Asia FX tepid ahead of US inflation; BOJ rate hike looms

Global markets displayed a mixed response to the latest US finance reports on Wednesday 19 June 2024. These yardsticks point to a sluggish, but not recessive, US economy. The Associated Press (AP) reported that the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped by 0.1% compared to the S&P 500, which increased by 0.1%. US markets were closed…

An Essex council is asking protesters to end demonstrations outside a hotel housing asylum seekers as it continues to pursue legal action over the property. Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest, called for calm and said the Conservative-controlled council could ultimately seek permission to appeal against the overturning of a high court ban on…

Over the past two years, stablecoins have quietly evolved from a crypto-native instrument into a high-potential tool that can serve as the underpinning for global value transfer. Stablecoins are starting to be used to move real economic value across borders, corporate entities, and financial institutions.  This shift is happening against a backdrop of persistent inefficiencies…

The GBP/USD pair opens with a modest bearish gap at the start of a new week and trades just below mid-1.3400s during the Asian session, down 0.10% for the day. Spot prices, however, lack follow-through selling and manage to hold above last week’s swing low amid mixed fundamental cues. Against the backdrop of the protracted…