The Eurozone’s recovery from the recent downturn is largely due to the growth of the service sector, which has seen job creation accelerate. However, the region faces challenges in meeting the European Central Bank’s 2% target due to persistently high service prices driven by wages. The EU’s decision to stop …
Read More »Market Drivers; US Session, April 22
The risk-linked financial assets received much-needed oxygen from diminishing geopolitical fears at the start of a week that will be dominated by impending US inflation numbers and corporate earnings reports. The US dollar posted modest gains during a rather unremarkable start to the week, helping to keep the USD Index …
Read More »Eurozone’s February Surplus Shrinks, German Economy Shows Recovery Signs
In February, the Eurozone’s current account surplus dipped to €29.5 billion, down from €39.4 billion previously. While goods and services showed surpluses, secondary and primary income recorded deficits. Germany, a key player, hinted at economic growth in Q1, thanks to unexpected boosts from industry and construction. However, concerns linger over …
Read More »Euro Zone’s February Trade Surplus Spikes Compared to Previous Year
In February, the eurozone witnessed a notable surge in its trade surplus compared to the previous year, largely due to a significant decline in imports, particularly in energy and raw materials, according to data from the European Union’s statistics office Eurostat released on Tuesday. Eurostat reported that the unadjusted external …
Read More »Financial Markets’ Weekly Recap
US Inflation Surges: CPI Hits 3.5% in March In the latest update from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), inflation in the US, as gauged by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), demonstrated a notable uptick. March saw a year-on-year increase to 3.5%, up from February’s 3.2%, surpassing market forecasts …
Read More »ECB sticks to independent dovish stance despite hotter US inflation
Despite rising US inflation, the ECB maintains its independent dovish stance. ECB officials are reiterating their resolve to lower interest rates in June while downplaying worries about US inflation. This is the case even though the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank may have different monetary policies, as …
Read More »Nikkei index records worst weekly performance since December 2022
Oil prices continued their ascent on Friday, poised to mark a second consecutive week of gains, buoyed by geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Middle East, concerns over dwindling supplies, and optimism surrounding global fuel demand as economies recover. Brent crude surged by 49 cents, or 0.5 percent, reaching $91.14 …
Read More »Euro Climbs on Softer US Data, Fed’s Wait-and-See Stance
On Thursday, the Euro gained versus the US dollar, but obstacles still exist. The poor US data, which included an unexpected increase in jobless claims and a widening trade deficit that raised questions about the real state of the US economy, helped the shared currency. Treasury yields dropped as a …
Read More »Nikkei closed higher after the end of a profit-taking wave
On Thursday, the Nikkei index closed higher as investors seized the opportunity to buy stocks following a recent bout of profit-taking amidst the start of the new fiscal year. The Nikkei advanced by 0.81 percent at the close, reaching 39,773.14 points, after peaking during the session with a gain of …
Read More »Nikkei closed higher despite profit-taking and risks associated with the yen
Japan’s Nikkei index closed higher on Tuesday, briefly surpassing the 40,000-point mark before some gains were trimmed by profit-taking and concerns about potential intervention by Japanese authorities to stabilize the yen. The Nikkei index ended Tuesday’s session up 0.1 percent at 39,838.91 points. Although the index has risen approximately 19 …
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