Investing in uranium and nuclear power has been one of the great post-covid trades. A re-think of nuclear power as a green alternative was long overdue and it was compounded by AI power demand, making it something of a super-trend.Just now, US energy secretary Chris Wright said the US is looking to boost its uranium stockpiles and that's lifted shares of Canadian uranium miner Cameco to a record high.Shares of the company are now up 16x from the covid lows. The latest move is a breakout from a textbook megaphone pattern but we're now close to the measured target. Spot uranium prices are still well-below the January 2024 highs. This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

US equity markets are rising daily so it's no big surprise that foreign money is flooding in, particularly into US tech stocks. What's difficult to understand is how the US dollar is so weak, despite the intense buying in US stock markets.The first part of the answer is that US stock markets aren't the only ones rallying. The 12% rally in the S&P 500 this year and 15% climb in the Nasdaq trails markets in China, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan (where the Nikkei is up 32% YTD). That's not all though, as Deutche Bank highlights today:there is also an important flow story: foreign investors are now removing dollar exposure at an unprecedented pace.They looked at the money flowing into the US and note that 80% of the new buying in US equities this year is FX hedged, an unprecedented level this decade.The FX implications are clear: foreigners may have returned to buying US assets, but they don’t want the dollar exposure that goes with it. For every hedged dollar asset that is bought, an equivalent amount of currency is sold to remove the FX risk.With the Fed about to cut again, hedging the USD exposure will only get cheaper. This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

RBC finds itself in a strange position this week.The market is 95% priced in for a Bank of Canada rate cut but the country's largest bank says it's unnecessary. Now I strongly suspect they will flip that call by the time Wednesday rolls around -- particularly if core inflation dips in tomorrow's Canadian CPI report -- but they're staking out some interesting territory at a time when the market (and myself) are increasingly worried about Canada.Economists at RBC make a few points:Q2 GDP was weak, but July trade and manufacturing gains plus stronger early Q3 data point to a rebound RBC card spend tracking suggests consumer demand holding up (there should be a new report this week)Housing showing early signs of life (August sales rose y/y in data released today)88% of exports still tariff-free under USMCAFiscal supports ramping up, layoffs limitedThe big risk they see is a further US slowdown but highlight that the Bank of Canada -- at 2.75% currently -- has ammunition to cut if the economy slows.The Canadian dollar is the strongest G10 performer today as it gets a lift from rising gold prices but USD/CAD has traded in a 200-pip range for the past six weeks. The daily chart looks like it could be cooking up a head-and-shoulders top with a target of the lows of the year. The pairs has fallen nearly 10 full figures since the start of the year. This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

Tesla is the biggest mover today with a gain of 5.41% after report that Elon Musk purchased $1 billion of its stock. Not far behind is Google which has risen 3.38% to a new all-time high. Since its last earnings announcement on July 23, the price has moved up close to 31%.Along the way, shares of Alphabet surged 9.1% on September 3 after a favorable court ruling that allowed the company to retain control of its Chrome browser and Android operating system, while only restricting certain exclusive contracts with device makers and browser developers. The relief from harsher antitrust remedies sparked a sharp gap higher in the stock.Since then, the rally has continued, with the share price adding another +10.15%. Going back even further, from the April 2025 low at $140.53, the stock has climbed more than $100, or roughly 77%, underscoring the strength of its longer-term uptrend.From a technical perspective, the September 3 gap was especially significant because it pushed the price above an upward-sloping trendline drawn from the July 2024 high through the February 2025 high. That breakout has since been reinforced by momentum, with the stock closing higher in 7 of the past 9 sessions (and only modest declines on the two down days).For sellers to gain more control, the key would be forcing the stock back below that broken trendline and keeping it there. The trendline currently comes in around $224 and rising, not far from the September 3 gap-day low at $230.66.Zooming into the hourly chart, the 100-hour moving average (blue line on the chart below) sits at $225.80, placing it right between the broken topside trendline and the lower edge of the gap area ($224–$230). This creates a critical risk-defining zone for traders:staying above it keeps the bias pointed higher, while a break back below would give sellers new confidence and cause buyers to reconsider their grip on the trend.Needless to say, the price is overbought, but it is tough to pick a high with the momentum seen in the share price action. Absent a move below the aforementioned area between $224 and $230, the buyers are in firm control. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

