World
Lithium giant Albemarle halts Australia plant expansion, reviews costs on weak lithium prices
A worker walks past a pile of lithium ore at a Talison Lithium Ltd. site, a joint venture between Tianqi Lithium Corp. and Albemarle Corp., in Greenbushes, Australia. Carla Gottgens | Bloomberg | Getty Images Lithium mining giant Albemarle will halt the expansion of a manufacturing plant in Australia, as the company reviews costs due […]
Read More
Fed recap: Chair Powell gives the September rate cut signal traders were hoping for
Powell says a potential September rate cut would be apolitical Federal Chair Powell said a rate cut at the September meeting would be unrelated to the upcoming presidential election. He said the central bank would be “absolutely” apolitical if it lowered borrowing costs at the meeting. But the Fed chief also cautioned against assuming that […]
Read More
Trading the Fed decision: These stocks could get the biggest boost from lower rates
Certain stocks should be winners as the Federal Reserve seeks to lower short-term rates, if history is any guide. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept rates unchanged, as expected , and noted progress it was making on inflation. Traders are betting the central bank is preparing markets for a rate cut at its next meeting […]
Read More
Fed holds rates steady and notes progress on inflation
WASHINGTON – Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday held short-term interest rates steady but indicated that inflation is getting closer to target, which could open the door for future interest rate cuts. Central bankers made no obvious indications, though, that a reduction is imminent, choosing to maintain language that indicates ongoing concerns about economic conditions, albeit […]
Read More
European markets close higher as euro zone inflation rises; tech stocks up 2.6% led by ASML
LONDON — European markets closed higher on Wednesday, maintaining positive momentum after euro zone inflation rose unexpectedly. The Stoxx 600 index preliminarily closed 0.79% higher, with technology stocks jumping 2.62%. Dutch chip firm ASML led the charge, rising as much as 10% before somewhat paring gains after a Reuters report suggested that the company could be exempted […]
Read More
U.S. crude oil jumps more than 3% after Hamas political leader assassinated in Tehran
U.S. crude oil futures jumped more than 3% on Wednesday after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, Iran, renewing fears that the Middle East is teetering on the brink of a regional war. Here are Wednesday’s energy prices: West Texas Intermediate September contract: $77.28 per barrel, up $2.55, or 3.51%. Year to date, […]
Read More
Middle East on knife-edge after killing of Hamas leader in Iran; Israel’s opponents vow retaliation
Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh attending an exclusive interview with Anadolu in Istanbul, Turkiye on April 20, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images The Middle East is on edge after a dramatic escalation that saw top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in a strike in the Iranian capital of Tehran early Wednesday. Iranian […]
Read More
Private payroll growth slowed to 122,000 in July, less than expected, ADP says
A “Now Hiring” sign is seen at a FedEx location on Broadway on June 07, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images Private job growth slowed further in July while the pace of wage gains hit a three-year low, payrolls processing firm ADP reported Wednesday. Companies added just 122,000 jobs on […]
Read More
Japan confirms $36.8 billion currency intervention as weak yen pushes BOJ to hike interest rates
New Japanese 1000 Yen banknote on display inside the Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan’s Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies. The new banknotes will start circulate from July 3, 2024. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Japanese authorities spent 5.53 trillion yen ($36.8 billion) to shore up the yen in July, official […]
Read More
Banks get bullish on the British pound despite the possibility of an imminent snapback
LONDON — With sterling as one of the best performing major currencies so far this year, analysts at various investment banks believe that the British pound still has more room to run, despite the Bank of England likely cutting interest rates in the near term. In a recent research note, experts at Goldman Sachs were […]
Read More