China foreign-exchange reserves rise $11 billion to $3.128 trillion in December
BEIJING, Jan 7 (Reuters) – China’s foreign exchange reserves rose in December, official data showed on Saturday, as the dollar fell against other major currencies.The country’s foreign exchange reserves – the world’s largest – rose $11 billion to $3.128 trillion last month, compared with $3.154 trillion predicted by a Reuters poll of analysts and $3.117 […]
Fed’s Powell says no rate cuts this year, and markets hear it differently
Feb 2 (Reuters) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had a clear message on Wednesday: as “gratifying” as it is that inflation has begun to slow, the central bank is nowhere near to reversing course or declaring victory.”It’s going to take some time” for disinflation to spread through the economy, Powell said in a news […]
Global factory activity contracted again in January, highlighting fragile recovery
U.S. manufacturing sinks further in Jan, but few layoffs – ISMEuro zone factories have passed their trough in activity – PMIChina’s Jan factory activity shrinks – Caixin PMI surveyWASHINGTON/LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Manufacturing activity across the United States, Europe and Asia contracted again last month, underscoring the fragility of the global economic recovery, although […]
Lebanon to devalue currency by 90% on Feb. 1, central bank chief says
BEIRUT, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Lebanon will adopt a new official exchange rate of 15,000 pounds per U.S. dollar on Feb. 1, central bank governor Riad Salameh said, marking a 90% devaluation from its current official rate that has remained unchanged for 25 years.The shift from the old rate of 1,507 to 15,000 is still […]
Wall St gains over 1% after encouraging inflation data with Fed next
Nasdaq posts biggest January gain since 2001U.S. labor cost growth slows in fourth quarterExxon, UPS rise after results, Caterpillar slumpsFed decision on interest rates on WednesdayIndexes up: Dow 1.09%, S&P 500 1.46%, Nasdaq 1.67%NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Major U.S. stock indexes closed over 1% higher on Tuesday as labor cost data encouraged investors […]
Fed’s words in focus as markets bet rate hikes will soon end
Jan 30 (Reuters) – U.S. central bankers have unambiguously telegraphed this week’s policy decision: a quarter-of-a-percentage-point increase in their benchmark interest rate, the smallest since they kicked off their tightening cycle 10 months ago with one the same size.Less clear is whether they will continue to signal “ongoing increases” ahead for the policy rate as […]
BOJ Kuroda stresses need to maintain ultra-easy policy
TOKYO, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Monday stressed the importance of maintaining ultra-loose monetary policy to support the economy and prod companies to raise wages.”Japan’s trend inflation is likely to gradually accelerate … but that will take some more time,” Kuroda told parliament.”Uncertainty regarding Japan’s economy is extremely high. […]
McCarthy to discuss debt limit, spending with Biden
Biden, McCarthy set for high-stakes debt talks on WednesdayRepublican leader says U.S. default will not happenWhite House dubious on Republican plan for MedicareWASHINGTON/WILMINGTON, Del., Jan 29 (Reuters) – President Joe Biden and House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet at the White House on Wednesday for talks in the standoff over the federal debt […]
China central bank to roll over lending tools to spur growth
BEIJING, Jan 29 (Reuters) – China’s central bank said on Sunday it will roll over three lending tools to increase support for targeted sectors of the economy.The People’s Bank of China will roll over a lending tool for supporting carbon emission reduction to the end of 2024, and extend a relending tool for promoting the […]
China aims to boost consumption and imports as global demand cools
BEIJING, Jan 28 (Reuters) – China’s cabinet said on Saturday it would promote a consumption recovery as the major driver of the economy and boost imports, state broadcaster CCTV reported, at a time of cooling global demand as major economies teeter on the brink of recession.At a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, China’s state […]