European shares closed the day mostly higher. Spain's Ibex closed just off the highest level going back to 2008. The high price from August 20's closed at 15396.80. Today's closing level was 5395.10.Italy's FTSE MIB was the biggest gainer today with a rise of 1.14%.A snapshot of the closing levels shows:German DAX rose 50.71 points or 0.21% to 23748.87France's CAC rose 71.69 points or 0.92% at 7896.94UK's FTSE 100 fell -6.25 points or -0.07% at 9277.04.Spain's Ibex rose 6.92 points or 0.57% at 15395.11Italy's FTSE MIB rose 487.31 points or 1.14% at 43053.71.As London/European traders head for the exits, Gold is trading at a new record. The price is currently up $38 or 1.05% at $3681.14.Silver is up $0.44 or 1.03% at $42.60. That's its highest level since September 2011Bitcoin is down $-552 or -0.48% at $114,770.Crude oil is trading up $0.45 and $63.14A snapshot of the US yield curve showing a parallel shift to the downside by about 2 basis points2-year yield 3.538%, -1.9 basis5 year yield 3.605%, -1.9 basis points10 year yield 4.037% -2.3 basis points30 year yield 4.653%, -2.6 basis points This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The mini-pause in the gold price rally is over as it climbs to a fresh record high today. Most of the gains have come in North American trade and it's now up $36 to $3678 on the day. It's been a parabolic breakout in gold since late August, kicked off in part by Trump's efforts to take over the Fed and BLS. The aim is undoubtedly to push US monetary policy to a more-dovish place and that's helped to fuel both gold and equity markets to records. In addition, poor US economic data has the market sensing a genuine case for lower rates and a softening of the US dollar.In the larger world, the war in Ukraine doesn't look to be headed towards any kind of peaceful resolution soon.In terms of today's trade, the positive meeting between the US and China gold negative but it hasn't played out that way as the market isn't exactly sensing tariffs coming down. This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

The NASDAQ index has continued to run with a gain of 197 points or 0.90% to 22339. The high price reached 22340.91.Leading the charge is Tesla which is up 6.45% after Elon Musk purchased about $1 billion of the stock. Other notable gainers include:Tesla +6.45% – surging after reports Elon Musk purchased about $1B in Tesla stock, fueling strong bullish momentum.Chewy +5.42% – rallying on optimism for continued demand growth in online pet supplies.ASML ADR +5.37% – boosted by strong semiconductor sector momentum and robust chip equipment demand.Western Digital +5.24% – rising as memory chip recovery prospects improve.Roblox +4.55% – higher on sustained growth expectations in gaming and metaverse engagement.Tapestry +4.34% – gaining on strong consumer discretionary flows and luxury retail optimism.Intel +4.05% – lifted by chip sector strength and AI-related tailwinds.Alphabet A +3.65% – moving up on steady ad revenue momentum and AI growth story.Oracle +3.28% – advancing after upbeat sentiment around its cloud and AI-driven enterprise services.GameStop Corp +3.07% – climbing as retail interest remains elevated in meme-related stocks.Snowflake +2.76% – edging higher with continued confidence in data and AI-related demand.Snap +2.66% – modestly higher on improving advertising sentiment.Stellantis NV +2.64% – ticking up as global auto demand and EV outlook provide support.CrowdStrike Holdings +2.31% – advancing on strong cybersecurity sector momentum.The S&P index is up 31 points or 0.47% at 6614.69. Its shares reached a high of 6619.62 earlier in the session but has not followed the NASDAQ to new records since. Nevertheless, the index is on pace for a new record close. The Dow industrial average is not very as well with a decline of -48 points or -0.11% and 45787.66.. Amgen, McDonald's, Sherwin-Williams, and 3M are contributing to the downside in the Dow 30.The small-cap Russell 2000 is up 7.69 points or 0.32% at 2404.73. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Both sides acknowledged stable trade ties is significantFrictions are normal, important to respect each other's core concernsImportant to find solutions through dialoguesReached framework agreement on TikTokThere isn't much of a hint here on what's coming next with US-China negotiations. This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

