SHANGHAI, Mar 30 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.
Last night
The US dollar index stood above 90, buoyed by month-end capital flows.
Most SHFE metals registered gains following China’s announcement of corporate tax cuts, with nickel and tin rising over 1%. SHFE copper inched up. LME nickel sharply jumped close to 3%, tin edged up over 1%, while aluminium tumbled to an eight-month low as inventories increased.
The US initial claims for unemployment benefits over the week that ended on March 24 fell to a new low in 45 years and stood at 215,000, signalling a tighter labour market. This will give more support to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike.
The core annualised US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index in February rose 0.2% from January, in line with forecast but below the 0.3% in January. Year on year, the PCE rose 1.6%, in line with forecast and slightly above the previous 1.5%, but still under the inflation target of 2% by the Fed. As stable inflation growth suppressed consumer spending, economists see a moderate expansion in the first quarter of the year, taking into account trade, housing and business equipment spending.
The US personal income in February met estimates and rose 0.4% month on month. Consumer spending, which accounted for two thirds of US business activity, inched up for a second straight month. Households mostly saved instead of spending and and this likely hampered economic growth in the first quarter.
The US Michigan consumer sentiment index stood at 101.4 in the final March reading, a new high since January 2004. A strong labour market and bullish sentiments on economic growth eased concerns over US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the volatility of the stock market. This also signalled that consumer confidence grew from corporate tax cuts and bonus policies.
The number of active US rigs fell by 2 units to 993 units in total over the week ended March 30, with natural gas rigs up 4 units to 194 units and oil rigs down 7 units to 797 units, according to data from Baker Hughes.
Day ahead
Major exchanges are closed for Good Friday today.
China’s manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) in March will be the key factor to watch on Saturday March 31.
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