For the ECB, the latest Eurozone data provide a discomforting combination of record-high inflation and slow first-quarter growth. The level and widespread nature of the former are forcing the central bank to act, and markets are now pricing in 90 bp of rate hikes this year, although the latter provides …
Read More »BoE Preview: Forecasts From Four Major Banks
Wells Fargo “For May, the consensus forecast (and Wells Fargo forecast) is for the BoE to deliver another 25 bps hike, which would take the policy rate to 1.00%. We expect the BoE’s economic projection to include an upward revision to its CPI inflation forecast and a downward revision to …
Read More »Canada: International trade surplus falls in March
According to the latest figures released on Tuesday by Statistics Canada, the Canadian Trade surplus fell unexpectedly to C$2.49B in March from C$3.08B a month earlier versus expectations for a rise to C$3.9B. Exports were up 6.3% MoM to C$63.63B from C$59.84 a month earlier, while imports were up 7.7% …
Read More »US: Private sector employment rises in April
Private sector employment in the US rose by 247,000 in April, well below the expected gain of 395,000 jobs, according to US payroll company ADP’s latest estimate of national employment change released on Wednesday. That marked a sharp decline in the rate of job gains after 479,000 were added to the US …
Read More »The dollar continues to decline from the highest level in 20 years
On Wednesday, the dollar index continued to retreat from its highest level in 20 years after it had already digested expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by half a point later on Wednesday and about 250 basis points by the end of the year. Currency markets are …
Read More »Reuters: OPEC+ expects the surplus to rise in 2022
A report seen by Reuters on Wednesday showed that the OPEC + alliance expects a surplus of 1.9 million barrels per day in 2022, an increase of 600,000 barrels per day from previous estimates, amid expectations of a slowdown in oil demand growth this year. The report, which was prepared …
Read More »Reuters: Russian oil exports outside the former Soviet Union rise 2%
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday that Russian oil exports, excluding those destined for the former Soviet Union, rose to an average of 4.88 million barrels per day in the first four weeks of April, an increase of 2 percent compared to March. The source also …
Read More »Oil jumps 3% as the European Union announces plans to ban Russian crude
Oil prices jumped on Wednesday as the European Union, the world’s largest trading bloc, announced plans to phase out Russian oil imports, offsetting fears of declining demand from China, the world’s largest oil importer. By 0746 GMT, Brent crude futures rose $2.94 a barrel, or 2.8 percent, to $107.91 a …
Read More »Gold falls with an imminent rates hike
Gold prices fell on Wednesday, with the increase in the yield on US Treasury bonds and an imminent hike in the interest rate, which negatively affected the demand for the precious metal. Spot gold prices fell 0.1% to $865.31 an ounce by 00:40 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.2% to …
Read More »Musk says Twitter may charge slight fee for commercial, government users
Elon Musk said on Tuesday Twitter Inc. might charge a “slight” fee for commercial and government users, part of the billionaire entrepreneur’s push to grow revenue which has lagged behind larger rivals like Meta Platforms Inc’s Facebook. “Twitter will always be free for casual users, but maybe a slight cost for …
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