Gold prices rose on Wednesday to
their highest in nearly two weeks, supported by a weaker dollar
as U.S. President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could wind
down within weeks.
Global stocks rallied and oil futures retreated on Wednesday on hopes of a de-escalation in the Iran war. The U.S. dollar softened against a basket of other currencies, while U.S. Treasury yields rose from their lows after a pair of reports underscored resilience in the U.S. economy.
Japan's factory activity expanded at a slower pace in March as growth in output, orders and manufacturers' confidence cooled and cost pressures hit a 19-month high due to the Middle East conflict, a private-sector survey showed on Wednesday.
* Canadian dollar falls 0.2% against the greenback. * Touches its weakest since December 4 at 1.3966. * GDP rises 0.1% in January. * Bond yields ease across steeper curve. By Fergal Smith.
Wall Street closed a tumultuous first quarter with a bang on Tuesday as hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East powered stocks to their best day in almost a year, even as data showed a slump in U.S. job openings and hirings. In my column today I look at the parallels between now and 2021-2022, the last time central banks faced a serious global supply shock.
Wall Street closed a tumultuous first quarter with a bang on Tuesday as hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East powered stocks to their best day in almost a year, even as data showed a slump in U.S. job openings and hirings. In my column today I look at the parallels between now and 2021-2022, the last time central banks faced a serious global supply shock.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York said on Tuesday it has appointed Jane Fraser, chief executive of Citigroup (C), to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors' Advisory Council. The appointment is for a one-year term that began in January.
Nike (NKE) beat expectations for third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, as the sportswear giant's turnaround efforts showed some signs of progress, particularly in its wholesale business, even as weakness in China and margin pressure persisted.
Plug Power Inc (PLUG) shares are trading higher on Tuesday afternoon as a broader risk-on rally lifted speculative and rate-sensitive stocks across the market. The move came as U.S. equities rebounded sharply, with the Nasdaq-100 up about 3.2% and the 10-year Treasury yield falling to 4.3% after recently touching 4.44%, a backdrop that appeared to support growth names such as Plug Power.
Our Bond, Inc. (OBAI), the creator of the world?s first AI-powered Preventative Personal Security platform adopted by leading multinational companies, today filed its annual report on Form 10-K with the SEC and provided a business update highlighting strong operational execution, accelerating enterprise adoption and growing global traction since its public listing on February 4, 2026.
AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B++ from A- and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to ?bbb+? from ?a-? of Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company.
Financial stocks rose Tuesday with the NYSE Financial Index adding 2.5% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF gaining 2.1%. The Philadelphia Housing Index climbed 2.9%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF advanced 1.6%. Bitcoin advanced 1.6% to $67,803, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries fell 3 basis points to 4.31%. In economic news, US job openings fel...
Brazil's central bank gold holdings became the second-largest component of its foreign exchange reserves after the U.S. dollar in 2025, according to its annual report released on Tuesday. Gold accounted for 7.19% of total reserves, up from 3.55% in 2024, while the share of U.S. dollar assets fell to 72.00% from 78.45% a year earlier.
Financial stocks were advancing late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 2.3% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF gaining 2%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 2.9%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF was up 1.9%. Bitcoin advanced 1.6% to $67,803, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries decreased 3 basis points to 4.31%. In co...
The bill creates a sports facilities authority for a $3 billion partly bond-financed NFL stadium and makes changes to a sales tax and revenue bond program.
Despite Congress' already long to-do list, factions in the Senate and House are posturing for the possibility of a second reconciliation bill that offers possibilities and threats for the muni market.
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.8 in March from a 91.0 reading in February due to a gain in the present situation that was partially offset by a decrease in the expectations index.
Foreign central banks have reduced their holdings of US Treasuries held at the New York Federal Reserve to the lowest level since 2012 due to the ongoing Iran war, the Financial Times reported Tuesday, citing Fed data.
)Updates prices.) Gold traded higher for a third-straight session midafternoon on Tuesday as the dollar and yields fell after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank sees no need to raise interest rates despite higher energy prices. Gold for May delivery was last seen up US$128.50 to US$4,686.00 per ounce.
US consumer confidence unexpectedly rose in March as views on current conditions improved, outweighing pessimism around the economic fallout from the Iran war, the Conference Board said Tuesday. The consumer confidence index moved up to 91.8 in March from last month's reading of 91.
Financial stocks were advancing Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 2.1% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF gaining 1.8%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 1.7%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF was up 1.5%. Bitcoin was up 1.5% at $67,695, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was down 4 basis points at 4.30%. In economic...
* Job openings fell by 358,000 in February, led by declines in small and mid-sized businesses. * Layoffs and discharges rose to 1.721 million, with the rate ticking up to 1.1% * Conference Board survey shows fewer plans to buy big-ticket items despite some optimism. By Lucia Mutikani.
Financial stocks were advancing in Tuesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 1.7% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF gaining 1.8%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 1.7%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF was up 1.5%. Bitcoin was increasing 1.5% to $67,695, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was falling 4 basis points...
