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MORNING BID AMERICAS-Dollar surges after central bank barrage, Apple bruised

A take a look at the day ahead in U.S. and worldwide markets from Mike Dolan

The U.S. dollar seems to have emerged a clear winner from the week's wonderful mystery tour of world central banks - with record high Wall St and world stocks getting a shot across the bow from Apple's antitrust bust.

A whistle stop look at the week's numerous reserve bank readouts reveals a surprise rate cut in Switzerland, cuts in Mexico and Brazil and an uncommonly dovish Bank of England tilt that brings a June UK rate cut into view. And there were promises of more financial alleviating to come in China to add to the mix.

The Bank of Japan lastly set about 'normalising'. in the other direction, and Taiwan's central bank provided a. surprise hike too, the overall thrust is an international central bank. cycle that has turned before the Federal Reserve begins.

While the Fed held the line on Wednesday, as anticipated, and. continued to flag three rate cuts later this year, the slightly. hawkish takeaway was that its policymaker forecasts eliminated. one cut from next year's 'dot plot'.

And so with other reserve banks jumping the Fed weapon on the. initially move and potentially cutting much deeper over the coming two. years, the dollar has actually got a shot in the arm.

The dollar index hit its greatest in over a month on Friday. and has actually now climbed up more than 2% from March troughs.

Eye-catching overnight was a swoon in China's offshore yuan. to its weakest level of the year, without any ostensible. trigger beyond the dovish soundings from deputy guv of the. Individuals's Bank of China. China's stocks closed sharply. lower too.

The dollar was pumped up across the board, hitting 2024. highs versus the Swiss franc, Japan's yen and. one-month peaks against sterling.

Showing a firmer Fed horizon beyond this year, U.S. Treasuries stalled - with two-year yields firming up. above 4.60%.

Maybe odd in an election year, Treasury market. volatility procedures diminished to their most affordable given that. before the Fed started its tightening project 2 years earlier.

The latest U.S. economic readouts continued to show brisk. business development and labor market tightness and markets will now. switch attention next Friday's release of the Fed's favored PCE. inflation gauge.

Buoyant Wall St stocks clocked record closing highs again on. Thursday, however Apple's 4% slide dampened the mood as. U.S. antitrust regulators moved in - sending out a warning to a. market so heavily concentrated in Big Tech megacaps.

Its stock stabilised over night, the U.S. Department. of Justice and 15 states took legal action against Apple in a government crackdown on. Big Tech - alleging the iPhone maker monopolized the smartphone. market, hurt smaller sized rivals and increased prices.

Apple signs up with competitors sued by regulators, consisting of. Alphabet's Google, Meta Platforms and. Amazon.com across the administrations of both former. president Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

Elsewhere, over night earnings were blended.

FedEx shares surged 13% after the bell after the. company narrowed its financial 2024 profit projection and revealed. share buybacks that help balance out less company from its biggest. client, the U.S. Postal Service.

Nike stock skidded 6% after it warned its. profits in the first half of financial 2025 would diminish by a low. single-digit percentage as the world's largest sportswear maker. downsize on franchises to conserve expenses. Secret diary items that may supply direction to U.S. markets later. on Friday:

* Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Fed Vice Chair Philip. Jefferson, Fed Board Guv Michelle Bowman, Fed Vice Chair. for Supervision Michael Barr and Atlanta Fed President Raphael. Bostic all speak. * European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde attends Euro. Top in Brussels, ECB chief economic expert Philip Lane speaks. * Canada Jan retail sales and federal government budget balance

(source: Reuters)