Bloomberg Gold eased after a five-day gain, as investors waited for a raft of US data this week that should offer clues on the Federal Reserve’s appetite for further interest-rate cuts. Bullion traded near $4,280 an ounce, about $100 shy of a record high set in October. The Fed reduced borrowing costs again last week, but policymakers have since offered conflicting views over the need for more rate cuts in 2026. Most Read from Bloomberg “Repeated profit-taking near the October highs has kept the move ...

Key TakeawaysChina's trade surplus has surged past $1 trillion for the first time, driven by robust export growth, particularly to non-U.S. markets, signaling resilience amidst global trade tensions.LME copper prices hit a fresh record high, climbing over 32% this year, fueled by fears of a global supply shortage, disruptions at major mines, and strategic stockpiling in the U.S.Oil prices remain steady, balancing geopolitical risks and a potential supply glut against expectations of a Federal Reserve rate c ...

Core Viewpoint - The bond market's unusual reaction to the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cuts indicates a significant disconnect, with Treasury yields rising despite rate reductions, a phenomenon not observed since the 1990s [1][2]. Group 1: Market Reactions - The bond market is not aligning with President Trump's belief that faster rate cuts will lead to lower bond yields and subsequently lower rates on loans [3]. - Key Treasury yields have increased, with ten-year yields rising nearly 0.5 percentage points to 4.1% and 30-year yields up over 0.8 percentage points since the Fed began easing policy [6]. Group 2: Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve has reduced its benchmark rate by 1.5 percentage points since September 2024, bringing it to a range of 3.75% to 4%, with expectations for further cuts [5]. - Historically, long-term bond yields tend to follow short-term policy rate changes, but this trend has not been observed in the current easing cycle [7]. Group 3: Political Influence - There are concerns that political pressure could lead the Fed to ease policy more aggressively, potentially undermining its credibility and exacerbating inflation, which could further increase yields [4]. - The potential appointment of a political figure to the Fed by Trump raises doubts about the effectiveness of achieving lower long-term yields [4].

CONCLUDED Stock Market Today: Stocks Close Lower, Kicking Off December in the Red Last Updated: 10 hours ago U.S. Treasury Yields Rise After BOJ Governor Comments By Emese Bartha, Dow Jones Newswires U.S. Treasury yields rise in midday European trading as earlier comments by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda that the BOJ will discuss a possible interest-rate hike at the next meeting weighs on bonds globally. Meanwhile, investors are focusing on this week's U.S. economic data, which could influence expectati ...

Pedestrians walk along Wall Street, near the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York. Bond traders are bracing for a deluge of data that will solidify expectations for how quickly the Federal Reserve will continue the interest-rate cuts that have driven US Treasuries to the biggest gains since 2020. Most Read from Bloomberg The end of the government shutdown means that agencies will start releasing key reports that were held back since the start of October, including the September employment report on ...

Core Insights - Former Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler resigned abruptly in August 2023, citing a "personal matter," which was later revealed to be linked to an internal ethics investigation regarding alleged improper stock trades [2][3][5] - The resignation raised concerns among economists and market watchers, particularly as it coincided with her request for a waiver from the Fed's enhanced ethics rules, which was denied by Fed Chair Jerome Powell [4][11][12] - Kugler's financial disclosures indicated multiple stock transactions that violated central bank policies, leading to a probe by the Fed's internal watchdog [5][13][15] Group 1 - Kugler's resignation was effective August 8, 2023, and she had previously served as the U.S. Executive Director of the World Bank before her appointment to the Fed [6][8] - Her absence from the Federal Open Market Committee's meeting on July 29-30 raised eyebrows, and her resignation was seen as politically advantageous for President Donald Trump, who was advocating for lower interest rates [7][9] - Stephen Miran was appointed to replace Kugler temporarily and has since supported rapid interest-rate cuts [10] Group 2 - The U.S. Office of Government Ethics released a report on November 14, 2023, detailing the investigation into Kugler's financial disclosures, which were not certified by Fed ethics officials [13][15] - Kugler, now a professor at Georgetown University, has declined to comment on the situation [14]

Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower on Friday as investors fretted about lofty tech valuations and the U.S. economic outlook. A mixed set of economic indicators from China and cautious comments from Federal Reserve officials on the rate trajectory also dented sentiment.The dollar held losses while gold edged up toward $4,200 an ounce ahead of the release of reports on U.S. producer prices and retail sales along with speeches from several Federal Reserve officials later in the day. Oil prices rose over ...

Stocks were swept up in a broad-based selloff on Thursday. - AFP via Getty Images It was an unusually rough day on Wall Street. Major U.S. equity indexes, including the S&P 500 index, Nasdaq Composite Index, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Russell 2000 index, all tallied their worst percentage-point declines since Oct. 10 on Thursday, Dow Jones Market Data showed. Most Read from MarketWatch The Dow DJIA dropped nearly 800 points, or 1.7%, to close at 47,457.22, while the S&P 500 SPX fell 113.43 points ...

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut aims to stimulate a slowing economy, but persistent inflation and rising living costs are limiting its effectiveness for households and businesses [1][2][3]. Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - The Fed has reduced the benchmark interest rate to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%, making borrowing cheaper to encourage spending and job growth [1][5]. - Despite the rate cut, many Federal Reserve officials express concerns that inflation remains "too high," complicating the path toward the central bank's 2% inflation target [2][3]. Group 2: Economic Context - Rising costs for groceries, rent, and utilities are impacting households, leading to a lack of relief despite the Fed's monetary policy adjustments [2]. - The upcoming Federal Open Market Committee meeting on December 9-10 is expected to involve significant debate regarding the Fed's approach to managing inflation and economic growth [2][4]. Group 3: Data Considerations - The Fed's decision-making is currently hampered by a lack of government data due to a shutdown, forcing reliance on private data sources like ADAP payrolls and state unemployment figures [5][6][9]. - The absence of critical monthly economic indicators presents challenges for the Fed in balancing its dual mandate of price stability and low unemployment [9].

Core Viewpoint - The UK bond market has experienced a significant rebound, with expectations of interest-rate cuts driving investor confidence and narrowing the yield gap compared to other G7 nations [1][6]. Group 1: Market Performance - UK gilts achieved their best performance in nearly two years, attracting investments from major firms like Aberdeen Group Plc, Fidelity International, and JPMorgan Asset Management [2]. - Market expectations for Bank of England interest-rate cuts are fueling this positive momentum, with some strategists predicting a surprise cut in an upcoming meeting [3]. Group 2: Economic Indicators - Recent data indicates that UK inflation remained steady in September, with food prices experiencing their largest decline since late 2020, challenging previous narratives about persistent price pressures [7]. - Money markets are now anticipating 60 basis points of rate reductions over the next year, an increase from 40 basis points at the beginning of October [8]. Group 3: Political Context - The UK’s turbulent debt markets, exacerbated by previous unfunded budget plans, are expected to remain a focal point ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget announcement on November 26, which may include tax increases to adhere to fiscal rules [5].