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.
5,100 total articles
The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index slid to an all-time low of 48.2 in early May, down from a final April reading of 49.8. Higher gasoline prices are cited as a key drag on household finances. One-year inflation expectations eased to 4.5% and five-year expectations declined to 3.4%. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a smal…
U.S. Central Command disabled two unladen Iranian-flagged oil tankers on Friday as they attempted to enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman in breach of a U.S. blockade. The vessels, M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda, were struck in their smokestacks by precision munitions fired from an F/A-18 Super Hornet operating from USS George H.W. Bush. The a…
Statistics Canada reported a loss of 17,700 jobs in April, lifting the unemployment rate to 6.9% as more people entered the labour market. Employment has fallen by 112,000 over the first four months of 2026, with nearly all losses in full-time work. The data disappointed expectations and was followed by modest weakness in the Canadian dollar and a …
U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, outpacing forecasts, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.3%. The data supported market expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady after its recent decision to hold the policy rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range. Stocks advanced, Treasury yields declined, and the dollar weake…
U.S. interest rate futures moved to scale back the likelihood of a year-end Federal Reserve rate increase and raised the odds the central bank will hold policy steady, following April's stronger-than-expected job gains. The market now prices a much lower chance of a December hike and a higher probability of no change at that meeting, after a govern…
Global equity funds posted net inflows for a seventh consecutive week through May 6, driven by better-than-expected first-quarter corporate earnings and strength in technology stocks. While total equity fund purchases slowed to the smallest weekly addition since March 18, bond and money-market instruments saw substantial demand, and flows differed …
U.S. employment expanded by 115,000 jobs in April while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%. The report, which revised March payroll gains to 185,000, highlights ongoing churn in the labor market and reinforces expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady for an extended period.
Canada’s jobless rate rose to 6.9% in April while the economy recorded a net loss of 17,700 jobs in March, driven entirely by declines in full-time work. Wage growth for permanent employees cooled to 4.8% year-over-year, participation ticked up to 65%, and job losses were concentrated in goods-producing industries even as services added positions.
The United States expects a reply from Iran on ongoing negotiations, Secretary of State said at a press briefing in Rome, adding that Operation Epic Fury has concluded after a recent engagement when US destroyers were fired upon in international waters. He warned that threats to Americans would prompt military responses, highlighted Iran's moves to…
DeepSeek is seeking up to 50 billion yuan ($7.35 billion) in its inaugural funding round, with founder Liang Wenfeng expected to supply the largest portion. The effort has prompted the AI lab to hasten steps toward revenue generation and to plan more frequent model updates, including a V4 update slated for June. If completed, the round would repres…
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said he hopes that Jerome Powell’s continued service on the Fed’s board after his chairmanship concludes will be limited to a clear transition period. Miran, speaking on Fox Business Network’s 'Mornings with Maria', emphasized the need to avoid divided loyalties and uncertainty about who is in charge. Powell h…
U.S. stock index futures rose in early trading as a rebound in semiconductor shares tempered investor concern over clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Gulf and firming oil prices. Market participants are braced for a closely watched Labor Department employment report due at 8:30 a.m. ET that could influence the outlook for Federal Reserv…
The U.S. stock market's recent rally faces a cluster of near-term tests: April inflation readings, consumer spending figures, developments in the Iran war and a pivotal meeting between U.S. and Chinese leaders. Strong corporate results and heavy investment in artificial intelligence have buoyed sentiment, while energy-driven inflation and geopoliti…
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has released a safety information bulletin recommending operational caution and outlining considerations for the use of Jet A grade fuel as disruptions in the Middle East and Persian Gulf threaten supplies of the Jet A-1 grade commonly used in Europe. The European Commission will also publish guidance on re…
Global markets turned cautious on Friday after renewed clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz sparked a short-lived oil spike and dented risk appetite. Investors were also focused on President Donald Trump’s upcoming China visit and a wave of volatile software earnings, while the U.S. April jobs report stood as the next m…
A recent poll of economists indicates India’s annual consumer inflation likely rose to 3.80% in April from 3.40% in March, narrowing the gap with the Reserve Bank of India’s 4% medium-term target. Higher international energy costs and domestic LPG price increases are identified as key upward pressures, while softer food inflation and favorable base…
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde expressed doubt about the case for stablecoins denominated in euros, saying they carry risks that could interfere with the ECB's policy reach and intensify turmoil during market stress. Several large euro-area banks, including Societe Generale, have been developing euro-pegged crypto assets to chall…
Japan is relying on a narrow group of policymakers - the Bank of Japan (BOJ), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and U.S. Treasury emissary Scott Bessent - to amplify yen-buying intervention and temper the currency's slide. Governor Kazuo Ueda's recent hawkish shift and subsequent MOF market action have been paired with hopes that Bessent's visit will p…
Global markets moved cautiously as a flare-up between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Gulf and renewed attacks on the UAE tested a fragile ceasefire. Oil rose to about $101 a barrel while investors focused on the prospect of a durable peace. Asian equities logged small daily losses but were poised for substantial weekly gains driven by surging chip …
On May 8, RBC Capital Markets lifted its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,900 from 7,750, driven by upbeat earnings revisions concentrated in technology and AI-linked firms and robust demand for AI infrastructure. The new target implies roughly a 7.7% upside from the index's close on Thursday. RBC said large-cap growth stocks remain the market leaders …
A poll of 17 economists indicates new bank lending in China likely fell to roughly 300 billion yuan in April, a marked drop from March's surge. The forecast points to continued softness in credit demand — driven by a prolonged property downturn, restrained private investment and cautious households — even as the central bank signals support and ins…
The United Arab Emirates said it was actively intercepting missile and unmanned aerial vehicle threats it attributes to Iran, as tensions in the Middle East intensified following renewed U.S.-Iran exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz. The developments follow U.S. actions responding to attacks on American warships and amid disputed claims over violatio…
Inflation-linked government bonds have failed to shield investors from recent market turbulence sparked by the Iran conflict, falling in line with nominal government bonds even as equities surged. While these instruments protect purchasing power over the long run if held to maturity, short-term price declines can occur when real yields rise. Some i…
U.S. job creation probably cooled in April as earlier temporary factors - including warm weather and the return of striking health workers - lost momentum. The unemployment rate is expected to have remained at 4.3%, while average hourly earnings likely rose, a combination that would support market expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep int…
Forecasts indicate that China's export sector is poised to experience a significant uptick in momentum for the month of April. According to a recent poll of 22 economists, outbound shipments are projected to expand by 7.9% on a year-on-year basis when measured in U.S. dollars. This represents a notable acceleration from the 2.5% growth rate observe…
