The Japanese yen is retreating against the US dollar due to the latter’s strength, driven by diverse employment data and a report indicating the possibility of the Trump administration’s tariffs being activated soon.The US dollar rose for the second consecutive day, supported by preliminary employment data that highlighted a lower-than-expected …
Read More »XAU/USD Edges Higher Despite Mixed US Jobs Data As FOMC Minutes Hint at Slowing Rate Cuts
Gold prices climbed during the North American session, buoyed by a slightly hawkish tone in the latest Federal Reserve meeting minutes. The minutes suggested that the pace of interest rate cuts may slow down, a development that typically supports gold as a hedge against inflation.While the US Dollar Index strengthened, …
Read More »FOMC Minutes Reflect Growing Concerns Over Trump’s Trade Policies
The Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy meeting minutes, released on Wednesday, revealed that “Fed officials are factoring in the potential changes to trade and immigration policies as they prepare their economic forecasts.”Some expressed concerns that “President-elect Donald Trump’s trade policies could make it difficult to interpret inflation readings in the …
Read More »Key Market Drivers; US Session: Treading Water Ahead of Crucial NFP Data
Global markets displayed a cautious tone on Wednesday, with most major currency pairs trading within narrow ranges. Investors are gearing up for a busy data release schedule culminating in Friday’s highly anticipated US Nonfarm Payrolls report.The US Dollar Index edged higher, reflecting a cautious investor sentiment that favored the safe-haven …
Read More »The Fed’s Cautious Path: What to Expect from December’s FOMC Minutes
The Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates in December, while welcomed by some, was marked by a notable degree of caution. The minutes of the December 17-18 policy meeting, to be released on Wednesday, will offer crucial insights into the internal deliberations that shaped this decision.The 25-basis-point rate cut …
Read More »Jobless Claims Data Explainer: A Resilient US Labour Market, But for How Long?
The recent decline in US jobless claims, falling to an 11-month low, offers a seemingly positive snapshot of the labour market. However, this picture is far from complete. While layoffs remain relatively low, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced reality – one of slowing hiring, prolonged unemployment for some, …
Read More »ISM Data Fueling Interest Rate-linked Fears Accounts For Stock Market Downturn
US stocks experienced slid on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite falling significantly. This downturn follows a period of sustained market strength and was primarily driven by stronger-than-expected economic data that dampened expectations of imminent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.The S&P 500 declined 1.2%, while the Dow Jones …
Read More »Canadian Dollar Faces Headwinds Amid Political Turmoil
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) has halted its recent bullish recovery, halting on the charts and cycling familiar levels against the Greenback. The Loonie has recovered some ground after tumbling to multi-year highs at the tail-end of 2024, but bullish momentum remains elusive. Canada’s Ivey Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) figures disappointed …
Read More »Strong Jobs and Services Data Lift US Dollar to Fresh Heights
The US Dollar Index (DXY) staged a comeback on Tuesday, erasing earlier losses and trading higher. This resurgence was primarily fueled by a confluence of factors, with the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance playing a pivotal role. The Fed’s recent shift towards a more restrictive monetary policy has propelled US Treasury …
Read More »US Service Sector Gains Momentum, Price Pressures Intensify
The US service sector demonstrated robust growth in December, with the ISM Services PMI climbing to 54.1, indicating expansion. However, this growth was accompanied by a significant jump in service prices, reaching the highest level since early 2023. This surge in prices, driven by strong demand and increased input costs, …
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