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Shares fall with US yields near 4-month high, earthquake hits Taiwan

Worldwide stocks eased on Wednesday in the face of rising bond yields, as investors examined how much U.S. rates might fall this year, while a. effective earthquake in Taiwan raised issues about possible. disturbances to the crucial chipmaking market.

A string of robust U.S. data, coupled with an increase in the oil. cost to its highest in five months, prompted traders to lower. their expectations for 3 interest-rate cuts from the Federal. Reserve this year.

Federal government bonds were sold heavily, pushing yields on the. benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note to five-month highs, while. equities went back from record peaks.

The MSCI All-World index fell 0.1% in its. 3rd successive everyday drop, while European equities traded. decently in negative area. U.S. futures fell. 0.2-0.3% ahead of a look from Federal Reserve Chair. Jerome Powell and U.S. services and tasks figures later on.

Today, we'll hear from Fed Chair Powell who's providing a. speech on the economic outlook, so the focus will be on whether. he provides any new commentary about the timing of potential rate. cuts, Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid stated.

We have actually likewise got the ISM services index today, together with the. jobs report on Friday, so there's still lots of data today. that will form the marketplace story.

In Asia, shares in Taiwan skidded 0.5% after a 7.2. magnitude earthquake rocked the island, collapsing structures,. killing a minimum of four people and injuring dozens.

Chipmaker TSMC's's shares fell 0.9% after it stated. some centers were left following the quake. Taiwan makes. up about 90% of TSMC's production.

A recent run of strong U.S. financial data - consisting of an. unforeseen growth in the production sector and slow easing. in the labour market - has cast doubt on how much the Fed might. cut rates this year and next.

A set of Fed policymakers on Tuesday both said they believe. it would be sensible to cut U.S. rate of interest three times. this year, but markets are only pricing in about 69 basis points. in alleviating.

At this last conference, they still indicate 3 times, but. these movements tend to have some momentum. As they start to. shift, you find that they will probably move again next conference. and then by next conference, they probably will be suggesting that. they're going to cut only twice, stated Andrew Lilley, chief. rates strategist at Barrenjoey in Sydney.

And there's a very high opportunity of one in three that they. don't ease at all.

The benchmark 10-year yield edged up 1 basis. point on the day to 4.377%, after striking a four-month high of. 4.405% over night.

Investors now wait for euro zone inflation data, which could. undershoot expectations, after German inflation relieved more than. anticipated.

On the other hand, the dollar got a modest boost from higher. Treasury yields. The yen was jittery at 151.72 per. dollar, just a hair far from the 152 level that triggered. Japanese monetary authorities to intervene in late 2022.

Oil held near five-month highs, driven by issue about. tighter materials ahead of an OPEC+ conference, where the group is. unlikely to alter output policy.

Brent rose 0.25% to $89.14 a barrel, while U.S. crude gained 0.15% to trade at $85.28.

Gold took a breather from its record rally on Wednesday,. edging down 0.3% $2,274 an ounce, having hit an all-time high of. $ 2,288.09 earlier in the session.

(source: Reuters)