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Asian shares end mixed, China benchmark end lower

Asian shares end mixed, China benchmark end lower

Asian stocks turned in a mixed performance on Thursday, with Japanese markets hitting a near five-month high boosted by tech shares while Seoul stocks fell sharply due to profit taking following the recent market rally. Gold ticked higher in Asian trade as the dollar weakened after reports that U.S. President Donald Trump was considering replacing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as early as September or October. Oil extended overnight gains as a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude stocks signaled firm demand. China's Shanghai Composite index ended down 0.22 percent at 3,448.45 after a choppy session as traders assessed simmering economic and geopolitical risks.Powered by Capital Market - Live News

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US weekly jobless claims fall but unemployment rolls swelling
US weekly jobless claims fall but unemployment rolls swelling

Economic Times

time27 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

US weekly jobless claims fall but unemployment rolls swelling

AP FILE - A help wanted sign is posted in Lansdale, Pa., Friday, April 28, 2023. The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits fell last week, but the unemployment rate could rise in June as more laid off people struggle to find work. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 236,000 for the week ended June 21, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 245,000 claims for the latest week. The data included last week's Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday. Claims tend to be volatile around public holidays. Technical factors as well as the start of the summer school breaks have accounted for some of the recent rise in claims, which have pushed them to the upper end of their 205,000-250,000 range for this year. Also Read: U.S. economy shrank 0.5% between January and March, worse than earlier estimates revealed Non-teaching staff in some states are eligible to file for unemployment benefits during the summer holidays. Nonetheless, layoffs have picked up and economists say President Donald Trump's broad import tariffs are making it difficult for businesses to plan ahead. The Federal Reserve has responded to the economic uncertainty by pausing its interest rate cutting cycle. Fed Chair Jerome Powell told lawmakers this week the U.S. central bank needed more time to gauge if tariffs pushed up inflation before considering lowering rates. The Fed last week left its benchmark overnight interest rate in the 4.25%-4.50% range where it has been since December. Still, layoffs remain historically low, accounting for much of the labor market stability. Hiring has, however, been lackluster, making it harder for many unemployed to find new opportunities. The number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid, a proxy for hiring, increased 37,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.974 million during the week ending June 14, the highest level since November 2021, the claims report showed. The so-called continuing claims covered the week during which the government surveyed households for June's unemployment rate. The elevated continuing claims have left several economists to expect that the unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in June from 4.2% in May. A survey from the Conference Board this week showed the share of consumers who viewed jobs as being "plentiful" dropped to the lowest level in more than four years in June. "The rising volume of layoffs is likely to translate into an increase of at least one tenth of a percent in the national jobless rate in the June employment report," said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP.

India in touch with China on rare earth supply issue amid export curbs: MEA
India in touch with China on rare earth supply issue amid export curbs: MEA

Indian Express

time31 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

India in touch with China on rare earth supply issue amid export curbs: MEA

India on Thursday said it has been in touch with China on the issue of rare earth magnet supply, as Beijing has imposed restrictions on their exports. This is the first time that the Indian government has officially acknowledged raising the matter with China, at a time when Delhi and Beijing are working towards normalising the relationship after six years of border standoff. Responding to questions, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'On rare earths, yes, we have been in touch with the Chinese side both in Delhi as also in Beijing and we are talking to them as to how we can streamline the supply chain issue on rare earths.' 'We are in touch with the Chinese side on several economic issues and trade issues as and when anything is required to be done,' he said. China, which controls over 90% of global processing capacity for the magnets used for automobiles, clean energy and home appliances, enacted restrictions in April requiring companies to obtain import permits from Beijing. China's export curbs — meant as a response to US President Donald Trump's tariffs — is likely to impact car manufacturers worldwide. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), an industry group, has sought the Indian government's intervention. While rare earth magnets are a crucial component in electric vehicle motors, they are also required for parts like power windows and audio speakers used in petrol or diesel-run cars. And though the measures imposed by Beijing are meant to focus on high-performance exports, shipments of low-end magnets are also being held up at ports due to confusion around implementing the restrictions. India's auto sector imported 460 tons of rare earth magnets, mostly from China, in the fiscal year ending March 31 and expects to import 700 tons worth $30 million this year, according to industry estimates. Sources said that the industry bodies and companies had raised the issue with the commerce ministry, and that had been escalated to the Chinese. On April 2, Trump unveiled his policy of reciprocal tariffs, targeting most of America's trading partners. Two days later, China responded by announcing a 34% tariff on all US imports, while also placing export restrictions on rare earths. Following the restrictions in April, China's exports of rare earth magnets fell sharply in May. The framework agreed to by the US and China also involves the easing of rare earth supplies. Critical minerals and rare earth elements, which are used across several key sectors, ranging from electronics to renewables, automobiles and defence, are increasingly playing a vital role in the economy. For instance, lithium, nickel and cobalt are used in lithium-ion batteries. Dysprosium and neodymium, and tellurium, indium, and gallium are used in wind turbines and photovoltaic cells respectively. Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More

Gold price today climbs to $3,336 as Trump blasts Powell—here's the forecast and what gold investors should expect next
Gold price today climbs to $3,336 as Trump blasts Powell—here's the forecast and what gold investors should expect next

Economic Times

time42 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

Gold price today climbs to $3,336 as Trump blasts Powell—here's the forecast and what gold investors should expect next

