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.
7,195 total articles
Wolfe Research finds the U.S. economy has shown resilience since the Iran conflict began, supported by fiscal stimulus from the One Big Beautiful Bill and a surge in AI-related capital expenditure. Analyst Stephanie Roth cautions, however, that the shock from higher crude prices and geopolitical risk is accumulating beneath the surface and could be…
The Brazilian government on May 4 relaunched the Desenrola consumer debt relief program, widening eligibility and offering discounts of 30% to 90% for borrowers earning up to five times the minimum wage. Finance Minister Dario Durigan said the program will use the Operations Guarantee Fund (FGO) - to be topped by up to 5 billion reais from the Trea…
The European Central Bank's chief supervisor cautioned against reducing capital requirements for banks, arguing that weaker rules would not necessarily increase lending to the economy and could instead lead to higher shareholder distributions. EU banks are pressing for relief from a planned tightening of capital regulations, saying the rules restri…
Kazakhstan's oil and gas condensate output rose 16% in April from March as activity at major producing fields increased. Tengiz led the gains with a 39% rebound after a winter power outage, while Kashagan and Karachaganak also posted higher flows. Crude-only production exceeded the country's OPEC+ quota for April.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the United States has established control over the Strait of Hormuz and is working to reopen the route. He urged Iran to permit the exit of more than 300 vessels with U.S. assistance and called on international partners - specifically China - to support the operation. Bessent warned of a global oi…
Brazil has relaunched a debt relief initiative first introduced in 2023 to lower interest burdens and increase disposable income for households as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva moves toward his October re-election campaign. The plan provides discounts on multiple debt categories for individuals earning up to five times the minimum wage, sets …
South Korean authorities have opened an investigation into an apparent attack on a Korean-flagged merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say an explosion occurred in the ship's engine room while it was anchored outside port limits; preliminary checks indicate no South Korean casualties. The incident occurs against a backdrop of a U.S.-l…
European Central Bank chief supervisor Claudia Buch told euro zone finance ministers that reducing bank capital requirements would do little to expand lending given weak loan demand and heightened risks linked to the Middle East conflict, private market stress and cyber threats. She urged stronger cross-border frameworks including a common deposit …
Argentina's Energy Ministry published two resolutions that raise the domestic minimum prices for sugarcane-based bioethanol, corn-based bioethanol, and biodiesel for mandatory blending. The measures, published Monday in the official gazette, take effect immediately and remain until replaced by subsequent pricing decisions.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer reached out to European Union and German trade counterparts after President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff increase on EU cars and trucks. EU governments are pushing to swiftly implement their portion of a trade accord struck last year that was meant to block such tariff hikes, while the European Parlia…
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that the United States will monitor whether China steps up diplomatic efforts with Iran to press Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking on Fox News Channel's "America's Newsroom," Bessent said he intends to press Chinese officials to join the U.S. in advocating for the strait's reopening, a…
A United Airlines Boeing 767-400, operating as Flight 169 from Venice, Italy, struck a vehicle and a light post on the New Jersey Turnpike during its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday around 2 p.m. local time. The aircraft landed safely with no reported injuries. Federal and airline authorities are investigating and t…
Net purchases of U.S. equity funds fell to $911 million in the week through April 29, the smallest weekly inflow since March 18, as rising crude oil prices and uncertainty after a Federal Reserve policy decision prompted a cautious stance. Technology stocks continued to see net buying, while healthcare experienced net outflows. Bond funds drew sign…
Zambia's government has publicly objected to U.S. efforts to connect a proposed health funding package - reportedly up to $2 billion over five years - with a separate critical minerals deal. Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe cited privacy concerns over data-sharing terms in the health memorandum and raised objections to provisions in the minerals fra…
QatarEnergy has extended a force majeure declaration on its liquefied natural gas deliveries through mid-June, citing continued disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Customers were notified by people familiar with the matter. The move follows repeated force majeure notices issued since late February and comes amid elevated global gas pric…
Germany's defence ministry said the United States has not definitively cancelled a Biden-era plan to station a battalion armed with long-range Tomahawk missiles in Germany, after Washington announced a 5,000-soldier reduction. The ministry noted the weapons were intended to be based in Germany and could still be deployed, and that European nations …
European Union governments are pressing the European Parliament and the Council to quickly finalize legislation that would carry out the bloc’s commitments under a trade deal with the United States. The move aims to head off a planned increase in U.S. tariffs on cars and trucks to 25%, announced by President Donald Trump, after negotiations on elim…
South Africa will see a sharp rise in fuel costs from May 6, with the retail price of 95-octane gasoline in Gauteng rising 14% to 26.63 rand per liter and wholesale diesel costs climbing by 24%, surpassing 30 rand per liter for the first time. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy attributed the increases to higher oil prices and a weaker …
European Union countries are pressing for rapid implementation of the bloc's commitments under a trade agreement with the United States to prevent a looming 25% tariff on EU cars and trucks. Negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council will resume on Wednesday amid calls for safeguards and disagreement over the pace of legislative a…
Crude and Brent futures surged up to 5% on Monday after reports that Iran struck a U.S. naval vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran and semi-official outlets described a missile strike and stepped-up naval warnings, while a senior U.S. official denied any U.S. ship had been hit. Oil pared some gains later in the session.
Global equity funds recorded net inflows for a sixth consecutive week through April 29, driven by strong first-quarter corporate results that lifted the MSCI World Index to a record. Asian markets saw particularly large inflows, while bond funds continued to attract capital and money market funds experienced notable withdrawals.
A U.S. magistrate judge in Minnesota ruled that federal law permits the Department of Justice to appoint active-duty Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorneys to prosecute civilians for offenses unrelated to military duties, concluding that two congressional statutes create exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act. The decision came in litigation brought…
Barclays has revised its outlook and no longer expects the Federal Reserve to cut rates in 2026, instead projecting a single 25-basis-point cut in March 2027. The change stems from an updated oil price baseline that keeps energy-driven inflation elevated, prompting upward revisions to headline and core PCE inflation and a modest downgrade to 2026 G…
Moody’s has revised Vietnam’s sovereign outlook from stable to positive while keeping the Ba2 rating, highlighting institutional improvements tied to reforms since late 2024 and a reduced threat from U.S. trade measures. The move follows market upgrades by index providers and commentary from another ratings agency signaling robust growth prospects …
The U.S. Treasury is expected to hold coupon auction sizes steady for a ninth consecutive quarter when it publishes its quarterly financing estimates and refunding plan in early May. A potential surge in tariff refunds following a Supreme Court ruling is refocusing market attention on whether, and when, the Treasury will expand issuance of longer-d…
