News Results

* Indexes: Dow up 0.3%, S&P 500 up 0.04%, Nasdaq off 0.1% * Dominion Energy (D) rises on NextEra deal. * Regeneron slides after skin cancer drug combo misses trial goal. By Ragini Mathur and Utkarsh Hathi. U.S. stock indexes were mixed in choppy trading on Monday even though the bond-market selloff that had pressured equities last week showed signs of cooling and oil prices pulled back.

U.S. home builder sentiment unexpectedly improved in May, but construction firm attitudes about the housing market remain subdued as the war in Iran stokes inflation pressures that are elevating everything from building material prices to buyers' mortgage rates.

* Builder sentiment rises but remains below break-even, reflecting subdued market outlook. * Higher mortgage rates and inflation, partly due to Iran conflict, dampen buyer demand. * Price cuts and sales incentives remain widespread as affordability challenges persist.

* Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields at highest since Feb 2025. * JPMorgan cuts 2026 gold price view. By Anjana Anil. Gold rose on Monday as a weaker U.S. dollar and lower crude oil prices eased some inflation concerns though higher bond yields curbed bullion's gains while investors continued to monitor developments in the Middle East conflict.

Yields on longer-dated Treasury notes climbed to their highest levels in over a year in overnight trading amid a global market selloff in longer-dated bonds driven by war-related inflation concerns. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note climbed to 4.631% in overnight trading, its highest level since February 2025.

By Jamie McGeever. Accelerating inflation in the U.S. and beyond is leaving the Federal Reserve and other central banks with an acute problem - negative real interest rates. Unexpectedly strong U.S. inflation data last week pushed the real, inflation-adjusted fed funds rate below zero for the first time in three years.

Chile's economy contracted 0.3% in the first quarter from the previous three-month period, central bank data showed on Monday, while economists in a Reuters poll had predicted a 0.2% decrease. On an annual basis, gross domestic product declined 0.5% in the period, missing expectations of 0.1% growth.

Brazil's economic activity grew 1.3% in the first quarter from the previous three months, central bank data showed on Monday, despite a sharper-than-expected contraction in March. The IBC-Br index, a proxy for gross domestic product, fell 0.7% in March from February on a seasonally adjusted basis, compared with a 0.2% drop expected in a Reuters poll.

The world's major economies have seen their debt levels surge in recent years, while ever-increasing spending demands - from ageing populations to climate change and defence - add to the pressure. With no end in sight to the conflict, the pressure is building as traders bet on central bank rate hikes and long-term borrowing costs march higher.

Economic activity in Brazil fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in March from the previous month, according to a central bank index on Monday, a steeper drop than the 0.2% contraction expected by economists polled by Reuters. The IBC-Br index, a proxy for gross domestic product, expanded by 1.3% in the first quarter.

* Futures down: Dow 0.7%, S&P 500 0.4%, Nasdaq 0.4% * Dominon Energy rises on report of NextEra talks. * UnitedHealth (UNH) slips after Berkshire Hathaway (BRK/A) sells stake. By Ragini Mathur and Utkarsh Hathi. U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Monday as rising Treasury yields and oil prices weighed, while investors awaited key earnings from Nvidia (NVDA) and Walmart (WMT) later in the week.

Euro zone bond yields rose on Monday amid a broader global bond selloff, with investors worried that higher energy prices amid the Middle East conflict could fuel inflation and prompt further interest rate hikes.

* Central bank seeks 30% offtake in dore form for improved traceability, official. * Miners concerned over proposed discount, citing unclear terms. * GoldBod designated gatekeeper for gold exports under revamped programme. By Maxwell Akalaare Adombila.

Wall Street's main stock indexes were lower on Monday, with the technology-heavy Nasdaq leading declines as investors booked profits while surging Treasury yields and oil prices fueled concerns that inflation and borrowing costs could stay elevated.

* Futures down: Dow 0.6%, S&P 500 0.3%, Nasdaq 0.09% U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Monday as rising Treasury yields and oil prices weighed on equity markets, while investors awaited key earnings from Nvidia (NVDA) and Walmart (WMT) later in the week.

After eight years of friction with the White House, a global pandemic, and a fight with high inflation, the U.S. Federal Reserve begins a new era with former governor Kevin Warsh soon to be sworn in as chair. It will be a new era for President Donald Trump as well. In 2016, Powell was only a few months into his first term when Trump began berating him, annoyed at the Fed's interest-rate hikes.

* Warsh inherits high inflation, above Fed's 2% target, with pressure to address price stability. * Unemployment remains low at 4.3%, but debate continues over labor market strength and risks. * Warsh expected to consider shrinking Fed balance sheet, facing complex policy and market challenges. By Howard Schneider.

* US 10-year Treasury yields rise to their highest since February 2025. * Brent rises above $110/bbl on fresh Middle East tensions. * Traders see 40% chance of a US interest rate hike in December. By Noel John.

Syria will take part in a closed-door session with G7 finance ministers and central bank governors in Paris on Monday, a person familiar with the matter said, in a sign of its growing status less than two years after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. President Donald Trump conceded in an interview with Fortune magazine published on Monday that he may have to wait until the war with Iran was over for more interest rate cuts. "You can't really look at the figures until the war is over," he said.

