Market Update

The Japanese yen is retreating against the US dollar due to the latter’s strength, driven by diverse employment data and a report indicating the possibility of the Trump administration’s tariffs being activated soon.The US dollar rose for the second consecutive day, supported by preliminary employment data that highlighted a lower-than-expected …

Gold prices climbed during the North American session, buoyed by a slightly hawkish tone in the latest Federal Reserve meeting minutes. The minutes suggested that the pace of interest rate cuts may slow down, a development that typically supports gold as a hedge against inflation.While the US Dollar Index strengthened, …

The Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy meeting minutes, released on Wednesday, revealed that “Fed officials are factoring in the potential changes to trade and immigration policies as they prepare their economic forecasts.”Some expressed concerns that “President-elect Donald Trump’s trade policies could make it difficult to interpret inflation readings in the …

Global markets displayed a cautious tone on Wednesday, with most major currency pairs trading within narrow ranges. Investors are gearing up for a busy data release schedule culminating in Friday’s highly anticipated US Nonfarm Payrolls report.The US Dollar Index edged higher, reflecting a cautious investor sentiment that favored the safe-haven …

The Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates in December, while welcomed by some, was marked by a notable degree of caution. The minutes of the December 17-18 policy meeting, to be released on Wednesday, will offer crucial insights into the internal deliberations that shaped this decision.The 25-basis-point rate cut …

The recent decline in US jobless claims, falling to an 11-month low, offers a seemingly positive snapshot of the labour market. However, this picture is far from complete. While layoffs remain relatively low, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced reality – one of slowing hiring, prolonged unemployment for some, …

China is bracing for an unprecedented travel surge during the upcoming Lunar New Year, with authorities predicting a staggering 9 billion domestic trips during the 40-day Spring Festival period starting January 14. This forecast, despite the country’s sluggish economic recovery, reflects a deep cultural tradition of family reunions during the …

The U.S. dollar advanced for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, buoyed by strong economic data that pushed bond yields higher and diminished expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025. U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in November, while December’s services sector activity showed notable acceleration. Additionally, a surge in …

Consumer sentiment in Japan took a hit in December, as per a government survey released on Wednesday. The decline raises questions about the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) optimism that robust household spending will drive the economy and support future interest rate hikes. The sentiment index fell to 36.2 in December, …

European stocks saw modest gains on Wednesday, driven by advances in heavyweight healthcare and financial sectors, while investors remained attuned to global monetary policy signals in the New Year. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose by 0.2% as of 08:21 GMT, maintaining its position near a three-week high. Financial services led …