Canadian banks announced they were raising their prime lending rates after the Bank of Canada surprised markets by hiking it benchmark interest rate on June 7.
Business
Stocks hold onto gains during volatile post-Fed session
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Stocks finished Thursday’s trading session higher during a volatile session that followed the Federal Reserve’s signal on Wednesday that the central bank’s rate hiking campaign may be nearing an end amid concerns about stability in the global banking system.
At the closing bell on Thursday the S&P 500 (^GSPC) was up 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) higher by 0.2%, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) was higher by 1%. Earlier in the session, all three major averages had been higher by more than 1% with the Nasdaq up more than 2%, and in afternoon trade both the S&P and Dow tipped into red figures.
Bank stocks remained a source of pressure on Thursday, with the KBW Regional Bank Index (^KRX) falling nearly 3% with regional banks including First Republic (FRC), KeyCorp (KEY), and Comerica (CMA) all falling more than 6%.
Crude oil was under pressure on Tuesday with WTI crude falling more than 2% to as low as $69.20 per barrel after trading closer to $71 earlier in the day. This puts oil back near its lowest levels since November 2021.
The 10-year Treasury yield also came in a bit Thursday, falling nine basis point to settle near 3.40% and continuing a move lower in yields started Wednesday following the Fed’s latest economic forecasts suggested rate hikes are closer to ending than previously expected.
On Wednesday, the Fed raised the target range for its benchmark interest rate by 0.25% as expected, bringing the range for the fed funds rate to 4.75%-5%, the highest since October 2007.
Updated economic projections from the Fed, however, suggested only one more 0.25% rate hike is likely this year, a forecast that is in-line with what the central bank said in December but a reversal from Fed Chair Jay Powell’s signaling earlier this month that rates would likely need to go “higher than previously anticipated.”
“The outcome of the March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting was broadly as we expected,” wrote Bank of America economists led by Michael Gapen. “That said, the Fed has taken on board some amount of tightening in credit standards and terms as a result of the recent stresses that emerged from several regional banks.”
Speaking in a press conference following Wednesday’s policy announcement, Powell said some of these tighter financial conditions would have the “same effect” as raising interest rates. As a result, Powell said several Fed officials were including the bank crisis and financial market fallout in their forecast for fewer rate hikes over the balance of this year.
“Powell stuck with the Fed’s narrative that there is still a path toward a soft-landing or returning inflation to target without pushing the economy into a recession,” wrote Ryan Sweet, Chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, in a note on Wednesday. “However, that path has become narrower because of the pressure on the banking system.”
Away from the index-level reaction to Wednesday’s Fed news, several big tickers related to the crypto industry were on the move after news since Wednesday’s close.
Coinbase (COIN) stock fell 14% on Thursday after the company disclosed late Wednesday it received a Wells Notice from the SEC, which warns companies of pending action from the regulator. Shares of Coinbase fell as much as 18% earlier in the session.
Shares of Block (SQ), the payments company formerly known as Square, were also under pressure Thursday, falling 14.8% after short-seller Hindenburg Research released a new report on the company which alleged up to 75% of the company’s accounts were in some form fraudulent or second accounts from existing users.
In a statement on Thursday afternoon, Block called Hindenburg’s report “factually inaccurate” and said it would work the SEC and explore legal actions it may take against the firm.
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The company says director Chika Stacy Oriuwa indicated she resigned “because of her loss of confidence in board leadership and because of mistreatment.”
In addition to Oriuwa, Indigo says Frank Clegg, Howard Grosfield and Anne Marie O’Donovan have also stepped down as directors. No explanation for their departures was given.
6:05
Indigo CEO Heather Reisman talks about creating a happier planet in her new book ‘Imagine It!’
Indigo wished the departing directors well and thanked them for their contributions.
The retailer says Reisman will retire as executive chair and from the board effective Aug. 22.
Reisman stepped down as chief executive of Indigo last year as part a transition that saw Peter Ruis, who had been the retailer’s president, promoted to chief executive.
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Big banks follow suit after surprise quarter-point hike
Royal Bank of Canada, TD Canada Trust, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Bank of Montreal, National Bank of Canada and Bank of Nova Scotia all said they were increasing the prime rate by 25 basis points to 6.95 per cent from 6.70 per cent, effective June 8, 2023.
Desjardins Group and Equitable Bank also announced it would raise its Canadian prime rate by the same amount.
The Bank of Canada surprised markets and observers when it raised its benchmark policy rate by a quarter percentage point to 4.75 per cent earlier in the day.
The central bank has raised its rate nine times, and 4.5 percentage points, since March 2022, and the commercial banks’ prime rate has moved in lockstep from 2.7 per cent to 6.95 per cent.
Listen to Down to Business for in-depth discussions and insights into the latest in Canadian business, available wherever you get your podcasts. Check out the latest episode below:
Business
Stock Market News Today, 7/06/23 – Stocks End Mixed as Nasdaq Leads Indices Lower – TipRanks
Last Updated 4:00 PM EST
Stock indices finished today’s trading session mixed. The Nasdaq 100 (NDX) and the S&P 500 (SPX) fell 1.75% and 0.38%, respectively. Meanwhile, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 0.28%.
