IMF ESTIMATES JAPAN'S NEUTRAL INTEREST RATE AND OUTLOOK IMF estimates Japan's neutral interest rate to be between 1-2%. The Bank of Japan is likely to raise interest rates again this year, potentially reaching neutral levels by 2027. Japan's economy is expected to grow by
The S&P 500 went up 0.2% on Thursday. The Nasdaq increased by 0.1%. The Dow Jones rose 75 points (or 0.2%). This happened after companies shared their earnings reports. Investors are watching these reports to decide on stocks.
AUD/USD is trying to reach 0.6300 again. New buyers are supporting the price. The US Dollar is weak, helping AUD/USD rise. Traders are careful because of the upcoming US jobs report (NFP). Many expect Australia’s central bank (RBA) to cut interest rates in February.
US natural gas storage dropped by 174 billion cubic meters last week. Experts thought the drop would be 167 billion cubic meters, so the actual drop was bigger than expected. The previous week, the drop was even larger at 321 billion cubic meters. Natural gas prices (March contracts) fell slightly
Gold prices went up a little on Thursday. They stayed close to the highest level ever seen. This happened because of worries about the China-U.S. trade war. People bought gold as a safe investment. Investors are waiting for U.S. job data to understand future interest rates.
EUR/USD is still weak and stays below 1.0400. The US dollar remains strong, making it hard for the euro to rise. Even though US jobless claims increased to 219,000, the euro did not gain strength. The market is cautious, which helps the US dollar stay strong.
USD/CAD SETTLES AFTER FIREWORKS AT THE START OF THE WEEK USD/CAD bounced back after initial volatility driven by tariff news. Price surged on Monday, then reversed after Mexico and Canada negotiated deals. The pair dropped below the "Red Box" range but found support between 1.4260
BOE DOVISH CUT LEADS GBP/USD LOWER, TECHNICALS OUTLOOK BOE's dovish rate cut causes GBP/USD to move lower. The USD is mostly higher today, except for a modest decline in USD/JPY. A technical analysis is provided for three major currency pairs: EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and
S&P 500 TICKS HIGHER AFTER LATEST BATCH OF EARNINGS REPORTS S&P 500 rose by 0.2% after back-to-back winning sessions. Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.1%. Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 75 points (+0.2%). Investors reacted to the latest corporate earnings reports.
GBP/USD is falling and is near 1.2400. The Bank of England cut interest rates by 0.25%. Weak US economic data helped slow down the fall. However, the pair is struggling to recover.
US UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS BEAT EXPECTATIONS Initial jobless claims rose by 11,000 to 219,000 for the week ending Feb. 1. Economists had forecasted 214,000 claims, indicating a higher-than-expected increase. This suggests a pick-up in layoffs in the U.S. economy.
Gold prices are unstable and moving up and down below $2,870 per ounce. The US dollar is getting stronger, and US bond yields are slightly rising. Investors are being cautious and avoiding big trades. They are waiting for important US job data coming on Friday.