China's factory activity likely expanded in March - snapping a two-month contraction - amid strong momentum in goods exports, although supply chain shocks from the Iran war cloud the outlook. A Reuters poll of 28 economists projected that the official manufacturing purchasing managers' index would rise to 50.1 from 49.0 in February, just above the 50-mark separating expansion from contraction.
* Protracted conflict shifts market's focus to growth fallout. * Short-dated debt outperforms long-dated bonds on Monday. * Central banks walk tightrope; higher-for-longer rates expected. By Rae Wee. Global government bonds slid towards their biggest monthly losses in more than a year as investors weighed the risks from a prolonged war in the Middle East on inflation and growth.
ESPOO, Finland---- IQM Finland Oy, a global leader in full-stack superconducting quantum computers, today announced it has secured a ?50 million financing package from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. This press release features multimedia.
* Gold prices to remain volatile in near term, analyst says. * Gold lost more than 15% so far this month. * Brent crude up 60% in March, biggest monthly rise ever. By Noel John.
* Gold prices to remain volatile in near term, analyst says. * Gold lost more than 14% so far this month. * Brent crude up 60% in March, biggest monthly rise ever. By Noel John. Gold prices edged up on Monday as the dollar softened, but gains were capped by a surge in energy prices that fuelled inflation worries and further dimmed expectations for U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year.
* Japan may take 'decisive' step if speculative moves persist. * Warning by top currency diplomat an escalation from past remarks. * BOJ keeping close eye on yen moves, impact on economy, Ueda says. * BOJ debated scope for steady, faster rate hikes, summary shows. * One member warned of stagflation risk at March BOJ meeting. By Leika Kihara and Kentaro Sugiyama.
Gold prices fell more than 1% on
Monday, as a surge in energy prices fuelled inflation worries
and dampened expectations for U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate
cuts this year.
Benchmark Japanese government bonds slumped on Monday, sending yields to a near three-decade high, as the worsening Middle East conflict stoked inflation concerns and expectations for an early central bank interest rate hike. The benchmark 10-year JGB yield rose 2 basis points to 2.390%, a level not seen since February 1999.
Bank of Japan policymakers debated further rate hikes, with some flagging the chance of steady or faster-than-expected increases as the Middle East war drives up oil costs and stokes inflation, a meeting summary showed on Monday.
The Senate Banking Committee is planning to hold its hearing on the nomination of Kevin Warsh as chair of the Federal Reserve as soon as the week of April 13, Punchbowl News reported on Sunday, citing two sources familiar with the planning.
The Senate Banking Committee is planning to hold its hearing on the nomination of Kevin Warsh as chair of the Federal Reserve as soon as the week of April 13, Punchbowl News reported on Sunday, citing two sources familiar with the planning.
The European Central Bank is determined to prevent any energy-driven inflation from broadening out, but it is too early to discuss dates for possible interest rate hikes, French central bank chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau told Italy's La Stampa newspaper. "We are ready to act in this direction if needed," La Stampa quoted Villeroy as saying on Monday.
The recent surge in oil and gas prices has driven up inflation expectations, causing markets to adjust their bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts, with traders now pricing in a near 40% chance of no rate cuts this year.
* TSX ends up 0.2% at 31,960.65. * For the week, the index adds 2.1% * Energy rises 2.8% as oil settles 5.5% higher. * Materials group gains 3.4% By Fergal Smith. Canada's main stock index edged higher on Friday as higher commodity prices boosted resource shares, but uncertainty around a resolution to the Middle East conflict helped limit gains.
* Dollar on track for strongest monthly gain in almost a year. * Yen hits weakest level since July 2024, raising intervention risks. * US consumer sentiment hits three-month low. * War fears linger as Trump extends Iran energy strike pause. By Laura Matthews.
The Middle East conflict has introduced fresh challenges for the US economy, two Federal Reserve officials said Friday, joining a chorus of policymakers raising concerns about the economic fallout from the US-Israel war with Iran. Oil and gas prices have surged amid the effective closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which carries around one quarter of global seaborne oil trade.
St. Louis Community Ice Center drew on a debt service reserve to make payments on its unrated Series 2018A revenue bonds and defaulted on its 2018B bonds.
Ending a challenging week with ongoing geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices, muni yields were cut one to four basis points, depending on the scale.
Financial stocks were lower in late Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index falling 1.9% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF dropping 2.4%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 1.2%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF decreased 0.7%. Bitcoin was falling 4.3% to $65,832, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 2.4 basis points at...
U.S. Treasury yields rose on Friday as uncertainty persisted around the Iran war and elevated energy prices. The selloff in Treasuries comes as energy prices remained elevated despite U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday extending a pause on energy infrastructure strikes against Iran.
Financial stocks were lower in late Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index falling 1.9% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF dropping 2.4%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 1.2%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF decreased 0.7%. Bitcoin was falling 4.3% to $65,832, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 2.4 basis points at...
* Stocks continue to slide as Trump fails to calm markets. * US Treasury yields hit highest since July as bonds fall. * Analyst: 'Words alone aren't cutting it right now' By Chibuike Oguh and Harry Robertson.
KBRA assigns a long-term rating of AAA to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, Refunding Series 2026A. Key Credit Considerations The rating action reflects the following key credit considerations: Credit Positives. Credit Challenges. Rating Sensitivities For Upgrade. For Downgrade. To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.
