Analysis: Currencies

Biggest IKEA retailer reports profit rise as it tries to sway budget-conscious buyers

STOCKHOLM/LONDON -The world's biggest retailer of IKEA furniture reported a rise in annual profit on Tuesday, while it tries to bring back cash-strapped consumers, and said it had raised prices in...

What is climate finance and why does it matter?

BELEM, Brazil -Countries trying to shift to clean energy while also preparing for extreme weather and other impacts in a warmer world will need money - a lot of it. As the costs and risks of global...

US consumer watchdog says it is legally blocked from accessing funds

WASHINGTON -The top U.S. consumer watchdog said on Monday it was legally prohibited from drawing cash from the Federal Reserve to support continuing operations, but that its current funding should...

European business braces for greater impact from US tariffs in 2026

BRUSSELS -European business sees a far greater impact in 2026 from U.S. tariffs and other trade tensions than in 2025, when front-loading mitigated the consequences, a survey by BusinessEurope showed...

Canada's job market posts surprise expansion in October, unemployment falls

OTTAWA -Canada's job market made a surprise gain in October, reversing past declines, and its unemployment rate fell, data showed on Friday, a bright spot in a country that has suffered from U.S....

Fed's Williams: Fed may soon need to expand balance sheet for liquidity needs

NEW YORK -The U.S. Federal Reserve may soon need to grow its balance sheet through bond purchases and could consider shortening the average duration of its debt holdings, Federal Reserve Bank of New...

Japanese investors sell foreign stocks on caution over Fed comments, valuation concerns

Japanese investors divested significant holdings in foreign stocks in the week to November 1, as they turned cautious amid hawkish remarks from some U.S. Federal Reserve officials and favoured...

US weekly jobless claims increase moderately, Haver Analytics estimates

WASHINGTON -The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased marginally last week, Haver Analytics estimated on Thursday, pointing to stable labor market conditions...

Fed right to cut rates to support job market, Musalem says

NEW YORK -Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President Alberto Musalem said on Thursday the U.S. central bank has been right to cut interest rates to help the job market. The cuts have...

Fed's Miran says he expects rate cut in December

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran says he expects the U.S. central bank to cut interest rates in December, despite the number of non-voting policymakers who may not want to. I...

Fed's Hammack is nervous about Fed policy given high inflation

NEW YORK -Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack said Thursday she's concerned monetary policy may not be in the right place to deal with current inflation. I think...

Fed's independence has global importance, Williams says

The independence of the Federal Reserve is incredibly important not just for the U.S. economy but also for the global economy because it is what allows the U.S. central bank to control inflation...

Bank of Canada says it will be reducing its workforce by 230 jobs

OTTAWA -Bank of Canada's Senior Deputy Governor said on Thursday that the central bank will be reducing its workforce by around 230 people as part of a drive to reduce expenses.  We...

Fed's Hammack leans against more rate cuts because of high inflation

NEW YORK -Cleveland Federal Reserve President Beth Hammack said on Thursday ongoing high levels of inflation argue against the U.S. central bank cutting interest rates again. I remain...

Fed's Miran continues to press for rate cuts in Yahoo Finance interview

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran reiterated on Wednesday that he believes the current level of short-term rates is too restrictive and is creating risks for the U.S. economy. I...

US service sector activity accelerates in October; employment still subdued

WASHINGTON -U.S. services sector activity picked up in October amid a solid increase in new orders, but subdued employment pointed to lackluster labor market conditions against the backdrop of...

Loan demand from US mid- and large firms improves, Fed survey shows

Business loan demand from large and mid-sized U.S. firms strengthened by the most in about three years in the third quarter while demand from small firms was essentially unchanged from the prior...

Fed's Cook: December live for a rate cut but will depend on incoming information

WASHINGTON -U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said on Monday she considers December's Fed meeting live for a potential rate cut but that she will make her decision based on information from a...

Currencies: not a foregone conclusion

Small statements often make a big splash, and the latest meeting of the US Federal Reserve was no exception. While Jerome Powell delivered an eagerly awaited speech, it took very little for everything...