level that markets perceive as a potential trigger for currency intervention by Japanese authorities.

Persons: Powell, Christopher Waller, John Williams, Waller, Tony Sycamore, Jerome Powell, Carol Kong, Sterling Organizations: . Federal Reserve, greenback, U.S, Treasury, Fed, Market, Tony Sycamore . Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of Japan Locations: U.S, Tokyo, Japan

☆ Oil spikes as Middle East strife heightens supply concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. Brent crude futures were up $1.33, or about 1.5%, to $91.23 a barrel at 1231 GMT. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures were up $1.28, or roughly 1.5%, at $87.94 a barrel. "This turn of diplomatic fortunes again garners fear of conflict spread and therefore the leap in oil," said John Evans of oil broker PVM. Elsewhere in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian urged members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to impose an oil embargo on Israel.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Jordan, Biden, Joe Biden, John Evans, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Vivek Dhar, Harry Murphy Cruise, Natalie Grover, Arathy, Muyu Xu, Lincoln, Jason Neely, Elaine Hardcastle, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, West Texas, U.S, Hamas, Iranian, of Islamic Cooperation, Reuters, Israel Hamas, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, American Petroleum Institute, Golden, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Iran, Israel, OPEC, U.S, Gaza, Gaza City, Saudi, Jeddah

Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. In earlier trade, both benchmarks gained more than $2 to touch their highest levels in two weeks. Jordan then cancelled a summit it was to host with U.S. President Joe Biden and Egyptian and Palestinian leaders. "A long occupation looms as the scenario that pushes Brent oil futures above $US100/bbl because it raises the risk that the Israel Hamas conflict expands and potentially draws in Iran directly," Dhar said. Also supporting oil prices, U.S. crude stocks fell by about 4.4 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 13, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Jordan, Joe Biden, Biden, Vivek Dhar, Dhar, Harry Murphy Cruise, Arathy Somesekhar, Muyu Xu, Sonali Paul, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, West Texas, U.S, Israel Hamas, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Israel, Hamas, American Petroleum Institute, Golden, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Iran, China

Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. Jordan then cancelled a summit it was to host with U.S. President Joe Biden and Egyptian and Palestinian leaders. "A long occupation looms as the scenario that pushes Brent oil futures above $US100/bbl because it raises the risk that the Israel Hamas conflict expands and potentially draws in Iran directly," Dhar said. Also supporting oil prices, U.S. crude stocks fell by about 4.4 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 13, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Interest rate hikes to curb inflation can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Jordan, Joe Biden, Biden, Vivek Dhar, Dhar, Harry Murphy Cruise, Arathy Somesekhar, Muyu Xu, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, West Texas, U.S, Israel Hamas, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Israel, Hamas, American Petroleum Institute, Golden, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Iran, China

Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. Jordan then cancelled a summit it was to host with U.S. President Joe Biden and Egyptian and Palestinian leaders. Also supporting oil prices, U.S. crude stocks fell by about 4.4 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 13, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Interest rate hikes to curb inflation can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on oil exports from Venezuela since 2019 and while sanctions relief is expected to boost oil supply oil flow, analysts expect any increases from the country to take time due to a lack of investment.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Jordan, Joe Biden, Biden, Vivek Dhar, Dhar, Arathy Somesekhar, Muyu Xu, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, West Texas, U.S, Israel Hamas, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Israel, Palestinian, Jihad, Hamas, American Petroleum Institute, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Iran, U.S, Venezuela

☆ Australia central bank sees challenging economy, inflation risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SYDNEY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The head of Australia's central bank on Wednesday said the domestic economy was in a "challenging" situation with consumption slowing but inflation still elevated, and monetary policy was on a narrow path to balance these forces. Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock said there were signs that inflation might be difficult to suppress, particularly in services where it was proving to be sticky. She warned that the central bank was very alert to upside risks on inflation and, were it to remain higher than expected, the bank would have to respond with tighter monetary policy. Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Wayne Cole, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson

☆ Asia markets little changed ahead of key China data
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets were little changed in early Wednesday trading as investors look to key economic data from China. China will release its third-quarter gross domestic product data. The world's second-largest economy will also release its industrial output and retail sales data for September, as well as its urban unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is one of the key metrics that the Reserve Bank of Australia considers when setting its monetary policy. Japan's markets are trading close to the flatline, with the Nikkei 225 down just 0.1% and the Topix gaining marginally.

Persons: Kospi Organizations: Visual China, Getty, Reserve Bank of Australia, Nikkei Locations: Beijing, China, Asia, Pacific, Australia

☆ Dollar mixed vs major peers; pounds slips, yen briefly jumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Samuel Indyk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Central banks are not trying to hit the CPI targets in the near term," said Colin Asher, senior economist at Mizuho. The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against six peers, fell 0.1% to 106.13, after dropping 0.4% on Monday. Fed officials will enter into a blackout period on Oct. 21 before the central bank's Oct. 31–Nov. Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker said on Monday the central bank should not create new pressure on the economy by increasing the cost of borrowing. Australia's central bank considered raising rates at its recent policy meeting but judged there was not enough new information to warrant a move, minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's Oct. 3 policy meeting showed.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Colin Asher, Asher, Masato Kanda, Valentin Marinov, Marinov, Jerome Powell, Patrick Harker, Sterling, Samuel Indyk, Ankur Banerjee, Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Bank of Japan, Mizuho, CPI, Swiss, CIB, Federal, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Bank of England, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Thomson Locations: Australia's, London, Singapore

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