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Daily commentary & market insights, May 15, 2025
- May 15, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
No CommentsThe UK economy grew more than expected in March, with monthly GDP up 0.2% and quarterly growth revised higher to 0.7% (vs. 0.6% forecast). The expansion was driven by stronger consumer spending and increased business investment. However, this growth reflects activity before the implementation of new U.S. tariffs and UK tax increases in April, so
Daily commentary & market insights, May 7, 2025
- May 7, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
The Fed held its benchmark rate steady at 4.5% today, as widely expected, despite continued pressure from President Trump for immediate rate cuts. Chair Powell reiterated that the economy continues to expand at a “solid pace” and that the Fed remains prepared to act as needed. Key highlights from the FOMC statement: The labor market
Daily commentary & market insights, May 2, 2025
- May 2, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
Market Update – U.S. Jobs Report & Global Developments U.S. Labor Market – April 2025 Wage Growth: Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% month-over-month, below expectations of 0.3%. Job Creation: The U.S. economy added 177,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in April, beating expectations of 135,000. While slightly slower than March’s revised 185,000 gain, it outpaces the three-month
Daily commentary & market insights, April 23, 2025
- April 23, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
“145% is too high. It will come down substantially.” Trump’s newest take on tariffs suggest the White House is weighing a significant reduction in tariffs on Chinese imports—from the current 145% down to 50–65%. A tiered structure is also under consideration, where goods deemed “strategic to American interests” could face tariffs of up to 100%,
Daily commentary & market insights, April 16, 2025
- April 16, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
The Bank of Canada held its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.75% this morning. While the decision was widely expected following recent tariff-related uncertainty, yesterday’s softer-than-anticipated inflation data—CPI rose just 0.3% month-over-month versus the 0.7% forecast—had sparked some speculation that the bank might consider a rate cut. The shift in U.S. trade policy, marked by
Daily commentary & market insights, April 11, 2025
- April 11, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
The U.S. dollar took another sharp hit today, sliding to a decade-low against the Swiss franc and a three-year low versus the euro. The drop comes amid intensifying trade tensions, particularly with China. After the U.S. confirmed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods yesterday, Beijing retaliated by raising its own tariffs on U.S. imports to
Daily commentary & market insights, April 10, 2025
- April 10, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
U.S. inflation cooled in March, signaling a potential easing of price pressures despite ongoing trade policy volatility. Consumer prices rose 2.4% year-over-year, down from 2.8% in February—the slowest pace since September—driven by declines in gasoline, airfare, and hotel costs. Softer inflation data may give the Federal Reserve room to cut interest rates, which could allow
Daily commentary & market insights, March 28, 2025
- March 28, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
Market Update: Week in Review Monday US: The economy showed mixed signals as a resilient services sector offset renewed weakness in manufacturing. Flash Manufacturing PMI slipped into contraction at 49.8 (vs. 51.9 expected), while Flash Services PMI surged to 54.3 (vs. 51.2), marking its strongest expansion in months. The data underscores ongoing concerns about uneven
Daily commentary & market insights, March 19, 2025
- March 19, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
The Fed met expectations this afternoon by holding its interest rate at 4.5%, unchanged since December. President Trump’s tariffs, along with retaliatory measures from U.S. trading partners, have weighed on consumer sentiment and have been major contributors to inflationary pressures. The Fed acknowledged rising economic uncertainty, and are seemingly in sit-and-wait mode. In response, officials
Daily commentary & market insights, March 12, 2025
- March 12, 2025
- Posted by: Melanie Scott
- Category: Market News
The Bank of Canada announced its 7th consecutive rate cut this morning, bringing its overnight rate down to 2.75% from 3.00%. The bank is concerned with the ongoing crisis of President Trump’s tariff threats and the potential damage they would have on the economy. Following Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford’s implementation of 25% tariff on electricity,