News

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Core inflation in Australia slowed to a three-year low in the first quarter as costs in the services sector cooled markedly, data showed on Wednesday, supporting the case for another cut in interest rates in coming weeks. Investors are fully expecting a quarter-point rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia on May 20 given the darkening outlook for global growth caused largely by U.S. tariffs, even as a stronger-than-expected reading in headline inflation saw some scale back aggressive bets for five rate cuts this year. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed the consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.9% in the March quarter, just above forecasts of a 0.8% increase.

The U.S. dollar rallied against major currencies on a data-packed Wednesday after a report showed the world's largest economy shrank in the first quarter, worse than market expectations, but better than the dire predictions touted by some of the biggest U.S. banks. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.3% in the quarter, a Commerce Department report showed in its first estimate, undermined by a surge in imports trying to front-load purchases ahead of the Trump administration's implementation of tariffs on most goods. Data showed that pre-tariff imports surged 41.3% in the first three months of the year.

The tech giant issued a preliminary earnings announcement reporting lower-than-expected financial results.

Oil prices extended declines on Wednesday and were set for their largest monthly drop in almost three and a half years as the global trade war eroded the outlook for fuel demand while concern over mounting supply also weighed. Brent crude futures were down 77 cents, or 1.2%, at $63.48 a barrel by 1305 GMT.

US stock futures hovered around baseline as Wall Street braced for a busy day of Big Tech earnings and digested President Trump's latest move on tariffs.

Deutsche Bank analysts noted three market dislocations that create an environment "ripe for a correction."

RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras reported on Tuesday oil, gas and gas liquids production of 2.77 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in the first quarter, down 0.2% from a year earlier. Petrobras' oil production in Brazil fell by 1% year-on-year, to 2.21 million barrels per day (bpd), said the firm, adding that the Almirante Tamandare floating production vessel (FPSO) started producing in February at the country's Buzios field. "The start of operations of the FPSO Almirante Tamandare is strategic for Petrobras and represents a sustainable expansion of production," said Renata Baruzzi, head of engineering, technology and innovation in Petrobras' sales and output report.