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.
5,104 total articles
South Korea's factory sector expanded at its fastest pace since February 2022 in April, according to an S&P Global purchasing managers index that rose to 53.6 from 52.6 in March. Semiconductor demand supported both production and new orders, even as disruptions to raw material supplies tied to the war in the Middle East influenced firms to increase…
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said the prolonged conflict involving Iran raises the prospect of sustained higher inflation and economic damage, complicating the Fed's ability to provide clear guidance on interest rates. Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Kashkari highlighted the impact of a closed Strait of Hormuz, whi…
Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said the ongoing Iran war and closure of the Strait of Hormuz reduce the central bank’s capacity to provide clear guidance on interest-rate policy. With energy prices surging and inflation running above target, Kashkari and several regional Fed officials dissented at the most recent FOMC meeting, …
The U.S. Attorney in Washington, Jeanine Pirro, said she will defer to the Federal Reserve's Office of Inspector General to determine whether cost overruns tied to renovations at the Fed's headquarters warrant further criminal action against Chair Jerome Powell. Pirro suspended the probe after a federal judge blocked subpoenas, and she indicated th…
Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr warned that stress within private credit markets could provoke a psychological contagion among investors, potentially triggering a wider credit pullback. While direct bank-to-private-credit linkages do not yet appear deeply problematic, Barr cited overlapping exposures in the insurance sector as an additional a…
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said energy prices, which have climbed amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, should fall later this year. He made the comments on Fox Business Network's Sunday Morning Futures and reiterated that oil markets will be lower after the dispute subsides. Recent data from the American Automobile Association show g…
Finance ministers and central bank officials representing China, Japan, South Korea and the 10 members of ASEAN issued a joint statement after meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, saying they will watch for excessive volatility and disorderly market moves and stand ready to respond as domestic conditions warrant. The group also affirmed support for op…
Finance ministers and central bank governors from China, Japan, South Korea and the 10 ASEAN members said they would monitor risks tied to excessive market volatility and are prepared to take action consistent with domestic conditions. The group, known as ASEAN+3, released the statement after a meeting held on the sidelines of the Asian Development…
The Asian Development Bank has introduced a financing facility aimed at helping countries in Asia and the Pacific develop end-to-end supply chains for critical minerals. The scheme will support project preparation and fund infrastructure for processing, manufacturing and recycling. Initial backing includes $500 million memorandums from Korea Eximba…
Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras told a Cypriot newspaper that concerns about a euro zone recession are "real and justified" as the conflict in the Middle East threatens to disrupt energy supplies, lift prices and weigh on growth and inflation dynamics. He said how long and how broadly the shock transmits will determine if and how monetary…
U.S. equities closed the week at record levels, powered by strong corporate earnings, but markets face mounting headwinds from rising oil prices and a more divided Federal Reserve. Investors will parse another large slate of quarterly reports and April payrolls data next week for direction, with results from megacaps and chipmakers likely to shape …
BofA Global Research expects China’s export sector to remain resilient through 2026, with export growth forecast at 4.8% for the year despite stronger currency, elevated energy prices and geopolitical tensions. Key drivers include surging shipments of integrated circuits, rising electric vehicle exports, and sustained global demand for renewable-en…
BofA Global Research projects that accelerated AI-related demand and constrained high-end compute supply will push combined hyperscale capital expenditures past $1 trillion in calendar year 2027, after an estimated rise to more than $800 billion in 2026. Major cloud providers have revised up their 2026 capex guidance amid robust AI revenue growth a…
OPEC+ ministers are meeting this weekend with a priority to demonstrate cohesion after the United Arab Emirates left the alliance. A seven-member sub-committee has provisionally agreed to a modest 188,000 barrels-per-day quota increase for June, a move described as largely symbolic while regional disruptions persist and market attention remains foc…
China and the Philippines have again clashed over activities at Sandy Cay, an unoccupied sandbar in the South China Sea. Beijing said it found five Philippine personnel on the feature and called the landing illegal, while Manila reported identifying four Chinese vessels it accused of conducting illegal research and said it would send ships and airc…
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will arrive in Canberra late Sunday for a three-day official visit aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation with Australia. The trip, which follows a recently updated regional strategy presented in Vietnam, will emphasize defense integration, securing critical minerals such as rare earths and gallium, and stre…
A Bernstein report highlights a sharp jump in European jet fuel prices following recent Middle East tensions, placing airlines at risk of operating losses unless they secure hedging relief or raise fares. The report finds protection varies by carrier depending on 2026 hedge ratios and balance sheet strength, and argues capacity reductions are the p…
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index has climbed to an all-time high this year, rising roughly 14% despite concerns that Middle East tensions and elevated energy costs would weigh on international equities. Strong demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure in Asia and improved oil export profiles in countries such as Brazil have been key drivers,…
Outgoing European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos says Spain must maintain representation on the ECB Executive Board after his departure at the end of May. With his replacement, Croatia's Boris Vujcic, set to arrive and three board seats including the presidency expected to open next year, Madrid is preparing a diplomatic effort to reta…
The Australian government will allocate A$1.8 billion over five years to make Medicare urgent care clinics a permanent part of the national healthcare network. The expansion is intended to ease emergency department demand and provide bulk-billed care, but it comes as policymakers confront rising costs in welfare and defense, a slowing economy, and …
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te made a surprise visit to Eswatini using an 'arrive then announce' approach after reported attempts by Beijing to block his travel. The trip, conducted during festivities marking King Mswati III’s 40th accession anniversary, intensified verbal exchanges between Chinese and Taiwanese officials and revived concerns about …
Soaring jet-fuel costs, driven higher amid the Iran conflict, are reshaping the airline industry’s profit outlook for 2026. Budget carriers are particularly exposed, with at least one carrier winding down operations as federal relief efforts collapsed. Major network airlines are cutting guidance and warning of a potential $4 billion hit to margins …
Luis de Guindos, the departing vice president of the European Central Bank, urged that Spain retain a seat on the ECB Executive Board and said the presidency could be possible. De Guindos, who leaves at the end of the month and will be replaced by Croatia’s Boris Vujcic, noted that three vacancies will arise on the six-member board next year and sa…
Nvidia's strategic expansion into so-called physical AI - encompassing robotics, autonomous systems and AI-driven manufacturing - has triggered sharp stock gains across Asian suppliers. The region now represents roughly 90% of Nvidia's production costs, up from about 65% a year ago, and heavy spending by U.S. hyperscalers is magnifying the ripple e…
Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said she was not in a position to comment on suspected government intervention to prop up the yen, after a period of marked currency volatility and reports that officials entered the foreign-exchange market for the first time since 2024. A Bloomberg analysis estimated that authorities may have deployed abou…
