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International equities index slow with inflation in focus

MSCI's international equity index was down a little on Monday after striking record highs the week before as financiers took a breath while they awaited the next batch of U.S. economic information.

U.S. Treasury yields increased somewhat while the dollar fell slightly versus a basket of currencies including the euro although it picked up speed somewhat versus the yen.

The U.S. Federal Reserve's favoured step of inflation - the core individual usage expenditures (PCE) rate index - is due on Thursday with a poll expecting an increase of 0.4%,. up from 0.2% in December.

The PCE cost inflation index (is) anticipated to show a. little bit more inflation, in line with the numbers that we saw. with the CPI and PPI, so the marketplaces are bracing for that, stated. Peter Cardillo, primary market financial expert at Spartan Capital. Securities referring to readings of the consumer cost index and. the producer price index.

The data will offer the next test for financiers, who have. needed to reconsider their bets on reserve bank rate cuts in current. weeks, surprised by strong U.S. job growth and inflation.

Investors were also viewing the threat that U.S. federal government. firms might be shut down if Congress can not settle on a. borrowing extension by Friday.

On Monday at 10:53 a.m., the Dow Jones Industrial Average. rose 22.14 points, or 0.06%, to 39,153.67, the S&P 500. lost 2.41 points, or 0.05%, to 5,086.39 and the Nasdaq. Composite got 29.02 points, or 0.18%, to 16,025.58.

MSCI's gauge of stocks around the world fell. 0.39 points, or 0.05%, to 760.79. It had risen to tape-record highs. last week driven by a rally in U.S. stocks helped by a bullish. monetary update from AI leader Nvidia.

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Product connected stocks put pressure on European indexes,. with the STOXX 600 index falling 0.34%, while Europe's. broad FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 0.31%. The STOXX 600. hit record highs last week as comments from ECB policymakers had. triggered optimism over rate cuts on Friday.

Emerging market stocks fell 4.48 points, or 0.44%,. to 1,023.83.

Japan's blue-chip Nikkei scaled record highs for the 2nd. successive trading session, supported by positive performances in. pharmaceuticals, although profit-taking minimal momentum. The. Nikkei closed up 135.03 points, or 0.35%, to 39,233.71.

However MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside. Japan closed 0.43% lower 0.43%, at 526.50.

U.S. Treasuries yields edged somewhat greater on Monday in. anticipation of the scheduled auction of $149 billion of. government financial obligation as financiers demanded greater yields to take on. such a big supply.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes rose. 1.6 basis points to 4.276%, from 4.26% late on Friday. The. 30-year bond yield increased 1.1 basis indicate 4.3913%. from 4.38% late on Friday. The 2-year note yield,. which generally moves in step with rates of interest expectations,. increased 2.4 basis points to 4.7139%, from 4.69% late on Friday.

In currencies, the dollar index edged down ahead of U.S. resilient products orders and the inflation reading.

The dollar index fell 0.18% at 103.78, with the euro. up 0.31% at 1.0851.

Against the Japanese yen, the dollar enhanced. 0.12% at 150.68 ahead of Japanese inflation data due on Tuesday,. forecast to slow to 1.8%. That could add to the case against. policy tightening by the Bank of Japan, the holdout dove among. developed market central banks.

In products, oil prices turned higher after earlier. slipping amid speculation more powerful than expected inflation could. hold-up cuts to high rates of interest and cap international fuel need.

U.S. crude gained 0.75% to $77.06 a barrel and Brent. increased to $82.07 per barrel on the day.

Area gold lost 0.35% to $2,028.79 an ounce. U.S. gold. futures fell 0.68% to $2,024.80 an ounce.

(source: Reuters)