Market Update

The U.S. Dollar (USD) continues to fluctuate after logging another loss against major peers on Tuesday, as risk appetite took a blow from concerns over the coronavirus Delta variant and losses across stock markets. The greenback declined on Tuesday, for the second consecutive session, with the Dollar Index (DXY) falling …

The main indices of the New York Stock Exchanges (NYSE) closed lower on Tuesday, ending a rally that saw new record highs on the back of positive earnings reports by some of Wall Street’s blue chips. Concerns over the spread of the Delta variant, which led the CDC to recommend …

Oil prices finished marginally lower on Tuesday, amid uncertainty and continued concerns about a potential downturn in demand recovery due to the spread of the Delta variant of the novel coronavirus. Despite the recent decision by the OPEC+ alliance to further ease output cuts and continue to raise production gradually …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has recommended that people who are fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) should continue to wear masks in indoor public places, such as schools. The recommendation is more focused on areas where the Delta variant is spreading. …

Gold prices rose on Tuesday, restoring some of its losses yesterday but failed to restore the $1,800 mark, with all eyes on the Federal Reserve policy meeting. With the U.S. Dollar (USD) moving into negative territory during the American session, the yellow metal was able to make some modest gains …

The U.S. manufacturing sector continues to show some improvement signs, as shown by the results of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond survey, released on Tuesday. The Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity’s composite index rose in July to 27 from 26 in June. The reading shows that manufacturing activity …

U.S. consumer confidence improved in July, reaching its best level in about 17 months, returning to its level before the coronavirus pandemic, data showed on Tuesday. The improvement comes despite concerns about the resurgence of the pandemic with the spread of the Delta variant. The consumer confidence index rose to …

The Housing Price Index released by the US Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) arrived at +1.7% in May following April’s increase of 1.8%. This reading fell short of the market expectation of 1.8%.

Durable Goods Orders in the United States rose by 0.8%, or $2.1 billion, to $257.6 billion in June, the data published by the US Census Bureau revealed on Tuesday. This reading came in weaker than the market expectation for an increase of 2.1% and followed May’s 3.2% expansion.

Data for the retail sector showed that British retailers slowed slightly in July after sales growth hit its highest level in nearly three years in June, the first full month after the reopening of non-essential stores that were closed due to the Coronavirus. The CBI sales volume index fell compared …