* Finance ministers and central bankers discuss inflation, volatility. * France puts deep-seated global economic imbalances on the agenda. * Lescure says G7 offers opportunity for frank dialogue. * Meeting follows US-China summit that yielded few economic breakthroughs. By Makiko Yamazaki, Maria Martinez and Alistair Smout.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law a contentious measure that he says aims to curb foreign influence in the country despite heavy criticism from quarters such as the central bank, warning it could trigger "economic disaster".

* U.S. Treasury yields hit one-year peaks; JGB yields scale record highs. * Renewed tensions in Middle East keep investors worried about inflation, growth risks. * Japan likely to issue fresh debt to deal with impact from Iran war. * Investors ramp up bets on global rate hikes. * British gilts outperform on Monday after selloff last week. By Alun John, Amanda Cooper and Matt Tracy.

* Companies face higher costs, supply disruptions, and operational changes. * Airlines, automakers, and other companies warn of profit hits. * Extra costs not yet showing up in earnings, analysts say. * Europe and Asia most affected by oil-price surge. By Medha Singh, Deborah Mary Sophia and Bernadette Hogg.

* IEA warns oil inventories depleting rapidly due to Strait of Hormuz closure. * Talks to end U.S.-Iran war stall despite Pakistani mediation, truce remains fragile. * Capital Economics warns prolonged closure could trigger global GDP downgrades and higher inflation. By Scott DiSavino.

* Tier-one cities see price rise, smaller cities and developers struggle. * Government incentives, state-backed purchases aim to stabilise market. By Liangping Gao, Yukun Zhang and Ryan Woo.

China's growth lost momentum in April, with industrial output cooling and retail sales sinking to over three-year lows as the world's second-biggest economy wrestled with higher energy costs from the Iran war and persistently weak domestic demand.

* China's April industrial output growth slowest since July 2023. * Consumer demand stays weak, as retail sales rise just 0.2% * Beijing unlikely to add immediate stimulus, economist says. * Trump visit to China eases trade tensions but produces few surprises.

China's industrial output grew 4.1% in April from a year earlier, slowing from the 5.7% pace in March, official data showed on Monday. The data released by the National Bureau of Statistics missed expectations for a 5.9% increase in a Reuters poll.

China's new home prices extended their decline in April, but fell at the slowest monthly pace in a year, official data showed on Monday, offering an early sign of improvement even as housing demand remained subdued despite efforts by cities across the country to boost sales and shore up sentiment.

Gold prices fell on Monday to their lowest point in more than a month, as Middle East tensions pushed oil prices higher, fuelling inflation fears and reinforcing expectations of higher-for-longer ...

The dollar slipped against most major currencies on Monday as oil prices fell and 10-year U.S. Treasury yields withdrew from a 15-month high, after an Iranian news report indicated that the United States was set to waive sanctions on Iranian crude. A separate report from Al Arabiya also said that Iran had agreed to a long-term nuclear freeze instead of a complete dismantling of its facilities.

Japanese government bond yields surged on Monday, with the benchmark 10-year yield reaching levels last seen in October 1996, extending a global debt selloff as pressure mounts on central banks to raise rates to contain inflation. The yield on the 10-year JGB climbed 7.5 basis points to 2.775%, after earlier touching an intraday high of 2.800%, a level last seen in October 1996.

Major stock indexes mostly eased as technology shares fell on Monday, while oil prices climbed following more worries over supply disruption from the Iran war. Longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields dipped after climbing to their highest level in over a year in overnight trading.

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday said it has named Jerome Powell as chair pro tempore until Kevin Warsh is sworn in as the new head of the U.S. central bank. * Warsh is expected to be sworn in soon by U.S. President Donald Trump but no date has been announced. * Powell's eight-year run as Fed leader formally expired on Friday.

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday said it has named Jerome Powell as chair pro tempore until Kevin Warsh is sworn in as the new head of the U.S. central bank. -- Warsh is expected to be sworn in soon by U.S. President Donald Trump but no date has been announced. -- Powell's eight-year run as Fed leader formally expired on Friday.

Fitch Ratings has changed its ratings outlook to negative for Goldman Sachs' private credit fund, Goldman Sachs BDC, the ratings agency said on Friday. In its post-market close announcement, Fitch maintained its current lower-investment grade rating of Goldman Sachs BDC but could downgrade the fund if it doesn't increase its asset cushion.

* Fund had a rise in loans that are behind on payments. * Goldman Sachs BDC (GSBD) says problems concentrated in loans made by prior management. * GS says fund represents 1.5% of the firm's overall private credit assets under management. By Matt Tracy. Fitch Ratings has changed its ratings outlook to negative for Goldman Sachs' (GS) private credit fund, Goldman Sachs BDC (GSBD), the ratings agency said on Friday.

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday said it has named Jerome Powell as chair pro tempore until Kevin Warsh is sworn in as the new head of the U.S. central bank.

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday said it has named Jerome Powell as chair pro tempore until Kevin Warsh is sworn in as the new head of the U.S. central bank.