By Chibuike Oguh and Amanda Cooper NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Global shares hit a fresh record high on Monday as markets positioned for the U.S. Federal Reserve to begin its monetary policy easing cycle this week. Gold prices hit a record high as the U.S. dollar weakened. Traders widely expect the Fed to deliver a 25 basis-point cut at the end of its policy meeting on Wednesday, with the probability of such a move near 100%, according to CME's FedWatch tool. MSCI's All-Country Index rose as high as 977 ...

US stock futures inched up Monday morning as Wall Street turned its attention to a pivotal Federal Reserve meeting later this week. Futures attached to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) , S&P 500 (ES=F), and Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) all rose 0.1%. The muted moves come after the major averages logged a strong week. The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) notched a fresh record, climbing 2% for back-to-back weekly gains. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) advanced 1.6%, its best weekly showing since early August, while the Dow (^DJ ...

Streetoncamara/iStock via Getty Images Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Wall Street expects a quarter-point Fed rate cut but sparks could fly at the meeting. (0:17) FedEx facing earnings headwinds. (2:50) OpenAI sees lower rev share with Microsoft. (3:46) It’s Fed week and while Wall Street is as sure as it can get about the outcome, this will likely be one of the most contentious in recent memory. Following weak labor market data, a quarter-point rate cut is priced in, with a ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the potential for future interest rate cuts by the central bank, questioning whether these cuts will occur at every meeting this year or at a more cautious pace [1] Group 1: Interest Rate Cuts - The central bank is considering the timing and frequency of interest rate cuts, with speculation on whether they will be implemented at each meeting or more gradually [1] - Market analysts are divided on the likelihood of immediate cuts versus a more measured approach, reflecting uncertainty in economic conditions [1] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Economic indicators such as inflation rates and employment figures will play a crucial role in determining the pace of interest rate cuts [1] - The central bank's decisions will be influenced by ongoing assessments of economic stability and growth prospects [1]

Market Overview - Wall Street reached new record highs, driven by optimism regarding potential interest rate cuts by the Fed, despite inflation at approximately 2.9% and worsening jobless claims [1][2] - Major tech stocks such as Tesla, Microsoft, and Micron led the gains, while Apple faced challenges following a new product launch [2] Oracle Corporation - Oracle's stock surged approximately 36% in one session due to strong Q1 earnings, with remaining performance obligations (RPO) increasing 359% year-over-year to $455 billion [4] - The company anticipates a 77% increase in cloud infrastructure revenue for fiscal 2026 and projects long-term revenue to reach $144 billion, driven by AI and cloud demand [4] UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth's shares rose about 3% after reaffirming its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance of at least $16.00, indicating strong investor confidence [5] Micron Technology - Micron is trading at a resistance level that, if breached, could initiate a new uptrend, with technical indicators showing consolidation just below prior highs [6] Land's End - Land's End reported Q2 net revenue of $294.1 million, missing expectations of approximately $322.4 million, and an adjusted loss of $0.06 per share, leading to a decline in stock value despite raised full-year guidance [7] NIO Inc. - NIO's shares dropped nearly 10% following the announcement of a plan to issue up to 181.8 million new Class A shares to fund R&D, new vehicle models, and infrastructure expansion [8] Synopsys Inc. - Synopsys shares fell about 13-14% after Q3 non-GAAP earnings of $3.39 per share and revenue of $1.73 billion missed expectations, leading to a cut in fiscal 2025 EPS guidance [9][10]

Core Viewpoint - The controversy surrounding Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook involves allegations of mortgage fraud related to her property claims, which have led to a legal battle with the Trump administration over her position on the Fed's board [1][2][4]. Group 1: Allegations and Legal Actions - Cook referred to her condominium as a "vacation home" in a loan estimate, conflicting with claims that she misrepresented it as a primary residence [1]. - Cook has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to prevent her dismissal, marking a historic attempt by a president to remove a Fed governor [2]. - An injunction has been granted to Cook, allowing her to continue serving as a Fed governor while the legal proceedings unfold [2]. Group 2: Administration's Response and Investigations - The Trump administration has appealed the ruling that allows Cook to remain in her position and is seeking an emergency ruling ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates [3]. - Bill Pulte, a Trump appointee, has accused Cook of inconsistencies in her property claims and has referred the matter to the Justice Department, which has initiated an investigation [4]. Group 3: Implications of Property Classification - Claiming a home as a "primary residence" can provide better mortgage terms compared to classifying it as a vacation home [5]. - Fulton County tax records indicate that Cook has not claimed a homestead exemption on her condo since its purchase in 2021, which would typically be expected if it were her primary residence [5].

Group 1 - BlackRock's Rick Rieder is a leading candidate for the next Federal Reserve chair, as the White House continues its search [1][2] - Rieder recently interviewed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is focused on finding a successor to Jerome Powell and desires fundamental changes in the Fed's operations [2][3] - The discussion with Rieder included topics on monetary policy and structural issues within the central bank, indicating a shift from traditional approaches [3] Group 2 - The current administration has a list of 11 candidates for the Fed chair position, which includes various past and present officials, strategists, and economists [4] - The upcoming Fed meeting is anticipated to result in the first interest rate cut since December 2024, although Trump is advocating for larger cuts to alleviate pressure on the housing market and government borrowing costs [5]

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices are near record highs due to expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve following signs of a softening U.S. labor market [1][2] Group 1: Gold Market - Gold futures have risen by 0.2% to $3,680 per troy ounce, marking an increase of nearly 1% this week [1] - Analysts at Saxo indicate that the market anticipates a rate cut as a certainty due to weaker economic data, particularly in job numbers [2] Group 2: Federal Reserve Expectations - The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting is expected to be pivotal, with markets closely monitoring the statement and press conference for indications of future rate cuts or inflation risks [2]

Flyers on a table during a NYS Department Of Labor job fair at the Downtown Central Library in Buffalo, New York, US. Treasuries were set to log a fourth straight weekly gain after economic data cemented expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week. Most Read from Bloomberg A modest selloff in US trading only slightly eroded the advance, which Thursday pushed the 10-year note’s yield below 4% for the first time since April and the five-year note’s yield to within a basis point of it ...

With the U.S. Federal Reserve facing a pivotal decision next week, a market expert suggests that an impending interest rate cut creates a strategic opportunity for investors to restructure their portfolios.Three Asset Classes To Focus On Ahead Of Rate CutsJohn Murillo, Chief Business Officer of the global fintech solutions provider B2BROKER, believes investors should consider shifting focus to three key areas: bonds, large-cap growth stocks, and real assets to navigate the changing economic landscape.The re ...