• Aug 15, 2024

Equities rally as economic data boost sentiment: Markets wrap

(Bloomberg) -- Equities in Japan and China advanced, following gains on Wall Street, as investors cheered a string of encouraging economic data points from the world’s three largest economies.Most Read from BloombergManchester Is Giving London a Run for Its MoneyBoston’s Broke and Broken Transit System Hurts Downtown RecoveryA Warehouse Store Promises Housing for South LA, in BulkBiden Invests $100 Million to Fuel Housing ConstructionJohannesburg Mayor Quits Amid Infighting, Financial WoesJapan’

  • Aug 15, 2024

Asian shares trade higher after Wall Street rise and Japan GDP data show growth

Asian shares were mostly higher Thursday after the latest update on U.S. inflation came in almost exactly as economists expected, and data on Japan’s economy showed relatively healthy growth. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.8% to finish at 36,726.64. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.3% to 17,054.92, while the Shanghai Composite surged 1.0% to 2,877.73.

  • Aug 15, 2024

Oil prices up on hopes of US rate cuts boosting fuel demand

(Reuters) -Oil prices rose on Thursday, supported by optimism that potential U.S. interest rate cuts will boost economic activity and fuel consumption though concerns over slower global demand curbed gains. Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday after U.S. crude inventories rose unexpectedly and on easing worries about a wider Middle East conflict. U.S. consumer prices rose moderately in July and the annual increase in inflation slowed to below 3% for the first time in nearly 3-1/2 years, reinforcing expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month.

  • Aug 15, 2024

Palm Oil Extends Gains on Strong Indian Demand and Weak Ringgit

(Bloomberg) -- Palm oil advanced for a second day thanks to strong demand from the world’s biggest buyer, India, and a weaker Malaysian currency, which made the tropical oil more attractive for overseas buyers.Most Read from BloombergManchester Is Giving London a Run for Its MoneyBoston’s Broke and Broken Transit System Hurts Downtown RecoveryA Warehouse Store Promises Housing for South LA, in BulkBiden Invests $100 Million to Fuel Housing ConstructionJohannesburg Mayor Quits Amid Infighting, Fi

  • Aug 15, 2024

Asia stocks firm, dollar sags with US yields on Fed cut bets

TOKYO (Reuters) -Asian stocks were firm on Thursday while the dollar remained on the back foot amid lower U.S. Treasury yields after benign consumer inflation data overnight reinforced bets for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates next month. U.S. S&P 500 futures pointed 0.16% higher after the cash index advanced 0.4% on Wednesday, buoyed by the slowest rise in the consumer price index in more than three years. "The report 'checked the box' for the Fed to start cutting rates in September," TD Securities analysts wrote in a report.

  • Aug 15, 2024

Equities Rally as Economic Data Boost Sentiment: Markets Wrap

(Bloomberg) -- Equities in Japan and China advanced, following gains on Wall Street, as investors cheered a string of encouraging economic data points from the world’s three largest economies.Most Read from BloombergManchester Is Giving London a Run for Its MoneyBoston’s Broke and Broken Transit System Hurts Downtown RecoveryA Warehouse Store Promises Housing for South LA, in BulkBiden Invests $100 Million to Fuel Housing ConstructionJohannesburg Mayor Quits Amid Infighting, Financial WoesJapan’

  • Aug 15, 2024

Iron Ore Hits Lowest Since 2022 as Steel Crisis Rattles Market

(Bloomberg) -- Iron ore hit the lowest level since 2022 on concern that global supply is running ahead of demand, with China’s steelmakers mired in a crisis and cutting output just as major miners boost exports.Most Read from BloombergManchester Is Giving London a Run for Its MoneyBoston’s Broke and Broken Transit System Hurts Downtown RecoveryA Warehouse Store Promises Housing for South LA, in BulkBiden Invests $100 Million to Fuel Housing ConstructionJohannesburg Mayor Quits Amid Infighting, F

  • Aug 15, 2024

Dollar drifts as ebbing US inflation sets the stage for rate cuts

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The dollar was soft on Thursday, with the euro perched near an eight-month high after data showed U.S. inflation was slowing, underpinning wagers that the Federal Reserve could lower borrowing costs next month. Bouts of intervention from Tokyo early last month and then a surprise rate hike from the Bank of Japan at the end of July wrong-footed investors who bailed out of popular carry trade, lifting the yen. In the U.S., data on Wednesday showed the consumer price index rose moderately, in line with expectations, and the annual increase in inflation slowed to below 3% for the first time since early 2021.