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
The Trump administration has implemented tariff measures targeting sixty of the United States primary trading partners to address persistent gaps in how foreign nations manage the movement of goods created through coerced labor. By linking trade levies to supply chain transparency, the administration is enforcing compliance through direct economic …
Canada is preparing possible retaliatory measures if talks with the United States fail to avert a threatened 50% tariff set to take effect by August 19. The prime minister said Ottawa has reintroduced the possibility of countermeasures after having removed many such tariffs last September, and described recent exchanges with U.S. officials as refle…
The European Central Bank is examining several policy options aimed at reducing the financial losses faced across the Eurosystem, with a decisive conversation expected in the autumn, according to four sources. Measures being considered range from raising minimum reserve requirements to reintroducing tiered deposit rates or even charging banks fees.…
The European Central Bank will take up the question of increasing the minimum reserves that commercial banks must hold, ECB President Christine Lagarde said, a step that could reduce interest costs the Eurosystem pays on excess liquidity and help limit losses at some national central banks. Although the change was not discussed at the latest Govern…
Over the past year U.S. bond returns have been modest while their five-year performance is negative. International equity and developed-market ETFs, particularly those tied to Europe and Japan, have outpaced U.S. bond benchmarks, a divergence driven by higher U.S. rates, relatively firmer U.S. inflation, and differing central bank stances.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields climbed to their highest level since January 2025 after oil rallied above $90 per barrel following reported strikes on two Saudi tankers. The move has increased concerns about inflation and raised the probability traders assign to a Federal Reserve rate increase at the July 29 policy meeting.
Two major Israeli banks plan to suspend correspondent banking arrangements with Palestinian banks in the coming months, citing heightened risks of involvement in terrorism financing and money laundering. Palestinian and Israeli officials warn the move could disrupt trade, government payments and supply chains that rely heavily on shekel transaction…
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told provincial premiers that Ottawa is intensifying negotiations with the United States and will take necessary measures to defend workers, farmers, businesses and families after President Trump warned of new 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods. Provinces are split on response, with Alberta and Saskatch…
The U.S. Treasury has sharply increased issuance of short-term Treasury bills this month to meet a jump in borrowing needs, a move readily absorbed by money market funds but one that heightens exposure to refinancing risk if interest rates climb. While the Treasury emphasizes that most marketable debt remains at fixed rates with maturities of two y…
A World Bank rapid assessment finds that the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 produced $19.6 billion in direct physical damage. The estimate covers destroyed residential, non-residential and infrastructure assets in northern regions including the capital, but does not include higher costs tied to rebuilding stronger or clearing debr…
China issued a renewable energy plan that establishes a binding commitment to increase wind and solar power generation by 53% from 2025 to 2030, raise total renewable generation to 1.8 billion tons of coal equivalent by 2030, and expand dispatchable renewable capacity and hydropower storage substantially.
A bipartisan pair of U.S. House members introduced legislation that would permit the Department of Homeland Security to order shutdowns of artificial intelligence models when those systems pose threats to human life or the economy. The 'AI Kill Switch Act,' sponsored by Democrat Ted Lieu and Republican Nathaniel Moran, defines a trigger as a 'loss-…
The South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee opted to leave the key policy rate at 7% on Thursday, surprising most economists who had forecast a 25 basis point increase. The committee said the existing stance remained appropriate after a rate increase at its previous meeting in May. The decision was not unanimous, and markets, includi…
Sweden has declared the extraction of critical metals and rare earth minerals a national security interest, a policy shift intended to accelerate planning and permitting, draw investment into domestic projects and lessen Europe’s dependence on Chinese mining and refining capacity. The designation targets faster land allocation for mines and contemp…
Statistics Canada reported that Canadian retail sales rose 1.0% to $73.7 billion in May, with increases recorded in all nine retail subsectors. An advance estimate indicates a 0.4% rise in June, which would represent six straight months of growth if confirmed. Notable moves included a 3.1% gain at gasoline stations and a 0.7% rise at motor vehicle …
The European Central Bank left its deposit rate unchanged at 2.25% while warning that recent energy price pressures tied to a widening Middle East conflict could push inflation higher. The decision maintained a hawkish option for additional tightening later this year, prompting movement in currency and short-term bond markets and prompting differin…
Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits declined by 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 187,000 for the week ended July 18, below Reuters economists' forecasts of 212,000. The report, which covers the survey week for the July national employment report, also showed a fall in people on jobless benefit rolls to 1.796 million in the week ended…
The European Central Bank kept its key deposit rate at 2.25%, citing significant uncertainty tied to an energy price shock related to the ongoing war in the Middle East. While headline inflation in the 21-member euro area is near 3% annually, the bank said the full impact of higher energy costs on prices and wages has not yet materialized. The ECB …
Short sellers have amassed an estimated $15.5 billion in unrealized gains since SpaceX completed its mid-June IPO, according to Ortex Technologies. The company's shares have fallen below the $135 IPO price after peaking at $225.64, with large portions of the free float on loan and fresh lows reached near $115.26. Market participants cited volatilit…
Truflation's latest projection predicts headline personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation was unchanged month-over-month in June, with the annual headline rate easing to 3.7%. The firm's early read on core PCE - the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge - points to a 0.2% monthly rise and a 3.3% year-over-year increase, underscoring …
Futures tied to Canada's S&P/TSX 60 fell modestly Thursday morning as oil climbed and gold eased amid intensifying conflict in the Middle East. The pullback follows a record close for the TSX average in the previous session driven by higher commodity prices. U.S. futures also declined ahead of a slate of major corporate earnings, with tech-sector s…
Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen said they struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, hitting the Encelia and claiming an attack on the Layla as well. The incident comes amid fresh U.S.-Iran exchanges of strikes, warnings about a Houthi blockade of Saudi ports near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and market moves that lifted …
Turkey's central bank left its one-week repo rate at 37%, maintaining the overnight lending rate at 40% and the overnight borrowing rate at 35.5%. The Monetary Policy Committee said the underlying trend of inflation eased slightly in June but that leading indicators point to a temporary rise in July. Officials highlighted growing energy price press…
ING Economics argues that sterling’s advance against the euro in the past month reflects market mechanics - including positioning, carry trades and merger-and-acquisition flows - rather than a durable improvement in Britain’s underlying economic fundamentals. The broker forecasts EUR/GBP will move higher to 0.88 by year-end and to 0.90 in 2027, whi…
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s decision to avoid forward guidance on interest rates is confronting renewed inflation risks from rising oil prices and potential new tariffs. Several Fed officials have adopted a firmer tone, signaling willingness to tighten policy if inflation does not resume a downward path. With the Fed meeting scheduled for J…
