Financial News · Live Terminal

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US Dollar Falls Early Thursday Ahead of Jobless Claims, Productivity

The US dollar fell against its major trading partners early Thursday ahead of the release of weekly jobless claims and the preliminary estimate of Q1 productivity, both at 8:30 am ET.Construction spending data for March are due to be released at 10:00 am ET, followed by weekly natural gas stocks at 10:30 am ET and the New York Federal Reserve's inflation expectations report for April at 11:00 am ET.The Atlanta Fed is due to update its GDP nowcast estimate for Q2 around midday, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari is due to speak at 2:00 pm ET, consumer credit data for March are due to be released at 3:00 pm ET, and New York Fed President John Williams is expected to speak at 3:30 pm ET.Earlier Thursday, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that layoff intentions rose in April, led by the technology sector due to increased use of AI.A quick summary of foreign exchange activity heading into Thursday:EUR/USD rose to 1.1765 from 1.1749 at the Wednesday US close, but was below 1.1786 at the same time Wednesday morning. Eurozone retail sales declined in March, slowing the year-over-year rate, while Eurozone construction PMI declined in April, according to data released earlier Thursday. European Central Bank policy board member Frank Elderson is due to speak at 8:00 am ET, followed by member Philip Lane at 8:40 am ET and member Isabel Schnabel at 1:00 pm ET. The next European Central Bank meeting is scheduled for June 11.GBP/USD rose to 1.3614 from 1.3594 at the Wednesday US close but was below 1.3637 at the same time Wednesday morning. UK construction PMI declined in April, according to data released earlier Thursday. The next Bank of England meeting is scheduled for June 18.USD/JPY fell to 156.3641 from 156.4049 at the Wednesday US close, but was above 155.9026 at the same time Wednesday morning. The Japanese monetary base declined sharply in April, according to data released overnight. The next Bank of Japan meeting is scheduled for June 15-16.USD/CAD fell to 1.3626 from 1.3635 at the Wednesday US close, but was above 1.3596 at the same time Wednesday morning. The Canadian leading index for April is due to be released at 8:00 am ET. The next Bank of Canada meeting is scheduled for June 10.

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International138d ago

Persain Gulf Outlook Caps European Bourses Midday

European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Thursday as traders deciphered mixed messages from Tehran and Washington regarding a possible negotiated opening of the Strait of Hormuz and a subsequent end to Persian Gulf hostilities.Bank and tech stocks edged higher on continental trading floors, while property and oil shares lagged.Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 3.2% at $98.02 a barrel.Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures amid solidly higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, with fresh zeniths set on equity indices in Seoul, Taiwan and Tokyo.In economic news, euro area retail sales declined by a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in March from February, and gained 0.3% month over month in the broader European Union, Eurostat reported. Year over year, retail sales advanced by 1.2% in March in the eurozone and by 1.9% in the bloc.The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.3% mid-session.The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.1%.The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index eased 1.4%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index fell 1.3%.The REITE, a European REIT index, declined 0.7%.On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.5%. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.1%.Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.98%.The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 0.7% at 21.28, indicating above-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a negative signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.

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International138d ago

Middle East Outlook Undergirds Wall Street Pre-Bell; Asia Up, Europe Off

Wall Street futures edged up from all-time highs pre-bell Thursday as traders awaited clarity on Tehran-Washington negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and possibly end Persian Gulf hostilities.In the futures, the S&P 500 gained 0.1%, the Nasdaq edged 0.2% higher and the Dow Jones was steady.West Texas Intermediate crude oil traded down 2.4% at $92.85 a barrel, in morning activity.Amid sagging oil prices and AI-optimism, Asian exchanges tracked solidly higher overnight with fresh zeniths set on equity indices in Seoul, Taiwan and Tokyo, the latter rising 5.6% after a five-day trading hiatus.European bourses edged south midday on the continent.Fortinet (FTNT) stock was up 15% pre-bell after the company overnight reported higher Q1 non-GAAP earnings and revenue while raising its fiscal 2026 guidance.On the economic calendar is the weekly jobless claims report at 8:30 am ET along with the Q1 productivity and costs release.The construction spending bulletins for February and March log at 10 am, followed by the weekly EIA natural gas report at 10:30 am.Federal Reserve Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari, Cleveland President Beth Hammack and New York President John Williams are slated to speak Thursday.In premarket activity, Bitcoin traded at $80,703, and 10-year US Treasuries offered 4.33%. Spot gold commanded $4,731 an ounce.

