Gold prices firmed on Thursday as investors remained cautious about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which also boosted demand for the safe-haven precious metal, while supply fears pushed palladium to a seven-month high. Gold prices consolidated in spot transactions at $1926.10 an ounce. US gold futures rose 0.4 percent …
Read More »UK Final Services PMI Revised Down to 60.5 in February
The UK services sector activity expanded less than expected in February, the final report from IHS Markit confirmed this Thursday. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was revised lower to 60.5 in February versus 60.8 expected and a 60.8 – last month’s flash reading.
Read More »Market Drivers – US Session – 2 March
The most significant driver across financial markets on Wednesday was the testimony by Fed Chair Jerome Powell before Congress. Powell’s testimony will continue on Thursday with hints on determination to adopt QT and decide interest rate hilke in FOMC’s 16 March meeting. Economic DataPrivate employers hired more workers than expected …
Read More »Fed’s Logan: US Balance Sheet Reduction Likely When Markets Stabilize
“We’ve certainly seen recent developments lead to notable volatility and declines in market liquidity,” Lorie K. Logan, an executive vice president with the New York Fed, said recently during a virtual event organized by New York University.“But so far, outside of Russian markets … our sense is that broader markets …
Read More »BoE’s Cunliffe: Sanctions To Do Severe Damage to Russia’s economy
Bank of England Deputy Governor for Financial Stability Jon Cunliffe said on Wednesday that sanctions will do severe damage to the Russian economy, but should not pose material risks to financial stability more broadly.Cunliffe said that heightened perceptions of geopolitical risk and its potential impact on growth and inflation can …
Read More »EUR/USD Hits Resistance As Markets Focus On Ukraine
EUR/USD is stalling on its advance in later trade on Wall Street as the price moves into what would be expected to act as a resistance area on the hourly chart. At 1.1129, the price is trading near flat on the day after climbing from a low of 1.1057 to …
Read More »BoE’s Tenreyro: Oil Prices Spikes Increase Inflation, Dampen UK Economy
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Member Silvana Tenreyro said on Wednesday that the latest rise in oil prices will increase inflation and dampen UK economic activity. The high level of companies wage expectations in the BoE’s latest Agents’ survey was a surprise, though we will have to see if …
Read More »Fed’s Beige Book: Economic Activity Has Expanded Since January
On Wednesday, the Fed’s Beige Book for March 2022 was released citing the word “modest” 52 times, “moderate” mentioned 47 times and “Uncertainty” 11 times. Some traders guess a lot of what happens today and tomorrow will depend on the Fed’s Beige book Key QuotesEconomic activity has expanded at a …
Read More »Treasury yields rose on Powell’s Rate Hike Hints
The 10-year Treasury yield climbed above 1.8% Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell offered an unusual degree of transparency for a Fed Chair, indicating that he endorses a quarter-percentage point increase when the central bank concludes its two-day policy meeting on March 16. Wednesday’s trading brought a respite to …
Read More »Canadian Dollar Leads G10 Gains As Rate Hike, Tightening Get Going
The Canadian dollar strengthened against its US counterpart on Wednesday as oil prices surged and the Bank of Canada hiked interest rates as expected for the first time since October 2018 despite the crisis in Ukraine.Canada’s central bank hiked its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 0.50% to …
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