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1.16706
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Gold
4655.81
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Oil
80.059
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1.36451
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Real-time News
The yield on Japans 20-year government bonds fell 2.0 basis points to 4.040%.August 26th - The Bank of Korea (BOK) will announce its policy decision on Thursday, with analysts almost evenly divided on whether it will raise interest rates or keep them unchanged. Of the 31 analysts surveyed by The Wall Street Journal, 16 expect the BOK to implement its first consecutive rate hike in three years in July, while 15 expect it to hold rates steady until the fourth quarter. The market generally expects the BOK to raise its economic growth forecast for this year, given that inflation remains above its 2% target. Morgan Stanley economist Kathleen Oh stated that a "favorable macroeconomic backdrop" is sufficient to support a BOK rate hike in August; HSBC economist Jin Choi believes that given the apparent weakening of consumption, the BOK is in no hurry to raise rates. Barclays economist Bum Ki Son stated, "We believe there is a division within the Monetary Policy Committee between keeping rates unchanged and a precautionary rate hike."On August 26, NASA announced that two astronauts on the International Space Station successfully installed and connected a backup high-speed ground-to-air communication antenna during a spacewalk lasting approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes. The two astronauts who exited the spacecraft were NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adno. During a spacewalk on August 18, they removed a malfunctioning ground-to-air communication antenna. Due to the lengthy operation, they were unable to install a replacement antenna that day. In this mission, the two successfully installed and connected the backup communication antenna and secured the previously removed malfunctioning antenna to a spare parts platform on the space stations truss structure.August 26th - Data released on Wednesday showed that Australias consumer price index (CPI) rose more than expected in July, driven by soaring fuel and travel costs, while core inflation also exceeded expectations, increasing the risk of another interest rate hike. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that the CPI rose 1.0% in July compared to June, higher than the market forecast of 0.8%. The year-on-year CPI increase slowed to 3.5% in July from 3.8%, also higher than the market median forecast of 3.3%. The trimmed mean of the CPI, which assesses core inflation, rose 0.5% month-on-month, far exceeding the market expectation of 0.3%, while the year-on-year increase remained at 3.6%. The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised interest rates three times this year, aiming to bring core inflation back to its target range of 2% to 3%.On August 26th, Frank Flett, head of macro strategy at Citadel Securities, who warned last month that U.S. Treasury investors were underestimating the risks of a July rate hike by the Federal Reserve, now believes the risk balance has shifted to a bond rally, citing crowded short positions and improving inflation data. Long-term U.S. Treasuries have been under pressure in recent weeks, and Flett stated that Citadels simulations of trend-following strategies such as CTAs show that short positions are "quite excessive" relative to recent historical levels. This means that further declines in U.S. Treasuries would only trigger limited selling, while a sustained rise could force short covering. This bullish assessment contrasts sharply with his previous stance. In early July, he warned that bond investors were underestimating Warshs determination to curb inflation. Flett now believes that concerns about the Feds credibility are exaggerated, as recent economic data, including weak jobs and inflation reports, "seem to justify a more dovish policy response."
