Americans are souring on the U.S. economy to a degree never before seen, with the stiffest inflation in four years exacerbating the political risk for President Donald Trump, who some administration officials worry has lost focus on affordability problems for voters as he trains attention on the war against Iran.
* Inflation surge driven by Iran war, oil supply cuts, and record gasoline prices. * Consumer sentiment hits record low, with Republicans' outlook dropping sharply. * White House officials worry Iran war distracts from addressing voters' economic concerns. By Nandita Bose.
US equity indexes were mixed in the final leg of trading on Friday, ahead of the high-stakes Iran peace talks in Pakistan and as a red-hot inflation report lifted government bond yields.
The war in the Middle East will have a cascading impact on the global economy, even if a ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump takes hold, World Bank President Ajay Banga told Reuters in an interview on Friday. And the damage will be far deeper if the ceasefire fails and the conflict escalates, he said.
* Indexes: Dow down 0.57%, S&P 500 off 0.17%, Nasdaq up 0.20% * March CPI rises 3.3%, in line with estimates. * Consumer sentiment tumbles to record low. * CoreWeave (CRWV) gains after deal with Anthropic. * S&P 500, Nasdaq set for biggest weekly jump since November. By Stephen Culp and Purvi Agarwal.
Less than two weeks after Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a new tax on annual income over $1 million, a lawsuit has been filed seeking to overturn it.
The consumer price index jumped by 0.9% in March, with energy prices up 10.9% on a record high 21.2% jump in gasoline prices, accounting for almost 75% of the overall price increase. Consumer prices were up 0.2% excluding food and energy prices, below expectations, with food prices flat.
The National Association of Realtors' measure of US existing-home sales is expected to slow to a 4.08 million annual rate in March, based on a survey compiled by Bloomberg, after rising by 1.7% to a 4.09 million rate in February. Existing-home sales were at a 4.02 million rate in March 2025, so the year-over-year change would be positive.
National Bank notes we'll get an update on the state of the residential sector with the release of March Housing Starts next Friday. National Bank notes we will on Thursday also get Existing Home Sales numbers. In other news, National Bank says Manufacturing Sales data on Wednesday may have expanded 3.8% m/m in February, on increases in the food and transportation equipment subsectors.
When surging U.S. inflation peaked in June of 2022, driven by rising prices for energy but also for food, shelter, vehicles, and a host of other items, Federal Reserve officials assured the public in stern tones that they were on top of the situation and would follow through with steep interest rate hikes to cool the economy.
* Year-over-year core inflation remained subdued at 2.6% in March. * Rise in energy prices drove jump in monthly headline inflation. * Fed could be on a lengthy interest rate pause. By Howard Schneider.
Gold futures eased midafternoon on Friday even as the dollar weakened after a report showed U.S. inflation surged in March on higher gasoline prices, cutting hopes for a cut to interest rates from the Federal Reserve. Gold for May delivery was last seen down US$28.50 to US$4,789.50 per ounce.
In Canada, CIBC says, the release Wednesday of both Manufacturing and Wholesale data for February should confirm the sharp rebounds already signaled by the advance estimates. However, CIBC adds, housing starts figures for March on Friday are likely to show building activity still. tracking a lower level than the 2025 average.
AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B++ from A- and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to ?bbb+? from ?a-? of Summit Insurance Company Limited. The ratings reflect Summit?s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
During the two-week ceasefire anything could still happen and a "blow up" would create significant volatility, said Kevin McGuigan, director at Municipal Market Analytics.
AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of B++ and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ?bbb+? to North American Fire & General Insurance Company Limited and North American Life Insurance Company Limited.
US consumer sentiment hit the lowest on record this month, reflecting heightened worries about higher prices and the overall economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, University of Michigan's preliminary survey showed Friday. The main sentiment index plunged about 11% to 47.6 in April from March. Wall Street expected a 51.5 print, according to Bloomberg's poll.
* Indexes: Dow down 0.39%, S&P 500 up 0.05%, Nasdaq up 0.47% * March CPI rises 3.3%, in line with estimates. * CoreWeave (CRWV) gains after deal with Anthropic.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were up, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down in late-morning trading on Friday as investors weighed the latest inflation data that came in below expectations. The US seasonally adjusted consumer price index rose by 3.3% year over year and 0.9% sequentially in March, driven by rising energy prices due to the war in Iran.
* Court questions if trade deficit justifies tariffs under 1974 law. * States say tariffs based on outdated legal authority. * Trump claims broad tariff powers despite Supreme Court loss. By Dietrich Knauth.
* Rising gas prices threaten to offset tax refund gains, especially for lower-income Americans. * Wealthier taxpayers benefit more from new deductions, data from Tax Foundation and IRS shows. * Economists cut US consumption, GDP forecasts due to higher energy costs. By David Lawder.
German American Bank?s Chairman and CEO, Neil Dauby, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. About German American German American Bancorp, Inc. (GABC) is a financial holding company based in Jasper, Indiana. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260410886181/en/ Source: German American Bancorp, Inc.
* Indexes: Dow down 0.23%, S&P 500 up 0.15%, Nasdaq up 0.54% * March CPI at 3.3% annually, in line with estimates. * TSMC's US shares gain after Q1 revenue beat. * CoreWeave (CRWV) rises after deal with Anthropic.
