Fed’s Collins doesn’t rule out more interest-rate hikes

Fed’s Collins doesn’t rule out more interest-rate hikes

Story developing. Check back for updates. Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins said the U.S. central bank might not be done raising interest rates and that they are likely to stay “higher, and for longer, than previous projections had suggested.” While there are promising signs inflation continues to slow, Collins said Friday in a speech…

Japan’s overall consumer prices continued to rise more than 3% in August

Japan’s overall consumer prices continued to rise more than 3% in August

TOKYO — Japan’s overall consumer prices rose 3.2% from a year earlier in August, staying above the Bank of Japan’s inflation target for 2%, government data showed Friday. The figure compares with the 3.3% increase in July. Consumer inflation excluding volatile fresh food and energy increased 4.3% from a year earlier, matching July’s pace of…

U.K. consumer confidence improves to highest level since January 2022

U.K. consumer confidence improves to highest level since January 2022

Consumer confidence in the U.K. improved in September to the most optimistic level in more than a year and a half, a signal of improving prospects for the country’s economy and that pressures on household spending could be easing, according to a survey published Friday. Confidence among British consumers rose four points to minus 21…

ETFs that buy long-term Treasury bonds drop sharply after Fed signals higher for longer rates

ETFs that buy long-term Treasury bonds drop sharply after Fed signals higher for longer rates

Exchange-traded funds that invest in long-term Treasury bonds are dropping Thursday, as yields continued their march higher in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s meeting on monetary policy. Shares of the Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF VGLT were down a sharp 2% on Thursday afternoon, while the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF TLT sank 2.2%,…

KB Home stock slips despite earnings beat, raised forecast and ‘steady’ demand

KB Home stock slips despite earnings beat, raised forecast and ‘steady’ demand

KB Home shares declined in the extended session Wednesday even after the home builder reported results that topped Wall Street estimates, hiked its revenue forecast for the year and reported steady demand amid rising mortgage rates. KB Home KBH shares slid more than 2% after hours, following a 0.7% decline in the regular session to…

A recession is an ‘increasing worry’ for Invesco, despite what the Fed is saying

A recession is an ‘increasing worry’ for Invesco, despite what the Fed is saying

The Federal Reserve’s interest-rate hikes are kicking in by slowing growth and cooling inflation, but also making a recession more of a threat, says Rob Waldner, Invesco’s chief fixed-income strategist and head of macro research. “We are increasingly worried about a recessionary environment,” Waldner told MarketWatch late Wednesday, despite what Fed officials said earlier in…

U.K. inflation slips to 6.7% in August, coming in shy of forecasts

U.K. inflation slips to 6.7% in August, coming in shy of forecasts

Inflation in the U.K. surprisingly eased in August against expectations it would accelerate, a welcome showing for central bankers just a day ahead of an interest-rate decision. The U.K. consumer price index fell a touch to 6.7% year-over-year in August from 6.8%, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday. CPI was expected by economists…

Beyond Margaritaville: Dive into Jimmy Buffett’s distinctive real estate portfolio

Beyond Margaritaville: Dive into Jimmy Buffett’s distinctive real estate portfolio

Music legend Jimmy Buffett was beloved for his tunes about beachside escapism, but his real estate ventures made him a true mogul. According to Forbes, Buffett’s music and businesses cemented his billionaire status at the time of his passing. Buffett died Sept. 1, 2023, and he left behind quite a legacy. He had a knack…

Rising health costs could make it harder for the Fed to get inflation down to 2%

Rising health costs could make it harder for the Fed to get inflation down to 2%

The rate of U.S. inflation has slowed considerably from a 40-year peak of 9.1% in mid-2022 and it’s gotten an assist from a surprising source: falling medical costs. But that’s about to end — to a large degree because of the complex way the federal government tries to figure the rise of medical costs. And…

These Americans are buying and selling their homes, despite high interest rates

These Americans are buying and selling their homes, despite high interest rates

Elsa Ortega and her husband, David, are expecting a child at the end of October, and the couple closed on a home in El Paso, Texas, this summer. But when they thought about selling their three-bedroom single-family home for a larger three-bedroom house, they initially were hesitant.  The listing went up on a Thursday. “I…

U.S. stocks fall, S&P 500 books another weekly loss amid worries over inflation pressure, auto worker strike

