Analysis: Currencies

Fed lowers rates, but Powell suggests move may be the last of 2025

WASHINGTON -A policy divide within the U.S. central bank and a lack of federal government data may put another interest rate cut out of reach this year, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on...

US pending home sales flat in September; job market worries likely dissuading buyers

WASHINGTON -Contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes were unexpectedly unchanged in September, likely as worries about the labor market and economic uncertainty kept prospective buyers on...

Bank of Canada cuts 2025 and 2026 forecasts, cites US trade policy

The Bank of Canada on Wednesday slashed its growth forecasts for both 2025 and 2026, citing the effect of U.S. trade policy, and predicted the economy would recover slightly in 2027. In...

Key US mortgage rate drops to 13-month low, industry group says

The interest rate on the most popular U.S. home loan dropped last week to a 13-month low after a key reading of inflation came in lower than expected, cementing expectations for another Federal...

Exchange rate is not a policy tool to fight tariffs, India central bank deputy governor says

MUMBAI -The Indian rupee's exchange rate is not a policy tool to fight trade tariffs, a senior Indian central bank official said on Wednesday. The exchange rate does not serve as a...

South African rand gains on Fed rate cut expectations

JOHANNESBURG -The South African rand gained on Wednesday as investors braced for a day headlined by the Federal Reserve's decision and signs of easing U.S.-China trade tensions. At 1414...

Japan says economy recovering led by capex in October

TOKYO -Japan's government saw that the economy in October was recovering moderately because of solid capital expenditures in a monthly report issued on Wednesday. The government report...

Trump again targets Fed's Powell on interest rate cuts

SEOUL -U.S. President Donald Trump complained on Wednesday about the Federal Reserve, once again taking aim at central bank chief Jerome Powell for perceived delays in cutting interest rates. ...

Trump slams Fed chair, eyes replacement in a few months

TOKYO -U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said there was a long list of people who could take over the Federal Reserve, slamming current chairman Jerome Powell as the central bank prepared to...

Euro appreciation significantly eroding EU competitiveness, ECB's Panetta says

ROME -The appreciation of the euro is significantly eroding the price competitiveness of European products, the European Central Bank's governing council member Fabio Panetta said on Tuesday. ...

Favorable rate outlook, FX stewardship spur record high foreign ownership of India bonds

MUMBAI -Foreign ownership of Indian government bonds touched a record high, with investors prizing their diversification value and potential for gains with more rate cuts, even as the central bank...

Market liquidity concerns cloud end of Fed's balance sheet drawdown

As Wall Street's expectations have rapidly shifted toward an imminent end to the Federal Reserve's effort to shrink its bond holdings, some analysts also anticipate a return to balance sheet...

Hong Kong home prices grow for sixth month in September, up 1.3%

HONG KONG -Home prices in Hong Kong grew 1.3% in September from August, marking the sixth consecutive month of increases, government data showed on Tuesday, supported by improved sentiment. ...

Currencies: The balance of power has reversed

You can get burnt playing with fire, especially as the geopolitical situation has changed significantly in recent years. Donald Trump would be well advised to remember this during his negotiations...

Mali suspends schools over fuel crisis, strikes deal with Russia for petroleum products

BAMAKO -Mali has suspended school and university classes throughout the country for two weeks from Monday due to a fuel shortage, the government said late on Sunday, after al Qaeda-linked insurgents...

Fed poised to cut rates this week, with more easing likely on tap

Federal Reserve policymakers are widely expected to reduce U.S. short-term borrowing costs  this week by a quarter of a percentage point for the second time this year as they look to prevent further...

Countdown to Fed cut: Bond investors scale back on longer-dated Treasuries

NEW YORK -Bond investors are re-examining their holdings of longer-dated Treasuries, with some reducing positions and others even going short relative to their benchmark, as the Federal Reserve...

Bank of Canada poised to cut rates to 2.25% amid economic slowdown

OTTAWA -Economists expect the Bank of Canada to make a second consecutive policy rate cut this week due to a slowing economy and high joblessness. Canada's economy contracted in the...

Japan's leading indicator of service inflation perks up in September

TOKYO -A leading indicator of Japan's service-sector inflation perked up for the second straight month in September, data showed on Monday, backing up the central bank's view that rising labour costs...