In April, the persistent downturn in euro zone manufacturing activity intensified due to weakening demand, despite factories slashing prices. This compelled businesses to further trim their workforce, according to a survey released on Thursday. The final euro zone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) by HCOB, compiled by S&P Global, dropped …
Read More »EUR/USD declines ahead of key US, Eurozone data
The EUR/USD is struggling to maintain gains above 1.0700 amid uncertainty ahead of key economic events, including the release of Eurozone’s CPI, Q1 GDP, and the Fed’s policy outlook. The European Central Bank is expected to start reducing key borrowing rates in June, with the release of preliminary data on …
Read More »Will Eurozone’s Prices Impose Bumpy Road Ahead for ECB?
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 …
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