Economy

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.

Articles

5,071 total articles

Swaps Signal End of India Rate-Cut Cycle as Longer-Dated Yields Climb

Swaps Signal End of India Rate-Cut Cycle as Longer-Dated Yields Climb

India's overnight indexed swaps now show little room for further Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rate cuts, anchoring short-term interest-rate expectations, even as longer-dated swap rates climb on prospects of stronger inflation and economic momentum. The one-year OIS sits 25 basis points above the repo rate at 5.50%, while the actively traded five-ye…

Bithumb Cites Internal Control Failures After $40 Billion Bitcoin Transfer Error

Bithumb Cites Internal Control Failures After $40 Billion Bitcoin Transfer Error

South Korea’s Bithumb told lawmakers that major shortcomings in its internal systems allowed an erroneous transfer of about 620,000 bitcoins to customers during a promotional event, a mistake the firm says amounted to roughly $40 billion and triggered a sharp drop in bitcoin prices. Company officials said processing delays and failed checks left th…

Precious Metals Rise as U.S. Yields Slip After Retail Sales Stall

Precious Metals Rise as U.S. Yields Slip After Retail Sales Stall

Gold and silver prices advanced after U.S. Treasury yields fell following data showing December retail sales were unchanged. The slowdown in household spending, particularly on motor vehicles and other big-ticket items, reduced near-term pressure on monetary policy and lifted demand for non-yielding bullion. Market participants are now focused on U…

Russian regulator to tighten limits on Telegram after alleged non-compliance

Russian regulator to tighten limits on Telegram after alleged non-compliance

Russia's state communications watchdog said it will impose additional restrictions on Telegram and other messaging apps after concluding they have not resolved previous violations related to data protection and misuse. The move follows earlier curbs on voice and video calling and comes amid government efforts to promote a state-backed alternative, …

Emails Link Tesla Director Kimbal Musk to Women Connected with Jeffrey Epstein

Emails Link Tesla Director Kimbal Musk to Women Connected with Jeffrey Epstein

Emails released by the U.S. Justice Department on January 30 show Tesla director Kimbal Musk had interactions tied to at least two women who were connected to financier Jeffrey Epstein in the years after Epstein's sex crime conviction. The correspondence, dated 2012-2015, includes messages between Musk, Epstein and associate Boris Nikolic discussin…

Dallas Fed Chief Flags Risks from Rapid Growth in Treasury Basis Trade

Dallas Fed Chief Flags Risks from Rapid Growth in Treasury Basis Trade

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan warned of vulnerabilities tied to the sharp increase in the Treasury basis trade, saying the strategy’s recent expansion could amplify pressures during market stress. Speaking in Austin, she urged stronger risk management, greater transparency and completion of official-sector reforms while also …

Cleveland Fed’s Hammack Sees No Rush to Alter Rate Policy, Says Pause Could Last

Cleveland Fed’s Hammack Sees No Rush to Alter Rate Policy, Says Pause Could Last

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack told attendees at an Ohio Bankers League event that the central bank does not face urgent pressure to change its policy rate this year. Citing a cautiously optimistic economic outlook and the recent policy easing, she said the Fed could keep the federal funds rate steady for an extended perio…

Bessent Says U.S.-China Ties Are Stable but Must Be De-Risked

Bessent Says U.S.-China Ties Are Stable but Must Be De-Risked

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told attendees at the BTG Pactual CEO Conference in Sao Paolo that relations between the United States and China are currently "a very comfortable place," while stressing that Washington seeks to de-risk ties rather than sever them. He framed the relationship as a rivalry that should be fair, expressed optimism…

U.S. Retail Sales Stall in December, Signaling Slower Consumer Momentum

U.S. Retail Sales Stall in December, Signaling Slower Consumer Momentum

Retail sales in the United States were unchanged in December, weaker than economists had expected and following a revised strong gain in November. Core retail sales - those most closely tied to GDP - eased, and a decline in household saving combined with data delays and downward revisions that may prompt cuts to fourth-quarter consumer spending and…

Brazil’s Inflation Inches Higher in January but Keeps Rate-Cut Outlook Intact

Brazil’s Inflation Inches Higher in January but Keeps Rate-Cut Outlook Intact

Brazil’s annual inflation rose to 4.44% through January from 4.26% in December, slightly above economists' median forecast but still inside the central bank’s target band. Monthly prices climbed 0.33%, with transportation and fuel costs the principal contributors. The central bank has held the Selic rate at 15% but signalled the start of rate cuts …

BofA Boosts Taiwan 2026 GDP Forecast to 8% on AI-Led Export Surge

BofA Boosts Taiwan 2026 GDP Forecast to 8% on AI-Led Export Surge

Bank of America has sharply raised its projection for Taiwan's 2026 economic growth to 8% from 4.5%, attributing the revision to a powerful export-led surge in the fourth quarter of 2025. Economists at the bank say the move reflects more than a short-term revaluation, pointing to enduring optimism around technology-driven expansion underpinned by A…

U.S. Trade Representative: USMCA Talks Proceed with Mexico, Stumble with Canada

U.S. Trade Representative: USMCA Talks Proceed with Mexico, Stumble with Canada

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Fox Business Network that negotiations over the USMCA are active with Mexico but have been more difficult with Canada. Greer said talks will continue in bilateral channels with both countries and stressed that discussions about the Gordie Howe International Bridge are a distinct negotiation. His comment…

Brazil's January Consumer Prices Edge Higher, Reinforcing Caution Around Rate Cuts

Brazil's January Consumer Prices Edge Higher, Reinforcing Caution Around Rate Cuts

Brazil's inflation rate rose in January, nudging above market expectations and underscoring a cautious stance from monetary policymakers as they prepare to begin cutting interest rates. Consumer prices climbed 4.44% year-on-year and 0.33% month-on-month, with transportation and fuels leading the monthly increase. Central bank officials, led by Gove…

Taiwan Delegation Travels to U.S. for Concluding Session on Trade Accord

Taiwan Delegation Travels to U.S. for Concluding Session on Trade Accord

Taiwan's trade negotiating team has departed for the United States to hold a final meeting on a recently negotiated reciprocal trade agreement. The deal would lower tariffs on Taiwanese exports to the U.S. and mobilize large-scale Taiwanese investment and credit guarantees to expand semiconductor, energy and artificial intelligence production in th…

U.S. Law Firms Close 2025 With Strong Profit Gain, but M&A Weakness Raises Flags

U.S. Law Firms Close 2025 With Strong Profit Gain, but M&A Weakness Raises Flags

The Thomson Reuters Institute’s Law Firm Financial Index reported a 14.1% rise in profits for U.S. law firms in the fourth quarter of 2025, the largest year-over-year gain since the 2021-2022 pandemic boom. The increase was driven by higher billing rates and slower expense growth. However, a marked slowdown in mergers and acquisitions demand and a …