Market Pulse - Currencies
FX round-up: Sterling battles to a higher Friday close, but its outlook remains bearish
Sterling battled its way to a higher close on most major crosses in a Friday session rich with UK, US and European economic data, but the outlook for the British currency is bearish.
FX round-up: Sterling rises as May's Great Repeal Bill unveiled
Sterling put in a positive showing on Thursday as it rose against most major currencies, barring the rand as that unit rose alongside reports South African President Jacob Zuma was considering standing down early.
Europe close: Basic Resources, Oil&Gas lead gains
European equity markets added to their first quarter tally, with shares in Basic Resources and Oil&Gas spearheading the advance even as the single European currency came under selling pressure on the back of weaker-than-expected readings on inflation in Germany and Spain and hawkish Fedspeak.
Sector movers: Industrial engineers, miners jump at quarter-end
Cyclicals were clearly in favour heading into the end of the first quarter, on the back of positive analyst chatter out of some of the top brokers in the world and as prices for most key industrial metals reversed their losses seen in overnight trading.
Fed's Mester calls for change to balance sheet policy in 2017
One of the most-hawkish policymakers at the US central bank signaled her continued support for further interest rate hikes and for starting to slow the pace at which its balance sheet was growing.
Steady inflation in Brazil in March paves way for rate cuts
The broadest gauge of price pressures for South America's largest economy continued to retreat in March and analysts believed a host of factors would continue to push costs lower, paving the way for a large cut to the country's benchmark policy rate.
US central bank should raise rates four times in 2017, Fed's Rosengren says
The head of the regional US Federal Reserve Bank of Boston called for a faster pace of rate hikes than his colleagues in 2017.
FX round-up: Sterling's overall reaction to 'Brexit Wednesday' tame, euro down
Sterling saw a rather "tame" reaction to Brexit negotiations being activated by Prime Minister Theresa May, rising from a midday funk to recoup most of its earlier softness against the US dollar.
Bonds: Fedspeak, ECB report push bond prices higher
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields:.
Impact of Trump policies only somewhat factored-in, Fed's Fischer says
The US central bank is watching the White House's new policies with keen interest, but thus far their potential impact on the economy had only been factored into their forecasts somewhat, its second-highest ranking official said.
FX round-up: Sterling sold lower ahead of Article 50 as S.Africa's rand dives
Sterling had a torrid time on key crosses Tuesday as a pall of pre-Brexit nerves again weighed on sentiment, although the British unit's downcast performance was well and truly outpaced by hefty falls in South Africa's already besieged rand.
HSBC now sees three Fed hikes in 2017 and one more in 2018
Economists at HSBC raised their interest rate forecasts for the US, bringing them more in-line with the consensus view - up to a point.
FX round-up: Sterling downcast on Friday as US Congress votes on Trump's Healthcare Bill
Sterling turned in a downcast Friday performance as it slipped on most key pairs, with global markets drifting as US President Donald Trump's Healthcare Bill goes to a congressional vote, and ahead of UK formally beginning its EU-exit talks next week.
Federal Reserve in better position to stop balance sheet reinvestment, Bullard says
The US central bank may now be in a better position to stop reinvesting the proceeds of its assets in acquiring new ones, a top member of the Federal Reserve said.
Inflation surge does not automatically mean rates will rise, BoE's Vlieghe says
Even an acceleration in consumer prices to 3. 5% might not justify a hike in Bank Rate, a top Bank of England official said, unless it is accompanied by growth in wages.
Bank of Russia surprises with rate cut to 9.75%
Russia's central bank took markets by surprise on Friday, announcing it had cut its key policy rate in response to a quicker than expected drop in price pressures, with further cuts possible.
FX round-up: Sterling rises on hearty UK retail sales as inflation, possible BoE rate rise lurk
Sterling ticked higher on most major crosses Thursday thanks to better-than-expected UK retail sales figures for February, with rising inflation and a possible Bank of England (BoE) interest rate hike lurking in the background.
FX round-up: Sterling mixed on Wednesday after UK inflation supercharge ebbs
Sterling plugged away to achieve a mixed out-turn on major crosses Wednesday, but did manage to craft minor gains against both the US dollar and euro even as its inflation supercharge ebbed from Tuesday.
Fitch downgrades Saudi Arabia over reform doubts
Ratings agency Fitch has downgraded Saudi Arabia's sovereign debt rating to 'A+' from 'AA-' as it expressed major doubts about the government's financial reform programme.
Europe open: Stocks down, traders eye key levels for Brent and euro
European stocks began the morning on a down note, tracking a weaker Wall Street as investors took profits following recent strong gains for the main benchmarks.