New-home construction posts biggest drop in four years, despite housing shortage

Construction on new U.S. homes fell nearly 15% in March, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. 


 
Stock Futures Up With Bank Earnings in Spotlight

Stock futures moved higher as markets faced a heady mix of earnings, rising tensions in the Middle East and questions about the prospect for interest-rate cuts. 


 
Rate Cuts Are Direction of Travel, BOE's Lombardelli Says

The Bank of England is likely to cut its key interest rate over the coming months, but exactly when is uncertain, the incoming deputy governor for monetary policy said. 


 
Diverging Fed-ECB Policy Outlook Widens U.S.-German Yield Differential

Diverging prospects for interest rates in the U.S. and eurozone have widened the gap between Treasury yields and Bunds, a trend analysts expect to continue as data point to a strong U.S. economy against a tepid eurozone recovery. 


 
China's Overcapacity Is Already Backfiring

Excess investment in industry isn't made up by China's trading partners, and it has domestic consequences. 


 
U.K. Labor Market Cools Again, Making Rate Cuts More Likely

Unemployment ticked higher and wage growth slowed in the U.K. in the three months to February, adding to signs that inflation is easing and making interest-rate cuts likelier in the coming months. 


 
Big Tech Is Downsizing Workspace in Another Blow to Office Real Estate

The pullback marks a sharp reversal after years when companies had been bolstering their office footprints by adding millions of square feet of space. 


 
China's Factories Drive Uneven Economic Recovery

The world's second-largest economy grew 5.3% to start the year, but there were familiar signs of weakness in consumption and real estate. 


 
Fitch Ratings Downgrades Outlook for Chinese State-Owned Banks

Fitch Ratings has downgraded the outlook for six Chinese state-owned banks amid concerns about the government's ability to support the sector in the event of stress. 


 
Market Reaction to Iran Attack Tells Us Stocks Aren't in a Bubble

The swings on Friday and Monday put to bed for now concerns that a bubble has been forming.


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

04-16-24 0915ET