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Stocks dip, dollar climbs up after data, Powell comments

A gauge of international stocks fell for a third straight session on Thursday while the dollar advanced after U.S. data and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pointed to a slower path of rate cuts from the central bank.

The Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 217,000 for the week, somewhat below expectations for 223,000 by economists polled , suggesting the weak October federal government payrolls report was an anomaly.

In the most recent inflation reading, the producer rate index for last demand increased 0.2% last month, matching expectations, after an upwardly revised 0.1% gain in September.

The information comes after Wednesday's consumer rate index increased as expected in October amidst higher costs for shelter such as leas.

In the 12 months through October, the PPI increased 2.4%. after advancing 1.9% in September.

Powell said continuous economic growth, a solid job market, and. inflation that stays above the 2% target mean the U.S. main. bank does not need to hurry to lower rates of interest and can. purposeful thoroughly.

The remarks from Powell put more cold water on what. utilized to be an extremely optimistic outlook on the path for rate cuts,. stated Adam Hetts, global head of multi-asset at Janus Henderson. Financiers in Denver.

However, we can't take for granted that inflation and. labor are in balance so this is an encouraging message on the. economy.

Stocks initially rallied in the wake of the U.S. presidential election. Each of Wall Street's significant indexes. closed at records on Monday, but have stalled in recent days as. bond yields have actually moved to four-month highs. U.S. stocks closed. lower on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 207.33 points,. or 0.47%, to 43,750.86, the S&P 500 fell 36.21 points, or. 0.60%, to 5,949.17 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 123.07. points, or 0.64%, to 19,107.65.

Financiers have actually gravitated towards assets anticipated to benefit. from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's policies in his 2nd. term after he pledged to impose high tariffs on imports from key. trading partners, lower taxes and loosen government regulations.

However bond yields and the dollar have actually also surged recently on. concerns that while Trump's policies will spur growth, they may. also rekindle inflation after a long battle against cost. pressures following the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, tariffs. might cause increased federal government loaning, more ballooning. the financial deficit and trigger the Fed to modify its course of. financial policy easing.

MSCI's gauge of stocks around the world fell. 4.50 points, or 0.53%, to 850.35 and was poised for a third. directly everyday decrease after 5 consecutive sessions of gains.

European shares rebounded from three-month lows, led by. energy and tech stocks after a round of mainly positive. business profits. The STOXX 600 index closed up. 1.08%.

The dollar index, which determines the greenback. against a basket of currencies, rose 0.45% to 106.94, with the. euro down 0.41% at $1.052. The greenback is on pace for. its 5th straight session of gains.

Against the Japanese yen, the dollar strengthened. 0.57% to 156.34. Sterling deteriorated 0.38% to $1.2658.

Expectations for more Fed rate cuts have actually been called back. over the past couple of weeks, however have actually become more volatile just recently. Expectations for a 25 basis point cut at the Fed's December. conference were at 58.7%, down from 82.5% in the previous session,. according to CME's FedWatch Tool.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes rose. 0.2 basis points to 4.453%, erasing declines after Powell's. comments.

Previously in the day, Fed Governor Adriana Kugler stated the. reserve bank has actually made considerable progress towards accomplishing its. task and inflation objectives, while stopping short of offering firm. assistance over what that means for the near-term financial policy. outlook.

Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin stated high. union wage settlements and the possible tariff increases are. amongst the uncertainties that could make Fed authorities more. cautious about believing they have won their battle versus high. inflation.

U.S. unrefined settled up 0.39% to $68.70 a barrel and. Brent rose to settle at $72.56 per barrel, up 0.39% on. the day, in part due to dollar strength and as rising U.S. crude. stocks added to issues of oversupply.

(source: Reuters)