Big bank capital requirements will fall slightly under revised drafts of sweeping new rules, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said on Thursday, in a major victory for Wall Street lenders that had faced double-digit hikes under a 2023 plan.
Large bank capital requirements will fall slightly under revised drafts of sweeping bank capital rules, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said Thursday, in a major victory for Wall Street lenders that beat back capital hikes under earlier drafts.
* Iran's supreme leader vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed. * US dollar up for third straight session. * BMI expects silver to average $93/oz in 2026. By Ashitha Shivaprasad. Gold prices edged lower on Thursday as a stronger dollar and diminishing hopes for a reduction in borrowing costs outweighed the metal's safe-haven appeal. Spot gold eased 0.3% at $5,159.04 per ounce by 10:08 a.m. ET.
Markets didn't pay attention to poor Canadian trade data, as the Iran war developments continue to take center stage, said CIBC on Thursday. On the data itself, CIBC noted the Canadian international trade deficit widened dramatically in January, but it said the details of the report were a little less negative than the headline suggested.
Deutsche Bank said it thinks it is highly unlikely the European Central Bank changes policy at next Thursday's meeting. The market focus will be on what the ECB communications imply about the path forward, wrote the bank in a note to clients.
Angola's central bank kept its key lending rate unchanged at 17.50% in a decision announced on Thursday. The decision follows rate cuts at the Bank of Angola's last three monetary policy meetings as inflation has slowed. Inflation in the Southern African oil-producing country slowed to 13.35% year on year in February, down from 14.56% in January.
Brazil's 12-month inflation slowed in February to its lowest level in almost two years, official data showed on Thursday, potentially paving the way for the central bank to kick off an easing cycle next week despite the recent spike in oil prices.
The U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates for the first time this year in June, according to economists polled by Reuters who are clinging to their views despite the risk that disruption of energy markets resulting from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran boosts already-elevated inflation.
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in January as exports surged to a record high and imports fell, a trend that if sustained, could see trade contributing to economic growth in the first quarter. The trade gap contracted 25.3% to $54.5 billion, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau said on Thursday.
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in January as exports surged to a record high and imports fell, a trend that if sustained, could see trade contributing to economic growth in the first quarter. The trade gap contracted 25.3% to $54.5 billion, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau said on Thursday.
Goldman Sachs on Thursday became the first major brokerage to push its rate cut call to September from June as higher oil prices due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East renewed concerns over inflation risks. Ahead of the war, brokerages had expected the U.S. Federal Reserve to deliver its next interest-rate cut in June, while J.P. Morgan projected the next move would be a hike in 2027.
Trade activity had a "chilly" start to 2026, noted TD Bank on Thursday, but it said much of the weakness came through the auto sector as prolonged seasonal production stoppages "muddied" both the export and import numbers and the bank expects some improvement as conditions normalize over the next couple of months.
* Oil tankers burn after Iranian strikes. * US dollar up for third straight session. * BMI expects silver to average $93/oz in 2026. By Ashitha Shivaprasad. Gold prices held nearly steady on Thursday, as support from safe-haven demand was offset by a stronger dollar and reduced expectations for interest rate cuts. Spot gold was little changed at $5,183.39 per ounce by 9:11 a.m. ET.
Health care stocks were falling premarket Thursday, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) down 0.5% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF 0.9% lower. Indivior shares were down nearly 6% after the company said it plans a $400 million private offering of convertible senior unsecured notes due March 15, 2031.
US stocks look set to open lower in Thursday's trading session as investors closely monitor the Middle East conflict and soaring oil prices, while jobless claims came in lower than expected.
Health care stocks were falling premarket Thursday, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF down 0.3% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF 0.9% lower. Indivior shares were down more than 6% after the company said it plans a $400 million private offering of convertible senior unsecured notes due March 15, 2031. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice.
The Canadian international trade deficit widened "dramatically" in January, but the details of the report were "a little less negative", said CIBC after Thursday's release of the data. The $3.65 billion deficit compared with the consensus expectation for a $1.1 billion shortfall, and the prior month's deficit of $1.3 billion, noted the bank.
U.S. single-family homebuilding fell in January amid harsh winter weather, and a strong rebound is unlikely, with permits for future construction declining. ?. Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, dropped 2.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 935,000 units in January, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said on Thursday.
U.S. single-family homebuilding fell in January amid harsh winter weather, and a strong rebound is unlikely, with permits for future construction declining. Though mortgage rates have declined this year, stimulating home purchasing, the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is pushing up oil prices and boosting U.S. Treasury yields.
Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world widened to $3.6 billion in January from $1.3 billion in December, as merchandise exports decreased 4.7% month over month, while imports were down 1.1%, said the country's statistical agency on Thursday. January's deficit was more than three times the $1.10 billion consensus figure provided by MUFG.
The US international trade deficit narrowed to $54.46 billion in January from a $72.9 billion gap in December, compared with a $66.0 billion gap expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET. Exports increased in the month, led by large gains for industrial supplies and capital goods that offset a decline in exports of consumer goods.
January housing starts rose by 7.2% from the previous month to a 1.487 million annual rate, above expectations compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:25 am ET for a 1.341 million rate after an increase to a 1.387 million pace in December. Building permits fell by 5.4% to a 1.376 million rate in January, below the 1.410 million rate expected and following a gain to a 1.455 million rate in December.
US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 213,000 in the week ended March 7 from an upwardly revised 214,000 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 4,000 to 212,000 after falling by 4,500 to a level of 216,000 in the previous week.
The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits fell last week, which could help to assuage fears of a labor market deterioration after an unexpected decline in employment in February. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 213,000 for the week ended March 7, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
* Trade deficit in January widened to C$3.65 billion. * US accounted for 68% of Canada's total exports. By Promit Mukherjee. Canada's trade deficit in January surprisingly widened as exports fell more than imports, led by a meaningful drop in shipments of motor vehicles and parts due to seasonal production stoppages, data showed on Thursday.
G Mining Ventures (GMINF) reported Thursday a 221% year-on-year increase in gold reserves for year-end 2025. The company said its proven and probable reserves totaled 6.52 million ounces at an average grade of 1.60 grams per tonne gold as of Dec. 31, 2025.
LONDON, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --?After years of rapid growth, the global sustainable bond market is entering a new phase, according to a new series of sustainable bond outlooks from S&P Global Ratings. "The era of rapid expansion is giving way to a period of measured growth. The series highlights that sustainable bond markets are still expanding, but slower and more strategically.
* Economists wary of ECB hiking rates soon. * Italian and French spreads widen. By Stefano Rebaudo. German government bond yields were hovering around their multi-year highs on Thursday after markets boosted bets on European Central Bank rate hikes as conflict in the Middle East fuelled inflation fears.
Government of Canada 10-year bonds have given up about 8 bps of performance to their United States Treasury counterpart since late February, as the spread now trades about its 20- and 50-day moving averages, said National Bank of Canada.
US stock futures were tracking lower in Thursday's premarket session as the Middle East conflict sends oil prices soaring, while investors look ahead to key employment data coming out later in the morning.
Indivior Pharmaceuticals (INDV) said Thursday it plans a $400 million private offering of convertible senior unsecured notes due March 15, 2031. The company expects to grant the initial purchasers a 30-day option to buy up to an additional $60 million of the notes.
FirstSun Capital Bancorp (FSUN) and First Foundation (FFWM) said Thursday that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve has approved their proposed merger. The companies said all required bank regulatory approvals to complete the merger of First Foundation (FFWM) with and into FirstSun have now been received.
The US dollar rose against its major trading partners early Thursday, except for a decline versus the yen, ahead of the release of weekly jobless claims and trade and housing starts data for January, all at 8:30 am ET.
Canada is scheduled to release its international merchandise trade data for January at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, said Bank of Montreal. The merchandise trade deficit is expected to narrow to $1 billion in January, noted the bank. Volatile energy exports look to rise on higher prices for crude oil and natural gas, which will continue to support the balance in the coming months, stated BMO.
The United States consumer price index results for February had a bit of a "stale" news feel, given the spike in energy prices since then, said Bank of Montreal. Still, the fact that core CPI was generally well-behaved at the start of the year is "constructive," noted the bank.
* Ifo, IfW see 0.8% economic growth this year. * Government spending expected to fuel demand. * Major institutes expect inflation of at least 2.5% this year. By Miranda Murray. Germany's economic recovery will slow only slightly this year as long as energy prices driven up by the Iran war ease in the coming months, said three institutes on Thursday.
The rise in the oil price is likely to result in stronger core and headline consumer price index in coming months, with the near-term impact concentrated on the pass-through from gasoline prices, Macquarie said in a Wednesday note.
* EM stocks down 1.1%, FX down 0.33% * Energy price surge a risk to Hungary's rating - S&P. * Turkey's c.bank to pause rate cuts as U.S.-Iran war weighs. By Pranav Kashyap. Emerging market assets slid broadly on Thursday as the Iran war entered its 13th day with no sign of easing, while neighbouring Turkey braced for an interest rate decision. Stocks in Istanbul rose 0.1% on the day.
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.
Log In Required
Publication Date