Global stocks rise as traders anticipate the Federal Reserve's summer conference for indications on inflation control and interest rate hikes.
US and UK retail sales, eurozone and Japanese GDP, and eurozone, UK, and Japanese inflation data are highlighted in Fisher Investments' recap of the biggest market, political, and economic news from last week.
Global stocks rise as traders anticipate the Federal Reserve's summer conference for indications on inflation control and interest rate hikes.
This week's highlights include new data on the U.S. labor market, earnings reports from several retailers, and the latest inflation data.
Investors will be focusing on new data on the U.S. labor market, including job openings and the nonfarm payrolls report, as well as earnings reports from retailers and the latest inflation data.
Global markets show mixed performance, with Japan, China, Hong Kong, India, and Australia experiencing modest gains, while the US markets closed higher fueled by optimism over a possible pause in interest-rate hikes, as oil prices extend gains and gold prices remain near three-week highs.
The US dollar experienced a major technical reversal due to a weaker JOLTs report, leading to a drop in US interest rates, while market positioning played a role in the price action; the focus now shifts to personal consumption figures and US jobs data, with the euro and sterling firm but most other G10 currencies softer, and emerging market currencies mixed. In Asia, most large bourses advanced, but Europe's Stoxx 600 fell after rallying in previous sessions, while US index futures traded softer; European bonds are selling up, gold is consolidating, and oil prices are firm. Australia's CPI slowed more than expected, China is expected to release the August PMI, and Japan reports July retail sales. The US dollar has seen no follow-through selling against the yen, yuan, or Australian dollar, while the euro and sterling staged impressive price action. The JOLTS report saw the dollar and US rates reverse lower, and today the US reports advanced merchandise trade figures for July, with the Canadian dollar as the worst performing G10 currency yesterday.
European markets are expected to open higher following UBS's strong quarterly results and positive economic data, while China's factory activity contracted and U.S. job growth slowed in August.
Markets show signs of slowing after new economic data, with focus on Friday's jobs report and the possibility of a pause on rate increases. Oil prices are impacted by Chinese factory activity and expectations of supply cuts.
Global stocks rise as a Chinese rebound, prompted by eased mortgage rules, boosts the country's struggling property sector. Goldman Sachs predicts more stimulus to come.
Summary: The US markets ended mixed after the release of the latest jobs report data, with the economy adding 187,000 jobs in August but seeing an increase in unemployment, while in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 closed higher, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down, and China's Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen CSI 300 declined. Additionally, European markets saw declines, and commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, gold, silver, and copper experienced varying price movements.
Oil prices surge to the highest level in 10 months as Saudi Arabia and Russia extend production cuts, raising concerns about inflation and higher interest rates, while the resilient U.S. economy strengthens prospects for interest rate hikes; tensions escalate in the auto sector as contract negotiations with major automakers continue; GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen faces scrutiny from the SEC over stock trades; Apple's market value plummets due to concerns over China's ban on public workers using foreign-branded devices; semiconductor stocks weaken amid export restrictions on China; energy sector excels while industrials and utilities lag; upcoming key economic data to watch includes inflation rate, Producer Price Index, retail sales figures, and Michigan Consumer Sentiment data.
The US dollar's strength in the foreign exchange market, along with discussions of de-dollarization, highlights the divergence between the US and other major economies. The Dollar Index is on an eight-week rally, reaching a record high in international payments, while the euro's share has declined to a record low. In the week ahead, the US CPI and the ECB meeting are expected to be major events, with the US showing signs of inflation and weaker demand, and the euro facing challenges amid stagnation and inflation. China's CPI and PPI have shown some improvement, but the focus will be on yuan loans and real sector data. The eurozone's focus will be on the possibility of a rate hike by the ECB and the release of July industrial production figures. Japan's household consumption continues to fall, and the country may experience a contraction in Q3. The UK will release employment data and GDP details, while Canada will see data on existing home sales and the CPI. Australia will release its August employment data, and Mexico's peso positions may continue to adjust due to the winding down of the currency forward hedging facility.
European markets rise as global investors await the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision; retail stocks lead gains while oil and gas dip slightly, and U.K. inflation falls below expectations in August.
