• MTS Economic News_20180821

    21 Aug 2018 | Economic News

• The greenback fell on Monday as investors pulled out of the safe-haven currency with optimism rising over upcoming U.S.-China trade talks, and after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the pace of the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate hikes.

The dollar index .DXY, which weighs the greenback against a basket of six rival currencies, fell 0.3 percent to a low of 95.83 in the North American session ahead of trade talks between the United States and China, due this week, which investors hope will ease tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.

Against the U.S. currency, the euro EUR= strengthened 0.34 percent to a daily high of $1.148.

• Dealers cited speculation that the talks could set the stage for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November. Trade tensions have on the whole been a boon to the dollar, which benefits from geopolitical turmoil as the market seeks out less risky investments.

• “The market is long dollars. There’s some caution that this week’s trade talks - U.S.-China and EU and Japanese officials will also be in town - could lead to some positive headlines. And if so, some of the dollar longs might get pressured,” said Daniel Katzive, head of FX strategy North America at BNP Paribas in New York.

• The dollar index hit a session low following a Reuters interview with Trump on Monday afternoon in which the president said that he would criticize the Fed if it continued to raise rates, that the central bank should be more accommodating and that he “should be given more help by the Fed.”

• Traders are also preparing for the release of Federal Reserve policy meeting minutes on Wednesday and an annual Jackson Hole symposium for insights into the likely direction of U.S. monetary policy.

• Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic said on Monday he is maintaining his expectation for one more interest rate hike this year, as trade tensions and international events add some downside risk to an otherwise strong U.S. outlook.

• China and the United States will hold lower-level trade talks this month, the two governments said on Thursday, offering hope that they might resolve an escalating tariff war that threatens to engulf all trade between the world’s two largest economies.

Still, White House Economic adviser Larry Kudlow warned Beijing not to underestimate President Donald Trump’s resolve in pushing for changes in China’s economic policies.

• U.S. President Donald Trump does not expect much progress from trade talks with China this week in Washington, he told Reuters on Monday.

Trump said in an interview that he had “no time frame” for ending the trade dispute with China. “I’m like them, I have a long horizon,” he added.

• U.S. businesses have a message for the Trump administration: New tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports will force Americans to pay more for items they use throughout their daily lives, from cradles to first bicycles and wedding dresses to coffins.

The $200 billion list targets Chinese seafood, furniture and lighting products, tires, chemicals, plastics, bicycles and car seats for babies. here

• U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he was “not thrilled” with the Federal Reserve under his own appointee, Chairman Jerome Powell, for raising interest rates and said the U.S. central bank should do more to help him to boost the economy.

• American presidents have rarely criticized the Fed in recent decades because its independence has been seen as important for economic stability. Trump has departed from this past practice and said he would not shy from future criticism should the Fed keep lifting rates.

The president spooked investors in July when he criticized the U.S. central bank’s over tightening monetary policy. On Monday he said the Fed should be more accommodating on interest rates.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin still hopes to pull Moscow’s ties with Washington out of a deep crisis, but nobody will go into mourning if this ambition is not reciprocated by the United States, the Kremlin said on Monday.

Moscow is bracing itself for a slew of new U.S. sanctions despite Putin meeting U.S. President Donald Trump at a summit in Helsinki in July, an encounter both sides said went well.

The U.S. State Department has said it will impose fresh sanctions by the end of this month, while bi-partisan legislation from senators calls for other curbs to be widened.

Moscow is also bracing itself for potential U.S. measures designed to frustrate its Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.

• U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres praised efforts by North and South Korea to build trust and confidence and looked forward to discussing with the parties in September what support he can offer to aid peace and denuclearization, a U.N. spokesman said on a Monday.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho are currently expected to attend the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in New York during the last week of September.

• Growth in Germany’s economy could slow a little in the third quarter, with private consumption driving the expansion and industry contributing little, the Bundesbank said on Monday.

• The British government will set out a new export strategy on Tuesday aimed at boosting exports to 35 percent of gross domestic product, as it looks to increase trade ties with the rest of the world after leaving the European Union.

• Oil futures rose on Monday after weeks of declines, as investors grew more concerned about an expected fall in supply from Iran due to U.S. sanctions and worried less that a trade war between the United States and China would hurt economic growth.

Brent crude futures rose 38 cents to settle at $72.21 a barrel, a 0.5 percent gain.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 52 cents, or 0.8 percent, to end at $66.43 a barrel.


Reference: Reuters

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