Fed cuts rates by 25 basis points just days after Donald Trump’s victory Economics The decision, the second in the cutting cycle, was widely anticipated by markets and means the federal funds rate stands in a range of 4.50-4.75 per cent.
US reports worst jobs growth since December 2020 Economics The US has reported its worst jobs growth since December 2020, as only 12,000 new jobs were added to the economy during September. This was significantly below the 113,000 forecast by analysts, leaving economists describing the numbers as “weak”. However, unemployment held steady at 4.1 per cent, while average hourly earnings rose 0.4 per cent [...]
US inflation comes in above expectations following hot jobs report Economics US inflation came in slightly above expectations in September, bolstering the case for a slower pace of rate cuts over the coming months. Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the headline rate of inflation fell to 2.4 per cent in September, down from 2.5 per cent last month but slightly ahead of [...]
Wall Street claws back week’s losses thanks to strong jobs report October 5, 2024 US stocks rallied on Friday after a surprisingly strong report on the US job market raised optimism about the economy. The S&P 500 climbed 0.9 per cent and got close to its all-time high set on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 341 points, or 0.8 per cent, to set its own record, while [...]
Pound’s strength against the dollar risks ‘damage’ to UK’s competitiveness September 25, 2024 The pound reaching its highest level in over two years against the dollar risks damaging the international competitiveness of the UK, City analysts have warned. Sterling now sits at $1.34, its highest since February 2022 and far from its low point of $1.03 in the days after Liz Truss’ mini budget. However, while the strength [...]
US retail sales rise ahead of Fed’s interest rate decision September 17, 2024 July's figures were also revised up to show a 1.1 per cent gain having previously been estimated at 1.0 per cent increase.
US employment up after disappointment last month as interest rate cut awaits September 6, 2024 A key indicator for the health of the US economy has come in at a disappointingly stagnant rate, as experts mull over whether it could tip the balance of a recession, or impact the recent indication of interest rate cuts. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released in monthly figures this afternoon, showing the number [...]