Market Update

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s GDPNow model, the US economy is expected to contract by 1.2% in the second quarter, up from the July 19 forecast of -1.6%. The US Dollar Index stays flat on the day near 107.20 after this report.After recent releases from the US …

Most economists expect the Fed to hike rates by 75 bps once again. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s message on accepting pain to pin down inflation is expected to give a push to the US dollar. The American central bank is set to hike interest rates by 75 basis points for …

Pending Home Sales in the US sharply fell in June. The monthly data published by the National Association of Realtors showed on Wednesday that Pending Home Sales declined by 8.6% on a monthly basis in June following May’s growth of 0.4%. This reading came in much worse than the market …

Durable Goods Orders in the US increased by 1.9%, or by $5 billion, on a monthly basis in June to $272.6 billion, the monthly data published by the US Census Bureau revealed on Wednesday. This reading came in much better than the market expectation for a decrease of 0.4%.

The dollar moved further away from its highest level in 20 years on Wednesday before the Federal Reserve meeting. The US central bank is expected to raise interest rates by another 75 basis points to rein in spiralling inflation. However, trading in the currency markets was limited as traders awaited …

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said a Turkish-brokered agreement allowing the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports from ports on the Black Sea could collapse if obstacles to Russian agricultural exports are not removed immediately. The Interfax news agency quoted Rudenko as saying that grain shipments from Ukraine would begin …

European shares rose on Wednesday, thanks to strong results from Britain’s Reckitt Benckiser and Russia-exposed bank UniCredit, while a decline in luxury goods LVMH shares limited gains. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.2 percent. Still, investors are cautious amid concerns over energy supplies in Europe, with the US Federal …

Japan’s Nikkei index reversed course to close higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in chip-related stocks. At the same time, investors remained cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision due later on Wednesday. The Nikkei rose 0.22 percent to 27,715.75 points, and the broader Topix index rose …

Oil prices stabilized on Wednesday as data showing a larger-than-expected drop in US crude inventories dispelled concerns about weak demand. Brent crude futures recorded $104.55 a barrel, up 15 cents, or 0.1 percent. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 27 cents, or 0.5%, to $95.25 a barrel. After Tuesday’s settlement, …

Alphabet reported on Tuesday second-quarter earnings that missed analysts’ forecasts and revenue that fell short of expectations. Alphabet A announced earnings per share of $1.21 on revenue of $69.69B. Alphabet A shares are down 27% from the beginning of the year, still down 30.70% from its 52 week high of …