Market Update

According to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard, four rate hikes in 2022 now appear very likely in the face of high inflation, a rate hike in March seems on the table. The labour market is as tight as anyone has ever seen it, Bullard added in …

The US dollar index settled near its lowest level in two months during Thursday’s trading, after inflation data revealed that it had recorded its highest level in nearly forty years. The US consumer price index rose 7% year-on-year in December, the fastest pace since 1982. However, US President Joe Biden …

Crude oil prices hit two-month highs on Wednesday on the back of tight supply as crude inventories in the United States fell to their lowest since 2018, and as the US dollar weakened and concerns eased about the Omicron coronavirus variant.US crude inventories retreated by 4.6 million barrels last week …

The number of building consents issued for new dwellings in New Zealand rose 0.6 percent month-over-month to 4,206 in November of 2021, following a downwardly revised 2.1 percent fall in the previous month. In the year ended in November 2021, the actual number of new dwellings consented was 48,522 up …

The prices of energy, crude and gasoline all increased in 2021 from 2020 according to the latest data released Wednesday by the US Energy Information Agency.Prices increased because of higher demand and a range of other factors. By the end of 2021, commodities on the energy index traded 59% higher …

US stocks traded higher on Wednesday after the inflation report comprising the awaited CPI data was released but in the afternoon trade gains were cut. The inflation figures in the US eased concerns that the Fed will need to tighten faster than early announced. The S&P 500 added roughly 0.28% …

US President Biden on Wednesday has insisted that his administration is “making progress” on inflation, despite data showing it continued to grow last month for an annual jump of 7 percent, the highest increase since 1982.The White House highlighted falling fuel costs in December and lower overall monthly increase of …

The US budget deficit sharply narrowed to USD 21.3 billion in December 2021, compared with a USD 143.5 billion gap in the same period last year and market expectations of a USD 25 billion gap. Outlays increased 3.7 percent to USD 508.04 billion, while receipts soared 40.6 percent to USD …

According to the Fed’s Beige Book, a report on current economic conditions in each of the 12 Federal districts, most districts experienced a sudden pullback in leisure and travel spending, as well as hotel occupancy and patronage at restaurants as the number of Covid-19 Omicron infections rose. Additional Takeaways: “Contacts …

US equities are up broadly higher as markets relieved that the latest US CPI data was not worse, rather the data comes in line with expectations though at a 40 year high. The S&P 500 is about 0.3% in the 4730 area whilst the Nasdaq 100 up 0.5% and probing …