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.
7,192 total articles
Oil prices fell sharply after the United States paused strikes on Iran and Tehran indicated a reciprocal pause, reducing the conflict-driven premium that pushed crude well above recent averages. WTI traded near $83.75 and Brent near $86.73, but with the Strait of Hormuz still closed - a route carrying about 20% of global oil - markets remain suscep…
Hedge funds increased their relative exposure to U.S. healthcare equities to levels close to a five-year high last week, according to a Goldman Sachs note dated July 24. Investors have been concentrating purchases in medical equipment, life sciences tools and pharmaceutical names, driven by enthusiasm over AI's potential in drug discovery, projecte…
Brazil’s Finance Minister Dario Durigan criticized recent U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods as unjustified interference, said he will raise the issue with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at next month’s G20 meetings, and expressed confidence the dispute will be settled after October’s presidential election. He also dismissed the likelihood of a…
New orders for U.S.-manufactured non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft increased 0.9% in June, while shipments of the same category rose 1.9%, figures the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau released on Monday show. These metrics feed into the equipment component of GDP and precede the government’s advance estimate of second-quarter growth.
China’s commerce ministry rejected new U.S. tariffs imposed over alleged forced labour as unjustified protectionism, urged their removal and said it reserves the right to respond; the duties, which assign China a 12.5% rate, could strain a fragile trade truce as both sides signal continued dialogue.
China's commerce ministry accused the United States of 'AI hegemonism' and warned it would take all necessary measures to protect its interests after senior U.S. officials said Chinese AI firms could face investigations, sanctions and trade restrictions over alleged theft of U.S. technology. The dispute centers on Beijing-based Moonshot AI and its …
S&P Global Ratings has moved Bangladesh's long-term outlook from stable to negative while keeping its sovereign credit ratings at B+ (long-term) and B (short-term). The agency points to a meaningful slowdown in economic growth, pressures on the external balance, financial-sector imbalances and energy-market vulnerabilities as factors that could hin…
Goldman Sachs analysts describe the outcome of this week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting as unusually uncertain but judge that most policymakers are unlikely to vote for an immediate rate increase. Softer June inflation readings, historical reluctance to spring surprise hikes and market odds favoring no change contrast with oil-price volatility ti…
A survey by the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union shows 51% of U.S. companies operating in Europe expect stable U.S.-EU trade and investment ties over the coming year, with 21% anticipating improvement and 28% predicting worse relations. The poll, conducted July 6-20 and released one year after a U.S.-EU trade agreement, signals an…
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva makes her first visit to Argentina amid growing investor confidence in President Javier Milei's reform agenda. Economic indicators such as rising exports, growing foreign-exchange reserves and sharply lower inflation have lifted sentiment, and credit rating agencies have issued upgrades. Still, a $32.3 bil…
A DIHK industry survey of more than 3,000 companies finds climbing energy costs are forcing many German firms to delay investment and contemplate cutting domestic capacity or shifting production overseas. The lobby group reports near-term business burdens and a weakening competitiveness outlook tied to energy price pressures.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on July 25 refused to allow the Trump administration to put into effect an executive order that would have imposed new requirements on mail-in voting in 23 states. The court denied the Justice Department’s request to stay a lower-court injunction that found essential portions of the March order unconstitutional…
A growing cohort of major brokerages now sees a tangible risk that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its July meeting, driven by a sharp jump in oil prices and renewed conflict in the Middle East. While most firms still list no change as their baseline, limited guidance from Chair Kevin Warsh and recent market moves have turned the u…
Italy's cabinet will meet to consider measures aimed at the surge in diesel costs, balancing support for households and energy-intensive firms with commitments to reduce the public deficit agreed with the European Union. A temporary excise duty cut implemented in March and ended on July 3 cost almost €2 billion and drew criticism from EU and IMF of…
British retailers recorded their least severe year-on-year sales drop in six months during July, according to the Confederation of British Industry. The CBI's distributive trades balance improved to -26 from -54 in June, while wholesalers reported broadly unchanged volumes and retailers' expectations for August strengthened. Despite the moderation,…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that while Japan is recording inflationary trends, the government cannot yet declare deflation risk eliminated. With consumer prices and the GDP deflator moving higher and wage gains beginning to appear, the administration is pressing for increased domestic investment, a recalibration of fiscal policy and cleare…
In the first 18 months of President Donald Trump’s second term the U.S. economy has absorbed a string of policy-led shocks - including a tightened immigration regime, higher tariffs and an unexpected war with Iran - while showing unexpected resilience. Growth has been supported by strong corporate issuance and heavy investment in AI infrastructure,…
Bank Indonesia faces renewed scrutiny after Governor Perry Warjiyo resigned unexpectedly after eight years in office. The appointment of senior deputy governor Destry Damayanti as interim chief provides short-term continuity, but markets are watching closely for the next permanent nominee and whether monetary policy will remain insulated from polit…
Shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell to its lowest level in months on Sunday, with tanker and commodity vessel traffic reduced after reported Houthi attacks on Saudi targets. Transit through the Strait of Hormuz was also limited over the weekend as a fragile cessation in U.S.-Iran airstrikes continued, raising concerns about renewed risks…
Investors enter a condensed week of potentially market-moving events that include a Federal Reserve interest rate decision, other major central bank announcements, a slate of earnings from the largest technology companies, key U.S. economic releases including the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, and evolving developments in the Middle East that hav…
U.S. stock futures rose as the United States and Iran announced a pause in hostilities, pushing oil prices down and lifting energy-sensitive equities in premarket trading. Airlines and cruise operators led gains while energy producers fell. Investors remain attentive to Federal Reserve policy signals and a slate of major tech earnings this week.
Slovak central bank governor Peter Kazimir said the European Central Bank will likely need to raise interest rates at least once more to keep inflation in check. He warned that further deterioration in the economic outlook or persistent price pressures from rising energy costs could require additional tightening beyond current expectations, and sai…
Policymakers in Tokyo, Washington and London face a volatile backdrop this week as rising energy prices, shipping risks in the Middle East and a new round of U.S. tariffs add to market uncertainty. A U.S. Federal Reserve meeting and big technology earnings will test investor expectations in the United States, while the Bank of Japan and Bank of Eng…
The Bank of England is widely expected to keep Bank Rate at 3.75% this week even after a recent jump in oil above $100 a barrel linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict. British inflation has eased to a 15-month low of 2.6% in June and remains below the BoE's earlier forecasts, but higher wholesale energy costs and market pricing for future hikes leave the…
U.S. equity futures moved higher after a two-day pause in strikes between the United States and Iran eased some pressure on oil markets. Investors are shifting focus to a busy week of corporate earnings, with roughly one-third of S&P 500 companies scheduled to report and aggregate earnings expected to rise sharply year-over-year. A Federal Reserve …
