Market Brief, North America

Investors are struggling to restrain themselves ahead of consumer inflation data that is expected to help clear the way for a jumbo-sized rate cut from the Federal Reserve in September. Treasury yields are sliding, equity indices are setting up for a positive open, and risk proxies like the Canadian dollar are advancing as market participants double down on a soft landing scenario in the US. The trade-weighted dollar is down roughly half a percentage point from Monday’s level after producer prices rose by less than forecast in July, pointing to a continued easing in underlying inflation pressures. The core producer...

In an unusual turn of events, investors are suddenly acting as if bad news for the economy might also be bad news for financial markets. During yesterday’s session, evidence of rising unemployment and a deepening contraction in the US manufacturing sector helped compound the effects of a series of underwhelming earnings reports, triggering a plunge in major stock indices – and the selling looks set to continue at this morning’s open, as futures point to further losses. Air seems to be coming out of the artificial intelligence bubble. Updates from the likes of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft this week...