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Missile Fire from Yemen's Houthi Rebels Triggers Sirens in Central Israel for the Second Night

  For the second consecutive night, air raid sirens blared across central Israel as a missile launched from Yemen's Houthi rebels was intercepted by Israeli air defenses early Wednesday morning. The missile, aimed at the Tel Aviv area, was successfully intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, though shrapnel from the interception fell in several towns.  This marks the fourth time in a week that missile fire from the Houthi rebels has set off sirens in Israel. On Saturday, a missile hit a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people after Israel's air defense system failed to intercept it. In response, Israeli jets struck Yemen's rebel-held capital and a port city, resulting in nine casualties.  Israel's foreign minister has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn the Houthi attacks and their alleged Iranian allies for providing the rebels with weapons. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to exchange fire, with the H...
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C$ Climbs to 6-Day High on Fed Rate Cut Forecast

 


In a positive turn of events, the Canadian dollar (C$) has strengthened to a six-day high against its U.S. counterpart. Investors are celebrating the Federal Reserve’s decision to stick with its interest rate-cutting forecast for 2024.

Here are the key points:

  • The loonie (as the Canadian dollar is affectionately known) is trading 0.5% higher at 1.35 to the U.S. dollar, or 74.07 U.S. cents. It touched its strongest intraday level since last Thursday at 1.3491.
  • The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, but policymakers indicated they still expect to reduce rates by three 25-basis-point cuts by the end of 2024. This is despite slower-than-expected progress toward the U.S. central bank’s 2% inflation target.
  • Wall Street rallied, U.S. Treasury yields fell, and the U.S. dollar lost ground against a basket of major currencies.
  • The Bank of Canada also expects to ease rates this year, as revealed in the minutes from the central bank’s policy meeting earlier this month. However, policymakers remain divided over when there will be enough evidence that conditions are right for cuts.
  • The decline in the price of oil, one of Canada’s major exports, had little impact on the loonie. U.S. crude oil futures settled 2.1% lower at $81.68 a barrel, giving back some recent gains.
  • Canadian government yields fell across the curve, tracking moves in U.S. Treasuries. The 10-year yield was down 3.2 basis points at 3.492%, extending its pullback from the highest intraday level in one month at 3.624% on Tuesday.

In summary, the Canadian dollar’s ascent reflects optimism about the Fed’s commitment to rate cuts, while the Bank of Canada keeps a close eye on economic conditions. 


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