It is evident that ECB president Christine Lagarde has a euro problem though weaker euro is the last thing that Lagarde needs at a time when the ECB is trying to tame hot inflation within the Eurozone. As inflation nears 7.5 percent, the fastest rate since 1999, the exhausted euro …
Read More »US Non-farm Payrolls rise by 428K in April
The US economy added 428,000 jobs in April, according to the latest Non-farm Payrolls (NFP) report released by the US Bureau of Labour Statistics on Friday. That was a little above the median economist forecast for a gain of 391,000 jobs, and exactly in line with the pace of jobs …
Read More »US productivity records biggest decline since 1947 in Q1
US worker productivity fell at its steepest pace since 1947 in the first quarter, while growth in unit labour costs accelerated, indicating that rising wage pressures will continue contributing to keeping inflation elevated for a while. Nonfarm productivity, which measures hourly output per worker, plunged at a 7.5% annualized rate …
Read More »BoE hikes interest rates by 25 bps to 1.0%
The Bank of England on Thursday raised interest rates by 25 bps to 1.0%. Six of the bank’s nine rate-setters supported the 25 bps hike, though three wanted a larger 50 bps move. The rate hike was in line with expectations, but the vote split was more hawkish than expected, …
Read More »German Factory Orders plunge 4.7% MoM in March
The German Factory Orders fell sharply in March, suggesting that the manufacturing sector of Europe’s economic powerhouse is seeing a fresh downturn. Contracts for goods ‘Made in Germany’ declined by 4.7% on the month vs. -1.1% expected and -0.8% last, the latest data published by the Federal Statistics Office showed on …
Read More »Market Drivers – US Session – Wednesday 4 May
The US dollar plunged on the remarks by the US Fed’s monetary policy decision. As expected, the US central bank has hiked rates by 50 bps to a range of 0.75% to 1% while announcing trimming the balance sheet as of June 1. They would start with a $47.5 billion …
Read More »US Unemployment Rate, NFP Preview
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to release non-farm payroll data and unemployment rate data for April on Friday. The current prevalent mixed concerns across financial markets could be linked to some sort of anxiety ahead of this week’s US Nonfarm Payrolls data.The US dollar rose slightly on …
Read More »Could Rising Inflation Turn Bitcoin Into Risk-Off Asset?
Bitcoin is separating itself from risk assets with increasing HODL behavior and historical patterns suggest a mild down-turn, according to Bloomberg Intelligence’s latest report. The report discussed bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as it relates to adoption, markets and defining asset classes.The report also explains how bitcoin is separating itself from …
Read More »Powell: US economy has a good chance to avoid recession
Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve System, is delivering his remarks on the monetary policy outlook at a press conference following the FOMC’s decision to hike the policy rate by 50 basis points in May.Key Quotes“We understand the pain from high inflation”.“It’s our job is to make sure high …
Read More »USD dips As Fed Seems Open To Further Hikes
The Federal Reserve has raised rates by 50 bps as expected and seems open to further hikes. QT program launch and its potential ramp-up make the dollar scarcer. What most market participants see as most important, is the Fed comment on inflation: it is still high, “owing to supply and …
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