wednesday, 20 September 2023
In the latest financial news, the US Federal Reserve is anticipated to maintain its current interest rates, according to economist Lee Sue Ann from UOB Group. This prediction comes ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) event scheduled for later today, featuring a speech by Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The announcement is set against a backdrop of ongoing economic uncertainty and speculation about potential rate adjustments.
In currency markets, the USD/JPY pair continues its upward trajectory, reaching a new high since November 2022 as it surpasses the 148.00 mark. This positive momentum comes ahead of the FOMC meeting, with traders eyeing potential catalysts that could impact the pair’s direction. However, concerns about foreign exchange (FX) intervention continue to loom over the market.
Meanwhile, UK inflation unexpectedly dropped to 6.7% in September, surprising economists and increasing pressure on the Bank of England to halt its interest rate hikes. The unexpected fall in inflation indicates a potential slowdown in the UK economy and raises concerns about the effectiveness of the central bank’s monetary policy. This decline comes as a surprise to economists who had predicted a steady rise in prices due to various factors, including supply chain disruptions and rising energy costs.
In other UK economic news, the Producer Price Index – Output (MoM) n.s.a for August exceeded expectations, with a growth of 0.2% compared to the forecasted 0.1%.
In the Eurozone, the EUR/USD pair experienced a slight upward movement in the Asian session on Wednesday, partially reversing the previous day’s retracement slide from the range of 1.0715-1.0720. However, the pair continues to trade below the key level of 1.0700 as traders eagerly anticipate the upcoming FOMC meeting.
In commodities, the price of gold, also known as XAU/USD, remained steady below a two-week high, trading at around $1,930. Investors are closely monitoring the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision, which is expected to have a significant impact on the precious metal’s value.
In Canada, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of August exceeded expectations, with a month-on-month increase of 0.4%, surpassing the forecasted 0.2%.
In the US, the ongoing UAW strike has presented a significant challenge for the Biden administration as it navigates the delicate balance between supporting unions and revitalizing the U.S. auto industry’s competitiveness. The strike, led by the United Auto Workers (UAW), has disrupted the operations of major automakers, including General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis.
Finally, in the crude oil futures markets, traders have continued to decrease their open interest positions for another session, according to CME Group’s flash data. This reduction in positions suggests that a correction in crude oil prices may be imminent, indicating that traders are becoming less optimistic about the future direction of crude oil prices.
This article was generated by AI so there may be some errors.
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