U.S. stocks fall, S&P 500 books another weekly loss amid worries over inflation pressure, auto worker strike

U.S. stocks ended down Friday as investors worried about inflationary pressures ahead of the Federal Reserve’s meeting next week as well as an auto workers strike. How stock indexes traded The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA shed 288.87 points, or 0.8%, to close at 34,618.24. The S&P 500 SPX fell 54.78 points, or 1.2%, to…

China’s industrial production, consumption improved in August

China’s industrial production, consumption improved in August

China’s industrial production and consumption improved in August, while investment continued to lose momentum despite Beijing’s increased efforts to stimulate growth. Industrial production expanded 4.5% from a year earlier in August, up from the 3.7% increase in July, the National Bureau of Statistics said Friday. The result beat the 4.1% growth expected by economists in…

Biden attacks ‘MAGAnomics’ even as polls show Americans aren’t sold on ‘Bidenomics,’ either

Biden attacks ‘MAGAnomics’ even as polls show Americans aren’t sold on ‘Bidenomics,’ either

President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered what the White House billed as a “major economic address on Bidenomics vs. MAGAnomics,” with the speech coming as polls show most Americans disapprove of his handling of the U.S. economy. “You hear from our friends on the other side, the MAGA Republicans, what’s wrong with America,” Biden said in…

Georgia’s governor pauses state’s gas tax. Is that a wise decision?

Georgia’s governor pauses state’s gas tax. Is that a wise decision?

“‘While high prices continue to hit family budgets, hardworking Georgians deserve real relief and that’s why I signed an executive order today to deliver it directly to them at the pump.’” — Georgia Governor Brian Kemp That’s Gov. Brian Kemp declaring a “state of emergency” Tuesday for the Peach State and announcing a one-month halt…

For stocks this was ‘the worst part’ of inflation report, says First Trust

For stocks this was ‘the worst part’ of inflation report, says First Trust

Major U.S. stock benchmarks remained down for the month on Wednesday, after a choppy trading session ended with mixed results as investors weighed the latest inflation report. “The Federal Reserve may have gained some traction against inflation, but the inflation problem is far from finished,” said First Trust economists in a note Wednesday. “The worst…

Oil prices climb, eyeing highest settlement since November as U.S. inflation report looms

Oil prices climb, eyeing highest settlement since November as U.S. inflation report looms

Oil futures traded higher early Tuesday, leaving the front-month contract within striking distance of its highest settlement level since November as investors awaited more U.S. inflation data and a European central bank decision on interest rates this week. Price action The front-month October West Texas intermediate contract CL.1, +1.26% CLV23, +1.26% rose 80 cents, or…

Australia’s consumer confidence mired in worst sustained slump on record

Australia’s consumer confidence mired in worst sustained slump on record

SYDNEY — Australian consumer confidence is in the worst sustained slump on record, according to a weekly survey by the ANZ Bank and pollster Roy Morgan. Consumer confidence fell 1.1 points over the week, completing six consecutive months below 80 points, something never before seen in the data. The weaker outcome comes despite the Reserve…

Dow heads for third day of gains ahead of coming inflation, retail-sales data

Dow heads for third day of gains ahead of coming inflation, retail-sales data

U.S. stock indexes remained higher in Monday’s final hour of trading, boosted by producers of luxury items and services including Tesla, as investors await inflation and retail sales data later this week to help guide the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate policy. How stock indexes are trading The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA advanced 83 points, or 0.2%…

Treasury yields rise as inflation data looms, as Japanese yields reach highest since 2014

Treasury yields rise as inflation data looms, as Japanese yields reach highest since 2014

Bond yields rose Monday after the Bank of Japan hinted of an end to negative interest rates and traders eyed crucial U.S. data later in the week. What’s happening The yield on the 2-year Treasury BX:TMUBMUSD02Y added 1.3 basis points to 4.986%. Yields move in the opposite direction to prices. The yield on the 10-year…

When will consumers stop buying more stuff? It’s a key question for the stock market in the week ahead.

When will consumers stop buying more stuff? It’s a key question for the stock market in the week ahead.

Consumer spending has defied Wall Street expectations all year, both by keeping stocks afloat near record levels and by preventing the U.S. economy from running aground into a recession. That’s why sentiment around stocks in the week ahead could hinge on two related economic data points: the consumer-price index (CPI) for August due on Wednesday…