Interest rates

Representative image Millions of salaried employees will not be required to wait till the end of 2022 to get their FY22 PF interest credited to their account as the employees’ provident fund organisation (EPFO) is expected to complete the process well in advance. This is largely due to two factors. First, the 8.1% interest rate for FY22 is the lowest in 43 years, and hence unlikely to face scrutiny from the finance ministry. Secondly, crediting interest rate of 8.1% earlier will benefit EPFO’s financial health as the outgo will be less during PF claim settlements, at least two government officials said requesting anonymity. EPFO under the labour ministry may disburse the interest rate ahead of Dusshera-Diwali festive season, one of the two officials cited above said. “I don’t think the finance ministry will have much of a problem in giving formal approval to 8.1% interest rate. Expect the credit of interest pay-out happening earlier this year,” said one of the officials. … [Read more...] about Exclusive | EPFO interest rate credit likely to happen earlier than previous years

U.S. equity markets are mixed following strong earnings from Amazon.com, Inc. ( AMZN ) that lifted the Nasdaq while a blowout jobs report pushed bond yields higher by fueling fears of bigger interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Key Takeaways Tech shares are rising, boosted by Amazon and Snap, as the Nasdaq aims for its first weekly gain this year. A blowout jobs report pushed bond yields higher by fueling fears of bigger interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Crude oil's price surge continued, with the price crossing $93 per barrel. The Nasdaq , helped by Snap Inc. ( SNAP ) and Amazon, is set for its first weekly close higher this year. The S&P 500 is also higher, while the Dow Jones is little changed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is skyrocketing nine basis points (BPS) to 1.92% after the Labor Department reported that many more jobs were created in January than expected (more below). That's prompting speculation that … [Read more...] about Markets Mixed as Amazon, Snap Fuel Tech, Dow Drops on Rate Worries

Federal Reserve President Jerome Powell told Congress while the Fed still plans to hike interest rates to combat inflation, the economic impact from the invasion of Ukraine remains “highly uncertain,” and policymakers will need to be “nimble” in responding to new information. Key Takeaways Stocks are moving higher, gaining back ground lost yesterday, despite the Federal Reserve saying interest rates will move higher this month. ADP reported private-sector jobs jumped more than anticipated last month. Ford, Chevron, Hewlett-Packard Enterprises, and AutoZone are among companies gaining today. Solid economic and corporate news is edging stocks higher. All three major indices are up more than 1%, clawing back some of yesterday's losses. Almost all of the stocks in the Dow are rising. Shares of Chevron Corp. ( CVX ) and other energy companies are higher as the fighting in Ukraine increases concerns about disruptions in oil supplies. Oil futures reached the highest … [Read more...] about Market Wrap: Powell Sticks to Rate Hike, Ford Announces EV Move, AutoZone Soars

Stocks fell further this afternoon as the Fed's James Bullard said he'd like to see rates a full percentage point higher by July. Bullard backs at least a half-point hike on the way to a full point gain before July, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis president told Bloomberg News in an interview today. Bullard votes on monetary policy. Key Takeaways Stocks fell further this afternoon as the Fed's James Bullard said he'd like to see rates a full percentage point higher by July. Stocks had been pulling back from the morning's steep declines as strong corporate earnings from Walt Disney and Mattel partially offset stronger-than-expected inflation data. The Consumer Price Index report released today revealed an annual inflation rate of 7.5%, higher than expected and the largest increase in 40 years. Bond yields rose to their highest since July 2019. Today's Market Movers Stocks had pulled back from the morning's steep declines, with some indexes moving … [Read more...] about Stocks’ Decline Steepens on Bullard’s Rate Hike Comments, Inflation Data

Stocks are falling after hiring in January blew past expectations, raising concerns that the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates aggressively to prevent the economy from overheating. The U.S. added 467,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department reported today. That crushed economists' expectations for 150,000 hires, driving stocks lower despite Amazon.com, Inc. ( AMZN ) gaining after a solid earnings report . Key Takeaways Stocks are falling for a second day after January hiring crushed expectations and raised concerns that the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates aggressively. Amazon is gaining around 10% and Snap more than 40% after reporting solid earnings growth. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note jumped past 1.9%, its highest in more than a year. Crude oil soared past $90 per barrel. The Dow Jones Industrial Average , S&P 500 , and Nasdaq indexes are all lower, following big declines in each yesterday. Crude oil soared past $90 per … [Read more...] about Stocks Drop as Blowout Jobs Report Increases Rate-Hike Jitters

