FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

US Initial Jobless Claims Fall in Week Ended Sept. 5

By

US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 206,000 in the week ended Sept. 5 from an upwardly revised 207,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a larger decrease to 205,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

The four-week moving average declined by 1,500 to 206,000 after increasing by 1,750 to a level of 207,500 in the previous week.

Insured jobless claims decreased by 1,000 to 1,774,000 in the week ended Aug. 29.

The weekly initial jobless claims data released by the US Labor Department measures filings for unemployment insurance benefits. Initial filings are reported through the previous Saturday, while those already on benefits are measured with a one-week lag.

A decrease in claims suggests a stronger labor market, a positive for the US economy and stocks, but a negative for bonds as it suggests wage growth that could lead to inflation.

Related Articles

International

BOJ Board Member Signals Support For Rate Hike Amid Price Pressures

Bank of Japan Policy Board member Kazuyuki Masu said he is "convinced" of the need for an interest rate hike if inflation accelerates, citing a 7% rise in corporate goods prices and increasing cost pressures.On underlying inflation, Masu said although the underlying inflation rate remains below 2%, "it is very close" to the 2% target, according to a speech on Thursday.The BOJ, which raised its benchmark rate to a 31-year high of 1.0% in June, holds its next policy meeting on Sept. 17-18.

Nikkei 225
International

RBA Expected to Hike Cash Rate by 25 Basis Points in September, BofA Securities Says

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is firmly focused on inflation and is expected to hike the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.60% in September then hold steady to mid-2027, BofA Securities said in a note on Wednesday.The labor market conditions are still tight and underlying inflation is accelerating, BofA said. Inflation pressures are becoming increasingly broad-based, with strength increasingly concentrated in persistent components and evidence of second-round effects from higher energy costs.The signal in the July consumer price index led to an increase in BofA's September quarter trimmed mean forecast to 0.93% on a quarterly basis, with risks skewed towards a 1% rise. Annual core inflation is expected to remain sticky above 3% until mid-2027, per the report.The risks skew towards more hikes and a higher-for-longer cash rate as inflation pressures are broadening, becoming more persistent, and increasingly inconsistent with target, BofA said.The investment firm forecasts a 10% peak-to-trough decline in house prices, with the downturn becoming a disinflationary force in 2027 before housing conditions begin to stabilize as expectations of RBA easing build.

ASX 200
International

RICS: UK House Price Balance Edges Up in August

The UK Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors house price balance stood at -28% in August, up from the revised -29% in the previous month, according to residential market survey data released Thursday.The reading signaled more price declines than increases in the housing sector.House price expectations for the next three months stayed negative, while the 12-month outlook signaled stability.

FTSE 100