Amidst recent economic data pointing towards a potential interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve, gold prices have seen a significant uptick. This surge in prices comes in the wake of reports that the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits has increased more than expected. Such indicators have fueled speculation that the Fed may
Economy
After experiencing a sharp contraction in March, China’s export sector managed to return to growth in April, with shipments increasing by 1.5% year-on-year. This positive development indicates a potential improvement in overseas demand, providing a glimmer of hope for policymakers looking to sustain this momentum throughout the year. In addition to the growth in exports,
The Asian stock market is currently experiencing a lack of direction, with mixed signals from U.S. policymakers and economic data creating uncertainty among investors. Despite lower U.S. Treasury yields, the dollar remains strong, impacting the performance of Asian stocks. The yen, on the other hand, is facing pressure, even with the threat of currency intervention
Asian shares have reached a 15-month high, driven by renewed confidence in U.S. interest rate cuts. This positive trend is evident in various indexes, with Japan’s Nikkei gaining 1.3% and the S&P 500 futures remaining steady. A notable factor contributing to this momentum is the softer-than-expected U.S. jobs data, as well as remarks from Federal
The recent soft U.S. jobs report has caused a stir in the currency markets, with the dollar remaining largely stable. Despite last week’s strong gains, the yen weakened on Monday to start the week. This came after the currency hit a three-week high of 151.86 per dollar on Friday following suspected Japanese government interventions aimed
Pakistan is eagerly anticipating the visit of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission this month to discuss the possibility of a new programme. This comes as Islamabad gears up to kickstart its annual budget-making process for the upcoming financial year. The previous $3 billion short-term programme, which Pakistan successfully completed last month, played a vital
The European Union (EU) has recently launched an investigation into China’s procurement of medical devices, as part of its ongoing efforts to protect home-grown manufacturers. This investigation is just one of several probes that the EU has initiated to determine whether Chinese companies are engaging in unfair practices, such as dumping subsidised goods on the
The stock markets in the Gulf region experienced a positive trend on Sunday, with the Qatar index leading the way. This upward movement was a result of the slowing U.S. jobs growth in April, which raised hopes of early interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The Labor Department’s employment report revealed that the
When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Paris for a rare visit, French President Emmanuel Macron will undoubtedly push him to address trade imbalances between the two countries. However, given the current state of growing tensions between Europe and China, this task will prove to be quite challenging. France’s support for an EU probe into
The U.S. central bank’s 2% target for inflation plays a crucial role in achieving price stability and is essential for ensuring economic prosperity, as emphasized by New York Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams. He stressed the importance of transparency and clear communication, stating that setting an explicit, numerical longer-run inflation target is critical for
Economists are currently divided on the potential size of Brazil’s upcoming interest rate reduction, with conflicting opinions arising due to shifting perspectives on U.S monetary policy and ongoing concerns regarding local inflation. The Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) recently transitioned to a more hawkish stance, deviating from its previous clear forward guidance and creating a
Mexico’s peso is currently facing a challenging landscape, with a mixture of positive and negative factors influencing its performance in the foreign exchange market. Despite a relatively firm economy, the currency has experienced a minor 1% drop year-to-date. This depreciation is expected to continue in the medium-term, with a forecasted additional 2.6% decline in the