At the meeting of finance ministers of the Eurozone in Luxembourg on Oct. 4, one prominent regular attendee was missing. Olaf Scholz, Germany’s finance minister and vice chancellor since 2018, was otherwise occupied in Berlin.Eight days earlier, his Social Democratic Party had won national elections under his leadership, making him …
Read More »Could Cryptos challenge the USD’s dominance?
The U. S. dollar’s dominant role in global markets is most likely to continue, but the rapid rise of cryptocurrencies may diminish the dollar’s status, according to a new paper by the Federal Reserve. Private digital currencies, such as Bitcoin and Ether, as well as government backed coins, could reduce …
Read More »What could nomination of Lael Brainard mean for Wall Street?
Fed Governor Lael Brainard is getting closer to a key banking position as U. S. President Joe Biden studies who will chair the central bank and who will specifically supervise banks.Even without getting the Chair’s position, Brainard can be a major influence on banks. If she is not nominated as …
Read More »Supply chain disruption threatens Black Friday shopping
Retailers are racing to import the goods and gadgets for consumers to buy during holiday shopping season, the growing list of shortages has made it difficult for them to find enough stock. Due to inflation concerns, consumers expect higher prices, delays, and opportunistic resellers as Black Friday and Cyber Monday …
Read More »Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Gold for December delivery fell $2.60 to $1,759.20 per ounce. Silver for December delivery rose 13 cents to $22.66 an ounce and December copper rose 9 cents to $4.24 a pound.The U. S. dollar rose to 111.63 Japanese yen from 111.44 yen. The euro was unchanged at $1.1550.Benchmark U.S. crude …
Read More »Mnuchin warns of inflation risk, 3.5% Treasury yields
U.S. government debt yields edged up Thursday, with the 10- and 30-year rates hitting their highest levels since June, as stocks advanced on a temporary debt ceinling deal by Congress and a drop in weekly jobless benefit claims. Steven Mnuchin, the former U.S. Treasury secretary, warned about the risks of …
Read More »U. S. dollar under pressure as risk appetite improve
Commodity currencies and sterling are at the best levels of the day against the U. S. dollar as equities extend gains and oil up into positive territory.There’s an interesting inverse relationship to oil and the dollar unfolding when you might think it would be the opposite, seeing as how it …
Read More »Gold Price consolidates around $1,760
Gold, erasing yesterday’s gains touching 1767.27, is losing 0.31%. Gold is trading at $1,757.44 during the New York session.The XAU/USD price action in the last week has been dull. The yellow metal keeps trading within the $1,745 – $1,769 range, with no intention of going beyond the traditional territory.The market …
Read More »Tiff Macklem warns of pressures from stimulus withdrawal
Bank of Canada Governor, Tiff Macklem, said Thursday that Canada’s high inflation rate is largely related to the unique circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, although there is a risk it could be more persistent than policy makers had expected.Speaking virtually before the Council on Foreign Relations, in Washington, Macklem said …
Read More »Lane: ECB is far from inflation red zone
European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane pushed back against warnings over accelerating inflation, saying there’s “very solid evidence” to believe that the current spike won’t last. “The red zone for everyone is if inflation became persistent at a number that’s immoderately above the inflation target,” Lane said on Thursday.“That’s …
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