The AUDUSD pushed higher during the Asian session, extending gains up to Friday’s high at 0.66683. That level proved to be a sticking point once again, as sellers leaned against it and forced a modest pullback.The rejection has set up a potential double top, which gives sellers an important foothold in what has otherwise been a bullish trend for the pair since August 22. From a risk perspective, this offers sellers the ability to “lean against the high with limited risk”—keeping stops tight above the 0.6668 area—while aiming for a larger payoff if the downside develops.For now, staying below 0.6668 gives the sellers some control – at least in the short term - but there is still work to do. The first key downside target comes at the rising 100-hour moving average at 0.66293. Recall that in Thursday’s session, the corrective dip found support at this very level (and briefly traded below), before the pair rotated back higher. That bounce was fueled by weaker-than-expected US initial jobless claims, which gave AUDUSD another leg up.If the 100-hour moving average breaks, momentum could shift more firmly to the downside, exposing the 200-hour moving average at 0.65917 as the next key target.On the flip side, a break above 0.6668 would invalidate the double top and put buyers back in the driver’s seat. That would open the door for a retest of the November 2024 high at 0.6687, which also converges with a rising trendline off the daily chart—making it a critical upside objective. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Comments from an interview with ReutersEuropean countries 'need to do their share'US willing to consider stronger sanctions on RussiaChina-US talks could result in another 90-rollover of tariff truceChinese negotiators realize they have 3.5 years to de-risk US trade relationship to avoid a decouplingChina initially demanded 'compensation' for TikTok sale through tariff, export control concessionsI just don't see the momentum to get further Russian oil sanctions. WTI crude is up 70-cents to $63.39 today but is languishing near the lows of the range. This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

Here is a chart from National Bank that should send a shudder down the back of every CAD bull. It highlights industrial investment in Canada and the US since 1980.For much of the period, investment was closely aligned with the US outperforming for periods but the trends aligning. That changed in 2015 as a stark divergence hit, opening up a large gap that is worsening by the year. In fact, Canadian investment in industrial machinery and equipment is at the lowest since records began in 1981.National Bank doesn't mince words:The divergence with the US is nothing short of appalling. How did we get here? Years of excessive regulation, and a chronic lack of ambition by successive governments in promoting domestic transformation of our natural resources—recently made worse by Washington’s protectionist agenda. That failure has eroded Canada’s manufacturing base and left us at risk of becoming irrelevant in global supply chains.Economists there highlight some potential spinoffs from a boost in military spending but call for a multi-pronged approach, including:A competitive tax regimeA sweeping reduction in red tapeClear laws on developing natural resources This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

The most anticipated release of the week — the CPI report — confirmed that inflation is still above the Fed’s 2% target. However, the data didn’t show any acceleration, which gave the market some comfort. At the same time, the jobless claims number jumped to the highest level in nearly four years. That move was enough for traders to start betting more aggressively on a rate cut already next week, as the Fed may try to balance out the rapid slowdown in the labor market.The reaction in markets was immediate: Treasuries rallied, with the 10-year yield briefly dipping below 4%. US stocks staged a broad advance — all major benchmarks renewed record highs, while small caps surged 1.8%. Gold once again made history, surpassing its inflation-adjusted peak from 1980. Meanwhile, energy shares corrected alongside oil prices. After hours, Adobe Inc. published a strong outlook, supporting the tech sector.The bigger picture is that the cooling labor market has clearly shifted expectations toward a more aggressive pace of easing. Jerome Powell already signaled such a possibility during his Jackson Hole speech last month, and the latest data confirmed the hiring slowdown has stretched into August.Gold had slowed down the pace, while previous metals rebounded - Platinum and Silver have rebounded after Gold. Energy markets consolidated, which is normal for the transition period between the injection and withdrawal period for Crude oil.Crude oilGlobal oil prices are under pressure, with Brent expected to decline significantly in the coming months. Forecasts point to a slide from $68/b in August toward $59/b on average in Q4 2025, and even closer to $50/b in early 2026. The main driver is the rapid inventory build, with OPEC+ and other producers boosting supply by more than 2 million barrels per day.The recent announcement from OPEC+ to increase production further in October only strengthens this bearish outlook. That said, such low prices are likely unsustainable — if Brent remains near $50/b, supply cuts from both OPEC+ and non-OPEC producers may follow later in 2026, potentially stabilizing the market.Crude oilWe’ll start our review with Crude oil: the price consolidates around the dynamic resistance area of $63-64, and may try to retest it again before starting another downswing. The sentiment for Crude oil in particular and for energy assets in general remains muted (though, stocks of the energy sector display modest gains).According to supply/demand estimation from eia.gov, pressure for Crude oil futures will increase in the fourth quarter of 2025, so the sentiment remains bearish, which is also confirmed by the price action. PlatinumPlatinum is positioned near the dynamic support area and may climb higher as rotation in the metals market continues.Platinum moved toward $1,410/oz, the highest this month, supported by persistent supply deficits. The World Platinum Investment Council projects a structural shortfall of about 850 koz in 2025, with supply near a five-year low. Despite elevated prices, output is unlikely to recover soon. While industrial demand faces pressure from the global slowdown, investment and jewelry demand—especially in China—remains strong. Platinum also looks attractive versus gold, with Fed rate-cut expectations, a weaker dollar, and geopolitical tensions adding further support.This article was written by Stanislav Bernukhov, Senior Trading Content Specialist. This article was written by IL Contributors at investinglive.com.