Gold prices may be trading sideways today, but the market is anything but quiet. Between Trump's attacks on the Fed, a possible shakeup in Powell's leadership, and critical inflation data just around the corner, volatility is inevitable. In the short term, gold is likely to remain rangebound between $3,300 and $3,350, but analysts see the metal pushing higher toward $3,500 or beyond by year-end—if the Fed starts cutting and inflation cools off. Keep an eye on Friday's PCE report. It could be the spark that determines gold's next big move. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is the gold price today? Spot gold is trading at $3,336.02 per ounce , up 0.1% on the day. is trading at , up 0.1% on the day. U.S. gold futures (COMEX) are hovering around $3,349.30 per ounce, showing mild intraday gains. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why is gold price under pressure despite a weaker dollar? How is the Trump-Powell feud affecting gold and the Fed's next move? Is economic data pointing to trouble ahead for the US economy? What key data could shake gold next? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index due Friday. price index due Friday. Revised U.S. GDP data, which could shape the Fed's path forward. What role is geopolitics playing in gold's recent decline? Gold price predictions: Where is gold headed next? Source Prediction Timeline Reuters Poll Avg $3,065 2025 Goldman Sachs Up to $3,300 End-2025 J.P. Morgan $3,675 → $4,000 Q4 2025 → Q2 2026 UBS / Bank of America $3,500+ Medium-term CoinCodex Avg $3,570, Peak $4,148 Dec 2025 Citigroup (bearish) Drop to $2,500–2,700 End-2026 AI/Crowd Forecasts Avg $3,070, AI upper range $3,026 Dec 2025 What are the key technical levels gold traders are watching? Immediate resistance lies at $3,356, followed by the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement at $3,371. Support levels include the 38.2% Fib at $3,292 and the 50% Fib at $3,228. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits near 50, signaling a neutral market. What could change the direction of gold prices next? FAQs: Gold prices fell on Thursday as risk appetite grows, US stocks rally to record highs, and President Trump's battle with Fed Chair Jerome Powell casts doubt over rate cut timing. Gold (XAU/USD) slipped from recent highs and was trading near $3,330 in the US session, despite ongoing weakness in the US Dollar. The retreat in gold comes as investors increasingly shift toward risk assets like equities, pushing major US indices to fresh record levels. At the same time, tensions are heating up between President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, further complicating the path forward for monetary are now keenly watching Friday's release of the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data — the Fed's preferred inflation gauge — which could provide crucial clues on when a rate cut might of this morning:While the gains are modest, gold remains up more than 42% over the past month—one of the metal's best runs in recent is often seen as a safe haven when the US Dollar weakens, but that wasn't the case on Thursday. While the USD continued to decline, gold struggled to maintain gains as risk-on sentiment dominated market flows. The XAU/USD pair swung between its 20-day and 50-day moving averages, showing signs of consolidation and investor appear to be chasing momentum in equities rather than seeking safety in gold. The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq all notched fresh record highs this week, diverting attention away from the precious debate around interest rate cuts intensified this week after President Trump openly criticized Fed Chair Powell during the NATO summit. Trump didn't mince words, saying, 'He is going out, fortunately. I think he is terrible.' His comments reflect growing political pressure on the Fed to act swiftly on rate however, struck a cautious tone during his two-day semiannual testimony to Congress, maintaining that interest rates will remain at 4.25%–4.50% for now. He noted that while inflation is nearing the Fed's 2% target, other risks — like tariffs and global uncertainties — must be carefully monitored before making any tug-of-war between fiscal and monetary authorities has left gold in a holding pattern. Traders are reluctant to take bold positions in gold until there's more clarity on the Fed's reports hint that the US economy might be hitting some bumps. On Tuesday, the US Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index showed signs of softening. Then on Wednesday, New Home Sales numbers came in below expectations, suggesting a cooling housing CME FedWatch Tool now shows a 68% chance of a 25 basis-point rate cut in September, with a 21.3% chance of a larger 50 basis-point cut. These expectations are keeping gold investors on edge. Without a strong catalyst, gold may struggle to retest its April high of $3, eyes are now on two big data drops:Any sign that inflation is cooling could fast-track rate cuts—sending gold higher. But if inflation surprises to the upside, the Fed may stay cautious, capping gold's macroeconomic trends are driving most of the action, geopolitical tensions have temporarily eased. The Israel-Iran ceasefire has held for three straight days, helping to reduce global fears and further cooling demand for safe-haven assets like experts warn that the calm may be short-lived. Any new flare-up could quickly push gold prices higher again. For now, though, the absence of immediate conflict is leaving gold exposed to economic and policy what analysts and forecasting models are saying:While most forecasts remain bullish, especially from institutions like J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, some caution is creeping in. If inflation data comes in stronger and rate cuts are delayed, gold could face a near-term pullback toward $2, a chart perspective, XAU/USD is in a tight range, stuck between the 50-day SMA at $3,325 and the 20-day SMA at $3,356. These moving averages are acting as near-term support and resistance zones.A break above $3,371 could see gold test the $3,400–$3,450 zone. On the flip side, a drop below $3,325 could expose gold to deeper losses, especially if Friday's PCE data comes in eyes are now on Friday's PCE inflation data, which is likely to be the biggest driver for gold in the short term. A softer-than-expected reading could revive hopes for a faster Fed rate cut, potentially boosting demand for then, gold may continue to trade sideways as markets juggle conflicting signals: a weakening dollar, stock market euphoria, political tension, and economic is dropping as investors prefer riskier assets like US stocks over safe-haven push for rate cuts vs Powell's caution adds uncertainty, keeping gold range-bound.

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