Macroeconomic data, trends, and policy developments.
Coverage of key economic indicators, central bank policy decisions, inflation trends, labor data, and growth signals. This category focuses on the macroeconomic forces that shape markets, interest rates, and long-term capital allocation.
2,672 total articles
Mizuho Financial Group's markets co-head Kenya Koshimizu said the Bank of Japan could move again on interest rates as soon as March or April and deliver up to three rate increases this year given ongoing inflation above target and yen weakness. He noted solid nominal growth and clearer fiscal policy signals as factors that will shape BOJ decisions,…
A stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs headline has encouraged investors to pare back bets on an imminent Federal Reserve rate cut, shifting attention to upcoming inflation data and a heavy slate of European earnings. Currency moves, a record European equity close, and uneven corporate earnings forecasts frame a cautious market mood ahead of key data a…
Financial markets are adjusting to a world where U.S. policy under President Donald Trump is prompting allied nations to pursue closer cooperation and independent trade and industrial strategies. Investors are responding by tilting portfolios toward non-U.S. equities, energy stocks and currencies such as the euro and Canadian dollar, while European…
Senior Chinese trade official Li Chenggang met with Mexico’s Deputy Economy Minister Vidal Llerenas in Beijing for the first in-person discussions since Mexico enacted steep tariffs on imports from China and other countries without free trade agreements. The talks covered bilateral economic and trade relations, amid Chinese warnings of potential re…
A senior Reserve Bank of Australia official said the labour market has stabilised after a slowdown and remains somewhat tight, a development that aligns with persistent inflationary pressures. The comment came as the RBA raised its cash rate to 3.85% and highlighted expectations that inflation will remain above the target band for an extended perio…
Four Democratic-led states have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to halt the Trump administration's termination of roughly $600 million in public health grants. The complaint alleges the funding cuts are politically motivated and threaten core programs administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including HIV prevention and …
A rebound in the Japanese yen, gains in the Australian dollar and steady appreciation of the Chinese yuan put downward pressure on the U.S. dollar, pushing it toward a weekly decline as investors brace for upcoming U.S. labour and inflation releases. Market moves reflect shifting expectations about global growth and are reshaping flows into Japanes…
Japan's top currency diplomat reiterated that Tokyo has not relaxed its monitoring of foreign exchange markets after a recent yen rally. The vice finance minister for currency affairs said policy has not changed and that Japanese authorities are maintaining close communication with markets and with U.S. counterparts, even as the dollar traded aroun…
Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock told a Senate committee that the RBA stands ready to raise interest rates further if inflation becomes entrenched. Speaking to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Bullock said it remains unclear whether additional hikes will be necessary, after the RBA raised the cash rate by 25 basis point…
Japan's corporate goods price index (CGPI) rose 2.3% year-on-year in January, easing from December's 2.4% increase, while an index of yen-based import prices advanced 0.5% year-on-year after December's revised 0.2% rise. The figures underline how a softer yen continues to feed cost pressures and will be part of the Bank of Japan's deliberations on …
Australia’s central bank has signalled it will raise interest rates again if inflation becomes entrenched, though the governor said it is not yet clear further tightening is necessary. The Reserve Bank increased the cash rate by 25 basis points last week to 3.85%, reversing one of three cuts from the prior year, while underlying inflation has accel…
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 219 to 211 to approve a resolution aimed at rescinding the national emergency declaration that underpinned tariffs on Canada. Six Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure. The resolution now advances to the Senate where it is unlikely to secure the two-thirds majority needed to override a presid…
U.S. employment data for January topped forecasts, prompting a rise in Treasury yields and a muted reaction from equity indexes, while the Japanese yen continued a multi-day rally after recent political developments. Market attention also centered on differing sector moves and fresh analysis of where artificial intelligence is reshaping corporate e…
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s decisive electoral victory has amplified her ability to pursue a reflationary economic agenda focused on higher investment and lower taxes. That policy tilt increases political pressure to keep interest rates low, and may shape nominations to the Bank of Japan board. Still, persistent downside in the yen and…
Cleveland Federal Reserve President Beth Hammack said Wednesday that current interest rates are not exerting significant restraint on the U.S. economy, while warning that inflation continues to be too high. Speaking in Columbus, Ohio, she described the labor market as stabilizing and recommended the Fed keep policy on hold as policymakers assess in…
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said he would be "very happy" to remain on the Fed's Board of Governors if asked to continue, while stressing that any extension is not his decision. He currently occupies a seat with an expired term, leaving that position as the only board seat for which President Donald Trump could nominate former Fed Govern…
Anthropic announced steps to prevent the expenses associated with tying new AI data centers to power grids from being passed on to consumers. The company will pay for all grid upgrades required to connect its facilities by raising its own monthly electricity charges, and it pledged to bring new generation and add grid capacity rather than relying o…
ANZ Group reported a 17% increase in cash profit in the first quarter versus the second-half FY25 quarterly average excluding significant items, driven by lower operating costs, firmer revenue and improved cash returns on equity. The bank posted A$1.94 billion in cash profit and A$1.87 billion in statutory profit for the three months to December 31…
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged a 2% personal income tax increase on residents earning more than $1 million a year and repeated his push to raise the state corporate tax rate, proposals he originally advanced during his campaign. Speaking at the New York State Senate's 2026 budget hearing, Mamdani said the city's budget gap has narrowed fr…
Elon Musk said xAI recently carried out a reorganization that led to staff reductions, a move he framed as necessary to improve execution speed. The personnel changes take place as SpaceX moves to acquire xAI, creating a combined entity valued at $1.25 trillion that plans to pursue a public listing later in 2026 to help finance data center deployme…
The Bank of Canada left its policy rate at 2.25% following a January 28 meeting, citing a more turbulent international environment driven by unpredictable U.S. trade actions, heightened geopolitical tensions and threats to central bank independence. Domestic conditions show softer labour markets and weak business investment, prompting officials to …
The United States will resume paying at least part of what it owes the United Nations in the coming weeks while maintaining pressure for organizational reforms, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said in Geneva. The move follows a year of withdrawals from U.N. entities and large cuts to voluntary funding under the Trump administration, leaving the U.S…
The Federal Reserve is conducting a comprehensive review of all 'matters requiring attention' (MRAs) previously issued by bank examiners to determine whether they meet a tighter standard centered on material financial risk. The effort, part of a broader revamp of supervision, may reclassify some MRAs as non-binding observations and sets timelines f…
U.S. defense officials have directed preparations for a second aircraft carrier strike group to head to the Middle East as planners ready options tied to possible action against Iran. No formal deployment order has been issued, and Pentagon officials said timetables remain subject to change. If sent, the additional carrier would operate alongside t…
Representative Ro Khanna, newly the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on China, said he is open to permitting sales of older-generation Nvidia chips to China once the United States secures a multi-year technological lead, while maintaining restrictions on the most advanced processors. His stance departs from his predecessor's oppositio…
