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
The U.S. dollar maintained its position above a two-month peak on Thursday as financial markets increased their bets on Federal Reserve rate hikes throughout the year. The strengthening dollar placed renewed pressure on the Japanese yen, pushing it closer to levels that market participants widely consider a threshold for potential official interven…
In a significant diplomatic development marking nearly four months of conflict, President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed a memorandum of understanding in Versailles, France. The agreement outlines critical conditions for de-escalation, including Iran's pledge to forgo nuclear weapons, the reopening of the Strait of…
The Bank of England is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate at 3.75% following its policy meeting, prioritizing a wait-and-see approach over immediate action. This decision comes as UK inflation unexpectedly cooled to a 13-month low of 2.8% in May, yet remains influenced by volatile global energy markets and geopolitical tensions. While th…
The central bank of Brazil has reduced its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points for the third consecutive meeting, bringing the Selic rate to 14.25%. This decision aligns with market expectations but comes as policymakers face mounting inflationary pressures from global oil price volatility and domestic economic stimulus measures ahead of the…
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh concluded his inaugural rate-setting session by maintaining current interest rates, a move that elicited public support from President Donald Trump. The decision, accompanied by updated economic projections, indicates that nearly half of central bank officials anticipate at least one rate increase this year. Unl…
U.S. equities faced significant downward pressure on Thursday as the Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark interest rate at current levels but issued projections indicating a possible rate increase before the year concludes. The U.S. dollar strengthened considerably, and Treasury yields edged higher in response to the central bank's updated econ…
The Federal Reserve's first policy decision under new chair Kevin Warsh revealed a hawkish pivot that unsettled financial markets. The FOMC unanimously maintained the federal funds rate between 3.50% and 3.75%, while unveiling a streamlined communication strategy and a projected rate increase to 3.8% by the end of 2026. This shift, marked by a focu…
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh announced the formation of five independent task forces to review core elements of monetary policy-making, including one panel focused on the size and role of the Fed's balance sheet. Warsh outlined a near-term timeline for the groups to begin work within weeks, provide initial framing in the fall and largely fi…
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said U.S. President Donald Trump is entitled to prefer a candidate in Brazil, but urged him to refrain from intervening in this year’s Brazilian elections. Lula made the remarks after Trump described Brazil as 'a little rough' and 'dangerous politically' while both leaders were in Switzerland for the final day of…
Nearly half of Federal Reserve policymakers now expect the central bank to raise its policy rate this year, reversing earlier expectations of holding or cutting rates, as higher oil prices after the Iran war push projected inflation above prior forecasts. The Fed left its policy rate at 3.50%-3.75% and released updated individual rate-path projecti…
The Federal Reserve left its policy rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% but published new projections and a pared-back statement that point to a likely increase in borrowing costs before year-end. The updated guidance removed language that had signaled potential cuts this year and emphasized strong productivity and capital investment, while attributin…
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh did not provide an interest rate projection in the central bank's quarterly dot-plot release, leaving 18 submissions instead of the usual 19. The Fed did not say which official withheld a projection. The omission follows Warsh's prior public criticism of forward guidance and quarterly projections and is the firs…
Federal Reserve materials released this week showed one fewer individual interest-rate projection than the number of policymakers, an omission observers are likely to link to newcomer Kevin Warsh. The absence breaks with routine publication of the so-called dot plot and raises fresh questions about the future of the Fed's public guidance practices …
A Panamax bulk carrier loaded with corn has been detected inside the Persian Gulf after crossing the U.S. blockade line outside the Strait of Hormuz, according to vessel-tracking data. The Verbier, carrying roughly 70,000 tons of dry bulk cargo bound for Bandar Imam Khomeini, disappeared from public trackers after being seen near the strait and rea…
Brazil's Finance Ministry said it supports a rural debt renegotiation program but seeks a more narrowly focused approach after the Senate approved a broad aid bill that would provide subsidized credit to the agricultural sector. Finance Minister Dario Durigan warned the current proposal would create heavy fiscal costs, estimated at roughly 140 bill…
U.S. Treasury yields edged higher after government data showed retail sales in May climbed more than economists had expected. The move came as markets prepared for the Federal Open Market Committee statement and a press conference following Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's first policy meeting.
The U.S. Justice Department asked a federal judge to terminate nearly 40 years of court supervision of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, asserting that the union has eliminated organized crime influence and restored democratic governance under a settlement first approved in 1989. The move follows a phased wind-down of oversight that began…
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, joined by Texas, Iowa, Nebraska and Alaska, plans to sue the World Professional Association for Transgender Health for allegedly making misleading claims about the benefits and risks of gender-affirming care for minors and overstating its role in suicide prevention, while also seeking expanded insurance coverage t…
Euro-zone sovereign bond prices rose for a fifth straight session as markets scaled back inflation expectations ahead of Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh's first meeting. Falling oil prices after an announced U.S.-Iran peace deal framework helped push yields lower, supporting gains in bonds while stocks and rate-sensitive assets such as gold climb…
The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has scheduled a vote for June 24 on Brett Matsumoto, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the federal agency responsible for key monthly reports on employment and inflation. Matsumoto, an economist on leave from the BLS to serve at the White House Co…
Most major Latin American stock indexes advanced while currencies showed a mixed picture as market participants awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and parsed recent central bank signals across the region. Investors also factored in uncertainty around an interim U.S.-Iran peace agreement after U.S. President Donald Trump said …
Mexico's central bank should maintain its benchmark rate at 6.50%, Deputy Governor Gabriel Cuadra said, pointing to a complex inflation outlook and uncertainty over how long the current rate should persist. The next Banxico policy decision is scheduled for June 25; officials view the May 7 cut to 6.50% as likely marking a pause in the easing cycle.
An EU official said the office of European Council President Antonio Costa has made short, diplomatic-level contacts with the Kremlin in recent weeks to create communication channels. The interactions were described as brief with no substantive discussions; the EU stressed it is not acting as a mediator and continues to back Ukraine. Costa has been…
Total U.S. crude oil inventories fell to 758.5 million barrels for the week ended June 12, the Energy Information Administration reported, marking the lowest aggregate level since March 1985. The combined figure, which covers commercial stocks and Strategic Petroleum Reserve holdings, fell by 17.2 million barrels week over week. Regional data showe…
U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are close to finalizing a long-awaited interim trade agreement following a face-to-face meeting at the Group of Seven summit in France. The exchange included frank comments on Modi's negotiating style, discussions about maritime security after a deadly attack on Indian-crew…