Wiener Bank SE, a renowned leader in financial innovation and private banking, announced a landmark strategic partnership with Real Finance, a pioneer in Web 3.0 infrastructure. This collaboration is poised to redefine the landscape of asset management by integrating Real Finance’s purpose-built blockchain technology into Wiener Bank’s core financial services.The partnership will empower Wiener Bank to leverage cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure, bringing unprecedented security, efficiency, and accessibility to its clients. This move signifies a major step in bridging the gap between traditional finance and the emerging decentralized economy of Web 3.0.Key Highlights of the Partnership Include:Secure Digital Custody: Implementation of institutional-grade, robust custody solutions to ensure the highest level of protection for digital and tokenized financial assets.Advanced Asset Tokenization: Unlocking new value for clients by transforming real-world assets (RWA) into digital tokens, thereby enhancing their liquidity, divisibility, and accessibility in private markets.Seamless Blockchain Integration: Creating a seamless and compliant bridge between traditional banking services and the innovative world of decentralized finance (DeFi), providing clients with the best of both worlds.Tangible Real-World Impact: Moving beyond theoretical applications to deliver practical, cutting-edge financial solutions that address the evolving needs of Wiener Bank’s discerning clientele.By harnessing Real Finance’s specialized expertise, Wiener Bank is significantly enhancing its on-chain capabilities and establishing a new industry benchmark for modern, secure, and forward-thinking asset management.REAL Blockchain DifferentiatorsREAL isn't just another blockchain for tokenization; it's a purpose-built institutional foundation. Key differentiators include:· Business Validators in Consensus: Tokenizers, insurers, and risk scorers are embedded validators with "skin in the game," facing slashing for malfeasance, ensuring real accountability.· Risk-Embedded Tokens: Each asset's token contains its risk score and insurance grade (A–F) directly in its metadata, providing unmatched on-chain transparency.· A No-Inflation Safety Net: The Disaster Recovery Fund protects holders if insurers fail, but it's funded by existing rewards, not inflationary token printing, avoiding death spirals.· Real Traction: Unlike conceptual projects, Real has $500M in assets ready for onboarding from launch, backed by tier-1 partners like Wiener Privatbank and Experian.REAL Chosen for Architectural ReliabilityREAL's architecture was chosen to solve the core problems blocking institutional adoption:· It Solves the Trilemma: It uniquely balances decentralization, security, and the trust institutions require through its validator design and built-in recovery fund.· Regulatory-Agnostic Design: Real is the neutral, permissionless backbone. Compliance is handled by regulated partners (like custodians), making it a scalable, globally compatible solution.· Built for Adoption: EVM compatibility ensures easy migration for developers, while its Cosmos SDK foundation delivers the high speed and scalability institutions demand.· Sustainable Economics: The $REAL token utility is designed for security and alignment, not speculation, powering a resilient economic model that protects all participants.About Wiener Bank SE:Wiener Bank SE (https://www.wienerprivatbank.com/en) has established itself as a pillar of the financial community, offering a comprehensive suite of private banking and asset management services. With a commitment to excellence, security, and innovation, the bank serves a sophisticated clientele with tailored financial solutions.About REAL Finance:Real Finance is an EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain designed to integrate real-world financial assets into the digital ecosystem. By combining speed, compliance, and decentralization, Real Finance empowers users to tokenize, trade, and manage assets with unmatched trust, transparency, and efficiency. Users can join the community and step into the future of finance today. This article was written by IL Contributors at investinglive.com.