* TSX up 0.78% * U.S. CPI in line; core CPI at 2.6% * Canada unemployment rate at 6.7% * Cogeco Communications (CGEAF) slips 6.9% after revenue miss. By Utkarsh Hathi. April 10 - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday as investors weighed U.S. inflation data and Canada's jobs report, while oil prices rose ahead of U.S.-Iran peace talks.
US consumer inflation accelerated to its highest monthly reading in nearly four years in March as the Middle East conflict sent energy prices sharply higher. The consumer price index advanced 0.9% last month, its strongest pace of growth since June 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
U.S. consumer sentiment plunged to a record low in early April and consumers anticipated a surge in inflation in the next 12 months, a survey showed on Friday. The University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers said its Consumer Sentiment Index tumbled to an all-time low of 47.6 this month from a final reading of 53.3 in March.
The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index fell to 47.6 in April from 53.3 in March, much lower than expectations for an increase to 51.5 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.
Canada's economy added 14,000 jobs in March, or 0.1% month over month, which is more-or-less in line with consensus expectations for a 15,000 gain, said TD after Friday's Labour Force Survey. Employment was essentially flat across job types, with full-time employment edging down slightly, or 1,000, while private-sector employment rose by 15,000 on the month.
BMO's Douglas Porter says the bottom line to be taken from Friday's Canadian employment data is that "for a refreshing change", results were "no big surprise" in March, and he adds the big picture take away is that job growth has been quite modest over the past year, but so, too, has been the growth in the available labour force, holding the unemployment rate steady.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Friday that the U.S. Federal Reserve should be able to cut interest rates once a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz triggers a rapid decline in energy prices.
April 10 - Canada's main stock index opened higher on Friday, as investors weighed U.S. inflation data and Canada's jobs report, while oil prices eased ahead of U.S.-Iran peace talks. At 09:30 a.m. ET, the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite Index was up 0.15% at 33,528.17 points.
Gold futures eased early Friday even as the dollar weakened after a report showed U.S. inflation surged in March on higher gasoline prices, cutting hopes for a cut to interest rates from the Federal Reserve. Gold for May delivery was last seen down $31.10 to US$4,786.90 per ounce.
"Overall, and through the monthly volatility, the Canadian labour market still appears quite weak, which should limit the ability of the current oil price shock to widely spread into broader inflationary pressures, enabling the Bank of Canada to hold interest rates at their current level throughout 2026," says CIBC's Andrew Grantham after the release Friday of Canada's LFS employment data for M...
* Futures: Dow flat, S&P 500 up 0.15%, Nasdaq up 0.26% * March CPI at 3.3% on annual basis, in line with estimates. * TSMC's US shares gain after Q1 revenue beat.
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.1% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust was 0.1% higher in Friday's premarket activity amid lingering geopolitical uncertainty and the release of consumer inflation data.
After a string of job losses to begin the year, Canada's labour market had "some signs of stabilization" in March, says Royce Mendes at Desjardins after the release of Friday's Labour Force Survey showing the Canadian economy added back 14,000 jobs in March, leaving the unemployment rate unchanged at 6.7%. But, he adds, all of the new positions were part-time, with full-time jobs "stable" after...
U.S. consumer prices rose 3.3% from a year ago in March, data showed, giving investors a first glimpse of the impact on prices of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The Consumer Price Index rise was in line with the expectations of economists polled by Reuters and was up from 2.4% last month.
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK/A) sold 272.3 billion Japanese yen worth of yen-denominated bonds, the first such deal since Warren Buffett retired as chief executive officer, Bloomberg said in an updated report Friday. The offering consisted of six tranches and included maturities ranging from three to 30 years, the report said. The company has increased its investments in Japan, the report said.
Canada's employment was little changed in March, up 14,000 or 0.1% month over month, while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7%, said the country's statistical agency in Friday's Labour Force Survey. The job increases were in line with a forecast 14,500 increase and 6.7% unemployement rate provided by MUFG.
The US seasonally adjusted consumer price index, a measure of inflation, rose by 0.9% in March, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET and following a 0.3% increase in February, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Traders on Friday kept bets the Federal Reserve will leave interest rates on hold through the end of 2026 after the Labor Department reported consumer prices surged in March, as expected. They continue to see about a one-in-three chance of chance of a rate cut by the Fed's December meeting, based on pricing in interest-rate futures contracts traded at CME Group.
U.S. stock index futures gained slightly on Friday after March inflation data calmed some concerns over the inflationary fallout of the Middle East conflict on the U.S. economy. A Labor Department report showed the Consumer Price Index rose 3.3% on an annual basis, in line with an estimated 3.3% rise according to economists polled by Reuters.
U.S. stock index futures gained slightly on Friday after March inflation data calmed some concerns over the inflationary fallout of the Middle East conflict on the U.S. economy. A Labor Department report showed the Consumer Price Index rose 3.3% on an annual basis, in line with an estimated 3.3% rise according to economists polled by Reuters.
U.S. consumer prices increased by the most in nearly four years in March as the war with Iran led to a record surge in the cost of gasoline and diesel, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump whose approval ratings have been falling because of unhappiness over his handling of the economy.
* Consumer Price Index increases 0.9% in March, largest gain since mid-2022. * Gasoline prices account for nearly three quarters of rise in inflation. * CPI advances 3.3% year-on-year, largest increase since May 2024. * Core CPI gains 0.2%; increases 2.6% year-on-year. By Lucia Mutikani.
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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