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Stocks, dollar, Treasury yields fall after US information

An international equities gauge was lower on Friday while the dollar fell with Treasury yields as data showing a modest increase in U.S. inflation in April provided financiers little clearness on the Federal Reserve's interest-rate policy.

The U.S. Commerce Department said the personal intake expenditures (PCE) cost index, extensively seen as the Fed's. favoured inflation indicator, increased 0.3% last month, in line. with expectations and the March increase, while core PCE increased. 0.2%, compared to 0.3% in March.

While some strategists said they were relieved inflation. wasn't hotter than anticipated, Robert Pavlik, senior portfolio. manager at Dakota Wealth in Fairfield, Connecticut said the data. didn't change much in terms of interest-rate expectations.

The core PCE this morning didn't truly do anything ... It. was just a status quo kind of report so there is no indicator. that the Federal Reserve is going to be on hold longer, or going. to cut rates quicker.

Individually the Chicago Buying Managers Index (PMI),. which keeps an eye on the health of manufacturing in the Chicago. area, was up to 35.4 from 37.9 last month and was well below. economic expert expectations of 41.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe fell. 0.98 points, or 0.13%, to 780.14 at 02:47 p.m. ET. It was. tracking its 2nd weekly decrease in a row but heading for a. month-to-month gain.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was. up 271.99 points, or 0.71%, at 38,383.47, the S&P 500 was. down 11.62 points, or 0.22%, at 5,223.86 and the Nasdaq. Composite fell 190.39 points, or 1.14%, to 16,546.69.

Previously, Europe's STOXX 600 index closed up 0.3%. While the index advanced 2.6% for the month it fell 0.5% for the. week in its 2nd consecutive weekly decline.

Information revealed euro zone inflation increased more-than-expected in. May, though analysts stated it was unlikely to stop the European. Central Bank from lowering borrowing costs next Thursday however may. cement the case for a pause in July.

In currencies, the dollar index, which determines the. greenback versus a basket of currencies including the yen and. the euro, fell 0.12% to 104.64. It was on track for its first. month-to-month decline in 2024 after the information.

The euro was up 0.11% versus the dollar at $1.0844.

But versus the Japanese yen, the dollar strengthened. 0.27% to 157.22.

In Treasuries, yields fell after the signs of inflation. stabilization in April, suggesting to some that the capacity. for the Fed to cut rates later on this year stayed undamaged.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes fell. 4.4 basis points to 4.51%, from 4.554% late on Thursday while. the 30-year bond yield fell 3.5 basis indicate. 4.6501%.

The two-year note yield, which usually moves in. step with interest-rate expectations, fell 3.6 basis indicate. 4.8914%, from 4.929% late on Thursday.

On the energy front, oil prices fell as traders concentrated on. Sunday's OPEC+ conference, which is anticipated to identify the fate. of the producer group's output cuts.

U.S. unrefined settled down 1.18% at $76.99 a barrel and. Brent settled at $81.62, down 0.29% on the day.

Gold fell 0.81% to $2,324.17 an ounce on the day but. was tracking for a 4th straight month-to-month gain.

(source: Reuters)