CIBC says it comes in a bit weaker in seeing a 0.1% decline in January GDP on Tuesday, versus a consensus forecast of 0.1%. The Bank of Canada's summary of deliberations on Wednesday is seen by CIBC as an opportunity for Governor Tiff Macklem to "tilt market pricing".
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for March was revised lower to 53.3 from the preliminary estimate of 55.5 and was below February's reading of 56.6. Michigan said that inflation expectations rose in the current month for the one-year period but slowed for the five-year period. The Kansas City Fed's services index rose to 15 in March from 6 in February.
* Consumer sentiment index falls to 53.3 in March from 56.6 in February. * Twelve-month inflation expectations jump to 3.8% from 3.4% By Lucia Mutikani. U.S. consumer sentiment fell more than expected in March, touching a three-month low, as war in the Middle East stoked inflation worries and cast a shadow over the economic outlook.
Financial stocks were lower in Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index falling 1.3% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF dropping 2%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was 0.7% lower, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF eased 0.2%. Bitcoin was falling 4.5% to $65,669, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was up 1.2 basis points at 4.428%. In ...
Economist Peter Schiff is sounding the alarm over a new housing finance initiative. Fannie Mae is entering the crypto-backed mortgage space through a strategic partnership. Under the program, borrowers obtain a conventional mortgage for the property. Schiff took to X on Friday to criticize the government-sponsored enterprise involvement.
Financial stocks were lower in Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index falling 1.3% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF dropping 1.9%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was 0.3% lower, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF eased 0.1%. Bitcoin was falling 4.1% to $65,944, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was up 1.2 basis points at 4.428%. I...
The European Central Bank fined BofA Securities Europe SA 6.2 million euros for intentionally breaching market risk reporting requirements, it said in a statement on Friday. The ECB said the bank reported lower risk-weighted assets for market risk than it should have for six consecutive reporting periods between 2022 and 2024.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+, the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ?aa?, and the Mexico National Scale Rating of ?aaa.MX? of Allianz M?xico, S.A., Compa??a de Seguros.
US consumer sentiment this month reached the lowest since December, while year-ahead inflation expectations saw the largest one-month gain since April amid concerns about the ongoing Middle East conflict, final University of Michigan survey results showed Friday. The main sentiment index dropped to 53.3 in March from 56.6 last month.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ?aa? of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty Resseguros Brasil S.A.. The outlook of these Credit Ratings is stable.
AM Best has assigned Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings of ?a? to the $500 million, 4.60% senior unsecured notes, due 2031, and $1 billion, 5.15% senior unsecured notes, due 2036, issued by The Progressive Corporation [NYSE: PGR]. The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings is stable.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of ?aa? of Allianz SE and its rated subsidiaries. The ratings reflect Allianz?s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, very favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
* Norway's defence spending to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035. * Vast procurement including submarines, frigates, and artillery. By Gwladys Fouche. OSLO, March 27 - Norway is to raise defence spending by another 115 billion crowns by 2036, the government said on Friday, as it also delayed committing to long-range defence systems while it learns lessons from the Ukraine war.
Guessing what may happen as Congress pounds away on a surface transportation reauthorization bill has not rattled credit ratings so far, but a key deadline could slip.
Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Anna Paulson warned on Friday that the extended period of above-target inflation in the U.S. creates risks that the commodity shocks triggered by the Iran war may become a bigger problem, rather than a one-off adverse event.
* Dollar on track for strongest monthly gain in almost a year. * US consumer sentiment hits three-month low. * War fears linger as Trump extends Iran energy strike pause. By Laura Matthews and Amanda Cooper.
* Stocks continue to slide as Trump fails to calm markets. * US Treasury yields hit highest since July as bonds fall. * Analyst: 'Words alone aren't cutting it right now' By Chibuike Oguh and Harry Robertson.
HSBC (HSBC) said Friday that it issued $130 million of 5.48% fixed rate senior unsecured notes due 2036 under its debt issuance program. The company will submit an application to list the senior notes on the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trade them on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, according to its filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The U.S. war with Iran and the rapid roll-out of artificial intelligence technologies have again clouded the outlook for the Federal Reserve, and make it appropriate to keep interest rates on hold for now, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said on Friday.
AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B++ from A- and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to ?bbb+? from ?a-? of Bell United Insurance Company. The Credit Ratings reflect Bell United?s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
U.S. consumer sentiment fell more than expected in March, touching a three-month low, as war in the Middle East stoked inflation worries and cast a shadow over the economic outlook.
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index was revised downward Friday to a reading of 53.3 for March from the 55.5 print in the preliminary estimate, compared with expectations for a smaller downward revision to 54.0 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. That was lower than the final reading of 56.6 in February.
U.S. consumer sentiment eased to a three-month low in March as war in the Middle East boosted oil prices and unleashed volatility on financial markets, raising concerns about the economy's prospects, a survey showed on Friday.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of ?aa? of The Canada Life Assurance Company and its affiliates. The ratings reflect Canada Life?s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, very favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
A new policy initiative from the Federal Reserve, through one of its governors, Stephen Miran, is bringing bank loan ETFs back in focus. ??Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) stock is taking a breather. Some of the most popular bank loan ETFs could face challenges to their core investment thesis: All these ETFs have benefited from rising rates, as they have floating coupons.
Brazil's current account deficit totaled $5.6 billion in February, central bank data showed on Friday, slightly wider than the $5.4 billion shortfall expected by economists in a Reuters poll. * The shortfall was sharply narrower than the $10.2 billion recorded a year earlier, mainly reflecting an improved trade balance, with the goods surplus rising by $4.6 billion.
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