Category: global

Dollar Hits 4-Week Peak on Resilient US Jobs Market

LONDON—The dollar rose to an almost one-month high on Friday, after U.S. economic data highlighted a still-tight labour market that could mean the Federal Reserve keeps hiking interest rates aggressively. The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits dropped to a three-month low last week while layoffs fell 43 percent in December, data…


Oil Prices Firm on Optimism Over China’s Reopening

LONDON—Oil prices edged higher on Friday on hopes of a Chinese demand boost, but the broader global economic outlook kept crude benchmarks on course for a weekly decline. Brent crude futures rose 56 cents, or 0.71 percent, to $79.25 a barrel by 1009 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 60 cents, or…


Global Stocks Tepid Before US Jobs Test; Dollar Stands Tall

LONDON, TOKYO—Global equities were set to end the first week of 2023 on a tepid note and the dollar stood tall as fears of higher U.S. interest rates hit market sentiment. The MSCI World equity index traded steadily on Friday, on course for its fifth consecutive weekly drop despite a brief rally earlier in the…


Dollar Wavers After Fed Minutes Offer Few Surprises

LONDON/SINGAPORE—The dollar was roughly flat in choppy trading on Thursday after the release of the latest Federal Reserve minutes. Details of the discussion from the central bank’s December policy meeting, released on Wednesday, showed policymakers remain focused on curbing inflation and do not envisage interest rate cuts in 2023. Analysts said the minutes were broadly…


Oil Rebounds After Biggest Drop in Decades at Start of Year

LONDON—Oil rebounded over 2 percent on Thursday after posting the biggest two-day loss for the start of a year in three decades with the shutdown of a U.S. fuel pipeline providing support, though economic concerns capped gains. Big declines in the previous two days were driven by worries about a global recession, especially since short-term…


Global Shares Rise as Sentiments Get Boost From Fed, US Jobs

TOKYO—Global shares mostly rose Thursday following a rally on Wall Street as investors assessed minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting of policymakers and welcomed encouraging data on U.S. jobs. France’s CAC 40 lost 0.6 percent to 6,736.01 in early trading, while Germany’s DAX fell 0.4 percent to 14,438.94. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.1…


Dollar Falls as Europe Inflation Cools and China Lifts the Aussie

LONDON—The dollar fell broadly on Wednesday, losing out to commodities currencies like the Australian dollar and against the euro, which got a lift from a raft of data that suggested European inflation may finally have peaked. The dollar was already under pressure from investors who have grown more optimistic over the prospect that China’s relaxation…


Oil Falls Again as Concerns Grow Over Global Economy, China COVID-19 Cases

LONDON—Oil fell sharply on Wednesday after slumping in the previous session, weighed down by concerns about weak demand due to the state of the global economy and China’s rising COVID-19 cases. Brent futures fell $1.88 to $80.22 a barrel, a 2.3 percent loss, by 1032 GMT. U.S. crude dropped $1.68, or 2.2 percent, to $75.25…


Stocks Creep Higher as Inflation Data Offers Hope Ahead of Fed

SINGAPORE/LONDON—European and Asian shares rose on Wednesday thanks to positive news about inflation and China’s strict anti-COVID measures, while the dollar backpedaled as investors await minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent meeting. The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.9 percent by 0835 GMT as a lower inflation reading from France boosted sentiment, adding to…


Dollar Jumps to 2-Week High, Euro Slides as German Inflation Eases

LONDON—The euro was on track for its biggest one-day drop since September as German inflation eased in December, while the dollar rose to a two-week high with focus turning to the Federal Reserve’s minutes from the December meeting. The euro was last down around 1.3 percent against the dollar at $1.0526, its lowest level since…