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International138d ago

Taiwan's Inflation Rises to 1.74% in April

Taiwan's consumer price index rose 1.74% annually in April, higher than a 1.2% rise a month prior, according to data released by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Taiwan on Thursday.Core inflation, which excludes selected food and energy items, increased 1.91% annually in April from 1.94% a month earlier.

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International138d ago

Oil, AI Outlooks Buoy Asian Stock Markets

Asian stock markets rallied on Thursday as global crude prices continued to slip on media reports that Tehran and Washington may be nearing an agreement that could open the Strait of Hormuz as part of larger Persian Gulf peace negotiations.Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo finished in the green, as did most other regional exchanges. New record highs were set on equity indices in Seoul, Taiwan, and Tokyo.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher after a five-day hiatus and rose to the close, finishing up 5.6% as traders weighed Middle East outlooks and easing oil prices.The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 3,320.72 to 62,833.84, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 173 to 49.Leading the upside was semiconductor components maker Ibiden, up 22.4%, while oil driller Inpex fell 6.5%.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher and held ground, finishing up 1.6% on strength in property and tech issues.The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 412.50 to 26,626.28, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 79 to 11. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 3.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 3%.Leading the upside was toolmaker Techtronic, gaining 10.3%, while PetroChina declined 8.5%.On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.5% to 4,180.09.On the other regional exchanges, the South Korean KOSPI rose 1.4%; the Taiwan TWSE advanced 1.9%; the Australian ASX 200 gained 1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.3%, but the Thai Set declined 0.6%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.1%The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 2.1%, to strike a fresh all-time high.

Financial News · Live Terminal

US Dollar Falls Early Thursday Ahead of Jobless Claims, Productivity

Persain Gulf Outlook Caps European Bourses Midday

Middle East Outlook Undergirds Wall Street Pre-Bell; Asia Up, Europe Off

Taiwan's Inflation Rises to 1.74% in April

Oil, AI Outlooks Buoy Asian Stock Markets

Challenger US April Layoff Intentions Rise From March, Led by Technology Sector

Challenger US April Layoff Intentions 83,387 Vs. Prior 60,620; 105,441 Year-Ago

Singapore's Forex Reserves Climb Over SG$544 Billion in April

Eurozone Monthly Retail Sales Down 0.1% in March

S&P: UK's Construction PMI Falls in April Amid Elevated Cost Inflation

Market Chatter: China's Corporate Profits Decline for Third Straight Year in 2025

Germany's Construction PMI Hits 13-Month Low in April

Italian Construction PMI Falls to Lowest Level Since August 2022

PMI: Eurozone Construction Sector Contraction Worsens in April

French Construction PMI Slips Deeper into Contraction in April

Tourism, Family Visits Drive China's May Day Holiday Trips

China's Overseas Visitor Payments Surge 45% During May Day Holiday

Bank Negara Malaysia Keeps Interest Rate Unchanged at 2.75%

Swiss Jobless Rate Inches Down to 3% in April

China's May Day Holiday Consumption Up 14%

US Dollar Falls Early Thursday Ahead of Jobless Claims, Productivity

Persain Gulf Outlook Caps European Bourses Midday

Middle East Outlook Undergirds Wall Street Pre-Bell; Asia Up, Europe Off

Taiwan's Inflation Rises to 1.74% in April

Oil, AI Outlooks Buoy Asian Stock Markets

Challenger US April Layoff Intentions Rise From March, Led by Technology Sector

Challenger US April Layoff Intentions 83,387 Vs. Prior 60,620; 105,441 Year-Ago

Singapore's Forex Reserves Climb Over SG$544 Billion in April

Eurozone Monthly Retail Sales Down 0.1% in March

S&P: UK's Construction PMI Falls in April Amid Elevated Cost Inflation

Market Chatter: China's Corporate Profits Decline for Third Straight Year in 2025

Germany's Construction PMI Hits 13-Month Low in April

Italian Construction PMI Falls to Lowest Level Since August 2022

PMI: Eurozone Construction Sector Contraction Worsens in April

French Construction PMI Slips Deeper into Contraction in April

Tourism, Family Visits Drive China's May Day Holiday Trips

China's Overseas Visitor Payments Surge 45% During May Day Holiday

Bank Negara Malaysia Keeps Interest Rate Unchanged at 2.75%

Swiss Jobless Rate Inches Down to 3% in April

China's May Day Holiday Consumption Up 14%