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International stock index edges up while U.S. dollar falls versus the yen

A worldwide equities index gained very slightly on Tuesday while the dollar index was flat as investors weighed the outlook for central bank rate cuts after the latest batch of financial data and ahead of crucial U.S. inflation data due out later in the week.

The Conference Board stated U.S. customer self-confidence retreated in February after 3 straight month-to-month increases as households fretted about the labor market and the domestic political environment. Its consumer confidence index slipped to 106.7 this month versus economic expert expectations of 115.0 and a. downwardly modified 110.9 for January.

On Tuesday, orders for

long-lasting U.S. produced items

fell by the most in almost 4 years in January amid a. sharp drop in bookings for industrial aircraft, while the. outlook for company investment on devices was mixed.

The next essential information financiers are keeping an eye out for will be. Thursday's release of January's U.S. individual consumption. expenses index (PCE), which is the Federal Reserve's. preferred inflation measure.

Presently, 63% of traders anticipate the Fed to begin. cutting rates by June, below almost 98% at the end of. January, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool.

We're waiting for the PCE data to provide us a stronger. orientation perhaps, stated Shaun Osborne, chief currency. strategist at Scotiabank in Toronto.

I believe we're prepped for slightly more powerful numbers;. it most likely at this point would need to be a big upside surprise. to truly get the dollar strengthening.

The

dollar was down slightly against the Japanese yen after. information revealing Japan's core consumer inflation exceeded projections. which U.S. resilient products orders fell more than anticipated in. January.

Versus the Japanese yen, the dollar deteriorated 0.19%. at 150.4. The dollar index, nevertheless, acquired 0.02% at. 103.79, with the euro down 0.03% at 1.0844.

Meanwhile in equities, MSCI's gauge of stocks throughout the. world increased 0.90 points, or 0.12%.

By 11:02 a.m., the Dow Jones Industrial Average. fell 130.43 points, or 0.33%, to 38,939.90, the S&P 500. gained 0.17 points, or 0.00%, to 5,069.70 and the Nasdaq. Composite got 32.35 points, or 0.20%, to 16,008.60.

The indexes have advanced recently on expectations significant. central banks will cut rate of interest quickly and partly due to. financier enthusiasm around artificial intelligence.

In U.S. treasuries, he yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes. fell 1.2 basis points to 4.287%, from 4.299% late on. Monday. The 30-year bond yield fell 0.7 basis points. to 4.4115% from 4.418%. The 2-year note yield, which. typically relocates step with interest rate expectations, fell. 2.5 basis indicate 4.6912%, from 4.716%.

Oil costs rose on Tuesday as the market concentrated on. uncertainty over a prospective Gaza ceasefire and some. expectations that producer group OPEC+ will extend voluntary. supply cuts in March.

U.S. crude gained 0.97% to $78.33 a barrel and. Brent increased 0.76% to $83.16 per barrel.

Gold costs

increased while financiers awaited for Thursday's inflation. reading and remarks from Fed officials today.

Spot gold included 0.14% to $2,033.52 an ounce. U.S. gold futures got 0.36% to $2,035.90 an ounce.

(source: Reuters)