Stock index futures were slightly lower on Monday as investors awaited data on personal spending for a signal the economy can avoid a double-dip recession and after a fresh batch of merger-and-acquisition activity.
The yen rose and Japanese shares gave up some of their strong early gains on Monday after the Bank of Japan made only minor tweaks in policy, disappointing markets looking for more aggressive action against deflation.
World oil prices continued to move upwards in Asian trade Monday as regional stocks also took advantage of US Fed chief Bernanke's speech last week. Light sweet crude for October delivery was seen trading at $75.37 a barrel at 12.00 noon Singapore time while Brent crude was at $76.83 a barrel in London.
Gold eased in Asian trade Monday as positive trends ignited by Fed moves were offset by speculation of profit selling. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1235.34 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while US gold futures for December delivery was at $1,237.40 an ounce.
Oil prices recovered some lost ground Friday after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed stands ready to do whatever it takes to support economic recovery.
President Barack Obama said on Sunday the U.S. economy was expanding, but not quickly enough, and there was no magic bullet that will fix its problems.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has smoothed the ruffled feathers of anti-inflation hawks at the Fed by indicating he will only press for more policy easing if the U.S. economic slowdown worsens.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has smoothed the ruffled feathers of anti-inflation hawks at the Fed by indicating he will only press for more policy easing if the U.S. economic slowdown worsens.
Beaten-up investors go into September, historically a weak month for stocks, facing key reports on jobs, manufacturing and services. If those disappoint, the S&P 500 could breach technical support levels, pushing stocks yet lower.
The European Union thinks China has made only limited progress in allowing its yuan currency to move more rapidly, and swifter action would help safeguard a fragile economic recovery, according to a draft G20 document obtained by Reuters on Saturday.
The European Union thinks China has made only limited progress in allowing its yuan currency to move more rapidly, and swifter action would help safeguard a fragile economic recovery, according to a draft G20 document obtained by Reuters on Saturday.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday the economic recovery has weakened more than expected and the Fed stands ready to act if needed to spur slowing growth.
U.S. economic growth was revised down to a sluggish 1.6 percent annual rate in the second quarter, pointing to an even softer performance in the third quarter.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday the economic recovery has weakened more than expected and the Fed stands ready to act if needed to spur slowing growth.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday the economic recovery has weakened more than expected and the Fed stands ready to act if needed to spur slowing growth.
The economic recovery was weaker than originally estimated in the second quarter and analysts have now revised forecasts for third quarter growth down also.
Stocks rebounded to post their best gains in nearly four weeks on Friday, overcoming initial skittishness brought on by a revenue warning from Intel and dour comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Stocks rebounded to post their best gains in nearly four weeks on Friday, overcoming initial skittishness brought on by a revenue warning from Intel and dour comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
U.S. economic growth was revised down on Friday to a 1.6 percent annual rate in the second quarter, pointing to an even softer performance in the third quarter.
U.S. stocks rose on Friday on buying by investors holding short positions who locked in profits after a revenue warning from a major technology company and downbeat remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday the economic recovery has softened more than expected and the Fed is ready to take further steps if needed to spur the stumbling economy.
Intel Corp warned third-quarter revenue could fall short of its own estimates by more than $1 billion, reinforcing doubts about the strength of a technology sector recovery.
