Summary:
Global equities and U.S. Treasury yields were lower on Wednesday as risk-off sentiment dominated markets, with investors focused on a vote in Congress on raising the U.S. debt ceiling.
Global equities and U.S. Treasury yields were lower on Wednesday as risk-off
sentiment dominated markets, with investors focused on a vote in Congress on
raising the U.S. debt ceiling.
The U.S. dollar retreated from a more than two-month high after a Fed official warned any decision to hold its interest rate firm at an upcoming meeting would not mean that it is done tightening monetary policy.
Gold prices firmed despite the dollar's strength, though optimism about the U.S. debt deal kept bullion on course for a first monthly dip in three. Oil prices fell amid demand concerns.
Commodities
Gold has lost over $100 from near-record highs scaled earlier in May, but OANDA senior market analyst Edward Moya said key support around $1,950 could fuel momentum trade to push gold back to $2,000.
In the U.S., field production of Crude Oil rose in March to 12.696 million barrels per day, the highest since March 2020, EIA data showed.
Chinese data showed manufacturing activity contracted faster than expected in May, as weakening demand cut the official PMI down to 48.8.
Forex
Fed Governor and vice chair nominee Philip Jefferson said that skipping a rate hike would allow the Fed ‘to see more data before making decisions about the extent of additional policy firming.’
Investors reset expectations after Jefferson's comments, with prices of futures tied to the Fed's policy rate reflecting only a one-in-three chance of a June rate hike.
The euro fell to $1.066 earlier in the session, the lowest since March 20, after data showed European inflation is cooling quicker than expected.
Sterling neared a one-month low as UK-US policy gap narrowed, with the Fed’s hawkish tone surprising markets, partly due to Trump’s unpredictability.
2024-12-23
Oil prices steadied on Friday, set for a weekly loss, as the Fed and ECB's cautious stance fueled global economic concerns.
2024-12-20
The October PCE price index rose 2.3% YoY, as expected. Excluding food and energy, core inflation climbed 2.8% compared to last year.
2024-12-20
