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.
7,101 total articles
An internal administration email reviewed by Reuters indicated that hundreds of employees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are expected to be stripped of civil service protections under a reclassification plan known as Schedule P/C, formerly Schedule F. The message said the change would initially affect employees "on the order of…
U.S. intelligence indicates Cuba has obtained in excess of 300 military drones and has held internal discussions about using them against the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, American naval ships and possibly Key West, Florida. The findings emerged alongside a visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who cautioned Havana against hostilities and urge…
Israel’s economy shrank in the first quarter of 2026, with annualised GDP declining 3.3% as conflict with Iran weighed on activity. Consumer spending fell 4.7% in the quarter and output contracted 4.5% on a per-capita basis. Earlier expectations for a rebound above 5% in 2026 have been revised lower; the Bank of Israel now projects 3.8% growth for …
Deutsche Bank's May 14, 2026 research note links a sharp drop in the pound to reports that Andy Burnham may run for the Makerfield parliamentary seat and pursue higher office. The bank's models show the EUR/GBP risk premium climbed above 2% after the move, and strategists say a further push in EUR/GBP to 0.8775 combined with a 15-basis-point underp…
A Bank of America monthly sentiment survey of 60 fund managers representing $869 billion in assets shows a material shift toward concern over upside U.S. inflation risk and renewed probability of further Federal Reserve rate hikes. The poll documents changing positions across bond, currency and emerging market allocations, with capital moving out o…
A large-scale Ukrainian drone operation struck multiple Russian regions overnight, killing four civilians and injuring a dozen. Officials said the attack marked the most extensive coordinated aerial assault on Moscow in more than twelve months, prompting widespread air-defence responses and localized damage to residential areas and transport hubs.
A Bernstein sector study dated May 15, 2026, finds that stock-market concerns about AI-driven job losses in European business services and catering may be exaggerated. The report frames AI primarily as a productivity tool that reshapes tasks and accelerates service delivery, with uneven effects across sub-sectors and historical evidence pointing to…
U.S. federal prosecutors and regulators have opened inquiries into unusual activity on political prediction markets, requesting data from platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket. The move follows a recent influx of money wagering on fast-breaking political developments, laws and military operations, and high-profile enforcement action tied to all…
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has publicly defended the federal government's proposal to reform national capital gains tax provisions, arguing the changes are essential to correct a fiscal bias that favors residential property, inflates home values, and discourages investment in public equities. The plan has drawn criticism from opposition figu…
An Alpine Macro report dated May 12, 2026, argues that control of manufacturing capacity and deployment density - not compute alone - is increasingly decisive in the global AI and robotics race. While the United States retains superiority in advanced semiconductors and software autonomy, China has built a commanding advantage in the physical infras…
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will meet in Andong in a high-profile bilateral summit announced by the South Korean presidential Blue House. The visit, treated as equivalent to a state visit, is the second major meeting in a renewed 'shuttle diplomacy' this year and aims to deepen mutual trust while …
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated the current Ebola outbreak spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern. This high-level alarm comes as health officials grapple with the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a rare strain for which no approved vaccines or specific medical …
The legislative path for President Donald Trump's proposed $400 million White House ballroom has encountered a significant obstacle following a ruling by a U.S. Senate official. On Saturday, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough removed provisions from a large-scale spending package that would have provided security funding linked to the cont…
A recent report from UBS Global Research released on May 13, 2026, highlights an increasing correlation between artificial intelligence and corporate workforce reductions. While the integration of AI tools across enterprises is described as a gradual undertaking, there is a visible acceleration in corporate optimism regarding how these technologies…
A significant shift in U.S. energy sanctions policy occurred this weekend as the Trump administration allowed a critical sanctions waiver to expire on Saturday. This lapse terminates the mechanism that previously enabled various nations, most notably India, to engage in the legal purchase of Russian seaborne crude oil. The expiration follows a one-…
The United States and Israel are reportedly making active preparations for a potential resumption of coordinated military operations against Iran, which could begin as early as next week. This move follows the breakdown of diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan and supported by China. The stalled negotiations centered on technical disagreements re…
In a significant escalation regarding maritime security in the Middle East, Iranian authorities have seized a support vessel owned by a Chinese maritime security firm. The vessel, identified as the Hui Chuan, was intercepted near the Strait of Hormuz, an area critical to global shipping lanes. This incident represents the first recorded impoundment…
China's Commerce Ministry said Beijing and Washington have reached a broad, in-principle understanding to lower tariffs on a set of goods following high-level talks between the two presidents. The agreement includes creating trade and investment councils, steps to expand bilateral agricultural trade through mutual tariff cuts, cooperation on market…
Iran has drawn up a mechanism to direct vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz along a designated route and intends to charge fees for passage, the head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee said. The plan will be unveiled soon and will apply to commercial vessels and parties that cooperate with Iran, while excluding operat…
Iraq’s seaborne crude exports via the Strait of Hormuz fell to 10 million barrels in April from a pre-conflict baseline near 93 million barrels per month, prompting a shift to overland routes and contributing to a rise in global oil benchmarks. Baghdad has restarted flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline and plans to expand exports via Ceyhan whi…
The chief executive of Harvard Management Co., which oversees the university's approximately $57 billion endowment, has informed the institution's board that he intends to retire. He has not established a firm departure date but has discussed the prospect of leaving in late 2027. The investment arm did not immediately respond to requests for commen…
The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will undertake an official state visit to China from May 19 to 20 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The trip follows a Beijing summit between Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump and is timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and…
The Federal Reserve Board has designated Jerome Powell as chair pro tempore to lead the U.S. central bank until Kevin Warsh is formally sworn in. The appointment preserves leadership continuity but revealed fractures among governors and heightened institutional uncertainty after Powell said he will keep his separate governor seat until an active cr…
N.P. "Narv" Narvekar, who has led Harvard Management Co. and overseen the university's $56.9 billion endowment for almost ten years, has informed the board of plans to retire. He has discussed a possible timeline targeting late 2027 to allow for transition and succession planning. Under his tenure the endowment shifted its operating model, increase…
Starbucks plans to launch its inaugural corporate office in India focused on technology roles, a move tied to a broader effort to cut $2 billion in costs. The facility, slated to open in the company’s fiscal 2027 year beginning in October, will bring certain technical functions back in-house and reduce reliance on outside service providers. The dec…