Furthermore, the U.S. 10-Year Treasury yield increased to 3.79%, an increase of more than 12 basis points. Similarly, the Two-Year Treasury yield also increased, as it hovers around 4.56%.
The Atlanta Federal Reserve updated its latest GDPNow reading, which allows it to estimate GDP growth in real-time. The “nowcast” becomes more accurate as more economic data is released throughout the quarter. Currently, it estimates that the economy will expand by about 2.2% in the second quarter.
This is higher than its previous estimate of 2%, which can be attributed to recent releases from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Institute for Supply Management, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Last updated: 1:50PM EST
Stocks are mixed so far in today’s trading session. As of 1:50 p.m. EST, the Nasdaq 100 (NDX) and the S&P 500 (SPX) are down 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is up 0.2%.
Surprising market observers, the Bank of Canada hiked its primary policy rate by 25 basis points, raising it to 4.75% on Wednesday. The bank cited persistent underlying inflation as the main driver for this decision, marking a departure from two consecutive meetings where the rate was held steady.
The bank also continues with its policy of quantitative tightening, indicating a response to worldwide economic growth that’s weakening due to increased interest rates. “Major central banks are signaling that interest rates may have to rise further to restore price stability,” the bank stated.
This unexpected move initially boosted the Canadian dollar but has since lost some ground as it hovers around C$1.338 per US$1. The rate increase follows a rise in CPI inflation to 4.4% in April, its first surge in 10 months, and a stronger-than-anticipated GDP of 3.1% in Q1.
The Bank of Canada’s Governing Council asserts that the rate hike is in response to previous policy not being restrictive enough to balance supply and demand and bring inflation sustainably back to the 2% target.
As a major trading partner, what happens in Canada usually has ripple effects in the U.S. Thus, this could be a sign that the Federal Reserve might have to continue hiking as well going forward.
Last updated: 10:55AM EST
Stocks have turned red so far in today’s trading session after a positive start. As of 10:55 a.m. EST, the Nasdaq 100 (NDX) and the S&P 500 (SPX) are down 0.9% and 0.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is near the flatline.
Last updated: 9:50AM EST
Stocks ticked higher at open on Wednesday morning even as the trade deficit data showed that the United States’ trade deficit jumped 23% in April to $74.6 billion – a six-month high indicating a surge in imports. Imports were up 1.5% in April to $323.6 billion while exports fell by 3.6% to $249 billion.
The Nasdaq 100 (NDX), S&P 500 (SPX), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) were all up by 0.6%, 0.32%, and 0.11%, respectively, at 9:50 a.m., EST, June 7.
First published: 4:38AM EST
U.S. Futures are in the red this morning after the SPX marked its highest close in trading since August 2022 yesterday. We are almost halfway through the trading week, and markets remain elevated in the absence of any negative news. Futures on the Nasdaq 100 (NDX), S&P 500 (SPX), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are down 0.26%, 0.15%, and 0.18%, respectively, at 4:00 a.m., EST, June 7.
On the economic front, traders await reports on the U.S. trade deficit and consumer credit due today, as well as the weekly initial jobless claims data scheduled for June 8. Meanwhile, the Chinese economy is showing signs of slowing, with May exports falling 7.5% year-over-year against the expected 0.4% decline. Also, imports fell 4.5% year-over-year, much lower than the expected 8% decline.
On the earnings front, fewer companies remain to report their quarterly results. Shares of Casey’s General Stores (NYSE:CASY) dropped 4.5% in extended trading yesterday, after missing both sales and earnings expectations. On the other hand, Dave & Buster’s (NASDAQ:PLAY) stock was up over 4% in yesterday’s extended trade following its report of mixed results, with earnings surpassing but sales missing estimates.
Furthermore, meme stock GameStop (NYSE:GME), travel service provider Trip.com Group (NASDAQ:TCOM), e-commerce platform Rent the Runway (NASDAQ:RENT), and discount chain Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (NASDAQ:OLLI) will report their results today.
Elsewhere, European indices are trading in the red today, following weaker-than-expected data from German industrial production for April. After a disastrous March, April seems to continue bleeding from poor performance. Industrial production in April grew by a marginal 0.3% month-over-month, against an expected rise of 0.7%. Economists worry that if data remains weak in May and June, the economy’s recession will spill well into the second quarter.
Asia-Pacific Markets Trade Mixed on Wednesday
Asia-Pacific indices ended the trading session mixed today, following economic data sets from different nations. Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong indices closed mixed on signs that the economy is going into a continued slowdown. At the same time, Australian indices continue their downward spiral after reporting poor GDP growth and following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s unexpected rate hike to a record high yesterday.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index and China’s Shanghai Composite ended the day up 0.80% and 0.08%, respectively, while the Shenzhen Component index closed down by 0.60%.
At the same time, Japan’s Nikkei and Topix indices ended down by 1.82% and 1.34%, respectively.
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