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Real-time News
On August 14th, short-term U.S. Treasury bonds rose as weak July retail sales data further eroded market expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike in the coming months—an expectation already precarious based on employment and inflation data. The gains briefly pushed the yield on the two-year Treasury note below 4.10%, its lowest level since June 30th. The gains were limited to shorter-term bonds more sensitive to changes in the Feds policy outlook, with 10- to 30-year yields rising slightly on the day. "This is a disturbing update on the overall health of consumers," said Ian Lyngen, head of U.S. rates strategy at BMO Capital Markets. "This will provide a reason for the Fed to pause rate hikes next month." Short-term interest rate contracts, which show expectations for the Feds rate decisions, indicated that traders are unwinding bets on a September rate hike and more than one rate hike by mid-2027. The fading of expectations for Fed tightening accelerated over the past week, beginning on August 7th with weaker-than-expected July employment data, and continued this week with dovish July consumer and producer price data.August 14th - Since the beginning of this year, many regions have significantly lowered the threshold for using housing provident funds and continuously expanded their scope of use. Guangzhous new housing provident fund policy has comprehensively increased the maximum loan amount, precisely supporting families with children, and allowing multiple upward adjustment conditions to be calculated cumulatively. For example, newlywed couples with one child can enjoy a 10% increase in their housing provident fund loan amount; families with two, three, or more children can enjoy an increase of 40%-50%. Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, implemented a new round of housing provident fund policies in June, increasing the maximum loan amount for individuals and families, enabling increased loan amounts in multiple scenarios, and allowing the funds to be used to pay property purchase tax. Currently, the positive effects of the new policies on housing consumption are becoming apparent. Starting July 15th this year, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, also upgraded its housing provident fund policy, allowing citizens participating in housing provident fund contributions to withdraw their funds for property management fees without leaving home, through their mobile phones.On August 14, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren demanded that Treasury Secretary Bessett explain the Trump administrations basis for intervening in the yen, continuing the veteran senators consistent practice of scrutinizing the Trump administrations foreign exchange policies. In a letter dated August 13, Warren wrote, "To date, the administration has not provided detailed justification for this intervention, nor has it formally disclosed how much taxpayer-related funds were used to purchase yen." Following the action taken on July 31, Bessett confirmed media reports of the first joint US-Japan intervention in the foreign exchange market since 1998 to support the yen, but has not yet specified the amount of funds used.On August 14th, 2026, the Jiaxing Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow rainstorm warning signal at 21:25: Affected by strong rain clouds, the rainfall in Xincheng Town, Xiuzhou District, has exceeded 30 mm in the past hour. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in Wangjiangjing Town and Xincheng Town of Xiuzhou District over the next 3 hours, with accumulated rainfall exceeding 50 mm. At 21:40 on August 14th, 2026, the Jiaxing Meteorological Observatory upgraded the yellow rainstorm warning signal to a red rainstorm warning signal.August 14th - U.S. consumer confidence fell for the first time in three months as households worried about deteriorating business conditions and rising inflation. According to data released Friday by the University of Michigan, the preliminary reading of the consumer confidence index for August fell to 51, down from the final reading of 55.2 in July. The median forecast from economists was 55. Consumers expect prices to rise 4.3% over the next year, a slight increase from the previous month and significantly higher than levels before the outbreak of the conflict with Iran in February. They also expect prices to rise at an annualized rate of 3.3% over the next five to ten years. After two consecutive months of improvement, consumer confidence in both the short-term and long-term economic outlook deteriorated. Consumer expectations for the labor market have changed little since the beginning of the year. The survey showed that consumers are increasingly worried about inflation, while concerns about unemployment have declined. The survey covered responses collected between July 28th and August 10th. During this period, the national average gasoline price hovered above $4 per gallon. Another report released Friday showed that U.S. retail sales in July saw their biggest drop in more than a year, as consumers reduced purchases of cars and online stores.
