Some Bank of Japan policymakers see scope to raise interest rates sooner than markets expect with April a distinct possibility, as a sliding yen risks adding to already broadening inflationary pressure, four sources familiar with its thinking said.
Japan's five-year government bond yield hit a record high on Friday, as a sharp drop in the yen raised ?expectation for an early interest rate hike from ?the Bank of Japan. The five-year yield rose 1.5 ?basis points to a record ?1.645%. The ?two-year bond yield rose 1.5 bps to 1.195%, matching ?the highest level since ?August 1996 set earlier this month.
The dollar gained on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump praised economic adviser Kevin Hassett at a White House event and said he may want to keep him in his current role, prompting speculation he is less likely to be named as chair of the Federal Reserve. "I see Kevin's in the audience, and I just want to thank you.
The dollar was poised for a third weekly gain on Friday after positive U.S. economic data lowered expectations for rate cuts by the Federal Reserve anytime soon. The greenback rose overnight on a surprise decline in weekly jobless figures and was steady in Asian morning trade.
NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2026 ?Mitsubishi?UFJ Financial Group, one of the 10 largest global financial groups*, today announced that its registered broker-dealer MUFG Securities Americas, Inc. has been designated a Primary Dealer by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
U.S. corporate bond issuance is expected to increase substantially in 2026, driven in part by AI hyperscaler companies' build-out needs, analysts forecast.
* Barclays forecasts $2.46 trillion bond issuance in 2026. * Net issuance to rise 30% from last year. * Big Five hyperscalers expected to borrow $140 billion annually, BofA analysts say. By Matt Tracy. U.S. corporate bond issuance is expected to increase substantially in 2026, driven in part by AI hyperscaler companies' build-out needs, analysts forecast.
US equity indexes were off session highs at the close on Thursday after Federal Reserve heavyweights outlined the consequences of damaging the central bank's independence, undermining the boost to risk sentiment from strong earnings and rolling back of threats to strike Iran. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.3% to 23,530.02, giving up gains of as much as 1% earlier in the session.
* China reduces holdings of Treasuries to lowest since Sept 2008. * Canada raises holdings to record levels. * US stocks also show foreign inflows. By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss. Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries hit record highs in November, rising after two straight months of declines as market sentiment improved after the U.S. federal government ?ended the longest-ever shutdown in history.
Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries hit record highs in November, rising after two straight months of declines as market sentiment improved after the U.S. federal government ended the longest-ever shutdown in history. The U.S. government shuttered on October 1, staying closed for a record 43 days.
"We're starting off from a really high tax equivalent yield and that really starts the market from a position of strength," said Matt Norton, CIO for municipal bonds at AllianceBernstein.
Financial stocks were advancing in late Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.6% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF adding 0.3%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was up 0.9%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF rose 0.7%. Bitcoin was declining 1.5% to $95,522, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 2 basis points to 4.16%. ...
International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday underscored the importance of keeping central banks independent and threw her support behind beleaguered Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who is facing a Trump administration investigation for renovation cost overruns.
International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday underscored the importance of keeping central banks independent and threw her support behind beleaguered Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who is facing a Trump administration investigation for renovation cost overruns.
Financial stocks were advancing in late Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.6% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF adding 0.3%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was up 0.9%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF rose 0.7%. Bitcoin was declining 1.5% to $95,522, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 2 basis points to 4.16%. ...
A handful of former Fed officials noted that the markets' measured response to a probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell was a result of pushback from Trump allies.
* US jobless claims fall, boosting Fed rate hold expectations. * Fed futures delay rate cut expectations to June amid labor data. * Japanese yen weakens on potential fiscal policies by PM Takaichi. By Karen Brettell.
The tax reform costs will be offset by reductions in certain government spending, application of excess revenues that are coming in, and elimination of certain tax exemptions.
Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid on Thursday joined a near-unanimous chorus of ?his colleagues in offering support for ?Fed Chair Jerome Powell after ?he disclosed on Sunday ?a ?threatened indictment from the Trump administration and ?named it ?a pretext for pressuring the central bank ?to lower interest ?rates.
* Weekly jobless claims stronger than expected. * US import prices rise. * Goolsbee says Fed should focus on inflation. By Chuck Mikolajczak. U.S. Treasury yields were mostly higher on Thursday, after a round of economic data came in stronger than expected, slightly denting expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in the near term.
San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly said on Thursday that incoming U.S. economic data looks promising despite uncertainties and continued risks to both the Fed's ?inflation and employment mandates. "We will need to be deliberate as we ?calibrate policy to achieve both price stability and ?full employment," she said in a ?post on LinkedIn.
President Donald Trump will ?decide on ?his nominee ?for ?the ?U.S. Federal Reserve ?chair ?in the next couple ?of ?weeks, ?White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt ?told reporters on Thursday, saying there ?were ?a few people ?he liked for the job.
Financial stocks were advancing in Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.7% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF adding 0.6%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was up 0.4%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF rose 0.8%. Bitcoin was declining 0.4% to $96,537, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 1.8 basis points to 4.16...