The broader US stock indices are trading higher helped by hopes of a trade deal between the US and China, with both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite climbing to fresh all-time record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is also up on the day, though it remains below last week’s record peak of 46,137.20.A snapshot of the market in the first half of trading shows:Dow Jones Industrial Average: up 93 points (+0.20%) at 45,926.77S&P 500 Index: up 30 points (+0.46%) at 6,614.50, just shy of the new all-time high at 6,614.81NASDAQ Composite: up 140 points (+0.63%) at 22,281.47, compared with the fresh all-time high at 22,290.61One of the biggest stories of the day is Tesla, which is surging sharply. Shares are currently up $22.79 (+5.78%) at $418.90.This move builds on a powerful breakout from late last week. Recall that I highlighted a key resistance level at $367.71 (click here to see the post). On Thursday, Tesla tested and closed just above that level at $368.81, signaling a potential breakout. On Friday, the stock gapped higher and raced to a high of $396.69. Today, shares gapped higher again and extended the rally.The latest gains are being fueled by reports that Elon Musk purchased about $1 billion of Tesla stock, a headline that has turbocharged bullish momentum and helped drive the stock to the upside. The targets to get to and through – and staying above – are and $420 and then $440.. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

The USDCHF moved lower today, pressured by the release of weaker US Empire manufacturing data. The decline took the pair down to a low of 0.7945, where price action found buyers.That level is notable because it sits inside a swing area between 0.79382 and 0.79471. Buyers have leaned against this zone before, and once again it provided support, leading to a modest bounce higher.Going forward, this area remains a critical barometer for both buyers and sellers:A break below 0.79382 would open the door for further downside, with scope to test 0.7910 to 0.79209.On the upside, short-term resistance comes in at 0.79556 – a prior swing low from September 5 and close to today’s Asian session low.A sustained move above 0.79556 would shift the bias higher and put the focus back on the 100-hour moving average at 0.79698.For now, the market is caught between these well-defined levels, with traders waiting for a clearer break to set the next directional move. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Prior €7.0 billionThe breakdown and the year-to-date showing are as per the following: This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.

There are also upside risks to inflation.We've brought rates into neutral territory.We remain in a good place.Vigilance essential despite inflation progress.Monetary policy must remain nimble.He's just reaffirming that the ECB is done with rate cuts and they will need significant reasons to cut further. Small deviations from the target won't do it. The market is pricing just 4 bps of easing by year-end and a total of 11 bps by the end of 2026. So, the market is currently in line with the ECB stance. This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.

China to further probe Nvidia for violating anti-monopoly lawChina launched an antitrust investigation on Nvidia back in December 2024 for suspected violations of the anti-monopoly law. The investigation was seen as retaliation against US chip curbs. China's market regulator said in a statement that they will continue the investigation.Nvidia shares are roughly 2% lower in pre-market trading.Full article here This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.

Domestic sight deposits CHF 441.7 bn vs CHF 442.0 bn priorThat marks a slight drop in sight deposits in the past week but nothing out of the ordinary from the trend in recent weeks. This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.

