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
International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol praised an interim agreement that would end the Iran war and called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened without conditions. Birol said the IEA will work with countries on new strategies after the crisis reshaped the global energy map, and cautioned that the waterway's prior closure means it could be …
Taiwan’s central bank raised its GDP forecast sharply, citing robust demand tied to artificial intelligence applications, while leaving the policy rate at 2% and warning that inflation risks warrant a somewhat more hawkish posture. The decision was not unanimous, with two board members dissenting amid rising consumer prices tied to energy costs.
China has defended recent measures to tighten export controls on critical minerals, saying the changes are consistent with international norms and aimed at safeguarding peace, stability and non-proliferation obligations. The comments followed G7 leaders' agreement to coordinate efforts to lessen reliance on any single outside supplier for rare eart…
Prime Minister Andrej Babis publicly urged the Czech National Bank not to raise interest rates on Thursday, saying inflation in the Czech Republic remains among the EU’s lowest and current rates already exceed those in the euro zone. He warned that a rate increase would make life harder for households and businesses, even as markets and analysts ex…
A research report from PetroChina’s planning arm projects China’s oil consumption will fall 4.9% in 2026 to 753 million tons as the country accelerates a transition toward alternative energy sources and contends with higher oil prices tied to geopolitical tensions. The study also anticipates small gains in crude production and refining capacity, mi…
Bpifrance has launched a private equity fund named Blue Sea aimed at acquiring large minority stakes of €200 million to €500 million in unlisted French and European companies. The state-backed bank is targeting €4 billion in commitments, with an ambition to reach €5 billion and will contribute 20% to 25% itself as anchor. The vehicle will direct at…
Qatar Airways Group has restored 85% of its pre-crisis network capacity, operating more than 140 daily departures from Doha to over 160 destinations under its summer 2026 schedule. The airline also announced two senior executive appointments - Abdulla Ali as Chief Operating Officer and Calum Laming as Chief Customer Officer - both reporting to CEO …
Large U.S. banks are submitting final formal comments to the Federal Reserve this week seeking targeted changes to a revised capital rule proposal. Their requests center on lowering capital assigned to trading operations, removing capital treatment for unused credit card lines, and adjusting the surcharge applied to globally systemically important …
Britain’s main stock indexes retreated as traders positioned for the Bank of England’s rate decision, with pressure concentrated in financials and materials. The FTSE 100 was down nearly 1% by mid-morning, while the midcap FTSE 250 also fell. Investors were also weighing a hawkish tone from the U.S. Federal Reserve and ongoing inflation concerns.
U.S. stock index futures climbed on Friday as optimism about an interim U.S.-Iran agreement and a jump in Intel shares helped reverse losses from the previous session. Gains in technology names were balanced against renewed investor concern over possible Fed rate increases after comments from new Chair Kevin Warsh and hawkish projections from polic…
The National Bank of Moldova raised its key policy rate to 7% from 6.5% on Thursday in response to accelerating inflation. Official data show annual consumer price inflation at 6.8% year-on-year in May. The bank said it will keep monetary conditions restrictive because of international price trends for energy, food and raw materials, as well as ong…
The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) left its principal policy rate unchanged on Thursday, a decision supported unanimously by monetary policy committee members and broadly expected by analysts. Inflation ticked up to 2.2% year-over-year in May, and the bank raised its annual inflation forecast slightly to 1.9% from 1.8%, while signal…
The Ifo institute has reduced its projection for Germany's economic expansion in 2027 to 0.8% from the 1.2% it expected in March, citing persistently higher prices even after a preliminary agreement to end the conflict in Iran. The institute maintained its 2026 growth forecast at 0.8%, attributing near-term resilience to expansive fiscal measures a…
U.S. equity futures rose as markets absorbed a Federal Reserve decision under new Chair Kevin Warsh and news that Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding to halt their conflict. The Fed left interest rates unchanged, announced structural changes to its operations and signaled a renewed emphasis on price stability. The ceasefire a…
European markets opened modestly lower as investors digested Federal Reserve policymakers' hawkish projections that left the door open to a rate increase later this year. Softer oil prices, following an interim U.S.-Iran agreement, provided some relief for inflation-sensitive sectors even as investors weigh the odds of a September Fed move.
Citigroup has moved its forecast for the Federal Reserve's next interest-rate reduction from September to October after the Fed's latest Summary of Economic Projections revealed a surprisingly hawkish tilt among policymakers. The central bank left its policy rate unchanged at 3.50%-3.75% in a 12-0 vote and flagged that inflation remains above the 2…
A survey of 30 market participants finds China is set to keep its one-year and five-year loan prime rates unchanged at 3.00% and 3.50% respectively for a 13th straight month, reflecting a K-shaped recovery with resilient exports but weakening domestic demand. The People’s Bank of China is adjusting short-term operations to manage liquidity while of…
The Central Bank of Ireland has downgraded its growth outlook and now expects GDP to shrink 2.7% in 2026 after a steep fall in exports to the United States. The bank raised its gauge of underlying domestic activity on strong investment in AI and data centres, but upgraded inflation forecasts as energy price pressures linked to the Middle East persi…
Regular pay in Britain, excluding bonuses, increased by 3.4% in the three months to April while the unemployment rate stood at 4.9%. Both readings were reported shortly before the Bank of England was set to announce its next interest rate decision. Economists had expected a slightly softer wage rise and a marginally higher jobless rate. The central…
Germany's Macroeconomic Policy Institute (IMK) has reduced its growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027, blaming an energy-price shock linked to the Iran war that is weighing on private consumption and investment. The institute raised its inflation projection for 2026 and recommended that the European Central Bank avoid aggressive rate hikes while the en…
Citigroup has revised its timeline for Federal Reserve interest-rate reductions, moving the first expected cut from September to October 2026 and adding a follow-up in January 2027. The change reflects what the bank describes as a more hawkish stance among Fed officials as the new chair begins a broad policy review and market pricing shifts toward …
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh used his first press conference to announce a comprehensive review of the Fed’s approach and to emphasize the bank’s determination to curb inflation. Quarterly projections showed nine of the Fed’s 19 policymakers expect at least one rate increase by the end of 2026. Warsh urged markets to form their own assessments…
Japan's government said it remains prepared to act at any time to counter sharp moves in the yen, as the currency slid near levels not seen in almost two years. Officials stress the need to weigh both the competitive benefits for exporters and the higher import costs facing firms and households. The yen's decline follows a stronger dollar amid expe…
German industrial employment has contracted to a ten-year low of 6.6 million workers in 2025, according to research published by the German Economic Institute. The decline stems primarily from cautious hiring practices rather than mass layoffs, highlighting a structural shift in the labor market. Experts warn this trend signals potential long-term …
The Indian rupee is positioned to open weaker on Thursday following a surprise hawkish stance from the U.S. Federal Reserve. This shift has increased market expectations for a potential interest rate hike later in the year. The U.S. central bank's latest projections indicate a stronger stance on inflation, prompting a rise in bond yields and streng…
