Tag: US

Applications for US unemployment benefits fell to a three-month low last week, underscoring the stability of the labor market. Initial claims fell by 6,000 to 194,000 in the week ended Oct. 17, according to Labor Department data released Thursday. 

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh voiced optimism on Friday about US economic strength and surprise about how well global economies have been “hanging in there” ​amid continued energy shocks and tighter monetary policy to fight inflation.

US import prices increased more than expected in September, boosted by higher costs for ​energy products and a range of other ‌goods, further evidence of rising inflation pressures as the Middle East conflict persists.

September’s producer price index came in much hotter than economists forecasted on Thursday, underscoring the continued inflationary pressure from energy amid the U.S. war with Iran.

Headline U.S. consumer price growth accelerated to 3.7% in the twelve months to September, up from 3.4% in August and faster than expectations of 3.6%.

The US Federal Reserve has time to wait ​and see how financial markets and the economy ‌evolve after its September rate rise before deciding whether to take any more action, its Vice Chair for supervision Michelle Bowman said on ​Wednesday.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is likely to reduce the auction sizes for long-dated government bonds — and could even cancel sales of 20-year debt altogether, according to Citigroup Inc.

Oil prices fell on Friday as Middle East supply concerns eased after President Donald Trump said the US would not attack Iran before ​midterm elections next month, amid productive talks to end their war that has disrupted ‌global energy markets.

 The US suspended Microsoft, major IT outsourcers and ​software maker Adobe from a key green-card program on Thursday while opening probes into nine top universities, widening a crackdown it says targets fraud and protects American ‌jobs.

Federal Reserve ​policymakers were divided last month over the rationale for raising interest rates, with “some participants” seeing a hike ‌as needed to keep the impact of energy and other price shocks at bay, but a more hawkish core viewing it as necessary to guard against emerging demand-driven inflation.

President Donald Trump has allowed the use of cheaper red-dyed diesel, typically reserved for farm operations, to be used more broadly in an attempt to bring down record-high fuel costs.

U.S. Treasury yields paused near multi-decade peaks on Monday, consolidating alongside European debt bourses as fixed-income desks weighed cooling U.S. labor metrics against ongoing fiscal strain and geopolitical hostilities in the Middle East.

The U.S. economy created far fewer jobs than expected in September, pointing to a surprising soft spot in the labor market and broader economy. Nonfarm payrolls rose a seasonally adjusted 29,000 for the month while the unemployment rate increased to 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said Thursday that officials may need more time before deciding whether to raise interest rates again, echoing signals from another Fed leader this week that cast doubt on bets the central bank would lift rates at its meeting later this month.

The Trump administration has been taking steps to turn China’s dependence on US ​aviation suppliers into leverage for trade negotiations, according to people familiar with the matter.

European steel exports have fallen by a fifth with production at historic lows as the industry contends with soaring energy costs, US tariffs and the knock-on impacts of vast oversupply from China.

Japan’s Prime Minister said on Thursday that her government’s policies will lift market confidence in the yen, after previous efforts to boost the currency, including U.S. intervention, underwhelmed.

Private job creation picked up in September after a brief slowdown, providing further indication that the U.S. labor market has stabilized, according to an ADP report Wednesday.

Oil prices jumped on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian peace proposal aimed at ending the Middle East conflict and reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. International benchmark Brent crude futures with November expiry traded 4% higher at $108.48 per barrel.

China and the United States have agreed to cut tariffs imposed on $60 billion worth of ‌goods imported from each other, on an array of products ranging from US corn to cosmetics, and from Chinese household appliances to toys.