Busy week ahead in terms of economic events, though Monday starts off quietly with only the U.S. empire state manufacturing index on the calendar being notable. On Tuesday, the U.K. will release the average earnings index 3m/y, the claimant count change, and the unemployment rate. Canada’s highlight will be inflation data, while the U.S. will publish retail sales m/m. Wednesday brings U.K. inflation data, followed by the BoC monetary policy announcement and the highly anticipated FOMC meeting. On Thursday, New Zealand will release GDP q/q, and Australia will publish its employment change and the unemployment rate figures. The BoE will hold its monetary policy meeting, while in the U.S. we’ll get unemployment claims and the Philly Fed manufacturing index. Finally, Friday features the BoJ monetary policy announcement along with retail sales m/m data from the U.K. and Canada. In the U.S., the consensus for retail sales m/m is 0.2% vs prior 0.5%, and for core retail sales m/m is 0.4% vs prior 0.3%. The latest retail sales report highlights the resilience of U.S. consumers, with gains driven by stronger auto sales and steady demand for clothing, sporting goods, and online shopping. However, spending on home improvement and restaurants lagged, reflecting continued softness in housing and discretionary services. For August, sales are expected to moderate, with headline growth slowing to 0.4% and sales excluding autos rising 0.5%. While consumers still have spending power, headwinds from weaker sentiment, sticky inflation expectations and a cooling labor market suggest the pace of consumption is likely to slow over the rest of the year, analysts from Wells Fargo said. For the BoC meeting, analysts are divided on whether the Bank will deliver a rate cut. Markets lean toward another cut, but recent data suggest policymakers may hold steady. Inflation figures, released the day before, will be crucial. Headline CPI is expected to rise from 1.7% to 2.1%, while core measures are likely to stay near 3%, the upper end of the BoC’s target. Canada’s economy contracted 1.6% in Q2, almost exactly in line with BoC expectations, driven by weaker trade and a slowdown in manufacturing. Early Q3 indicators look more stable, with export volumes leveling off and July manufacturing sales up 1.8%. Job losses have been concentrated in trade-sensitive sectors, while the broader labor market has remained relatively steady. The data leaves the door open for a rate cut, but sticky inflation and resilient household demand could persuade the BoC to keep rates on hold. However, if core inflation surprises to the downside, a cut this week becomes more likely. At this week’s meeting, the Fed is expected to resume rate cuts, lowering the fed funds rate to a target range of 4.00%–4.25%. This would align with the March and June Summary of Economic Projections, which signaled easing this year despite firmer inflation expectations. As a reminder, the Fed kept rates on hold at recent meetings, emphasizing that inflation remained elevated while labor market conditions were relatively stable. Inflation is still the sticking point with core PCE running about one percentage point above target and tariff-driven goods inflation offsetting softer services prices. The Fed’s updated projections are likely to remain cautious on inflation but tilt more dovish on growth and employment. The September dot plot is expected to show 75 bps of cuts penciled in for 2025, up from 50 bps in June, with the longer-run rate outlook unchanged, according to Wells Fargo analysts. Looking ahead, the Committee will likely stress that September’s cut is not the start of an automatic easing cycle, keeping policy decisions data-dependent. In New Zealand, the consensus for GDP q/q is -0.3% vs prior 0.8%, although Westpac analysts forecast a 0.4% contraction. According to them, the decline is largely technical, driven by seasonal quirks in GDP calculation rather than a genuine downturn. The seasonal effect is subtracting about 0.5 percentage points from the June-quarter growth, while typically adding a similar boost to December-quarter results. Excluding that distortion, the picture looks more nuanced. Growth momentum has eased compared to the strong start of the year, with mixed signals across sectors pointing to a softer underlying trend. For Australian employment, Westpac forecasts a 15k increase for August, softer than the market’s 22k expectation. July data confirmed that the labour market is slipping back into a gradual cooling phase, similar to what occurred a year ago. Job growth over the past three months has slowed to 2% y/y. While still solid, the trend is weakening as the care economy eases from its earlier rapid pace, though weakness in the market sector appears to be stabilizing. A 15k gain this month would likely keep the employment-to-population ratio steady at around 64.2%, suggesting little change in overall labour market tightness despite slower hiring. Australia’s unemployment rate held at 4.2% in July, following a temporary spike in June that Westpac analysts attribute largely to volatility in the youth labour segment. The rate continues to show a gradual upward drift from last year’s low of around 4.0%. Participation remained steady at 67.0%, indicating the labour market is still relatively tight. Looking ahead, the unemployment rate is expected to edge up to 4.3% in August. Analysts are also closely monitoring underemployment, which shows signs of improvement even as the headline unemployment rate ticks higher. At this week’s meeting, the BoE is expected to keep rates unchanged, consistent with its pattern of quarterly adjustments. Markets will focus on any hints about future policy, though forward guidance is likely to remain cautious, signaling that interest rates are edging closer to neutral. Ahead of the meeting, labor market and inflation data will set the tone. The jobs market remains a key uncertainty. Payrolls will be watched for further signs of weakness, though recent surveys suggest the worst may have passed. Wage growth data will also be critical, with any slowdown likely to shape the Bank’s outlook. Inflation is expected to show food prices rising above 5%, while services inflation may ease slightly. These prints are unlikely to alter the BoE’s expected rate-cut path, with a November reduction still favored unless there’s a major upside surprise, analysts at ING said. The BoJ is widely expected to keep rates unchanged at 0.50% at this week’s meeting. The economic backdrop, characterized by tight labor markets, rising wages, and steady GDP growth, still argues for higher rates, but recent political developments are likely keeping policymakers cautious. Prime Minister Ishiba’s resignation and the upcoming LDP leadership contest in early October have introduced a period of uncertainty that may weigh on BoJ decisions. As a result, the timeline for the next rate hike has been pushed back from October to early 2026. The future policy path could also hinge on whether the new leadership adopts more expansive fiscal measures. Meanwhile, updated inflation data for August will be closely watched, especially for any upside surprises after three months of slowing price growth. For now, the BoJ is expected to remain on the sidelines, with rate hikes likely resuming in January 2026 and the policy rate rising toward 0.75%, Wells Fargo analysts said. This article was written by Gina Constantin at investinglive.com.