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

908 total articles

Rising Bank Lending Strengthens Case for Fed Rate Patience

Rising Bank Lending Strengthens Case for Fed Rate Patience

Stronger demand for bank credit, documented in recent surveys and quarterly bank reports, is easing financial conditions and could reduce urgency for the Federal Reserve to lower its policy rate. Policymakers remain focused on inflation and labor-market metrics, but growing lending activity provides an additional reason to hold rates for now.

Bank of Canada Poised to Keep Rates Unchanged as Economy Shows Resilience

Bank of Canada Poised to Keep Rates Unchanged as Economy Shows Resilience

The Bank of Canada is widely expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at 2.25% as recent economic data suggest the domestic economy is performing broadly in line with the central bank's projections, even with the limited effects of U.S. tariffs on specific sectors. Markets and economists largely anticipate a prolonged pause in policy adjustments …

Fed Poised to Pause on Rates as Policy Uncertainty Extends Into New Leadership

Fed Poised to Pause on Rates as Policy Uncertainty Extends Into New Leadership

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at its upcoming meeting, entering a pause that markets predict will last beyond upcoming leadership transitions. Recent data show labor market resilience and core inflation running well above the Fed's 2% goal, while policymakers remain divided on whether and how quickly addit…

ECB Officials Warn Rapid Euro Strength Could Weigh on Inflation

ECB Officials Warn Rapid Euro Strength Could Weigh on Inflation

European Central Bank officials expressed growing concern about the euro’s rapid gains against the U.S. dollar, saying the move could exert downward pressure on inflation even as price growth is already set to undershoot the ECB’s 2% goal. Officials flagged the exchange-rate shift as a factor that could influence policy settings in coming months.

Japan May Defer Direct Yen Intervention as U.S. Cooperation Curbs Sharp Declines

Japan May Defer Direct Yen Intervention as U.S. Cooperation Curbs Sharp Declines

A former Bank of Japan official involved in past market interventions said coordinated tactics, including suspected U.S. rate checks, have helped halt a one-sided slide in the yen. He argued that Tokyo may not need to carry out direct yen-buying intervention for now, warning that a direct intervention could push the currency higher and weigh on sto…

Albanese Reaffirms Plan to Reclaim Darwin Port Amid Chinese Warnings

Albanese Reaffirms Plan to Reclaim Darwin Port Amid Chinese Warnings

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated his government's intention to bring Darwin Port back into Australian hands, saying the move serves national interests. The port, leased to China’s Landbridge in 2015 for A$506 million under a 99-year arrangement, has drawn criticism and warnings from Beijing about possible economic consequences if a forced…

European Stocks Pause After Two-Day Rise as ASML Climbs to Record High

European Stocks Pause After Two-Day Rise as ASML Climbs to Record High

European equities paused after two consecutive sessions of gains as company earnings and management comments drove stock-specific moves. The STOXX 600 was flat as of 0804 GMT, with technology stocks advancing and ASML reaching a record share price on strong fourth-quarter bookings tied to AI demand. Volvo outperformed after a smaller-than-feared pr…

Euro Tops $1.20 Against Dollar, Underscoring Broader Currency Shifts

Euro Tops $1.20 Against Dollar, Underscoring Broader Currency Shifts

The euro has climbed to just over $1.20 versus the U.S. dollar, reaching its highest level since 2021 and capping a significant rally. The move reflects a combination of weaker dollar sentiment, geopolitical and policy frictions involving the United States, and European efforts to shore up long-term growth and security. The appreciation has implica…

Dollar Weakens as Markets Eye Possible U.S.-Japan Intervention and Fed Decision

Dollar Weakens as Markets Eye Possible U.S.-Japan Intervention and Fed Decision

The U.S. dollar slipped for a fourth consecutive session, sliding to a four-month low as traders monitored reports of coordinated foreign exchange checks between U.S. and Japanese authorities and awaited the Federal Reserve's policy decision. The yen rallied, other major currencies firmed, and market attention sharpened on trade-policy announcement…

Austrian Central Banker Says Further Euro Strength Could Prompt ECB Rate Cut

Austrian Central Banker Says Further Euro Strength Could Prompt ECB Rate Cut

Austrian central bank governor Martin Kocher told the Financial Times that the European Central Bank may need to consider another interest rate cut if the euro's continued appreciation begins to subdue inflation by lowering import prices. While describing recent euro gains as modest, Kocher said a stronger currency could undermine euro-zone competi…

Dollar Slide Accelerates After Presidential Remarks, Shakes FX and Commodities

Dollar Slide Accelerates After Presidential Remarks, Shakes FX and Commodities

A wave of dollar selling gathered pace after casual remarks from the U.S. president, amplifying moves that had already pushed the currency down sharply over the past year. The euro climbed past $1.20 for the first time in over four-and-a-half years and the Swiss franc reached a decade high. Investors and large funds are reducing dollar exposure, wh…

Hong Kong Home Prices Record First Annual Gain Since 2021

Hong Kong Home Prices Record First Annual Gain Since 2021

Hong Kong private residential prices rose 3.3% in 2025, the first annual increase since 2021, driven by interest rate reductions and falling housing supply. December prices rose 0.2% from November, marking a seventh straight monthly gain. Analysts say the market may be stabilizing but future direction depends on further rate moves, Sino-US tensions…

China Approves First Shipment of Nvidia H200 AI Chips, Sources Say

China Approves First Shipment of Nvidia H200 AI Chips, Sources Say

Chinese authorities have approved the import of an initial batch of Nvidia H200 artificial intelligence chips, according to two people familiar with the matter. The clearance, covering several hundred thousand units, was granted during the visit to China by Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang. The first tranche has been largely earmarked for three …

Gold Climbs Past $5,200 as Dollar Slides to Near Four-Year Lows

Gold Climbs Past $5,200 as Dollar Slides to Near Four-Year Lows

Gold vaulted above $5,200 per ounce for the first time as the dollar plunged toward four-year lows. Spot and futures contracts rose after a sharp advance the previous session, driven by dollar weakness tied in part to political remarks and ongoing geopolitical concerns. Other precious metals also recorded strong gains.

BOJ Minutes Show Members Back More Rate Increases as Yen Weakness Enters Calculus

BOJ Minutes Show Members Back More Rate Increases as Yen Weakness Enters Calculus

Minutes from the Bank of Japan's December policy meeting show board members agreed on the need to continue raising interest rates, noting very low real interest rates and urging consideration of the yen’s depreciation when assessing inflation. The document reiterates the BOJ's willingness to press on with tighter policy after raising the policy rat…

Markets Split Between Rallying Equities and Turbulent FX as Dollar Collapses

Markets Split Between Rallying Equities and Turbulent FX as Dollar Collapses

Global equity indexes, led by the S&P 500, reached fresh highs driven by robust U.S. corporate earnings and growth optimism, while currency and precious metals markets signalled pronounced investor caution. The dollar tumbled to four-year lows, lifting safe-haven assets such as gold and the Swiss franc, even as U.S. Treasury yields ticked higher at…

Trump Says Dollar Is 'Great' as Markets React

Trump Says Dollar Is 'Great' as Markets React

President Donald Trump told reporters in Iowa that he thinks the value of the dollar is "great," remarks that coincided with an accelerated slide in the dollar index to a session low and renewed market focus on potential coordinated intervention and an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision.