U.S. stock index futures traded around the flatline early Thursday as investors awaited weekly jobless claims and GDP figures for cues on the Federal Reserve’s next steps, while political gridlock in Washington fueled concerns of a potential government shutdown. At 05:55 ET (09:55 GMT): Dow Jones Futures rose 65 points, …
Read More »Gold Holds Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data
Gold prices steadied in Asian trading on Thursday, pausing after slipping from record highs as a stronger U.S. dollar and cautious signals from Federal Reserve officials curbed momentum. By 03:01 ET (07:01 GMT), spot gold rose 0.2% to $3,713.42 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures for December edged 0.1% higher …
Read More »European Stocks Edge Lower as Investors Await Key U.S. Data
European equity markets slipped on Thursday, following Wall Street’s overnight losses, as investors exercised caution ahead of critical U.S. economic reports that could determine the Federal Reserve’s next policy moves. At 07:10 GMT, Germany’s DAX fell 0.6%, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.7%, while the UK’s FTSE 100 managed to rise …
Read More »Oil Prices Ease After Seven-Week Highs as Traders Balance Inventory Data and Geopolitical Risks
Oil prices slipped slightly in Asian trade on Thursday, consolidating after a strong rally in the previous session, as traders weighed tighter U.S. supply signals against persistent geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia. At 01:23 GMT, Brent crude futures for November delivery fell 0.3% to $69.09 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate …
Read More »Asian Markets Stay Subdued as Investors Await Key U.S. Data
Asian equities traded cautiously on Thursday, following two straight sessions of losses on Wall Street, as investors weighed stretched valuations in U.S. tech stocks and looked ahead to a packed U.S. economic calendar that could influence the Federal Reserve’s policy path. At 04:00 GMT, U.S. stock index futures edged slightly …
Read More »White House Prepares Federal Agencies for Potential Mass Layoffs Amid Shutdown Threat
As the clock ticks toward a potential government shutdown, the White House has directed federal agencies to gear up for significant workforce reductions, escalating tensions in an already heated funding battle. A memo from the Office of Management and Budget, issued late Wednesday, instructs agencies to draft plans for layoffs, …
Read More »Market Drivers – US Session: US Dollar Surges on Risk Aversion
The U.S. Dollar surged on Wednesday, driven by increasing risk aversion in global markets. This move reflects a widespread challenge for central banks: battling a slowing economy while still contending with stubborn inflation.The Dollar Index (DXY) rose by over half a percent, reaching its highest level in nearly two weeks. …
Read More »Powell’s Balanced Approach Halts Gold’s Surge
Gold prices have pulled back sharply, dipping from a daily high of 3,779.340 to around 3,732.985 in recent trading, marking a 0.83% decline. This retreat follows Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s recent emphasis on a cautious approach to rate cuts, which has bolstered the US dollar and tempered investor enthusiasm. …
Read More »Don’t Rush to Cut: Fed’s Goolsbee Cautions Against Overeager Rate Cuts
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee is pumping the brakes on the widespread expectation of a rapid series of interest rate cuts. In a surprising move that separates him from the broader narrative, Goolsbee has voiced his discomfort with “overly frontloading” rate reductions, pushing back against the idea …
Read More »Is the BoJ’s Hesitation Fueling an Unstoppable Yen Decline?
The USD/JPY pair has climbed to 148.868, marking a fresh three-week high and gaining 0.83% on the day amid persistent US Dollar strength. This advance, pushing the pair from a previous close of 147.641 to a day’s range of 147.515 to 148.887, highlights a troubling trend: the Japanese Yen’s ongoing …
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