2 hours ago
Australia retail sales rise in third quarter, surprising forecasts
Australian retail sales rose for the first time since the third quarter of 2022, recording a seasonally adjusted jump of 0.2% quarter-on-quarter in the three months to September.
This exceeds the 0.2% decline expected by economists polled by Reuters, and reverses the 0.5% decline seen in the second quarter.
The country’s statistics office also revealed that on a seasonally adjusted annual basis, retail sales fell by 1.7%.
– Lim Hui Ji
2 hours ago
Business activity in Hong Kong shrinks in October to its lowest level in almost a year
Private sector activity in Hong Kong contracted further in October as new business, including business from mainland China, continued to decline, according to a survey by S&P Global.
Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted global PMI fell to 48.9 in October from 49.6 in September. This was the lowest reading since November 2022 and represented the fourth consecutive month of contraction.
A Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reading below 50 is seen as contraction.
Hiring activity also fell in Hong Kong, while input cost inflation rose more than selling prices, S&P Global said.
– Shreyashi Sanyal
3 hours ago
CNBC Pro: Goldman Sachs updates its “Managers’ Cuts” list of top European stocks with significant upside
A potential recession, high levels of inflation and uncertainty over energy markets are just some of the reasons investors are turning away from Europe at the moment – but Goldman Sachs remains positive on a number of stocks in the region.
The investment bank updated its “Condemnation – Managers Downgrade List” of stocks to buy in Europe in an October 31 note, describing it as a “curated list of our most diverse core buying ideas across our European coverage.”
The updated list includes the addition of one major stock.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
– Amala Balakrishner
3 hours ago
CNBC Pro: Bonds or Stocks? Wall Street shares its preferences — and how to invest
Should an investor move towards bonds or stocks in the near to medium term?
Both markets have been volatile recently, which can make it a difficult choice for traders.
Stocks rose after the US Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates steady, but Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stressed that the central bank has not begun to consider cutting interest rates, and will not do so until inflation is under control.
CNBC Pro takes a look at what Wall Street pros are saying.
Subscribers can read more here.
-Weezin Tan
16 hours ago
The market sees little chance of a rate hike in December
Markets found enough at this week’s Fed meeting to suggest there is little chance of any additional rate hikes.
The odds of a December increase dropped Thursday morning to 14.6%, according to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, which uses federal funds futures pricing to measure odds. A month ago, the chances of a move in December were 39%.
Futures prices, which can be volatile and swing quickly, are now indicating that the first rate cut could come in May.
—Jeff Cox
15 hours ago
Treasury yields continue to fall, pushing stock futures higher on Thursday
Treasury yields continued to fall early Thursday, helping push US stock index futures higher as debate rages over whether “risk on” runs will return.
Two-year Treasuries yielded 4.954% and 10-year Treasuries fell 4.691% after briefly topping 5% two weeks ago. The bids on Treasuries come as the chance of another quarter-point rate hike by the Federal Reserve at its December 13 policy meeting has collapsed — down to less than 1 in 7 (14.6%), according to the CME FedWatch tool that uses contracts. Interest rate futures. the prices.
S&P 500 futures were recently up 31 points at 4,237, up about 0.7%, while Nasdaq-100 futures were up 161, or 1.1%, at 14,906.
As inflation weakens, “yields are likely to fall further but stabilize at a much higher level than before the pandemic,” London-based Capital Economics wrote on Thursday.
-Scott Schnepper
13 hours ago
The VIX index falls to its lowest level in three weeks
The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) — Wall Street’s favorite fear gauge — traded as low as 16.12 on Thursday, a level not seen in three weeks. This comes as stocks rose for the second day in a row on hopes that the Federal Reserve will finish raising interest rates for the year.
See chart…
VIX hits 3-week low
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