* Japan officials say ready to "take appropriate actions" on yen. * Yen sank to record low vs Swiss franc, near record low to euro. * Yen bears emboldened by lack of hawkish signals from BOJ chief. By Kevin Buckland.
* Gold hits all-time high of $4,391.92. * Silver hits record high of $69.23/oz. * Platinum hits over 17-year high. * Palladium hits near three-year high. By Sherin Elizabeth Varghese. Gold prices surged to a record high on Monday, riding on growing expectations of further ?U.S. interest rate cuts and strong safe-haven demand, with silver also joining the rally to hit ?an all-time peak.
Gold and silver hit record highs on Monday as softer U.S. labour data and a tame inflation reading fuelled bets the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in January. FUNDAMENTALS. * Spot gold climbed 1% ?to an all-time high at $4,384.50 an ounce by 02:03 GMT.
Spot gold surged to a record high of $4,383.73 per ounce on ?Monday, lifted by expectations ?of further U.S. Federal Reserve ?rate cuts after ?last ?week's quarter-point reduction, sustained safe-haven demand, ?and a ?softer dollar.
Japanese government bonds fell further on Monday, sending short-term yields to a record high, following the central bank's interest rate hike last ?week. The two-year JGB yield, the one most sensitive to central ?bank policy, rose 1.5 basis points to 1.105%, breaking ?through the previous all-time high ?set from ?2007.
China left benchmark loan prime rates unchanged for the seventh consecutive month in December on Monday, matching market expectations. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT. The steady LPR fixings in December suggested that the authorities are not in a rush to deliver fresh ?monetary easing measures as the world's second largest economy appears on track to hit Beijing's growth ?target for the year.
The yen languished near record lows to the euro and Swiss franc on Monday as the lack of hawkish signals from the Bank of Japan emboldened traders, even as Japanese officials stepped up warnings about currency intervention. The Japanese currency also loitered near an 11-month trough against the U.S. dollar and was just shy of ?a 17-month low on the Aussie.
The yen languished near a record low to the euro on Monday, after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda stuck to his usual cautious rhetoric following an interest rate hike on Friday. The Japanese currency traded near an 11-month trough versus the U.S. dollar and just shy ?of a 17-month low on the Aussie.
Japan's top currency diplomat, Atsushi Mimura, said on Monday authorities will take "appropriate" action against excessive exchange-rate moves, warning ?of the chance of intervention after last week's central bank ?meeting that caused renewed yen declines. "The recent ?foreign exchange moves were one-sided ?and sharp, and ?I'm concerned about them," he told reporters.
A vague outlook from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on Friday has given investors the nerve to add to their bets against the yen, which could soon put Japan's currency back at uncomfortably low levels for a government concerned it may already be too cheap.
* AI jitters, Fed interest rate path among key year-end factors. * GDP, consumer confidence reports to shed more light on economy. * S&P 500 set for double-digit percentage gains in 2025, despite shaky December. By Lewis Krauskopf. NEW YORK, Dec 19 - Investors hoping for traditional holiday cheer for the U.S. stock market are encountering turbulence that could keep markets on edge into year-end.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack said she saw no need to change U.S. interest rates for months ahead after the central bank cut borrowing costs at its last three meetings, the Wall Street ?Journal reported on Sunday.
By Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor. A mortgage fraud probe of a Democratic congressman began last month after William Pulte, the Republican head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred allegations from a conservative news site to his agency's inspector general for possible criminal investigation, government emails seen by Reuters show.
A mortgage fraud probe of a Democratic congressman began last month after William Pulte, the Republican head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred allegations from a conservative news site to his agency's inspector general for possible criminal investigation, government emails seen by Reuters show.
White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett, who is on a shortlist to potentially become Federal Reserve leader, said on Fox Business Friday that President Donald Trump is right when he says inflation is low, even as the data, public opinion and most economists stand at odds with this view.
* BOJ raises rates as expected, Ueda's speech offers few hints. * Yen falls broadly, hits record low against euro. * Japense finance minister warns of action against excessive FX moves. By Chibuike Oguh and Amanda Cooper.
