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US Business Activity Expands at Slowest Pace in Four Months

S&P Global’s flash April gauge decreases to 50.9 from 52.1 Composite employment shrinks for first time since 2020 US business activity expanded in April at the slowest pace this year on a pullback in demand that led to the first decline in employment since 2020.   The S&P Global flash April composite index of output [...] READ MORE

US business activity cools in April; inflation measures mixed

Matt Arnold, CEO of Look Trailers, tours the company's utility trailer manufacturing facility in Middlebury (Reuters) - U.S. business activity cooled in April to a four-month low due to weaker demand, while rates of inflation eased slightly even as input prices rose sharply, suggesting some possible relief ahead as the Federal Reserve looks for signs [...] READ MORE

U.S. economy takes a step backward in April, S&P surveys show, as demand weakens

Customers in their vehicles wait for their orders at a Sonic restaurant drive-in in Miami. The U.S. economy lost momentum in April, a pair of S&P surveys showed. New orders decline and businesses reduce employment for first time since the pandemic   The numbers: The U.S. economy lost momentum in April, a pair of S&P [...] READ MORE

The REAL Reason the South Lost the Civil War

As the cannons roared at the outset of the Civil War, and the Union and Confederacy armies marched for battle – an equally fierce economic battle raged behind the scenes.   To fund the war effort, both the Union and the Confederacy introduced their own currency in a financial arms race. In this edition of [...] READ MORE

Danish heirs to sell US$72 million rare coin collection after 100 years

A Danish gold Sovereign of King Christian IV dated 1608. Source: Stack's Bowers The descendants of the Danish butter magnate Lars Emil Bruun waited exactly 100 years to claim their now US$72 million inheritance. Not by choice.   At least one grandchild reportedly tried and failed to break Bruun’s will, which specified that his 20,000-piece [...] READ MORE

Dollar touches new 34-year peak vs yen on US rate outlook

Euro, Hong Kong dollar, U.S. dollar, Japanese yen, pound and Chinese 100 yuan banknotes are seen in this picture illustration. Summary Markets on lookout for Japan intervention on dollar/yen Investors looking to BOJ meeting on Friday Easing Mideast tensions temper dollar's gains Focus on U.S. GDP, inflation numbers NEW YORK, April 22 (Reuters) - The [...] READ MORE

U.S. oil rises nearly 2% to top $83 a barrel as slowing manufacturing raises interest rate cut hopes

KEY POINTS U.S. crude oil moved higher to nearly $83 a barrel. WTI briefly dipped below the 50-day moving average of $81.22 earlier in the session. Oil prices turned higher as traders see slowing manufacturing activity as support for the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates this year. The market has largely dismissed the threat of [...] READ MORE

Speculative froth departing gold as China tightens trading conditions

Not all buying is equal and that is becoming apparent to gold.   Arguably the physical buying interest from central banks as well as Chinese retail purchases underpinning the market could count as some of the highest quality in that neither is likely to return to the market irrespective of the price action.   The [...] READ MORE

Gold Tumbles as Haven Demand Wanes Amid Easing War Risks

Bullion plummets after the best run of weekly gains since 2023 Traders look ahead to US price data for monetary-policy clues Gold remains more than 15% higher so far this year, with gains supported by central-bank buying and demand from Asia, especially China. Gold took a tumble as haven demand waned after geopolitical tensions eased [...] READ MORE