MONEY MASTER

Stocks flat, yields hold firm after poor 30-year auction; Intel slides, Apple extends rebound Wall Street took a breather Thursday after a blistering rally that pushed U.S. equities close to record highs. The  S&P 500 ended flat , as  a weak US$25B 30-year bond auction  dimmed risk appetite and sent  yields edging higher . S&P 500 : Flat 30-year Treasury yield : 4.83% (unchanged) 10-year yield : Up 2bps to 4.25% USD Index : Steady Chips Up, But Intel Down Chipmakers gained overall, but  Intel fell 3%  after Trump called for its CEO’s resignation over China-linked conflicts. Meanwhile,  Apple rose for a third session , extending its rebound to +8.5%. Earnings Movers Eli Lilly  plunged 14% after lackluster weight-loss pill data Apple  (+3.18%) continued to rally on U.S. manufacturing plans ConocoPhillips  reported a mixed quarter amid steady oil Market Risks Rising: Analysts Flag Overbought Conditions With the  S&P 500 up ...

Trump wants cuts. Markets want clarity. The Fed says: not so fast. While central banks around the globe are  slashing interest rates  in response to tariff turmoil and cooling inflation, the  Federal Reserve remains cautious  — resisting political pressure from President Trump to loosen monetary policy. Key Takeaways from Bloomberg’s Global Rate Watch : 🔹  Fed (US): ➡ Current: 4.5% | Forecast: 4.25% ➡  One rate cut expected —possibly in Q4. ➡ Trump wants action, but policymakers are wary of inflation risks from tariffs. 🔹  ECB (Europe): ➡ Forecasts two more cuts this year to 1.5%. ➡ Tariff threats on pharma exports weigh on eurozone growth. 🔹 BOJ (Japan): ➡ Could raise rates  slightly  amid inflation and wage growth, but politics may delay action. 🔹  BOE (UK): ➡ Expected to cut rates twice by year-end as job markets weaken and inflation stays sticky. 🔹  BOC (Canada): ➡ Two rate cuts likely this year due to softening growth. ...

UK salaries grew at their slowest pace in three-and-a-half years in September, indicating a loosening labor market ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s first budget on Oct. 30, according to a survey by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG . The survey revealed that an increase in available candidates and reduced demand for staff contributed to weaker pay growth for permanent hires , the slowest since February 2021. Wages for temporary staff even declined . The Bank of England (BOE) is closely monitoring wage inflation as it debates a possible interest-rate cut in November . Governor Andrew Bailey has suggested that the BOE might take a more aggressive stance on rate cuts if inflation trends continue to be positive. Neil Carberry , CEO of REC, noted that pay is moderating and falling below its long-term trend, which could push the BOE to cut interest rates sooner. The findings come as businesses grow increasingly concerned about tax hikes and spending...

  European stocks rose on Tuesday while the US dollar remained under pressure, as investors anticipated a potentially aggressive rate cut from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) . With the Fed expected to begin its easing cycle, markets have increasingly priced in the possibility of a 50-basis-point rate cut . Futures markets have fully priced in a quarter-point cut and now show nearly a 70% probability of a half-percentage-point rate cut on Wednesday, up sharply from around a 15% chance last week. This shift comes after multiple media reports suggested more aggressive monetary easing. The prospect of a deeper rate cut has boosted risky assets and driven down the dollar and bond yields. "It's back to the Fed put," said Eddie Kennedy , head of discretionary fund management at Marlborough Investment Management . "Everyone's pricing in the soft landing... Generally, stocks have done well in such environments." The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.5% to a two-...

In August, Britain's private sector companies reported their strongest growth in four months, coupled with a decrease in inflationary pressures, creating a favorable environment for both the Bank of England (BOE) and the new government. The S&P Global composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 53.4, up from 52.8 in July, exceeding economists' expectations of 53. Any reading above 50 indicates economic expansion. Key Takeaways: Economic Growth : The composite PMI, which reflects overall economic activity, increased to 53.4 in August, signaling robust growth. This uptick was primarily driven by the services sector, the UK's largest industry, which hit a four-month high. The manufacturing PMI also rose to its highest level in over two years, contributing to the positive outlook. Cooling Inflation : Inflation related to firms' costs cooled to its lowest level since early 2021, particularly in the services sector. This suggests that the current rate of economic g...

The Bank of England (BOE) announced on Tuesday that the UK's top eight banks, including HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, and NatWest, can be wound down in a crisis without needing taxpayer-funded bailouts.  Here are the key takeaways: Key Points: Resolution Check: The BOE's second "resolvability" check confirms that major UK banks could be closed down safely, maintaining vital banking services without destabilizing the financial system. Shareholders and investors, not public funds, would bear the costs of a bank's failure. Lessons from the Financial Crisis: This ability to resolve banks without bailouts is a critical lesson learned from the 2007-09 global financial crisis, during which many banks were rescued with taxpayer money. Assessment Results: The BOE assessed banks like Santander UK, Standard Chartered, Virgin Money UK, and Nationwide. It found some areas needing improvement but no significant issues that would hinder a bank's resolution in a crisis. Standard ...