Bonds
Official China PMI surprises to the downside in February
The weak prints on two closely-followed surveys of activity in China's economy for February likely overstate the extent of the slowdown seen during the month of February, economists said, possibly as a result of the Lunar New Year holidays.
Bonds: Newly minted Fed chief catches some traders on the hop
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2. 91% (+5bp) UK: 1. 56% (+5bp) Germany: 0. 68% (+3bp) France: 0. 95% (+2bp) Spain: 1. 56% (+1bp) Italy: 2. 01% (-1bp) Portugal: 2. 02% (+2bp) Greece: 4. 38% (-3bp) Japan: 0. 047% (0bp).
Fed's Powell commits to full employment and stable inflation mandates
In his first remarks as the new head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell appeared to strike a balance between pointing to continuity with his predecessors and a slightly less hawkish take on then current inflationary pressures and the Federal Reserve's policy bias.
Businesses erring on side of caution when borrowing, UK Finance says
Businesses continue to keep a tight control on their purse strings, erring on the side of caution when it comes to borrowing, although overall sentiment is still upbeat, according to industry body UK Finance.
Netflix gains improved rating form S&P on strong outlook
Netflix's high-yield bonds moved ahead on Thursday evening, after S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook on the Californian firm's credit, saying that a stronger-than-expected operating performance in 2017 had forced it to take another look.
BoE's Ramsden sounds positive, but cautious, note on productivity outlook
Productivity growth picked up in the back half of last year, yet whether that improvement will stick remains to be seen, although it's not all bad news in terms of the outlook for further improvement, a top Bank of England official argued.
Commodities: DoE data boosts WTI futures, net oil imports lowest since 1992
Energy futures climbed on Thursday following the release of data showing a large drawdown in US stockpiles, which helped to buoy the entire complex.
Bonds: Weaker GDP buoys Gilts, US Treasuries retrace losses
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2. 92% (-3bp) UK: 1. 55% (-1bp) Germany: 0. 71% (-2bp) France: 0. 98% (-1bp) Italy: 2. 08% (+3bp) Spain: 1. 52% (+1bp) Portugal: 2. 03% (+3bp) Greece: 4. 37% (-7bp) Japan: 0. 06% (+0bp).
US corporate investment may be coming out of the doldrums, Fed's Quarles says
Corporate investment may finally be coming out of the doldrums, a top US central bank official said, sticking to the monetary authority's mantra that policy should continue to be gradually "normalised" given job market strength and the "likely only temporary" softness of inflation.
Bonds: US debt auctions see reasonable demand, according to analysts
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2. 89% (+1bp) UK: 1. 59% (-1bp) Germany: 0. 74% (+0bp) France: 1. 0% (+1bp) Spain: 1. 53% (+2bp) Italy: 2. 07% (+3bp) Portugal: 2. 05% (+3bp) Greece: 4. 40% (+13bp) Japan: 0. 07% (+1bp).
Spanish 30-year bond auction meets strong demand
A Spanish government auction of 30-year bonds has been met with a flood of demand.
US January CPI comes in ahead of forecasts
The cost of living in the US was steady last month, contrary to expectations for a dip, buoyed by unusually large increases in clothing and medical care prices, with those for the former rising at their quickest pace since 1990.
Bridgewater's Dalio fears rising risk of US recession
Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio said on Monday that the risks of a recession hitting in the next 18 to 24 months are rising.
S&P upgrades Rio Tinto's long-term debt rating to 'A'
Standard&Poor's upgraded its rating on Rio Tinto's long-term debt from 'A-' to 'A', saying that supportive commodity prices and the company's focus on costs and productivity likely meant its operational performance would remain robust.
Brexit uncertainty could delay next rate hike, McCafferty says
Brexit's approach and its potential negative impact in confidence may knock test the Bank of England's rate hike plans, a top official said.
Chinese loan growth beats forecasts in January
Chinese bank lending picked up sharply at the start of the year, but some economists cautioned about reading too much into the data due to distortions from seasonal effects, pointing out signs of a slowdown evident in broader measures of credit growth.
Vlieghe sees 'huge uncertainty' around path for interest rates
Bank of England policymaker Gertjan Vlieghe set out reasons why he has become increasingly hawkish over interest rates.
Two hikes in Bank Rate should not come as great shock, BoE's Broadbent says
Two interest rate hikes over the course of 2018 should not come as a great shock, the Bank of England's number two official suggested on Friday.
UK fund sales hit record £63bn in 2017, investors return to stocks
Investors in Britain put a record-breaking amount of money to work in 2017.
Bonds: Gilt yields rise on BoE rate hike expectation
These were the movements in some of the most widely followed 10-year sovereign bond yields:.