New orders for durable goods rose $8.9 billion, or 2.9%, in August to $312.1 billion, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau just moments ago. This figure beat market expectations of a 0.3% decline. Core orders, excluding transportation orders, rose 0.4% in July, compared to a 1.1% increase in July (expectations were -0.1%). In detail, new orders...
After two sessions of gains and trading at their highest levels in three weeks, crude oil stabilized with some declines in mid-European trading today, Thursday, September 25, with some profit-taking after benefiting from a larger-than-expected decline in stocks and rising concerns about supply disruptions following recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure, ignoring the agreement to resume exports from Iraqi Kurdistan....
The Swiss National Bank decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 0.00%, as expected, at its meeting moments ago this morning, Thursday, September 25, following a series of six consecutive rate cuts. The bank also announced its readiness to intervene in the foreign exchange market if necessary. The bank's interest rate statement stated that inflationary pressures remained unchanged compared to...
Germany's Ifo confidence index fell below expectations in September. The index, which is based on a survey of nearly 9,000 companies in Germany, rose to 87.7 points, compared to July's reading of 88.9 points, while expectations had been higher at 89.3. In detail, the current situation index slowed to 85.7, compared to 86.4 in August, while the expectations index fell...
Figures released this morning, Wednesday, September 24, during the Asian session, from the Australian Institute of Statistics (ABS), showed that consumer price inflation rose by 3% in August year-on-year, compared to 2.7% in July, while expectations were for a 2.9% increase. Conversely, core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as motor fuel, fruits and vegetables, and travel, rose by 3.4%...
Crude oil prices rose by more than 1% in mid-European trading on Tuesday, September 23, recovering losses recorded at the beginning of the weekly opening session yesterday, Monday, after the failure to reach an agreement on Iraqi Kurdistan's oil exports. Markets are awaiting preliminary inventory figures from the American Petroleum Institute later today, ahead of the official figures from the...
Data released at the beginning of the European session today, Tuesday, September 23, showed mixed results in most of the services and manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Indices (PMIs) in the Eurozone and the United Kingdom in the preliminary reading for September. The Eurozone Services PMI rose in September to a nine-month high of 51.4, compared to 50.5 in August (expected 50.6)....
Gold is trading more than 1% higher in mid-European trading today, Monday, September 22, the opening session of the week, setting a new record high, settling above $3,700 per ounce. Gold is benefiting from the decline in the US dollar, which has been hurt by expectations of a 50 basis point US interest rate cut for the remainder of the...
Asian markets closed mostly higher at the end of trading on Monday, September 22, the opening session of the week. Chinese indices turned from red to higher, with the exception of the Hang Seng Index, after the People's Bank of China decided to keep interest rates unchanged for the fourth consecutive month. Japanese indices rose after absorbing the Bank of...
Data released by Statistics Canada just moments ago showed retail sales falling 0.8% in June to $69.6 billion, following a revised 1.6% increase in June. Expectations were for a 0.6% decline, driven by declines in department store sales. Core retail sales, excluding gas stations and motor vehicle and parts stores, fell 1.2% in July after a 2.2% increase in May's...