* Wall Street helps global index rise, tech offers support. * BOJ hikes 25 bps, signals further tightening ahead. * Japanese bond yields jump, Dollar gains on yen. * Oil rises as geopolitcal uncertainty continues. By Sin?ad Carew and Iain Withers.
Latin American assets edged higher on
Friday, led by gains in Chilean equities aided by copper prices,
while investors assessed geopolitical tensions and Colombia's
central bank kept rates ...
* Existing home sales increase 0.5% in November. * Median home price rises 1.2% to $409,200 from a year ago. * Housing inventory at eight-month low. * Modest improvement in consumer sentiment in December confirmed. By Lucia Mutikani.
Xcel Energy (XEL) ?Inc: * ?Xcel Energy (XEL) ?ANNOUNCES ?PRICING ?TERMS OF ?CASH ?TENDER OFFERS FOR CERTAIN ?OUTSTANDING ?FIRST ?MORTGAGE BONDS ISSUED ?BY NORTHERN STATES POWER ?COMPANY. * ?Xcel Energy (XEL) - ANNOUNCES PRICING TERMS ?FOR $345 MILLION TENDER OFFERS Source text: Further ?company coverage: ;))
* Wall Street indexes rise in tech-led rally. * BOJ hikes 25 bps, signals further tightening ahead. * Japanese bond yields jump, Dollar gains on yen, By Sin?ad Carew and Iain Withers.
* BOJ raises rates as expected, Ueda's speech offers few hints. * Yen falls broadly, hits record low against euro. * Japense finance minister warns of action against excessive FX moves. * BoE cut much closer run than market expected; sterling steady. By Chibuike Oguh and Amanda Cooper.
Latin American currencies rose on
Friday, led by gains in the Colombian peso as investors
awaited the central bank's final meeting of the year, where it
is expected to keep interest rates ...
* Nike (NKE) slides as Q2 gross margins drop. * Oracle up as ByteDance agrees deal on TikTok US app. * Indexes up: S&P 0.55%, Nasdaq 0.69%, Dow 0.54% By Sruthi Shankar and Shashwat Chauhan. Wall Street's main indexes gained on Friday, as technology stocks extended their rebound from a selloff earlier in the week, while Nike (NKE) tumbled after weak China sales weighed on its quarterly results.
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced Friday it was seeking feedback on establishing limited "payment accounts" ?for some financial firms, that would ?grant access to Fed payments ?services for clearing and ?settling ?payments, but without the broader set of ?benefits currently provided ?to banks.
U.S. existing home sales increased modestly in November amid an easing in mortgage rates, but economic uncertainty is keeping potential buyers on the sidelines. The report from the National Association of Realtors on Friday also showed the inventory of previously owned homes fell from October to an eight-month low, limiting choices for those looking to buy.
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced Friday it was seeking feedback on establishing limited "payment ?accounts" for some financial firms, that ?would grant access to Fed ?payments services for clearing ?and ?settling payments, but without the broader set ?of benefits currently provided ?to banks.
U.S. existing home sales rose marginally in November as economic uncertainty and still-elevated mortgage rates curbed demand. Home sales increased 0.5% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million units, the National Association of Realtors said on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters ?had forecast home resales would rise to a rate of 4.15 million ?units.
* Nike (NKE) slides as Q2 gross margins drop. * Oracle up as ByteDance agrees deal on TikTok US app. * Futures: S&P up 0.06%, Nasdaq up 0.20%, Dow down 0.03% By Sruthi Shankar and Shashwat Chauhan.
New York Federal Reserve President John Williams told CNBC on Friday he does not see an imminent need to follow last week's interest rate cut with another reduction in borrowing costs, adding that new inflation data is being buffeted by distortions.
Federal Reserve Bank of New ?York President John Williams ?said Friday that ?he did not ?see ?any imminent need to follow ?last ?week's interest rate cut with another ?easing.
* Conagra swings to quarterly loss due to impairment charge following stock price decline. * Reports Q2 sales in line with expectations, adjusted profit narrowly beat estimates. * Company continues to see 3% tariff hit on annual costs. By Neil J Kanatt.