KBRA releases research The U.S. private-label CMBS loan distress rate entered double-digit territory in January 2026. As the Federal Reserve continued its easing policy in 2025, declining borrowing costs and stabilizing fundamentals contributed to strong new issuance and gradually improving refinancing conditions in 2025 and early 2026. Key Takeaways Click here to view the report.
AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of B++ and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ?bbb? to Aseguradores Argentinos Compania de Reaseguros S.A. . The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings is stable.
* Canadian dollar falls 0.2% against the greenback. * Touches its weakest since December 4 at 1.3966. * GDP rises 0.1% in January. * Bond yields ease across steeper curve. By Fergal Smith.
Canada will release its international merchandise trade figures for February on Thursday, said Scotiabank. These figures will further inform the bank's tracking of quarterly expenditure-based gross domestic product as opposed to monthly income-based GDP.
The Toronto Stock Exchange is up 512 points at midday with materials the best performer. The sector is up 4.2%, boosted by higher gold prices which climbed after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank sees no need to raise interest rates despite higher energy prices.
The year 2026 is off to a strong start in terms of economic growth in Canada, said National Bank of Canada after Tuesday's gross domestic product data. First, January's GDP, up 0.1% month over month, exceeded economists' consensus forecasts, which had predicted stagnation, noted the bank.
* US 2/10 yield-curve bull steepens. * US rate futures shift from pricing hikes to modest easing. * US notes, bonds headed for monthly increase. By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss. U.S. Treasuries ended the first quarter higher on Tuesday, rebounding after a month of heavy selling, as a report suggesting possible de-escalation in the Middle East boosted demand for government debt.
ITS Logistics, an Echo Global Logistics company, released the?March ITS Supply Chain Report. ?With core inflation lingering above the Federal Reserve?s target rate and geopolitical tensions in Iran driving up energy costs, the overall outlook remains volatile and largely uncertain,? said Josh Allen, Chief Commercial Officer, ITS Logistics.
Broad-Based Gains Across Sectors Signal the "Great Freeze" Is Thawing SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2026 America's small businesses are hiring again ? and in a big way.
Canadian real gross domestic product was firmer than expected in the first two months of the year, despite a seemingly endless winter and a slew of weak headline results from manufacturing and employment early in 2026, said Bank of Montreal.
The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence rose to 91.8 in March from 91.0 in February, above a reading of 87.9 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:40 am ET.
U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly edged up in March, but households remained downbeat on the labor market and anticipated higher inflation over the next 12 months amid a surge in gasoline prices and continued tariff pass-through. That labor market apprehension was underscored by the other data on Tuesday showing fewer job openings in February and hiring tumbling to a six-year low.
It wasn't great, but it wasn't as bad a start to the new year for the Canadian economy as expected, said CIBC after Tuesday's gross domestic product data. GDP advanced by 0.1% month over month, a tick above the consensus forecast.
U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly edged up in March, but households anticipated higher inflation over the next 12 months amid a surge in gasoline prices and continued tariffs pass-through, a survey showed on Tuesday. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index increased to 91.8 this month.
Canada's economy looks to be off to a "slightly better-than-expected" start in 2026 after a "lackluster" Q4 2025, says TD Bank in looking at the key implications of today's GDP data release. TD adds with January's print and a flash estimate for February, Q1 2026 growth is "tracking in line with historical trend growth", a view shared by both it and Bank of Canada.
Surging costs from tariffs and war notwithstanding, Confidence edged higher NEW YORK, March 31, 2026 The Conference Board?Consumer Confidence Index??edged up by 0.8 points in March to 91.8, from 91.0 in February.
The Institute for Supply Management's Chicago PMI reading fell to 52.8 in March from 57.7 in February, compared with the expected 55.0 reading in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:40 am ET. Other regional manufacturing data already released for March have indicated mixed results. The national ISM manufacturing index will be released on Wednesday.
Greystone, a leading national commercial real estate finance company, announced it has provided $32,567,000 in Freddie Mac financing, for the acquisition of Aspen Ridge Apartments, a 253-unit multifamily property located in West Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, Mandelbaum & Associates, Inc. provided Bayshore Properties with a $5,500,000 preferred equity check to help support the acquisition.
Multiple municipal bond offerings this week have a high exposure to climate risk, specifically high Flood and Water Stress Scores, according to ICE Climate Data. A $9 million offering from Sanford, N.Y., records a Flood Score of 3.5 out of 5.0, ICE reports.
Gold traded higher for a third-straight session early on Tuesday as the dollar and yields fell after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank sees no need to raise interest rates despite higher energy prices. Gold for May delivery was last seen up US$56.70 to US$4,614.20 per ounce.
Skeena Resources (SKE) said Tuesday it plans to issue $750 million in senior secured notes due 2031 to support its Eskay Creek project. The company said it will use about $184 million of the proceeds to reduce its gold streaming obligations by two-thirds, $100 million for an interest reserve account, and the rest for the Eskay Creek project development and general purposes.
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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