ECONOMY & MARKETS

British manufacturing activity expanded in May at the weakest rate since January 2021, as producers of consumer goods struggled against a worsening cost-of-living crunch, a survey showed on Wednesday.

Markets may be missing the mix.As financial markets parse monetary policy tea leaves by the hour and remain in thrall to the twists and turns of major central banks, some argue investors are missing the broader economic policy picture shaping the years ahead.

The Bank of Canada opened the door to a more aggressive pace of tightening on Wednesday, saying it was prepared to act "more forcefully" if needed to tame inflation, even as it went ahead with a historic second consecutive 50-basis-point rate increase.

The Bank of Canada will almost certainly go ahead with its second consecutive half-point interest rate hike on Wednesday, as it scrambles to tame runaway inflation before price increases become self-fulfilling.

The U.S. dollar rose against the euro on Wednesday, helped by upbeat U.S.

The euro edged further away from a monthly high on Wednesday and the U.S. dollar nudged higher, lifted by higher Treasury yields as global inflation worries flared anew.

The dollar rose to a two-week high versus the yen on Wednesday, lifted by higher Treasury yields as global inflation worries flared anew.

Global growth in factory activity slowed in May as China's strict coronavirus curbs and Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted supply chains and dampened demand, adding to woes for businesses already struggling with surging raw material prices.

Global equities fell and the U.S. dollar advanced on Wednesday after stronger-than-expected economic data helped assuage concerns of high inflation and an impending recession driven partly by rising oil prices.

European stocks made slim gains on Wednesday, with the dollar strengthening as investors fretted over soaring inflation and the hit on global growth from looming interest rate rises.

Global stocks fell and bond yields rose on Wednesday, while the dollar strengthened, as investors fretted over soaring inflation and the impact on global growth from looming interest rate rises.

The Bank of Japan must maintain its massive monetary stimulus as inflation has yet to sustainably achieve its 2% target, deputy governor Masazumi Wakatabe said on Wednesday, stressing the need to create an environment in which wages can rise faster.

South Korea's exports grew at a faster pace in May than a month earlier as a rise in shipments to Europe and United States more than offset disruptions to trade with China from its strict COVID restrictions.

Japanese firms raised capital spending for a fourth straight quarter from January to March, underscoring the resilience of business investment led by manufacturers despite uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Australian home prices broke a 20-month winning streak in May as falls accelerated in Sydney and Melbourne amid rising interest rates and a cost-of-living crunch.

Canadian house price inflation will slow to 10% this year as the Bank of Canada raises interest rates aggressively, a Reuters poll of property market experts found.

The head of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday called on Wells Fargo & Co Chief Executive Charles Scharf to "finally" address weaknesses at the bank, including "governance, risk management, and hiring practices." .

The Czech treasury is looking at adding a new euro-denominated bond this year and issuing treasury bills in euros for the first time, taking advantage of its debt being newly accepted as collateral in European Central Bank operations, the country's debt chief said on Tuesday.

A rebound in U.S. stocks may have another 5% to go but likely remains just a "bear market rally," according to Morgan Stanley's equity strategist, who sees negative trends in corporate earnings and economic indicators.

Colombia's peso and stock exchange closed higher on Tuesday, in the first session since the contest to elect the country's next president narrowed to two candidates, including business-friendly construction magnate Rodolfo Hernandez.

U.S. consumer confidence eased modestly in May as persistently high inflation and rising interest rates force Americans to become more cautious about buying big ticket items, including motor vehicles and houses, which could curtail economic growth.

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said on Tuesday that the Biden administration is considering whether to cut some tariffs on Chinese goods, but needs to balance short-term price reduction goals against the longer-term need to address unfair competition from China.

Affirm Holdings Inc is partnering with digital payments processor Stripe Inc to offer buy now, pay later services to Stripe users in the United States.

Canada's economic growth was not as robust as expected in the first quarter, dragged by lower export volumes, official data showed on Tuesday, though activity was bang-on central bank projections and unlikely to sway plans for an oversized rate hike in June.

Canada's economy was not as robust as expected in the first quarter, but had momentum heading into the second, official data showed on Tuesday, reinforcing the likelihood of another oversized rate hike from the central bank this week.

Mining and commodity trading giant Glencore has helped to fund Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines as the company has been unable to pay its bills on time and the state has yet to find a new investor more than a year after it took over the complex.

Canada's main stock snapped its recent winning streak on Tuesday, pressured by a drop in resource shares, as investors grew more nervous that central banks would hike interest rates aggressively to tame inflation.

Canada's main stock index looked to break a seven-day winning streak on Tuesday, as prospects of aggressive monetary tightening by central banks stoked concerns of a global economic slowdown.

U.S. President Joe Biden will meet Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday as historic inflation drains Americans' pocketbooks.