Currencies

Markets now eye government shutdown after trade row

What matters in U.S. and global markets today By Mike Dolan, Editor-At-Large, Financial Industry and Financial Markets From one crunch to another, markets are finding it...

Bank of Canada cuts rates by 25 bps, warns of tariff crisis

OTTAWA -The Bank of Canada trimmed its key policy rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday to 2.75% and raised concerns about inflationary pressures and weaker growth stemming from trade uncertainty and...

FULL TEXT- Bank of Canada cuts rates by 25 bps

The Bank of Canada released the following statement on Wednesday: The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate to 2.75%, with the Bank Rate at 3% and the deposit...

US consumer price growth slows in February

U.S. consumer prices increased less than expected in February, but the improvement is likely temporary against the backdrop of aggressive tariffs on imports that are expected to raise the costs of...

Bank of Canada likely to cut rates 25 bps to cushion economy from tariffs

The Bank of Canada will likely cut its benchmark rate by a quarter point on Wednesday to cushion the economy against U.S. tariffs, several economists said. If the BoC delivers the...

Dollar dithers as safety bid flows to the yen

The yen was investors' safe harbour of choice on Tuesday and it traded near five-month highs as fears about a tariff-driven slowdown in U.S. growth have rattled U.S. stocks and the dollar. ...

Swiss franc and yen benefit from turbulence

Investors continue to prefer safe-haven assets in an uncertain macroeconomic environment. This is illustrated by the continued rise of the yen and the Swiss franc against the greenback . ...

Japan's real wages drop in January, spring wage talks in focus

Japan's real wages fell in January after two months of slight gains, data showed on Monday, days before the annual rounds of pay negotiations held each spring culminate at the country's major firms. ...

Fed Chair Powell signals possible tweaks to 'dot plot' rate-path forecasts

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday signaled potential changes for the Fed's closely watched dot plot interest-rate projections as part of a broad policy framework review underway at the...

US jobs data calms market fears, but jitters on policy uncertainty dominate

A solid U.S. jobs report assuaged some swirling concerns about a rapid growth slowdown, but with policy uncertainty surging and tariff headlines keeping the outlook for risk assets murky, Wall Street...

Fed expected to cut rates in June as jobs data raises potential red flags

The Federal Reserve will head into its March 18-19 policy meeting with the labor market strong overall but showing some potential early signs of weakening, a development that could put the U.S....

Recession risks rise for all three North American economies over US tariff chaos

Risks to the Mexican, Canadian and American economies are piling up amid a chaotic implementation of U.S. tariffs that has created deep uncertainties for businesses and decision-makers, according to...

Fed's Powell gets chance to address trade war, stagflation fears

A soft landing from inflation may still be in sight, but when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks in New York on Friday he will be facing a tangled set of new risks to that long-sought goal,...

Euro zone economy grew faster than initially thought in Q4

The euro zone economy grew faster in the final quarter of 2024 than first estimated but nearly all of the revision is due to Ireland, where a large multinational sector often distorts data, figures...

Russian tanker group Sovcomflot says 2024 net profit down by 55%

Russia's leading tanker group Sovcomflot said on Friday that its net profit had dropped by 55% to $424 million in 2024. Sovcomflot's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and...

US labor market seen holding steady ahead of tariffs turbulence

U.S. job growth likely picked up in February, with the unemployment rate expected to hold steady at 4.0%, but growing uncertainty over trade policy and deep federal government spending cuts could...

For markets, German fiscal splurge blurs ECB outlook

A tectonic shift in German fiscal policy has compounded uncertainty for traders trying to bet on how fast the European Central Bank will cut rates for the rest of the year, with a change to the bank's...

US fourth-quarter worker productivity revised higher

U.S. worker productivity grew a bit faster than initially thought in the fourth quarter, helping to curb labor costs and providing a boost in the fight against inflation.  Nonfarm...

US weekly jobless claims fall more than expected

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, suggesting that the labor market remained stable in February, though turbulence lies ahead...