Wall Street Banks: A Tide of Profits Lifted All BoatsThe fourth quarter of 2024 witnessed a surge in profitability for major Wall Street banks, driven by a confluence of favorable factors. Morgan Stanley, the bellwether of the industry, led the charge with a more than doubling of profits, fueled by …

U.S. retail sales demonstrated continued strength in December, driven by robust consumer demand for motor vehicles and a broad range of other goods. This positive data, coupled with a strong labor market, reinforces the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach to interest rate cuts.The Commerce Department reported a 0.4% increase in retail …

The US Dollar weakened on Wednesday following the release of the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which showed a milder-than-expected rise in inflation. This tempered expectations for further aggressive interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, prompting a reassessment of the economic outlook and a cautious shift in market …

US Dollar weakened on Wednesday, extending its recent corrective decline. The release of the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which largely met market expectations, provided further impetus for the dollar’s weakness. This fueled speculation that the Federal Reserve may maintain its current interest rate stance, potentially opening the door …

Both the CPI data and the results from a few major financials are celebrated by the major US stock indices. When the CPI and PPI are combined, analysts predict that the core PCE will be announced later this month at 0.19%, slightly below the 0.2% threshold. The MoM’s three- and …

Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement in Gaza as part of a deal to release Israeli hostages held in Gaza, according to a recent announcement by the Palestinian Hamas movement. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, preempting the official announcement of the truce via …

Gold prices extended their gains for the second consecutive day, driven by a sharp decline in US Treasury yields. The fall in yields followed the release of US inflation data, which showed a moderation in core inflation. This renewed expectations of potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.The US …

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams emphasized the data-dependent nature of future monetary policy decisions in a speech on Wednesday. He acknowledged the significant uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook, particularly due to potential changes in government policy.Williams stated that the current monetary policy stance is “well-positioned” for …

The USD/JPY plummeted over 1% in early North American trading as the latest US inflation data showed a deceleration in core prices. This unexpected cooling of inflation sent US Treasury yields tumbling and boosted the Japanese Yen.   The US Bureau of Labour Statistics reported that consumer prices rose 0.4% …

Financial markets experienced a significant downturn after the release of the December jobs report. This was largely due to a surge in the dollar and bond yields, but anticipation of the upcoming Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report for December likely also played a role.Base effects could cause year-on-year inflation …