Chip stocks dropped on Wednesday on the announcement by ASML, a significant manufacturer of machinery used in semiconductor manufacturing, of a 61% sequential decline in bookings for the first quarter. The equipment required to produce the world’s most sophisticated semiconductors, which may cost hundreds of millions of dollars apiece, are …
Read More »US Dollar Retreats Following Fed’s Beige Book, Lower Treasury Yields
The Fed’s Beige Book showed slight economic activity expansion since late February, but Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned that there is little progress on inflation and that the bank remains data-dependent. The possibility of a rate cut in the next meeting in June stands at around 15%, and the chances …
Read More »ECB’s Lagarde: The fight against inflation is not over
European Central Bank’s President Christine Lagarde speaks in Washington, DC. A firmer upside momentum now lifts EUR/USD pair to the area of daily highs near 1.0680.Earlier on Wednesday, Lagarde tweeted saying, “Later today I will be speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations about the European economy and implications of …
Read More »Crude oil losses continue on lower demand concerns, higher oil stocks
Oil prices are reversing more quickly than expected as US reserves surge. The prospect of longer-term higher interest rate environment is raising worries about a decline in crude oil prices. The impact of geopolitical concerns has been mitigated by these fears. On Wednesday, there will be a significant decline in …
Read More »BoE’s Bailey: Inflation will drop strongly in the next month
Bank of England’s Governor Andrew Bailey speaks in the wake of the pick up in UK inflation figures in March.GBP/USD keeps the tight range in the low 1.2400s, fading the initial bullish move to the 1.2480 zone on the back of the ongoing bounce in the Dollar.Key QuotesWe’re pretty much …
Read More »ECB’s Nagel: Eurozone price pressures could continue for some time
In an interview on Wednesday, European Central Bank policymaker and Bundesbank Chief Joachim Nagel said that price pressures in the Eurozone could continue for some time, per Reuters.“It’s not completely clear if the inflation rate will reach 2% target next year and stay at this level,” Nagel added and noted …
Read More »BoE Governor: UK may cut interest rate before Fed
Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, has intimated that because the inflation dynamics of the two economies differ, the UK may be able to cut interest rates before the US. After unexpectedly strong price data in America this week rattled markets, Bailey said there is more demand-led …
Read More »Gold price surges following Powell’s hawkish remarks
Gold prices have risen following Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s hawkish comments and mixed US data. The Middle East tensions have heightened Gold’s status as a safe-haven asset, and market expectations reduce the likelihood of multiple Fed rate cuts this year. Gold prices edged higher late in Tuesday’s North American session, …
Read More »Market Drivers; US Session, April 16
The US economy is expanding rapidly, yet inflation is still there. In the meantime, the Federal Reserve conveys, via Chair Jerome Powell, conflicting messages: while the US central bank supports market-led tightening through higher rates, it is not a big fan of immediate rate cuts. Economic DataOn the data front; …
Read More »Fed’s Powell hints at keeping rates higher for longer
The Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated on Tuesday that the US central bank is unlikely to lower interest rates at its next policy meeting, which is just two weeks away, due to the US economy’s continued strength and a “lack of progress” on inflation. Powell stated during a moderated …
Read More »