SHANGHAI, Jun 14 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macroeconomic news last night and what is expected today.

Last night

The US dollar index hit a high of 94.05 overnight following the Federal Reserve Board’s decision to hike interest rate for the second time this year and indication that two more increases are likely in 2018. The index, however, lost some gains later.

This move pushed the funds rate target to 1.75-2%, meeting market expectations.

Most base metals rose overnight. LME and SHFE nickel led the increases with a gain of over 2%. LME copper touched a low in one week on worries over demand. LME aluminium and tin weakened. SHFE tin dropped over 1% and aluminium dipped.

US producer price index (PPI) rose 0.5% from a month ago in May, more than the expected 0.3%, boosted by a surge in gasoline prices and continued gains in the cost of services. The PPI edged up 0.1% on the month in April.

On a yearly basis, the PPI increased 3.1% in May, the largest advance since January 2012, compared to the expected 2.8% and April’s 2.6%.

Excluding food, energy and trade services, the core PPI nudged up 0.1% month on month in May, in line with the gain seen in April. The core PPI rose 2.6% year on year in May after advancing 2.5% in April.

The upward trend in producer prices strengthens expectations that inflation will pick up this year.

US crude oil inventories during the week ended June 8 unexpectedly increased 833,000 barrels, compared with the previous decline of 2 million barrels, according to data from the American Petroleum Institute (API). API gasoline inventories for the week rose by 2.33 million barrels, compared with the previous rise of 3.8 million barrels.

Data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), meanwhile, showed US crude oil inventory last week shrank 4.14 million barrels, compared with the previous rise of 2.07 million barrels. EIA gasoline inventory for the week unexpectedly fell by 2.27 million barrels, compared with the previous rise of 4.6 million barrels, and refined oil inventory also unexpectedly dropped by 2.10 million barrels, compared to the previous increase of 2.17 million barrels.

Day ahead

Key factors to watch today include China’s economic data in May, European Central Bank meeting, US import price index and retail sales growth in May, and US initial jobless claims over the week ended June 9.