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Euro hovers near three-week low on grim outlook

Economies.com
2022-08-18 09:48AM UTC

Euro declined on Thursday against dollar once again, nearing three-week lows on grim economic outlook in Europe and rising European energy prices. 

 

Dollar rose to three-week highs after the latest Federal Reserve's meeting minutes, which maintained strong prospects for several more large interest rate hikes until March.

 

EUR/USD fell 0.3% to 1.0146, after rising 0.1% yesterday, the second profit in a row off three-week lows at 1.0122. 

 

Grim Outlook 

 

Analysts maintain the grim outlook for the European economy, especially as living costs surge due to higher energy prices.

 

There's a real risk that natural gas in Germany might be exhausted by the winter as supplies from Russia remain hindered. 

 

The energy sector continues its collapse with standard energy prices surging above 500 euros in Germany for the first time, pressuring businesses.

 

Germany energy prices rose 5.2% to 502 euros per megawatt\hour, a 500% increase from last year.

 

The Dollar

 

The dollar index rose 0.3% on Thursday for another session to two-week highs at 106.96, against a basket of major rivals. 

 

The Fed's latest meeting minutes paved the way for several more large rate hikes this year as inflation remains a high risk factor for the economy. 

Oil prices rebound from six-month lows, dollar edges up

Economies.com
2022-08-18 06:09AM UTC

Oil futures tilted higher in Asian trade with US crude off January 26 lows, while Brent climbed from February 18 lows, as the dollar index climbed from June 29 lows. 

 

It comes ahead of major US data today, and warnings from OPEC that emergency capacity to produce oil has become rare and scarcity could be coming. 

 

As of 05:37 GMT, US crude futures rose 0.76% to $87.76 a barrel, while Brent October futures rose 0.54% to $93.68 a barrel, as the dollar index rose 0.05% to 106.71. 

 

From the US, unemployment claims for the week ending August 13 are expected up 3 thousand to 265 thousand, while continuing claims are expected up 10 thousand to 1.438 million.

 

The Philly Manufacturing Index is expected up to minus 4.9 from minus 12.3 in July, while existing home sales are expected down to 4.87 million units. 

 

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George is due to speak about the economic outlook at an event hosted by the Fairfax Industrial Association, in Missouri, later today.

 

Official US data showed crude inventories tumbled 7.1 million barrels last week to 425 million barrels, while analysts expected a drop of 275 thousand barrels.

 

Gasoline stocks fell 4.6 million barrels to 215.7 million barrels, while distillate stocks rose 0.8 million barrels to 112.3 million barrels.

 

US two-year and five-year treasury yields curves remain reversed, in an ominous sign for an upcoming depression in the US economy.

 

Otherwise, China continues to face a very stubborn Covid 19 wave that continues to impede growth, with World Health Organization reporting 585.05 million global infections worldwide so far, with the death toll at 6.425 million.

 

Baker Hughes data showed US oil rigs rose by 3 to 601 rigs, while rising in July for the 24th month in a row, with US output stabilizing at 12.1 million bpd, the highest since April 2020.

 

US output remains down a million bpd, or 8% from record highs at 13.1 million bpd in March 2020.

US crude stocks tumble by over 7 million barrels

Economies.com
2022-08-17 14:54PM UTC

Official US data showed crude inventories tumbled 7.1 million barrels last week to 425 million barrels, while analysts expected a drop of 275 thousand barrels. 

 

Gasoline stocks fell 4.6 million barrels to 215.7 million barrels, while distillate stocks rose 0.8 million barrels to 112.3 million barrels. 

 

Initial independent data yesterday showed US crude stocks by 448 thousand barrels. 

Wall Street declines ahead of Fed's minutes

Economies.com
2022-08-17 14:51PM UTC

US stock indices declined on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes. 

 

Earlier US data showed retail sales stabilized last month as gasoline prices declines and car sales dipped. 

 

Later today, the Federal Reserve will reveal the minutes of its last meeting, at which it hiked interest rates by 75 basis points.

 

Dow Jones declined 0.5% to 33,964 as of 14:39 GMT, while NASDAQ shed 1.4% to 12,917, as S&P 500 shed 0.8% to 4,217.