Stocks swooned as monetary policy , geopolitics, and corporate earnings stoked fears, again rattling investors, who scurried for safer investments. Key Takeaways Stocks fall again as monetary policy, geopolitics, and corporate earnings stoked fears Rattled investors scurried for safer investments, pushing bond and gold prices higher. The VIX, the so-called "fear index," climbed higher, continuing a steep ascent that began with the new year. The Nasdaq is down more than 300 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is close to 300 points lower. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX)—the so-called "fear index"—climbed higher, continuing a steep ascent that began with the new year. Concerns that sent major averages lower yesterday—before markets reversed and roared back to finish the day higher—are back today: rising interest rates as the Fed begins its two-day meeting, and the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Investors are also weighing a … [Read more...] about Stocks’ Rout Continues as Rates and Russia Rattle Investors

U.S. stock futures are moving higher, led by technology shares on the Nasdaq exchange, after another volatile day of trading ahead of an announcement from Federal Reserve policymakers about the future of monetary policy . Key Takeaways U.S. stock futures are moving sharply higher, led by technology shares on the Nasdaq exchange. Traders are awaiting a 2 p.m. Eastern time announcement from Federal Reserve policymakers about the future of monetary policy. Cryptocurrencies' rally continued. Oil again marched higher, and the dollar strengthened against the euro. Bond yields fell. Microsoft Corporation ( MSFT ) helped lead tech shares higher after reporting fiscal second quarter results that beat expectations while forecasting better-than-expected quarterly sales for the current quarter. Tesla, Inc. ( TSLA ), scheduled to report earnings after markets close today, is also gaining. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down more than 800 points … [Read more...] about Stocks Gain as Tech Rallies and Investors Await Fed Rate Decision

U.S. equity markets are falling, with the Nasdaq sinking deeper into correction territory as shares of streaming service providers drop. Key Takeaways U.S. equity markets are falling, on their way to further weekly declines, as the Nasdaq sinks deeper into correction territory. Shares of streaming service providers are dropping after Netflix reported slowing subscriber growth. Crude oil futures are falling for a second day. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is sinking, now at 1.76%. Netflix, Inc. ( NFLX ) is the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500, with shares plunging on its slowing subscriber growth. The news is dragging down shares of The Walt Disney Company ( DIS ) and others in the online entertainment sector. Shares of smaller banks are continuing their week-long decline, led by Huntington Bancshares Incorporated ( HBAN ) following its earnings report. Shares of Intel Corporation ( INTC ) and other semiconductor companies are higher on … [Read more...] about Nasdaq Correction Deepens as Stocks Slide on Rate Concerns

Representative Image. Trade Watchlist Portfolio Message Set Alert live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More × Some commodities which are perceived to be sin goods have seen Goods and Services (GST) rates rising to a point where further taxation isn't an option anymore, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs ( CBIC ) Vivek Johri has said. Speaking at an event organized by industry body FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE), Johri said the government is taking a holistic approach to taxation, keeping in mind the public good while also maintaining revenue buoyancy. He also pointed out that gold smuggling has gone up despite tax rates on the shiny metal coming down. ALSO READ: At Rs 1.68 lakh crore, GST collection scales to all-time high in April 2022 Taxes levied for public health … [Read more...] about GST rates on certain sin goods at a point where they can’t be hiked anymore: CBIC Chairman

Representative image Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for April, released on May 12, showed India's headline retail inflation rate hit a 95-month-high of 7.79 percent. This was the fourth consecutive month in which inflation came in higher than the upper limit of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) 2-6 percent mandate. However, in several states and union territories (UTs) prices have risen at a faster pace for a longer period. In Maharashtra, CPI inflation has been above 6 percent for five consecutive months and in Haryana, it has been six straight months of 6 percent-plus inflation. Returning to western India, Dadra and Nagar Haveli is in the midst of a nine-month-long stretch of 6 percent-plus inflation. Retail inflation has averaged 8.3 percent in Dadra and Nagar Haveli over the last nine months—the highest of any region in India. According to the CPI data, retail inflation in April exceeded 6 percent in 26 –or 74 percent–of 35 states and UTs for which data was available. … [Read more...] about 26 states, UTs faced 6%-plus CPI inflation in April