U.S. housing starts accelerate, building permits skid to eight-month low

U.S. homebuilding increased more than expected in June, but permits for future home construction fell to an eight-month low, likely reflecting hesitancy caused by expensive building materials as well as shortages of labor and land.
Japan’s Q3 growth forecast cut as new pandemic curbs hit: Reuters poll

Japan’s economy will grow at a slower pace than initially expected in the third quarter, as fresh coronavirus emergency curbs in Tokyo, extending through the Olympic Games, weigh on consumption, a Reuters poll found.
American Airlines forecasts first positive cash flow since pandemic began

American Airlines (AAL.O) said on Tuesday it expects positive cash flow in the second quarter for the first time since the pandemic began, reversing a trend of cash burn of about $100 million a day when global travel had ground to a halt.
S&P 500 and Nasdaq end lower after hitting record highs

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended lower on Tuesday after hitting record highs earlier in the session, with investors digesting a jump in consumer prices in June and earnings from JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs that kicked off the quarterly reporting season.
IMF raises U.S. 2021 growth forecast to 7%, assumes Biden spending plans pass

The International Monetary Fund raised its 2021 U.S. growth projection sharply to 7.0% due to a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and an assumption that much of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure and social spending plans will be enacted.
Ghosts of taper tantrum to haunt EMFX, stir volatility memories: Reuters poll

Volatility risks in coming months are high on the radar of emerging market currency investors still familiar with past Fed tightening, a Reuters poll of strategists found, but commodity prices are offering support amid slow vaccination rates.
Five market trends investors are eyeing halfway through 2021

Investors have enjoyed a rewarding ride in the first half of 2021, as unprecedented economic stimulus, stellar earnings growth and a reopening U.S. economy powered the S&P 500 to record highs and a 14% year-to-date gain, putting the index on track for a first-half performance rivaled only once in over two decades.
Australian watchdog suspects insider trader at tech firm Nuix

Australia’s corporate regulator is investigating Macquarie-backed software provider Nuix (NXL.AX) over suspicious revenue forecasts in its prospectus, as well as its former CFO for alleged insider trading, court documents show.
U.S. consumer confidence at 16-month high; house price inflation heating up

U.S. consumer confidence jumped to its highest level in nearly 1-1/2 years in June as growing labor market optimism amid a reopening economy offset concerns about higher inflation.
Musk says may need $30 bln to keep Starlink in orbit

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Tuesday that his Starlink satellite internet venture was growing quickly as he forecast total investment costs in the business at between $20 billion and $30 billion.