Market Pulse - Currencies
Week ahead: Bank of England, US non-farm payrolls in focus
The Bank of England will be front and centre on investors' minds when they meet to decide on policy on Thursday.
US consumer confidence continues strengthening in April
Americans were more confident in April thanks to the growing belief that the upward momentum in jobs and incomes would persist. the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
Chicago factory PMI at near four-decade high in April
Manufacturing sector activity in the Chicago area accelerated at its quickest pace for nearly four decades in April, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
Personal incomes and spending in the US jump in April, as expected
Americans continued continued spending at a frenzied pace last month as another round of government stimulus checks arrived in the mail.
China PMIs mixed amid supply bottlenecks, point to slower activity
Readings for the two key Chinese manufacturing sector surveys were mixed in April, but all in all economists said the results chimed with expectations that activity would cool down as global consumption patterns returned to something nearer to normal.
US Q1 GDP roars ahead, 'double digit' growth seen in Q2
America's economy roared ahead at the start of 2021, bolstered by the pandemic relief bills approved in December and March.
US jobless claims slip to fresh post-pandemic low
First time unemployment claims slipped to another post-pandemic low during the previous week despite some atypical factors that were at work.
FOMC says inflation largely 'transitory', some parts of markets 'frothy'
Policymakers at the Federal Reserve acknowledged the strengthening economy but continued to emphasise that risks to the outlook remained.
US foreign trade surplus widens by more than expected in March
America's shortfall on trade with the rest of the world widened by more than expected last month, even as exports and imports recovered their levels from before the pandemic.
US consumer confidence soars in March, Conference Board says
An improving jobs market and government stimulus checks arriving in the mail boosted US consumer confidence back to its pre-pandemic level, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
US durable goods orders strong in March outside of civilian aircraft
Orders in the US for goods made to last more than three years fell short of market expectations last month, but only as a result of weakness in the often volatile category of civilian aircraft.
Week ahead: Federal Reserve, US Q1 GDP in focus
The market spotlight over the coming week will be on the Federal Reserve as central bankers in the US meet to decide on policy on Wednesday.
US existing home sales undershoot forecasts in March
Sales of second hand homes in the US undershot came in below forecasts in March due to a mix of higher prices, higher mortgage rates and a dearth of available supply.
Weekly US jobless claims surprise to the downside again
US jobless claims continued to slip lower, contrary to economists' expectations.
Credit Suisse announces capital raise, shares take hit
Credit Suisse shares were knocked lower after the investment bank announced that it would go cap in hand to shareholders after sustaining a further hit from the blowup of hedge fund Archegos.
French business sentiment dips in April due to weakness in services, INSEE says
French business sentiment worsened a tad in April, due to the hit to services sector activity from lockdowns, but economists continued to expected a strong pick up in overall economic growth in the back half of 2021.
Federal Reserve not aiming for 'prolonged' inflation above target, Powell says
Inflation was set to be a "little higher" in 2021 but the US central bank was not aiming for a large and sustained rise beyond its target, its chairman Jerome Powell said.
US consumer sentiment edges higher at the start of April, University of Michigan says
US consumer sentiment was at its best level in a year in April thanks to the much larger than usual government stimulus payments seen over that time.
Europe midday: Stocks extend recent gains
Stocks on the Continent are extending their gains from earlier in the session, taking their cue from another session of record highs on Wall Street overnight.