Market News

Asian shares were fragile on Monday as investors remained unconvinced about U.S. President Donald Trump’s ability to fulfill his economic agenda, even as the departure of his controversial policy strategist raised hopes of some progress.

The dollar steadied on Monday, edging away from four-month lows against the yen plumbed in the previous session as investors turned their focus from political turmoil in Washington to the Federal Reserve’s annual central banking conference in Wyoming.

Confidence at Japanese manufacturers rose in August to its highest level in a decade led by producers of industrial materials, a Reuters poll showed, in a further sign of broadening economic recovery.

Add next week’s total eclipse of the sun to the list of worker distractions that cost U.S. companies hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity.

Stock markets have spent the year rising on bets of a resurgence in inflation, while central bankers trying to manage the global economy have spent the same time repeatedly reassuring everyone it’s just around the corner.

The stock market’s steady rise, still low long-term bond yields and a sagging dollar are girding the Fed’s intent to raise interest rates again this year despite concerns about weak inflation, according to comments this week from Fed officials and analysts anticipating remarks next week by Chair Janet Yellen.

CAD strength and GBP weakness were the main themes this week. But what influenced price action? And how did the other currencies fare? Well, read on and find out!

Yesterday we looked at the inflation situation for the U.S., China, U.K., and New Zealand. Today we’re delving deeper into inflation trends in Japan, Euro Zone, Australia, Canada, and Switzerland!

Wall Street indexes and the U.S. dollar ended a volatile session lower after a week of drama in Washington intensified doubts about President Donald Trump’s ability to deliver on pro-growth policy promises such as tax reform.

The dollar fell against a basket of major currencies on Friday as continued uncertainty over the economic agenda of U.S. President Donald Trump pushed investors out of the greenback.

Oil prices rose sharply on Friday, as the dollar fell and U.S. drillers cut rigs, feeding a rally that boosted global benchmark Brent crude to a weekly gain while U.S. crude was virtually flat on the week.

U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Friday as the exit of senior White House adviser Stephen Bannon, known for his economic nationalist views, revived the appetite for stocks and reduced it for lower-yielding bonds.

Gold prices were little changed after jumping to their highest in more than nine months on Friday as the dollar retreated on political uncertainty in the United States and a suspected Islamist militant attack in Spain boosted bullion’s safe-haven appeal.

The dollar fell to a four-month low against the Japanese yen on Friday as investors sought out the safe-haven currency in light of uncertainty about the White House’s ability to push through its economic agenda.

Britain’s pound edged lower against the dollar on Friday and is set for its biggest weekly decline in more than two months as investors lightened positions after the week of lackluster data quashed expectations of policy tightening in the coming months.

Gold jumped to its highest in more than nine months on Friday as the dollar retreated on political uncertainty in the United States and a suspected Islamist attack in Spain boosted bullion’s safe-haven appeal. Spot gold touched its highest since Nov. 9 at $1,300.80 per ounce, and by 1333 GMT was trading up 0.8 percent …

Canada’s annual inflation rate ticked higher in July as gas prices climbed, suggesting price pressures are picking up after June’s subdued reading and clearing the way for the Bank of Canada to raise interest rates again in the fall.

Choppy session today, but AUD and NZD were clearly in demand despite the risk-off vibes, very likely because commodities were in rally mode.

Let’s take a look at the major economies’ inflation data to see if their central banks have good reason to be hawkish or dovish these days.

Australia’s jobless rate ticked lower in July led by a big bounce in part-time work while full-time employment fell, a mixed result that augurs poorly for wages growth and the course of inflation.