Japan’s private-sector activity hit by COVID-19 surge – PMI
TOKYO, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Japan’s factory activity growth slowed in August, while that of the services sector shrank at the fastest pace since May last year, highlighting the increasingly heavy toll a recent wave of COVID-19 infections is taking on the economy.
Oil jumps 3% on weaker dollar after seven days of losses
Oil prices jumped 3% on Monday, recovering from a seven-day losing streak, with gains driven by a weaker dollar despite demand concerns stoked by rising cases of the Delta coronavirus variant.
Cisco’s profit forecast disappoints on supply chain overhang
Cisco Systems Inc’s (CSCO.O) first-quarter profit forecast fell short of estimates on Wednesday, with the network gear maker warning that supply chain issues would continue to drive up component costs and delivery backlogs.
Marketmind: A delta-driven drop
After an August in which stock markets have repeatedly hit record highs, the mood music turned decisively more sombre on Thursday, led by a late slump in U.S. stocks which cascaded into already jittery Asian markets.
Asian shares move off near year lows, NZ holds rates steady
Asian shares edged off near year-to-date lows on Wednesday despite Wall Street’s overnight declines, while New Zealand’s central bank defied expectations by not raising interest rates as the country is in lockdown due to cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
Delta delays great exit as RBNZ holds fire on hikes
The Delta variant has delayed an expected rate hike in New Zealand, leaving Norway likely the first G10 economy to begin the journey out of an era of emergency-level interest rate lows.
Stocks and oil slide as Delta’s spread muddies economic picture
WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) – Major stock indexes slid and oil posted its fourth straight day of declines as investors grappled with mixed economic data and considered the economic impact of the ongoing spread of the Delta coronavirus variant.
Dollar gains for 2nd day on Afghanistan, Delta variant worries
NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) – The dollar advanced for a second straight session on Tuesday, bolstered by safe-haven demand, as investors fretted about Afghanistan, a slowing Chinese economy, and the rapid spread of the Delta coronavirus variant which forced some lockdowns.
Safe-haven currencies supported on signs on weakening economic sentiment
Safe-haven currencies such as the yen held firm against riskier currencies on Tuesday as disappointing economic data from China, the spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus and political tension in Afghanistan weighed on risk appetite.
Oil prices drop amid faltering demand outlook in China
Oil prices fell by about 2% on Monday, dropping for a third session, after official data showed that refining throughput and economic activity slowed in China in an indication that COVID-19 outbreaks are crimping the world’s second-largest economy.
