Finance

Ahead of Fed Reserve chairman speech currency markets remain in subdued mood

Editorial Bureau August 26, 2020

LONDON (UK) – With investors refusing to place risky bets a day ahead of a much-awaited key speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, the greenback and the euro traded cautiously on Wednesday. There is speculation that Powell could announce a softer policy stance towards inflation

Finance

Gold surges to record heights

Editorial Bureau July 28, 2020

SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) – The yellow metal on Tuesday surged to record heights before the scale of its gains sparked a burst of profit taking. This, in turn, helped the dollar from two-year lows, curbing early equity gains. Gold surged $40 higher at one point to touch $1,980 an ounce. But a wave of selling slapped […]

Finance

Asian stocks snap winning streak, bonds rally on downbeat Federal Reserve

Jim Stein June 11, 2020

SYDNEY (Finance) – Asian shares retreated on Thursday as a gloomy outlook from the U.S. Federal Reserve challenged market optimism on the global economy, while bonds rallied on speculation that yet more stimulus would be needed to ensure recovery. After a slow start, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 1.4%, likely putting […]

Finance

Federal Reserve looks to long term as COVID-19 response is in place

Jim Stein June 10, 2020

WASHINGTON (Finance) – The Federal Reserve completes its latest policy meeting on Wednesday with attention turning from its massive response to the coronavirus pandemic and toward its still-developing plans to strengthen and lengthen a nascent economic recovery. An employment report showing 2.5 million jobs were created in May surprised economists with the speed at

USA

Fed policymakers try to limit damage as pandemic places U.S. economy on pause

Editorial Bureau April 11, 2020

(U.S.) – The U.S. economy was on a strong footing before the coronavirus pandemic and Federal Reserve officials are working to help the economy rebound quickly once businesses that were shuttered because of the virus begin to reopen, two policymakers said Friday. Economic numbers could get “very ugly” in the near term because of that […]

Finance

Global stock markets rise on Fed stimulus, oil drops from earlier surge

Editorial Bureau April 10, 2020

NEW YORK (Finance) – Global equity benchmarks moved higher on Thursday following signs of some success by governments and central banks which have taken additional steps to bolster their economies during the COVID-19 pandemic, while oil prices pulled back from an earlier surge. Oil prices ended the day in negative territory after an earlier surge […]

Finance

Investors fear markets not out of woods despite big rally

Editorial Bureau March 29, 2020

NEW YORK (Finance) – After a brutal meltdown, some investors have been wading back into U.S. stocks. But others are wary of another leg down as the coronavirus spreads and its economic impact is difficult to predict. High-profile investors from BlackRock Inc to billionaire William Ackman have turned more bullish on equities in recent days, […]

Finance

Fed balance sheet tops $5 trillion for the first time

Editorial Bureau March 27, 2020

(Finance) – The U.S. Federal Reserve’s balance sheet soared past $5 trillion (4.1 trillion pounds) in assets for the first time this week as it scooped up bonds and extended loans to banks, mutual funds and other central banks in its unprecedented effort to backstop the economy in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic. […]

Finance

Federal Reserve’s stimulus eases global market fears, gets cash flowing

Editorial Bureau March 25, 2020

(Finance) – Investors across a broad range of asset markets breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday, a day after the Federal Reserve rolled out unprecedented measures aimed at boosting liquidity and bolstering investor confidence in the face of a spreading coronavirus pandemic. As equities ripped higher around the world, a string of investment-grade companies tapped […]

USA

Federal Reserve becomes creditor in chief for U.S. business

Editorial Bureau March 24, 2020

WASHINGTON (U.S) – In undertaking what will undoubtedly be its largest rescue effort ever, the Federal Reserve on Monday announced programs that represent a never-before-seen intervention by the central bank into the heart of the “real” American economy. Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues, in a desperate gambit to prevent outright economic calamity