Christopher Waller News

Investing.com-- Most Asian stocks kept to a tight range on Wednesday as caution before key economic readings from China offset growing optimism over an early pivot by the Federal Reserve. 

Bitcoin climbed back above $38,000 on Tuesday amid optimism the US central bank may be closer to lowering borrowing costs if inflation continues to decline. The largest cryptocurrency by market value gained as much as 3.3% to $38,264 before trimming the increase. Bitcoin reached an 18-month high of $38,422 on Friday. Lower rates generally increase investors’ appetite for riskier assets such as digital tokens. “As rates reverse, investors will return to risk assets in search of better returns,” said Michael Safai, partner at quantitative trading firm Dexterity Capital. “This, coupled with the momentum that crypto has built in recent months with ETFs and putting FTX in the rear-view mirror, has traders feeling like the conditions for a new bull run are coming together.” Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he’s encouraged by a recent slowing of economic activity, which may indicate the central bank’s policy is tight enough. He made the comments as part of prepared remarks Tuesday for an event at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

Gold prices touched a nearly seven-month high on Wednesday propelled by an extended decline in the U.S. dollar and bond yields as markets grew confident that the Federal Reserve would likely cut rates by the first half of next year. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold rose 0.3% to $2,047.21 per ounce by 0236 GMT. * U.S.

Asian stocks briefly made one-week highs on Wednesday, bonds rallied and the dollar sank on new hints at U.S. interest rate cuts, while the New Zealand dollar jumped after its central bank said another hike may be necessary if inflation proves stubborn. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.5% in early trade before weakness in Hong Kong tech shares dragged it back to flat. Japan's Nikkei fell 0.2%.

A key Federal Reserve official raised the possibility that the Fed could decide to cut its benchmark interest rate as early as spring if inflation keeps declining steadily

Federal Reserve officials, with upbeat consumer data providing some lift. All three major U.S. stock indexes lost momentum as the session progressed, but ended the range-bound session in the green. «Even marathon runners have to pause, to take a breath and a drink of water.

central bank suggested that more rate hikes could be in the offing. The kiwi jumped more than 1% to hit a four-month peak of $0.6203 after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept interest rates steady, as expected, but revised its official cash rate (OCR) track higher for 2024 and 2025, pointing to further tightening ahead. «Whilst the RBNZ were expected to hold, their statement struck a hawkish tone by stating that inflation remains too high,» said Matt Simpson, senior market analyst at City Index. The Australian dollar similarly scaled a four-month top of $0.6670, unfazed by domestic data showing inflation eased by more than expected in October as goods prices fell, while core inflation also edged down. The Antipodean currencies got a lift from a falling greenback, which tumbled to an over three-month low against a basket of currencies as bets grow that the U.S. Federal Reserve could begin cutting rates early next year. Fed Governor Christopher Waller — a known hawkish and influential voice at the central bank — on Tuesday flagged a possible rate cut in the months ahead, feeding market expectations that U.S.

By Rae Wee

Investing.com — The Dow closed higher Tuesday, underpinned by a fall in Treasury yields as dovish remarks from some Federal Reserve officials boosted bets on rate cuts.

By Howard Schneider and Ann Saphir

Investing.com-- Gold prices rose slightly in Asian trade on Tuesday, sticking to a six-month high amid growing bets that the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates any further.

Over the past 8 days, several key factors, from the recent Fed meeting to US economic data and a series of statements by Federal Reserve board members, have halted the EUR/USD pair's resurgence. Currently, the pair finds itself amidst a broad correction, but there's still a possibility that the uptrend could resume.

By Howard Schneider and Lindsay (NYSE:LNN) Dunsmuir

The recent rebound in the EUR/USD currency pair appears likely to be nothing more than a temporary correction within the ongoing downtrend that began in mid-July as, longer-term, the fundamental factors pushing the US dollar higher haven't changed, despite of all the recent noise.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Wednesday indicated the central bank can afford to hold off on interest rate increases while it watches progress unfold in its efforts to bring down inflation.

Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman believed that implementing U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC) could pose significant risks and tradeoffs for the country’s economic system.

Investing.com -- Headline U.S. consumer prices grew at a faster-than-anticipated rate in September, potentially complicating the Federal Reserve's upcoming policy decisions aimed at corraling elevated inflation.

Federal Reserve officials were split over whether they would need to raise interest rates again this year when they decided last month to hold their benchmark policy rate steady. “A majority of participants judged that one more increase in the target federal-funds rate at a future meeting would likely be appropriate, while some judged it likely that no further increases would be warranted," said the minutes from the Fed’s Sept. 19-20 policy meeting released Wednesday.

By Marc Jones

Asian shares rose on Thursday as markets wagered that U.S. rates have peaked after more dovish remarks from Federal Reserve officials, while traders awaited the U.S. consumer inflation report later in the day for further monetary policy clues.

By Howard Schneider