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Stocks near flat, dollar dips as focus shifts to United States inflation information

Global stock indexes were little altered on Monday while the U.S. dollar index eased as investors awaited this week's U.S. inflation information that is anticipated to be essential for the outlook for U.S rate of interest.

While the U.S. consumer prices report will likely take center stage, U.S. producer rate information is likewise due today, along with last reports on European inflation that should reinforce expectations for a June rate cut from the European Central Bank.

Chinese retail sales and other data are anticipated as well.

Today brings remarks from a host of Federal Reserve speakers, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Financiers have been focused on inflation as they weigh how soon the U.S. reserve bank is likely to cut rates. Markets are prices in around an 80% opportunity of a rate cut by the Fed's. September meeting, with practically 44 basis points (bps) of. reductions in overall anticipated in 2024, LSEG data revealed.

Financial experts polled expect the carefully watched core. CPI to rise by 0.3% in the month, below 0.4% in March, for. an annual gain of 3.6%, below 3.8%.

Paul Nolte, senior wealth adviser and market strategist for. Murphy & & Sylvest in Elmhurst, Illinois, said both CPI and PPI. reports will be very important to financiers, but included that there's. been so much conversation about the customer. Is the customer. tapped out? And can the consumer still manage to spend? CPI is. going to encapsulate a lot of that.

The first-quarter U.S. earnings season is winding down, but. investors will see reports today from some big U.S. merchants consisting of Walmart and Home Depot.

Incomes from Walmart and Home Depot will be interesting to. get a gauge on how the customer is doing too, Nolte stated.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 81.33 points,. or 0.21%, to 39,431.51, the S&P 500 lost 1.26 points, or. 0.02%, to 5,221.42 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 47.37. points, or 0.29%, to 16,388.24.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe rose. 0.77 points, or 0.10%, to 782.83. The STOXX 600 index. increased 0.02%.

China's financing ministry stated on Monday it will begin the. long-awaited sales of 1 trillion yuan ($ 138.23 billion) of. long-lasting treasury bonds that Beijing hopes will assist promote. crucial sectors of a flagging economy this week.

The dollar index, which determines the greenback. against a basket of currencies including the euro and the yen,. alleviated 0.1% to 105.21.

The relative outperformance of the U.S. economy continues to. underpin the dollar, while only the danger of Japanese. intervention is stopping it from re-testing the 160 yen barrier.

The Bank of Japan on Monday sent a hawkish signal to markets. by cutting the quantity of Japanese federal government bonds it offered to. buy in a regular operation.

Against the Japanese yen, the dollar was up 0.3%. at 156.24, and the euro was up 0.17% at $1.0787.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes fell. 1.6 basis points to 4.489%, from 4.504% late on Friday.

Oil prices were higher in the middle of indications of improving need in the. U.S. and China. U.S. crude increased 86 cents to settle at. $ 79.12 a barrel, and Brent acquired 57 cents to $83.36. Spot gold fell 1% to $2,336.76 per ounce.

(source: Reuters)