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

Worldwide stock indexes were little changed on Monday while the U.S. dollar index reduced as investors awaited today's U.S. inflation data that is anticipated to be key for the outlook for U.S interest rates.

While the U.S. customer rates report will likely take center stage, U.S. producer rate data is likewise due today, in addition to last reports on European inflation that must strengthen expectations for a June rate cut from the European Reserve bank.

Chinese retail sales and other data are expected too.

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

Financiers have been focused on inflation as they weigh how soon the U.S. central 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 almost 44 basis points (bps) of. decreases in total anticipated in 2024, LSEG data revealed.

Financial experts surveyed anticipate the closely seen core. CPI to increase by 0.3% in the month, below 0.4% in March, for. a yearly gain of 3.6%, below 3.8%.

Paul Nolte, senior wealth advisor and market strategist for. Murphy & & Sylvest in Elmhurst, Illinois, stated both CPI and PPI. reports will be important to investors, but added that there's. been a lot conversation about the consumer. Is the customer. tapped out? And can the consumer still pay for to spend? CPI is. going to encapsulate a lot of that.

The first-quarter U.S. profits season is winding down, however. investors will see reports today from some huge U.S. retailers including Walmart and Home Depot.

Revenues from Walmart and Home Depot will be interesting to. get a gauge on how the consumer is doing also, Nolte stated.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 71.25 points,. or 0.18%, to 39,441.59, the S&P 500 lost 2.30 points, or. 0.04%, to 5,220.38 and the Nasdaq Composite got 37.45. points, or 0.23%, to 16,378.31.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe rose. 0.47 points, or 0.06%, to 782.53, and the STOXX 600. index edged up 0.02%.

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

The dollar index, which measures 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 just the threat of Japanese. intervention is stopping it from re-testing the 160 yen barrier.

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

Against the Japanese yen, the dollar was up 0.3%. at 156.20, and the euro was up 0.19% at $1.0789.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes fell. 2.3 basis points to 4.481%, from 4.504% late on Friday.

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)