The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand rose to 10% on a yearly basis in February from 9.7% in January, the data published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Tuesday. This reading matched the market expectation. Annual Core PPI, which excludes food and energy prices, edged …
Read More »Euro Rises on The Hope of Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks
The euro rose on Tuesday on hopes of progress in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, although risk appetite waned due to the rising number of COVID-19 infections in China. On Tuesday, talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators to ease the crisis are expected to resume after video-conference talks after …
Read More »German ZEW Economic Sentiment Index slumps to -39.3 in March
The German ZEW headline numbers for March showed that the Economic Sentiment Index deteriorated sharply amid the Russia-Ukraine war, coming in at -39.3 from 54.3 previous while missing estimates of 10.0 by a wide margin. The Eurozone ZEW Economic Sentiment Index tumbled to -38.7 the current month as compared to …
Read More »Oil prices fell to their lowest level in two weeks
Oil prices extended losses on Tuesday to a two-week low after ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine eased fears of another oil supply disruption, while coronavirus infections in China raised concerns about slowing demand for crude. Brent crude futures were down $5.95, or 5.6 percent, at $100.95 a barrel by …
Read More »Binance gets its first Gulf crypto licence in Bahrain
The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance has been given a crypto-asset service provider licence by Bahrain’s central bank, its first such licence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the company and the bank said on Tuesday. “The licence from Bahrain is a milestone in our journey to being fully licensed …
Read More »Nikkei rises with strong Chinese economic data
Japan’s Nikkei index closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by strong economic data from neighboring China and its main trading partner, but capped cautious gains ahead of the expected US interest rate hike, the first in three years, due later this month. The market’s performance ranged from small gains to losses …
Read More »Gold Drops to The Red Zone
Gold prices fell below $1,980 an ounce on Monday, as traders braced for an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate hike that pushed 10-year US Treasury yields above 2%. The US central bank is widely expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points at the end of its two-day meeting …
Read More »UK Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.9% in January
The number of people claiming jobless benefits fell by 48.1K in February when compared to -31.9K booked previously. The claimant count rate came in at 4.4% last month vs. 4.6% prior. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed on Tuesday, the UK’s official jobless rate arrived at 3.9% in January …
Read More »U.S. Treasury official: Bond default would add to Russia’s economic pain
A US Treasury official said on Monday that Russia’s default on its sovereign debt would put Russia’s economy and financial system in further trouble, making it difficult for Moscow to find new lending sources and raising future borrowing costs. The official told Reuters that the Treasury believes that there is …
Read More »World Bank agrees to provide $200 million in additional financing to Ukraine
The World Bank on Monday announced it is making about $200 million in additional funding available to strengthen social services for people in need in Ukraine, on top of the $723 million it approved last week. The financing is part of a $3 billion support package that the World Bank …
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