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Stocks set for weekly fall while dollar gains on Fed cut expectations

A gauge of global stocks was set to snap a sevenweek streak of gains on Friday, while the dollar was on track for its strongest week given that midJanuary, as current U.S. inflation data has fueled a. reassessment for the path of rate of interest.

Equities have struggled for upward momentum today, after. readings on U.S. customer rates and manufacturer prices showed. inflation stays sticky, moistening expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut rates by its June meeting.

Markets are pricing in a 59.2% chance for a rate cut of at. least 25 basis points (bps) by the Fed in June, down from 59.5%. in the prior session and 73.3% a week back, according to CME's. FedWatch Tool.

The reserve bank is extensively anticipated to hold rates steady at. its policy conference next week however investors will be closely. monitoring the reserve bank's financial projections.

Data on Friday revealed U.S. import rates increased. partially in February as a surge in the cost of petroleum. products was partly offset by modest gains somewhere else,. recommending an enhancing inflation image.

If the macro information continues to be strong and inflation. stays this high, why worldwide would the Fed cut? said Liz. Young, head of investment strategy at SoFi in New York.

Or if the Fed did cut in the face of that, then we run the. danger of overheating and seeing a re-acceleration in inflation,. and after that it resembles at the end of the story, no one wins.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell. 230.82 points, or 0.59%, to 38,674.84, the S&P 500 lost. 37.08 points, or 0.72%, to 5,113.38 and the Nasdaq Composite. lost 162.96 points, or 1.01%, to 15,965.57.

In addition, a study from the University of Michigan showed. its initial reading on customer sentiment and inflation. expectations were little altered in March while a different. report stated production at U.S. factories increased more than. anticipated in February.

The dollar index gained 0.1% to 103.48, recovering. the majority of the previous week's decrease, with the euro up 0.02%. at $1.0883. Sterling weakened 0.2% to $1.273.

Against the Japanese yen, the dollar strengthened. 0.49% to 149.05, despite expectations the Bank of Japan is. anticipated to end its unfavorable interest rate policy at its meeting. next week.

MSCI's gauge of stocks around the world. fell 5.37 points, or 0.70%, to 767.28 and was poised for its. 3rd straight day-to-day decrease, the longest streak given that the start. of the year.

The STOXX 600 index closed down 0.32%, while. Europe's broad FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 7.42 points,. or 0.37%.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes was up. 1 basis point at 4.308% after reaching 4.322%, its greatest because. Feb. 23. The 2-year note yield, which usually moves. in action with interest rate expectations, increased 3.4 basis points. to 4.7254%.

Oil prices succumbed to some profit taking, following strong. gains this week amid sharp decreases in U.S. crude and fuel. stocks, drone strikes on Russian refineries and a boost. in energy demand projections.

The oil standards were on track to close out the week with. a gain of more than 3%, even as U.S. crude was trading. 0.37% lower on the day at $80.96 a barrel and Brent fell. 0.21% to $85.23 per barrel.

(source: Reuters)