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

7,150 total articles

BofA Sees Near-Term Fed Cuts Despite Case Against Them

BofA Sees Near-Term Fed Cuts Despite Case Against Them

BofA Securities economists expect the Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates at its June and July 2026 meetings, even though they argue that underlying economic signals - including a falling unemployment rate and a recent uptick in the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge - do not support such moves. The projection comes amid debate over the policy st…

Deutsche Bank Lifts European Consumer Staples Rating as U.S. Demand Strengthens

Deutsche Bank Lifts European Consumer Staples Rating as U.S. Demand Strengthens

Deutsche Bank has revised its view on European consumer staples from cautious to neutral, citing a firmer U.S. consumer, recovering sector earnings and comparatively low valuations versus U.S. peers and the broader Stoxx 600. Analysts expect modest earnings growth by 2026 and see several cyclical and policy-related drivers supporting demand.

Peru’s markets hold steady as yet another president is removed by Congress

Peru’s markets hold steady as yet another president is removed by Congress

Peru’s Congress removed President Jose Jeri just four months into his term and installed Jose Balcazar as interim president, yet financial markets moved little. Analysts say the country’s mining-centric economy and confidence in its central bank have kept investor sentiment resilient despite recurrent political turnover. The focus now shifts to the…

UK Firms Extend Early-2026 Recovery but Services Jobs Fall Sharply

UK Firms Extend Early-2026 Recovery but Services Jobs Fall Sharply

Preliminary S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index data for February show the UK composite PMI at 53.9, extending a rebound into a second month. The headline picture of modest growth masks sharp reductions in services-sector staffing tied in part to higher employer social security payments introduced in April 2025. Manufacturing activity strengthene…

ING Predicts Sterling Weakness as Bank of England Cuts Weighed In

ING Predicts Sterling Weakness as Bank of England Cuts Weighed In

ING expects the euro to gain ground versus the British pound in the near term, projecting EUR/GBP to exceed 0.880 amid anticipated Bank of England rate cuts and heightened domestic political risk. Strong January retail sales and an unexpected budget surplus did not prevent a drop in gilt yields or a weaker pound against the dollar.

Euro-zone Activity Picks Up in February as Factories Return to Growth

Euro-zone Activity Picks Up in February as Factories Return to Growth

A preliminary S&P Global HCOB composite PMI for the euro area rose to 51.9 in February from 51.3 in January, driven by a shift in manufacturing back into expansion. The services sector recorded only a slight improvement. Overall price pressures edged up, but companies raised selling prices only modestly, leaving little reason to change expectations…

Indonesia and U.S. Agree to 19% Tariff Rate; Palm Oil and Key Commodities Exempted

Indonesia and U.S. Agree to 19% Tariff Rate; Palm Oil and Key Commodities Exempted

Indonesia and the United States have formalized a trade agreement that lowers U.S. tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19% from 32%, while exempting palm oil and several agricultural commodities from levies. The pact, signed in Washington by Indonesia's senior economic minister and the U.S. Trade Representative, includes provisions on textiles, product …

UniSuper Boosts Currency Hedging, Cites Undervalued Aussie and Shifting Rate Gap

UniSuper Boosts Currency Hedging, Cites Undervalued Aussie and Shifting Rate Gap

UniSuper has raised its currency hedging of foreign holdings, arguing the Australian dollar is undervalued and likely to strengthen as the interest rate differential with the United States moves in Australia's favor. The decision reflects recent moves by the Reserve Bank of Australia and shifts in market rate expectations, and follows similar steps…

U.S. GDP Likely Moderated in Fourth Quarter but Remained Robust Amid AI Investment

U.S. GDP Likely Moderated in Fourth Quarter but Remained Robust Amid AI Investment

Advance estimates point to a slowdown in U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter after two strong quarters, with the 43-day government shutdown and easing consumer outlays weighing on output. Forecasters expect GDP to have expanded at a roughly 3.0% annualized pace, supported by tax-cut related refunds and sizable AI-driven business investment t…

White House Weighs Short, Targeted Strike on Iran to Pressure Nuclear Concessions

White House Weighs Short, Targeted Strike on Iran to Pressure Nuclear Concessions

Senior U.S. officials are evaluating a constrained military response against Iran that could take place within days and would focus on a small number of military or government targets. The proposed initial strike is designed to compel Tehran to rein in its nuclear enrichment while preserving scope for negotiations. No final decision has been made a…

White House Proposes Curb on Large Investors Buying Additional Single-Family Homes

White House Proposes Curb on Large Investors Buying Additional Single-Family Homes

The White House has floated a policy to prohibit investors holding more than 100 single-family homes from acquiring more properties, according to a memo shared with congressional committee leaders. The proposal includes carve-outs for developers and renovators who supply rental stock, and officials are seeking to insert the measure into a Senate ho…

Indonesia and U.S. Sign Reciprocal Trade Agreement After Months of Talks

Indonesia and U.S. Sign Reciprocal Trade Agreement After Months of Talks

Indonesia and the United States have signed a reciprocal trade agreement following protracted negotiations, Indonesian officials said. The accord was signed by Indonesia's senior economic minister and the U.S. Trade Representative after Washington agreed last year to reduce Indonesia's exports to the U.S. to 19% from an earlier 32% figure. Presiden…

IMF to Publish Initial Annual Review of U.S. Economic Policies on Feb. 25

IMF to Publish Initial Annual Review of U.S. Economic Policies on Feb. 25

The International Monetary Fund will unveil its long-awaited annual assessment of U.S. economic policy on February 25, delivering analysis of fiscal shortfalls, trade and current account gaps, and a general evaluation of the dollar’s valuation. IMF officials reaffirmed the dollar’s central role in the global monetary system even amid recent depreci…

IMF Flags Venezuela’s Economic and Humanitarian Crisis as 'Quite Fragile'

IMF Flags Venezuela’s Economic and Humanitarian Crisis as 'Quite Fragile'

The International Monetary Fund characterized Venezuela’s current economic and humanitarian situation as "quite fragile," citing estimated triple-digit inflation, rapid currency depreciation and a public debt burden equivalent to 180% of GDP before arbitration or judgments. The IMF said it has paused formal relations with Caracas since 2019 but is …