Japan’s retail sales rise for 3rd month, but overall trend still soft
Japanese retail sales beat expectations in May as households loosened their purse strings, but underlying trends in consumption remain hostage to COVID-19-linked pressures and suggest the economic recovery will take time to gather steam.
Siemens raises growth target with digital drive
Siemens (SIEGn.DE) unveiled targets on Thursday to outpace the market by combining its core engineering business with digital expertise in the first strategic blueprint under new Chief Executive Roland Busch.
Dollar rally sputters as Fed sends mixed signals on inflation
The U.S. dollar vacillated below an 11-week high versus major peers on Thursday as traders attempted to navigate conflicting signals from Federal Reserve officials on the timing of a withdrawal of monetary stimulus.
Analysis: Fed’s “big tent” framework may fray under inflation surge
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s carefully crafted move last year to a jobs-first monetary policy, touted as giving workers their best chance after the pandemic, is being tested by a potentially table-turning rebound of inflation and what’s become a relative rush of policymakers determined not to let it get out of hand.
Danish ‘meme stock’ Orphazyme plunges after drug setback
Orphazyme (ORPHA.CO) slashed its financial forecasts on Friday after U.S. health regulators rejected its key drug candidate, sending shares in Denmark’s first so-called meme stock tumbling 75% in early trading.
Bonds stung, dollar cheered by sudden hawkish turn at Fed
Asian equities fell to a three-week low on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve stunned investors by signalling it might raise interest rates at a much faster pace than assumed, sending bond yields and the dollar sharply higher.
SNB hikes Swiss inflation view but policy to stay ultra-loose
The Swiss National Bank on Thursday signalled monetary policy would stay ultra-loose for the foreseeable future, saying projected higher inflation was no reason to change course a day after the timetable for U.S. rate hikes moved forward.
NZ economy surges as housing, retail drive post-COVID recovery
New Zealand’s economic growth swept past forecasts in the first quarter on the back of a housing boom and strong retail spending, avoiding a second recession and bringing forward expectations for tighter monetary policy.
Japan to avoid recession, but Q2 growth forecasts cut sharply
Japan’s economy likely grew and avoided slipping into recession this quarter but an extension of emergency measures to stem a rise in coronavirus infections has dented the growth outlook, a Reuters poll showed.
BlackRock becomes first to operate wholly owned China mutual fund biz
BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) has become the first global asset manager licensed to start a wholly owned onshore mutual fund business in China, as the government opens up the country’s $3.5 trillion mutual fund industry.
