Page 197 - Rep News Today

South Africa's rand weakened against the dollar in early trade on Thursday, as investors awaited U.S. jobs data and its implications for the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.

Canada's main stock index opened lower on Thursday after data showed Canada added more jobs than expected in March and jobless rate remained near a record low, while falling shares of oil producers and miners added to the declines.

A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Amanda Cooper.

The Bank of Canada will keep its key interest rate steady at 4.50% through 2023, according to most economists polled by Reuters, with an even smaller minority now expecting an interest rate cut by year-end than a poll taken a month ago.

New Zealand's central bank will raise interest rates by 25 basis points in May to 5.50% following a surprise half-point move on Wednesday and then pause for the remainder of the year, a snap Reuters poll of economists showed on Thursday.

Canada's economy gained a net 34,700 jobs in March, both in full-time and part-time work and ahead of analyst forecasts, Statistics Canada data showed on Thursday. The jobless rate held at 5.0%, beating forecasts it would rise to 5.1%.

Indian refiners' crude oil processing remained near record levels in February, provisional government data showed on Wednesday, catering to rising demand in the world's third biggest oil importer and consumer.

The balancing act between slowing growth and sticky price pressures is top of the agenda ahead of U.S. inflation data and the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings in Washington.

The Indian rupee declined against the U.S. dollar after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unexpectedly kept the repo rate unchanged.

Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices remained flat this week at the lowest level since July 2021 on muted demand and solid inventories in China, Japan and Korea.