By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian consumer prices rose at the slowest pace in almost four years in the December quarter, while a pullback in housing costs helped cool core inflation and open the door to a cut in interest rates as early as next month. Wednesday’s benign price report saw markets price in an …
Australia inflation cools in Q4, opens door to rate cut Read More »
By Lucy Craymer and Renju Jose WELLINGTON (Reuters) -A top New Zealand central banker said on Wednesday the official interest rate will move towards a lower, neutral level in the absence of future shocks to the system, as pandemic-related disruptions abate and inflation subsides. “Given uncertainty, we will need to ‘feel our way’ as the …
New Zealand central banker says rates heading toward neutral level Read More »
(Reuters) – Brighthouse Financial is exploring options including a potential sale of the U.S. life insurance and annuity provider, according to a source familiar with the matter on Tuesday. Charlotte, North Carolina-based Brighthouse, which was spun off from MetLife in 2017, is working with investment bankers at Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo on the plan, …
U.S. insurer Brighthouse Financial exploring sale, source says Read More »
By Jamie McGeever ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) -The jury is still out on whether Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek will be the disruptive straw that breaks Wall Street’s back. But it has certainly called into question the “U.S. exceptionalism” narrative that has helped create unprecedented concentration – and risk – in U.S. markets. The assumption …
US ‘exceptionalism’ meets DeepSeek disruption: McGeever Read More »
By Makiko Yamazaki, Yoshifumi Takemoto and Leika Kihara TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s government on Tuesday nominated Junko Koeda, an academic who had warned of the cost of prolonged monetary easing, to join the Bank of Japan board in March, a choice analysts say will keep the central bank on course to raise interest rates. If approved …
Japan government nominates female academic to join BOJ board Read More »
By Jamie McGeever ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) -Few countries have been hit harder by the soaring dollar and U.S. bond yields than Brazil. But the country has one thing going for it – as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to levy punitive tariffs on many of America’s major trading partners, Brasilia is unlikely to be in …
Brazil could be collateral damage in Trump trade war: McGeever Read More »
By Marianna Parraga HOUSTON (Reuters) -A U.S federal judge in Delaware on Monday approved new terms to relaunch bidding in a complex auction of shares in the parent of Venezuela-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum, set to pay creditors for defaults and expropriations in the South American country. The changes seek to encourage higher offers and grant …
US judge approves new bidding terms for auction of Citgo’s parent Read More »
By Andy Home LONDON (Reuters) -Lead and zinc may be geological sister metals but their market fortunes have been very different in recent months. London Metal Exchange (LME) three-month zinc rallied to a 20-month high of $3,284 per metric ton in October on the back of an acutely tight raw materials market. LME lead, by …
Zinc’s high premium to sister metal lead may not last: Andy Home Read More »
(Reuters) – U.S. steelmaker Nucor Corp reported a drop in fourth-quarter revenue and profit on Monday, as selling prices declined in its mills and products segments. The industry has been struggling as distributors have refrained from purchasing material in excess of their inventory amid a supply glut fueled by domestic production and imports. Nucor CEO …
Nucor posts lower fourth-quarter results; sees steel market improving Read More »
(Reuters) – Commercial insurer W R Berkley reported a 45% rise in fourth-quarter profit on Monday, helped by strong performance in its investment portfolio and underwriting business. Equity markets have been rallying due to rate cuts and were further fueled by the U.S. presidential election victory of Donald Trump, who is expected to ease regulation …
W R Berkley quarterly profit rises on robust investment income, underwriting business Read More »
