Marketmind: Muddied Waters
Investors can be forgiven for being nonplussed on the data front this week. A day after U.S. consumer inflation data showed early signs of price pressures peaking, readings from the producer perspective showed inflationary readings remained firm.
Malaysia c.bank slashes 2021 growth outlook on COVID-19 surge, lockdowns
Malaysia’s economy expanded more quickly than expected on an annual basis in the second quarter, but the central bank slashed its 2021 growth forecast as rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdown measures weighed on the outlook.
Dubai Expo in focus as UAE racks up $700 mln of trade with Israel since normalisation
Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations a year ago, are looking to Dubai’s Expo world fair in October to boost bilateral trade, which now stands at around $712 million.
OPEC+ supply boost unlikely despite call from U.S. for more oil, says Goldman
U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs said a recent call by the United States to OPEC+ to boost oil output is unlikely to result in higher production over the short-term given the threat to demand from the coronavirus Delta variant.
Disney bullish on parks despite Delta; investors cheer streaming growth
Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) earnings on Thursday topped Wall Street forecasts for the most recent quarter as its streaming services picked up more customers than expected and pandemic-hit U.S. theme parks returned to profitability.
Airbnb warns of Delta impact on bookings, shares fall over 4%
Airbnb Inc (ABNB.O) said on Thursday its current-quarter bookings could be hit by the Delta variant of the coronavirus and a slowing pace of vaccination in the United States, sending its shares down more than 4%.
Oil dips as Delta variant weighs on demand forecasts
The Brent benchmark oil price fell for a second day on Friday, albeit holding above $70 a barrel, after the International Energy Agency warned that demand growth for crude is slowing sharply owing to the spread of coronavirus variants.
Dollar holds firm near 4-month high on Fed tapering bets
The dollar held firm on Friday, staying near its highest level in four months against a basket of currencies as investors looked for more hints from the Federal Reserve on its plans to reduce monetary stimulus.
DoorDash plunges into loss on pricey grocery expansion
Food-delivery firm DoorDash Inc’s (DASH.N) loss widened more than expected in the second quarter as the U.S. upstart spent heavily to expand internationally and into a crowded market for grocery during the pandemic.
Fund managers position for transitory U.S. inflation
Based on expectations that U.S. inflation will be transitory and that the Federal Reserve will clearly communicate its plans to taper asset purchases, major global fund managers say they remain invested in risky assets.
