• Feb 07, 2025

Analysis-Leaving Fed behind, top central banks have room to ease

Central banks around the globe have plenty of room to keep cutting interest rates, and a limited "decoupling" from the U.S. Federal Reserve could continue as it pauses its own policy easing, according to policymakers and analysts. Such a parting of the ways could cause problems for U.S. President Donald Trump, taking the sting out of his planned tariffs on trade and even raising the risk that U.S. companies and households will have to pay more to borrow. The Fed is the world's biggest central bank and usually leads others in setting the direction for policy.

  • Feb 07, 2025

Trump inherits a labor market at full employment. Can he keep it there?

Defying fears of a pandemic-driven Great Depression and bucking Federal Reserve interest rate hikes as well, the U.S. job market has hit what U.S. central bank officials are characterizing as a moment of stable full employment, with balanced wage and job growth and a low unemployment rate. As the job market signaled growing weakness last year and the unemployment rate rose, "the question was, are we going to settle in at full employment, or crash through" to yet higher joblessness, as has typically been the case when the unemployment rate rises, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said on Thursday.

  • Feb 07, 2025

Proto Labs’s (NYSE:PRLB) Q4 Sales Beat Estimates But Stock Drops

Manufacturing services provider Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB) reported Q4 CY2024 results beating Wall Street’s revenue expectations, but sales fell by 2.6% year on year to $121.8 million. On the other hand, next quarter’s revenue guidance of $124 million was less impressive, coming in 1.1% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.38 per share was 18.8% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

  • Feb 07, 2025

The markets left reeling from Trump's tariff threats

U.S. President Donald Trump's ability to swiftly impose, and then delay, tariffs on top trading partners has left world markets swinging one way and then another. Last weekend, for example, he announced sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, and then on Monday he announced one-month delays for Canada and Mexico.

  • Feb 07, 2025

Could This Derail Bitcoin's Rally This Year?

After hitting $100,000 last year, crypto investors remain bullish that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) can continue its rally in 2025. President Donald Trump is even looking at creating a reserve of Bitcoins, which would undoubtedly increase demand for the digital currency, helping to push its price up even higher. If interest rates don't come down -- can Bitcoin keep going up?

  • Feb 07, 2025

Bond Traders Await Payrolls Print That May Vindicate Fed Caution

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