Analysis: Currencies

US single-family housing starts, building permits drop in August

WASHINGTON -U.S. single-family homebuilding and permits for future construction dropped in August amid a glut of unsold new houses and a softening labor market, shrugging off falling mortgage rates....

EU Commission proposes suspending free-trade arrangements on Israeli goods

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed suspending a trade arrangement affecting about 5.8 billion euros of Israeli exports due to the Gaza war, although the measure does not currently have...

US 30-year mortgage rate drops, refinances jump, MBA data shows

The interest rate on the most popular U.S. home loan dropped last week to its lowest in a year, sending homeowners racing to lock in cheaper borrowing costs as slowing jobs growth and expectations...

Bank of Canada cuts rates to three-year low, cites risks to economy

The Bank of Canada reduced its key policy rate to a three-year low of 2.5% on Wednesday, the first cut in six months, citing a weak jobs market and less concern about underlying pressures on...

PIMCO recommends Fed halt mortgage unwind to boost housing market

U.S. bond firm PIMCO said on Tuesday the Federal Reserve should consider a halt to the shrinking of its mortgage holdings in order to boost the U.S. housing market. Since 2022 when it...

US import prices increase in August on capital, consumer goods

WASHINGTON -U.S. import prices unexpectedly rose in August, boosted by strong increases in the costs of capital and consumer goods, suggesting domestic inflation was poised to accelerate in the...

US housing market to remain stuck in a rut as high rates choke demand

BENGALURU -The United States' sluggish housing market will remain weak through next year as high mortgage rates stifle demand with only a modest rebound expected in 2027, a Reuters survey of...

US retail sales increase strongly; softening labor market a headwind

U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in August as consumers bought a range of goods and dined out, but a weakening labor market and rising prices because of tariffs pose a downside risk to...

Canada's annual inflation rises less than expected in August

Canada's annual inflation rate rose 1.9% in August as gasoline prices on a yearly basis fell at a slower pace than in the previous month and food prices were up slightly, data showed on Tuesday. ...

Trading Day: Tech momentum accelerates as Fed looms

ORLANDO, Florida -TRADING DAY Making sense of the forces driving global markets By Jamie McGeever, Markets Columnist  U.S. and world stocks roared to new...

US banks borrow $1.5 billion from Fed's repo facility in sign of mild funding pressure

U.S. banks borrowed $1.5 billion from the Federal Reserve's Standing Repo Facility on Monday, the deadline for quarterly corporate tax payments and Treasury debt settlements, Fed data showed,...

Currencies: Central banks in sight

As you know, this is THE week for central bankers, even though the US Federal Reserve is likely to overshadow its counterparts. If there is a surprise, it is unlikely to come from the rate cut itself,...

Natura to sell Avon CARD, exploring options for Avon International

SAO PAULO -Brazil's cosmetic marker Natura has entered into a binding agreement to sell Avon CARD, the company said in a securities filing on Monday, adding it continues to explore strategic...

Canadian home sales rise for fifth straight month in August

TORONTO -Canadian home sales rose for a fifth straight month in August as increased activity in the regions of Montreal, Greater Vancouver and Ottawa offset a decline in the Greater Toronto Area,...

Dollar eases ahead of central bank bonanza, eyes on Fed

The dollar slipped on Monday ahead of a pivotal week filled with central bank decisions headlined by the Federal Reserve, while the euro hardly reacted to Fitch's downgrade of France's credit rating....

Canada announces new federal agency to build affordable housing

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Sunday a new federal agency supported by an initial C$13 billion in capitalization to build affordable housing, following campaign promises to bolster...

Bank of Canada to cut rates on September 17, at least one more to follow this year

BENGALURU -The Bank of Canada will cut its overnight rate by a quarter point on September 17 as the labour market deteriorates and economic activity weakens, according to most economists in a Reuters...

Fed's fear meter may be pointing to stagnation, rather than stagflation

WASHINGTON -Federal Reserve officials, already expected to cut interest rates next week, may also be closer to settling a months-long debate over the risks of stagflation after recent data showed...

Currencies: Its fate is sealed

Reactions to the release of the US jobs report seem to confirm an easing of key interest rates following the forthcoming monetary policy committee meeting on Wednesday September 17. The question now...