Financial stocks were advancing in Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.8% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF adding 0.6%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was up 0.4%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF rose 0.8%. Bitcoin was declining 0.4% to $96,537, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 1.8 basis points to 4.16...
iShares Silver Trust (SLV) shares are dipping on Thursday, pulling back from recent record gains as investors take profits following silver?s surge. Silver surged to fresh all?time highs earlier this week, fueled by rising political tension around Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and growing instability in the Middle East.
The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, but the drop was likely due to ongoing challenges adjusting the data for seasonal fluctuations around this time of the year. The labor market remains in what economists and policymakers have termed a "low-hire, low-fire" state.
U.S. mortgage rates fell significantly this week after the Trump administration initiated purchases of mortgage-backed securities to boost housing affordability. The average rate ?on the popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage declined to 6.06%, ?the lowest level since September 2022, ?from 6.16% last week, mortgage finance ?agency Freddie ?Mac said on Thursday.
Weekly applications for unemployment insurance in the US unexpectedly fell, while continuing claims also moved lower, government data showed Thursday. For the week through Jan. 10, the seasonally adjusted number of initial claims dropped by 9,000 to 198,000, the Department of Labor said. The four-week moving average totaled 205,000, its lowest level since Jan. 20, 2024, the DOL said.
The Toronto Stock Exchange is up 117 points, passing the 33,000 level, to a new record high. The best performers are industrials and financials. Canadian existing home sales fell 2.7% month-on-month in December, marking a second straight monthly drop, and largest decline since March. Average home prices were flat on m/m basis in December.
European stock markets closed mostly higher Thursday as the Stoxx Europe rose 0.5%, Germany's DAX 40 gained 0.3%, the FTSE 100 climbed 0.5%, and the Swiss Market Index increased 0.1%. France's CAC 40 eased 0.2%. In Germany, annual gross domestic product grew 0.2% in 2025, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
China's central bank announced several targeted easing measures earlier Thursday at a joint briefing with State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said Societe Generale.
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey?, showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.06%. ?Late last week, mortgage rates dropped, driving the weekly average down to its lowest level in more than three years,? said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac?s Chief Economist.
After two years of a mild recession, the German economy returned to modest growth in 2025, said Berenberg after Thursday's gross domestic product data. Helped by a 1.4% rise in private and a 1.5% increase in public consumption, calendar-adjusted GDP edged up by 0.3% last year, noted the bank.
* US jobless claims fall, boosting Fed rate hold expectations. * Fed futures delay rate cut expectations to June amid labor data. * Japanese yen weakens on potential fiscal policies by PM Takaichi. By Karen Brettell.
Freddie Mac Multifamily today announced its 2025 production volume totaled $77.6 billion, a 17% increase over 2024. The total 2025 production volume included $1.2 billion in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity investments as well as $1.1 billion in workforce housing preservation loans and $2.4 billion in forward conversions, which are not subject to the U.S. Federal Housing multifamily loan cap.
Pending city council approval, the February competitive bond sale would be the first issuance from $950 million of debt authorized by voters on Nov. 4.
* Weekly jobless claims stronger than expected. * US import prices rise. * Goolsbee says Fed should focus on inflation. By Chuck Mikolajczak. U.S. Treasury yields were mostly higher on Thursday, after a flurry of economic data came in stronger than expected, slightly denting expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in the near term.
Canadian existing home sales declined 2.7% month over month in December, marking the second straight monthly drop and the largest decline since March, said TD after the Canadian Real Estate Associaton released data on Thursday. New listings decreased 2% month over month in December, a fourth straight monthly drop.
* Weekly jobless claims drop 9,000 to 198,000. * Continuing claims decrease 19,000 to 1.884 million. By Lucia Mutikani. The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, but the drop was likely due to ongoing challenges adjusting the data for seasonal fluctuations around this time of the year.
A major erosion of the Federal Reserve's independence would be negative for the U.S. credit rating, Fitch's top sovereign analyst ?said on Thursday, with any sign that the ?dollar's top global currency crown could slip ?the most critical issue.
A major erosion of the Federal Reserve's independence would be negative for the U.S. credit rating, Fitch's top sovereign analyst ?said on Thursday, with any sign that the ?dollar's top global currency crown could slip ?the most critical issue.
Rosenberg Research said Thursday it "marvels" over the unanimous opinion among Bay Street economists that the Bank of Canada is done in this easing cycle. Many think the next move is a tightening and the markets seem to have bought into that "illusion," the research said, before adding: "A pause is only a pause."
Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee said on Thursday the U.S. central bank should be focused on getting inflation down amid ample evidence of job market stability, in comments that kept alive the prospect of interest rate cuts later this year.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said Thursday that ?amid ample evidence of stability ?in the job market ?the central bank ?should be focused ?on getting inflation down, ?in comments ?that kept alive the prospect of rate cuts ?later ?this ?year.
US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 198,000 in the week ended Jan. 10 from a downwardly revised 207,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 215,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average declined by 6,500 to 205,000 after decreasing by 8,500 to a level of 211,500 in the previous week.
The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, but the drop was likely due to ongoing challenges adjusting the data for seasonal fluctuations around this time of the year. The labor market remains in what economists and policymakers have termed a "low-hire, low-fire" state.
The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, but that likely does not signal a material shift in the labor market, which remains in a holding pattern. Initial claims ?for state unemployment benefits dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 198,000 for the week ended January ?10, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
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