Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points following a speech by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell. AFP
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points following a speech by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell. AFP
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points following a speech by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell. AFP
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1,000 points following a speech by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell. AFP

Global stocks fall and dollar rises on US Fed chief's hawkish remarks


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An index of global stock markets fell, while short-term US Treasury yields rose on Friday, after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said the US economy will need tight monetary policy "for some time" before inflation is under control.

The dollar erased early losses to turn positive against a basket of currencies, while gold, which loses appeal as interest rates rise, fell after Mr Powell's comments.

Tight monetary policy "for some time" means slower growth, a weaker job market and "some pain" for households and businesses, Mr Powell said in a speech to the central banking conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

"Reducing inflation is likely to require a sustained period of below-trend growth. Moreover, there will very likely be some softening of labour market conditions," Mr Powell said.

He did not hint at what the Fed might do at its upcoming September 20-21 policy meeting. Officials are expected to approve either a 50- or 75-basis-point rate increase.

Interest rate futures tied to expectations about Fed policy fell on Friday moments after Mr Powell's speech, reflecting increased chances of a third straight 75-basis-point rate hike.

"It was hawkish as expected. Powell's message is clear: the Fed is far from done in its fight against inflation," said Antoine Bouvet, senior rates strategist at ING in London.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe shed 2.47 per cent, its worst day in more than two months.

Wall Street's main indexes fell, with Mr Powell's comments dragging down megacap growth and technology stocks.

"His comments were hawkish. He's keeping the pedal to the metal here when it comes to policy to fight inflation," said Lindsey Bell, chief money and markets strategist at Ally.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,008.38 points, or 3.03 per cent, to close at 32,283.4, the S&P 500 lost 141.46 points, or 3.37 per cent, to finish at 4,057.66 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 497.56 points, or 3.94 per cent, to end the session at 12,141.71.

European stocks slid as investors also fretted over downbeat German consumer sentiment data due to rising energy costs.

Consumer morale in the euro zone's two biggest economies diverged starkly in August as French consumers benefited from fresh government measures, while concerns over rising energy bills hit their German counterparts, surveys showed on Friday.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index lost 1.68 per cent.

US two-year Treasury yields briefly reached their highest levels since October 2007 before stabilising near two-month highs after Mr Powell's comments.

The two-year US Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, rose on Mr Powell's comments and was last up 1 basis point at 3.3824 per cent.

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes was up about 1 bps to 3.0334 per cent.

Jackson Hole Economic Symposium - in pictures

  • Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell's remarks are to be livestreamed from the annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium. Reuters
    Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell's remarks are to be livestreamed from the annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium. Reuters
  • Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Patrick Harker, left, speaks with CNBC's Steve Liesman in an interview ahead of the annual Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's Economic Policy Symposium, at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Reuters
    Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Patrick Harker, left, speaks with CNBC's Steve Liesman in an interview ahead of the annual Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's Economic Policy Symposium, at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Reuters
  • Ash Hermanowski, food access and operations manager of the Jackson Cupboard in Jackson Hole, hands out meals from a garage after the nonprofit's location flooded. AP
    Ash Hermanowski, food access and operations manager of the Jackson Cupboard in Jackson Hole, hands out meals from a garage after the nonprofit's location flooded. AP
  • High inflation, soaring home prices and financial inequality are all too visible in the idyllic mountain setting where the economic conference takes place. AP
    High inflation, soaring home prices and financial inequality are all too visible in the idyllic mountain setting where the economic conference takes place. AP
  • Esther George, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, gives an interview at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium Bloomberg
    Esther George, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, gives an interview at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium Bloomberg
  • Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, professor of economics at the University of California-Berkeley, at the 2019 summit. Reuters
    Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, professor of economics at the University of California-Berkeley, at the 2019 summit. Reuters
  • Janet Yellen, at the time chairwoman of board of governors of the Federal Reserve System and Mario Draghi, at the time president of the European Central Bank, at Jackson Hole in 2017. Bloomberg
    Janet Yellen, at the time chairwoman of board of governors of the Federal Reserve System and Mario Draghi, at the time president of the European Central Bank, at Jackson Hole in 2017. Bloomberg
  • Mark Carney, left, at the time governor of the Bank of England, and Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, at the 2019 Jackson Hole gathering. AP
    Mark Carney, left, at the time governor of the Bank of England, and Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, at the 2019 Jackson Hole gathering. AP
  • Former US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, right, and Jean-Claude Trichet, former president of the European Central Bank, at a previous summit. AP
    Former US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, right, and Jean-Claude Trichet, former president of the European Central Bank, at a previous summit. AP
  • Former Federal Reserve vice chairman Richard Clarida at the 2019 Jackson Hole symposium. Reuters
    Former Federal Reserve vice chairman Richard Clarida at the 2019 Jackson Hole symposium. Reuters
  • With upscale ski resorts, campsites and ranches Jackson Hole is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Bloomberg
    With upscale ski resorts, campsites and ranches Jackson Hole is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Bloomberg

The rise in short-term rates extended the yield curve's inversion, which is widely seen as signalling an upcoming recession.

The closely watched gap between yields on two and 10-year Treasury notes was at -35 basis points, compared to -31.3 basis points before Powell's speech.

In currency markets, the dollar erased early losses against a basket of currencies following Mr Powell's remarks to trade up 0.3 per cent at 108.8.

The euro, which had edged higher following a Reuters report that some European Central Bank policymakers want to discuss a 75-basis-point interest rate hike at their September policy meeting, gave up those gains to trade down 0.07 per cent at $0.9965.

Oil prices ended higher on Friday, boosted by signals from Saudi Arabia that Opec could cut output, but trading was volatile as investors digested and ultimately shrugged off the Fed's warning on economic pain ahead.

Brent crude LCOc1 futures rose $1.65 to settle at $100.99 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures rose 54 cents to settle at $93.06 a barrel.

Spot gold was at $1,736.813 per ounce, down 1.23 per cent.

Brave CF 27 fight card

Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)

Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)

Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)

Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)

Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)

Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)

Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)

Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)

Meydan racecard:

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres

7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) 1,600m

7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) | 2,000m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Updated: August 27, 2022, 4:54 AM