ECONOMY & MARKETS

Middle East benchmark Dubai crude soared to a record this week while spot premiums for April-loading Russian oil jumped to their highest in more than two years in Asia, trade sources said on Wednesday as prices returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The U.S. Federal Reserve will kick off its tightening cycle in March with a 25-basis-point interest rate rise, a Reuters poll of economists found, but a growing minority say it will opt for a more aggressive half-point move to tamp down inflation.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday delayed a pivotal committee vote on President Joe Biden's nominees to the Federal Reserve Board, including Jerome Powell as chair, when they boycotted the proceeding over objections to Sarah Bloom Raskin as the central bank's Wall Street regulator.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is probing whether financial executives may have broken the rules by tipping off hedge funds ahead of large sales of shares, known as "block trades," according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

Republicans' Tuesday boycott of a vote to advance the nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin as the Federal Reserve's Wall Street cop will further delay regulatory changes which have been in limbo since Randal Quarles stepped down as Vice Chair for Supervision in October.

Republicans' Tuesday boycott of a vote to advance the nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin as the Federal Reserve's Wall Street cop will further delay regulatory changes which have been in limbo since Randal Quarles stepped down as Vice Chair for Supervision in October.

Canada prevailed on Tuesday in a challenge to U.S.

A dramatic flattening in key parts of the U.S. Treasury yield curve is reflecting worries that the Federal Reserve has been too slow to raise interest rates and will now risk causing a recession by tightening monetary policy too aggressively.

Forcing foreign bank branches in the European Union to become subsidiaries would be a "last resort" to shed light on regulatory blind spots, a senior EU official said on Tuesday.

British inflation is on track to peak at a 30-year high of over 7% in April but differences in forecasts for energy prices and wages mean private-sector economists and the Bank of England are split over what happens next.

U.S. producer prices increased by the most in eight months in January amid a surge in the cost of hospital outpatient care and goods such as food and motor vehicles, another sign that high inflation could persist through much of this year.

U.S. producer prices increased by the most in eight months in January amid a surge in the cost of hospital outpatient care and goods such as food and motor vehicles, another sign that high inflation could persist through much of this year.

The U.S. Federal Reserve should tighten monetary policy soon and decisively to head off what could become "quite persistent" inflation, World Bank Chief Economist Carmen Reinhart told Reuters in an interview.

Tentative signs of progress are emerging in talks between the private sector and Mexico's government towards forging a compromise on President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's divisive plan to strengthen state control of the power market.

As the Bank of Japan asserts its standing as a lone dove among its peers, the yen is reclaiming its status as the world's most popular funding currency.

As the Bank of Japan asserts its standing as a lone dove among its peers, the yen is reclaiming its status as the world's most popular funding currency.

The rouble rose more than 2% versus the dollar on Tuesday as Russia said some troops near Ukraine were returning to their bases after military exercises, easing concerns over a potential invasion that had fuelled a Russian asset sell-off last week.

European stocks pulled back some of their recent losses on Tuesday following reports that some Russian troops near Ukraine were returning to their bases, while some positive corporate updates also boosted sentiment.

European stocks recovered some lost ground on Tuesday, following reports that some Russian troops near Ukraine were returning to their bases, while some positive corporate updates also boosted sentiment.

Supply chain shortages and wage inflation are at the top of a list of concerns for aerospace companies attending a depleted Singapore Airshow amid tight health controls this week.

Emerging Asian bonds ex-China attracted the biggest monthly foreign inflow in five months in January, as some signs of economic recovery in the region eased concerns over monetary policy tightening by major central banks.

Indonesia's export growth slowed more than expected in January, after authorities in the world's top thermal coal exporter banned coal shipments, a move that shocked the global energy market.

Indonesia's export growth slowed more than expected in January, after authorities in the world's top thermal coal exporter banned shipments, a surprise move that drew complaints from importers Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

Stocks on Wall Street and in Europe rebounded on Tuesday while oil prices fell after Russia indicated it was withdrawing some troops from exercises near Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin said he saw room for further discussion with the West.

Stocks and other risky assets made a modest recovery on Tuesday, halting a market selloff over several days on fears that Russia would invade Ukraine, as investors took confidence from Russia saying that some of its troops were returning to their bases.

Asian share benchmarks dropped on Tuesday as investors contemplated the implications of a potential imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Oil tumbled over 3% on Tuesday, retreating from a seven-year high after Russia said some of its military units were returning to their bases following exercises near Ukraine, a move that appeared to de-escalate tension between Moscow and the West.

Oil dropped almost 4% from a seven-year high on Tuesday after Russia said some of its military units were returning to their bases after exercises near Ukraine, a move that appeared to de-escalate tension between Moscow and the West.

Oil dropped from a seven-year high to around $94 a barrel on Tuesday, pressured by a report that some troops in Russia's military districts adjacent to Ukraine are returning to bases, a move that could de-escalate tension between Moscow and the West.