The yen fell sharply on Friday as traders drove it towards levels that could trigger official buying after the Bank of Japan raised rates but did not offer much of a hint over future hikes. The yen fell against the dollar after the BOJ lifted its policy rate to 0.75% from 0.5% in a move that had been well telegraphed by policymakers, prompting traders to sell.
* BOJ raises rates as expected, Ueda's speech offers few hints. * Yen falls broadly, hits record low against euro. * Euro under pressure on lack of ECB outlook. * BoE cut much closer run than market expected; sterling steady. By Tom Westbrook and Amanda Cooper.
* BoJ hikes to 30-year high, signals more. * Fed policymakers see one rate cut in 2026. * BoE follows Fed into cautious easing. * ECB executes 'uncertain' pause, avoids guidance. By Naomi Rovnick and Alun John. LONDON, Dec 19 - Central banks in big economies are signalling a change of stance as the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 30-year high on Friday.
Conagra Brands (CAG) maintained its annual sales and profit forecasts ?on Friday, as pressured consumer ?spending and stiff ?competition weigh on ?demand ?for its pantry staples such ?as Slim ?Jim meat snacks and Act ?II ?popcorn.
A vague outlook from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on Friday has given investors the nerve to add to their bets against the yen, which could soon put Japan's currency back at uncomfortably low levels for a government concerned it may already be too cheap.
* Nike (NKE) slides as Q2 gross margins drop. * Oracle up as ByteDance agrees deal on TikTok US app. * Futures: S&P up 0.12%, Nasdaq up 0.24%, Dow down 0.06% By Sruthi Shankar and Shashwat Chauhan.
* Key rate cut is in line with expectations. * Inflation expected below 6% in 2025, hit target in 2027. * Putin says he did not interfere in bank's decision. * Phone-in shows some Russians question inflation figures. By Elena Fabrichnaya and Gleb Bryanski.
Brazil's current account deficit ?reached $4.943 billion ?in November, ?central bank ?data showed ?on Friday, ?in ?line with the $4.95 ?billion ?shortfall forecast ?by economists polled by Reuters. The ?country attracted $9.82 billion in foreign ?direct investment ?in the month, ?well above the $6.5 billion forecast in the poll.
* BOJ raises rates as expected, Ueda's speech offers few hints. * Yen falls broadly, hits record low against euro. * Euro under pressure on lack of ECB outlook. * BoE cut much closer run than market expected; sterling steady. By Tom Westbrook and Amanda Cooper.
* Futures: S&P up 0.2%, Nasdaq up 0.4%, Dow flat. U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Friday, as technology shares extended their rebound from a selloff earlier this week, while Nike (NKE) tumbled after weak China sales weighed on its quarterly results.
* Markets see steady rates in 2026. * Policymakers warn about large growth, inflation risks. * Some still see downside risks. European Central Bank policymakers warned on Friday about oversized risks around their latest economic projections, making the case for caution in setting policy and not taking the option of another interest rate cut off the table just yet.
* AI jitters, Fed interest rate path among key year-end factors. * GDP, consumer confidence reports to shed more light on economy. * S&P 500 set for double-digit percentage gains in 2025, despite shaky December. By Lewis Krauskopf. NEW YORK, Dec 19 - Investors hoping for traditional holiday cheer for the U.S. stock market are encountering turbulence that could keep markets on edge into year-end.
Germany's economic recovery from three years of stagnation will get only a subdued start next year, picking up pace later on the back of higher government spending, the Bundesbank predicted on Friday in a biannual update of its economic projections.
* Wall Street futures point to gains after tech-led rally. * BOJ hikes 25 bps, signals further tightening ahead. * Japanese bond yields jump, Dollar gains 1% on yen, By Iain Withers and Wayne Cole.
An economic slowdown in Russia this year to 1% ?growth from 4.3% in ?2024 was the result of ?conscious actions ?by the ?central bank to bring ?down the inflation ?rate, President Vladimir Putin said on ?Friday. Putin ?told ?his annual press conference that, as a result ?of these actions, the inflation rate will slow to between 5.5% and 5.7% ?in ?2025 from 9.5% last year.
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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