After students and teachers shown with toy guns in schools, PM Anwar says Putrajaya will keep Palestine solidarity events in check
Underlying inflation picked up last month, largely driven by housing costs, a US Commerce Department report showed. But with spending seen cooling off in early 2024, most economists believe the Federal Reserve is done raising interest rates, though risks of a rate hike remain. MSCI’s all-country equity gaugefell 0.22 per cent. It had previously gained after news on Thursday that the US economy expanded at its fastest rate for almost two years in the third quarter, while the European Central Bank also held interest rates steady.
Globally, “markets continue to hope for disinflation to continue smoothly, but don’t take disinflation for granted,” they wrote in a note on Friday. Oil prices rose as investors priced in fears of an escalation of conflict in the Middle East which could disrupt oil supplies. Israeli air and ground forces are stepping up operations in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s chief military spokesperson said on Friday, amid reports of heavy bombing of the besieged enclave.