Analysis: Currencies

Fed's Goolsbee says US jobs market steady, cautions against aggressive rate cuts, FT reports

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said the U.S. jobs market remains mostly steady and solid and warned against a series of interest rate cuts, the Financial Times reported on...

US new home sales jump to more than 3-1/2-year high; economists dismiss rise as a fluke

WASHINGTON -Sales of new U.S. single-family homes surged to the highest level in more than 3-1/2 years in August, but that likely exaggerates the housing market's health, and a weakening labor market...

US ready to support Argentina with $20 billion swap line, Bessent says

WASHINGTON -The U.S. is currently in negotiations for a $20 billion swap line with Argentina's central bank and stands ready to do what is needed to support the South American country, U.S. Treasury...

Sterling falls as Powell takes cautious tone on rate cuts

LONDON -The pound fell against the dollar on Wednesday, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell offered a cautious view on the need for more rate cuts, which gave the U.S. currency a modest lift. ...

Russian finance ministry proposes raising VAT to help fund Ukraine war

MOSCOW -Russia's finance ministry proposed raising the rate of value-added tax on Wednesday to 22% from 20% in 2026 to fund military spending and help curb a swelling budget deficit, in what would be...

Gold-linked dollar demand meets US visa fee jolt, piling pressure on Indian rupee

MUMBAI -The Indian rupee is coming under increased strain with rising dollar demand linked to gold imports coinciding with concerns over the impact of a U.S. visa fee hike, according to bankers. ...

Japan PM contender Takaichi refrains from blasting BOJ rate hikes

TOKYO -Sanae Takaichi, a contender to become Japan's first female prime minister, said the country's central bank is responsible for deciding specific means of monetary policy, refraining from...

RBNZ's new Swedish boss joins bank shaken by politics, says 'kia ora'

WELLINGTON -New Zealand's first foreign central bank governor in modern history takes the top job amid heightened criticism of the bank's management of the economy and as independent monetary policy...

Rupee shielded by central bank intervention even as pressure lingers

The Indian rupee ended nearly flat on Wednesday as likely intervention by the Reserve Bank of India helped stave off pressure on the local unit amid worries over steep U.S. tariffs and a visa fee...

Asian stocks slip as growth concerns cloud outlook

SINGAPORE -Stocks in Asia fell on Wednesday, following declines on Wall Street as remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave little indication about the future path of interest rates and...

Dollar rises after Powell reiterates caution over further easing

TOKYO/LONDON -The U.S. dollar rose on Wednesday, rebounding from its lowest level in nearly a week, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell struck a cautious tone on further easing overnight,...

Fed's Powell strikes middle path on inflation, jobs, as others take sides

WASHINGTON -U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Tuesday the central bank needed to continue balancing the competing risks of high inflation and a weakening job market in coming interest...

Bank of Canada head expresses concern about Trump's Fed actions

OTTAWA -Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem on Tuesday expressed concern about President Donald Trump's attempts to pressure the U.S. Federal Reserve, saying his actions had started to hit financial...

Fed's Powell: Repeats no risk-free path as Fed balances job, inflation risks

WASHINGTON -U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Tuesday the central bank is in a challenging situation with an ongoing risk of faster-than-expected inflation at the same time that weak...

Fed's Bostic says inflation risks still present in US economy

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said Tuesday inflation risks are still in play in the U.S. economy, although he noted that thus far President Donald Trump's import tax hikes...

US business activity cools further, no widespread price increases

WASHINGTON -U.S. business activity slowed for a second straight month in September, and though firms complained about tariffs increasing costs they were not raising prices for their goods and...

Romania readies final debt deals of turbulent year

LONDON -Romania is readying some end-of-year bond sales and buybacks now the political upheaval that had engulfed the country - and still hangs over its investment grade credit rating - looks to have...

Sterling dips after gloomy PMI surveys

LONDON -The pound sagged on Tuesday after a survey showed British business activity slowed in early September, as companies reported a loss of momentum and confidence given the rising risk of tax...

Full impact of U.S. tariff shock yet to come as growth holds up, OECD says

PARIS -Global growth is holding up better than expected, but the full brunt of the U.S. import tariff shock is still to be felt as AI investment props up U.S. activity for now and fiscal support...