The UK retail sales arrived at -0.5% over the month in May vs. -0.7% expected and 1.4% previous. The core retail sales, stripping the auto motor fuel sales, stood at -0.7% MoM vs. -1.0% expected and 1.4% previous. On an annualized basis, the UK retail sales plunged 4.7% in May …
Read More »German IFO Business Climate Index drops to 92.3 in June
The headline German IFO Business Climate Index dropped sharply to 92.3 in June versus last month’s 93.0 and the consensus estimates of 92.9. Meanwhile, the Current Economic Assessment eased to 99.3 points in the reported month as compared to May’s 99.5 and 99.1 anticipated. The IFO Expectations Index – indicating firms’ projections …
Read More »Dollar stumbles on interest rate fears
The US dollar fell against major currencies on Friday, on track for its first weekly loss this month, as investors continue to assess Federal Reserve policy and whether large interest rate increases will lead to a recession. The safe-haven US currency also lost support amid improving market sentiment, rising regional …
Read More »European shares rise, supported by utilities at the end of a turbulent week
European shares rose on Friday, boosted by the utilities and healthcare sectors after hitting their lowest level in 2022, as investors turned to safer bets amid growing fears of tight monetary policies and rising inflation that could result in a global recession. At the end of a week that witnessed …
Read More »Japan shares rise, supported by the technology sector
Japanese stocks rose on Friday, with the technology sector leading the gains following big gains on Wall Street in the evening, and sentiment was supported by the Bank of Japan’s accommodative monetary policies. The Nikkei index rose 1.23 percent to 2,6419.97 points at the close. The index achieved a weekly …
Read More »Cisco, Nike quit Russia, as pace of Western firms leaving speeds up
US companies Cisco Systems and Nike told Reuters on Thursday that they will exit the Russian market entirely, as the pace of Western companies’ exit from Russia accelerates after its invasion of Ukraine in February. Cisco, the maker of telecom equipment, said it was ending its business in Russia and …
Read More »Gold is heading for its second weekly loss on fears of a hike
Gold prices stabilized on Friday, but they are heading to record the second weekly decline in a row, as the demand for the yellow metal was affected by fears that the major central banks might raise interest rates significantly to confront hyperinflation. And gold rose in immediate transactions 0.1 percent …
Read More »Oil moves in a narrow range on fears of slowing demand and supply uncertainty
On Friday, oil prices moved in a narrow range after briefly rising around $1 a barrel, as the market weighed fears of slowing demand due to lower economic activity in the United States and uncertainty surrounding supplies. Brent crude futures fell five cents, or 0.1 percent, to $110 a barrel …
Read More »Oil prices rise as investors assess recession risks
Oil prices rose on Thursday after falling earlier as investors assessed the risks of a recession and how demand for fuel will be affected by higher interest rates and tight supplies. Brent crude futures rose 38 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $112.12 by 1204 GMT, after falling to $108.04 earlier …
Read More »Euro falls after weak PMI data
The euro fell broadly on Thursday after weak PMI data in Germany and France underlined the difficulties facing the euro-zone economy, prompting investors to lower their bets on a massive interest rate hike by the European Central Bank. A preliminary survey on Thursday showed that the German economy, Europe’s largest, …
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