|

US: ISM Services PMI declines to 52.7 in July vs. 53 expected

  • US ISM Services PMI declined modestly in July.
  • US Dollar Index stays in positive territory above 102.50.

The economic activity in the US service sector continued to expand in July, albeit at a softer pace than in June, with the ISM Services PMI declining to 52.7 from 53.9. This reading came in below the market expectation of 53.

Further details of the publication revealed that the Employment Index edged lower to 50.7 from 53.1, while the Prices Paid Index climbed to 56.8 from 54.1, pointing into increasing input price pressures.

Commenting on the data, “there has been a slight pullback in the rate of growth for the services sector," said Anthony Nieves, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Services Business Survey Committee.

"This is due mostly to the decrease in the rate of growth for business activity, new orders and employment, as well as ongoing faster delivery times," Nieves further explained. "The majority of respondents are cautiously optimistic about business conditions and the overall economy.”

Market reaction

The US Dollar Index clings to modest daily gains above 102.50 after this report.

Author

Eren Sengezer

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

More from Eren Sengezer
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD sticks to positive bias above 0.7100; lacks bullish conviction

AUD/USD trades with a positive bias for the second straight day, holding above 0.7100 in the Asian session on Friday as softer US bond yields keep US Dollar bulls on the back foot. Furthermore, hawkish RBA Governor Bullock's comments boost rate hike bets and support the Aussie. However, the Fed's hawkish outlook, along with geopolitical uncertainties, limits USD losses and caps the pair.

USD/JPY approaches 158.00 as Japanese Yen resumes decline

USD/JPY is resuming its upside in the European session on Friday, refreshing two-week highs and nearing 158.00. The Japanese Yen extends losses, despite the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) expected rate hike to 1.25% and hawkish Governor Ueda's comments, as two surprise dissents against the rate hike weigh on it.

Gold tests $$4,400 as softer US bond yields cap USD gains

Gold scales higher for the second straight day and continues to hit new weekly highs through the first half of the European session on Friday, with bulls now awaiting a sustained move beyond the $4,400 mark before positioning for further gains. Retreating US Treasury bond yields keep the US Dollar (USD) uptrend capped ahead of Fedspeak and mid-tier US data.

Bitcoin extends recovery, Ethereum eyes $2,500, XRP holds $1.30
Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) extend their recovery, trading above $76,700, $2,400 and $1.300, respectively, on Friday. These top three cryptocurrencies now face key technical levels that could determine whether their recoveries extend further or pull back.
Why Bitcoin's over 30% rebound doesn't mean the bear market cycle is done

BTC has staged a strong recovery after falling to a yearly low of $57,800 in July, gaining nearly 33% and recording two consecutive months of gains in July and August. However, despite that rebound, Bitcoin remains around 40% below its all-time high, leaving one key question for traders: is this the start of a new bullish phase, or simply another recovery within a broader bear-market cycle?

How Japan became the World's Banker and why that era may be ending

Japan's ultra-low interest rates helped finance trillions of dollars in global investments for more than a decade, making the Japanese Yen one of the world’s cheapest sources of funding. With the Bank of Japan expected to tighten policy again this week, that advantage may be entering a new phase. While most major economies raised interest rates, Japan remained the world's outlier.