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.
6,527 total articles
Hungary's central bank left its policy rate unchanged at 6.25%, the second-highest in the European Union, while officials said recent currency strength and a subdued inflation reading may open the door to a rate reduction in June when fresh projections are published. Annual inflation stood at 2.1% in April, below the bank's 3% target.
The Bank of Canada’s External Deputy Governor Nicolas Vincent warned that structural changes in the country’s labour market - including low turnover, a rise in long-term unemployment and a growing share of young people unable to find work - will limit how effective rate cuts can be in supporting the economy. Vincent said monetary policy cannot full…
Senegal's dollar-denominated sovereign bonds fell on Tuesday after a political rupture between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former prime minister, Ousmane Sonko. Sonko was elected speaker of the National Assembly days after being removed as premier and replaced by former central banker Ahmadou Alhaminou Mohamed Lo. The moves aggravated t…
French electricity forward prices climbed sharply as a heat wave across northwest Europe raised the prospect of nuclear generation curbs and diminished hydroelectric capacity. Month-ahead power contracts jumped to levels not seen since late March, while river and coastal temperature readings prompted market caution.
European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane indicated the bank will likely raise its quarterly inflation projection in June, citing elevated oil prices driven by the Iran conflict. Lane warned that the shock could create indirect inflationary effects outside the energy sector and said policymakers are assessing the shock's magnitude amid unce…
Russian officials said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Moscow intends to carry out "systematic and consistent strikes" on Ukrainian military facilities and what it calls "decision-making centers" in Kyiv. The Russian government urged foreign citizens, diplomatic staff, and international organizations…
A potential Labour leadership contest has sharpened political uncertainty in Westminster after Andy Burnham was cleared to stand in the Makerfield by-election on June 18. The campaign is already centering on Brexit, with frontrunners diverging in tone but not in immediate policy commitments. Polling indicates growing public appetite for closer ties…
India's refinery throughput dropped to 5.23 million barrels per day in April, an 8.9% fall from March, according to provisional government data released on Tuesday. The decline, equivalent to 21.39 million metric tons, also marked a 2.2% decrease versus April a year earlier. Disruptions linked to the U.S.-Iran tensions have constrained flows throug…
Major Wall Street banks are urging the Federal Reserve to formalize its recent shift away from routine use of "matters requiring attention" (MRAs) toward a revived, softer "observations" framework. Bank executives and industry sources say they want written legal clarity that supervisors will not routinely convert observations into MRAs unless the u…
Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry has imposed a temporary ban on U.S.-based prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi for operating without a required gambling license, the official state gazette said. The ministry's gambling watchdog has launched an investigation into the platforms for alleged noncompliance with mandatory administrative authorizatio…
European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane indicated the ECB will likely raise its inflation forecast in June to reflect a worsening macroeconomic outlook tied to the Middle East conflict. Lane told Nikkei that oil prices are expected to remain higher for longer than the March projections assumed, and while expanded U.S. natural gas supplies…
European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane told the Nikkei that the bank is likely to revise both inflation and growth projections at its next quarterly review, reflecting a deteriorating macroeconomic outlook tied to the Middle East conflict and sustained upward pressure on oil prices. While increased U.S. natural gas supplies may provide s…
Bank of America updated its 2026 outlook for South Korea, lifting GDP growth to 3.1% year-over-year from a prior 1.9% forecast. The bank attributes the upgrade to a robust semiconductor upcycle, notably a sharp rise in DRAM price expectations, and forecasts an improvement in the current account surplus to 15% of GDP this year.
TOKYO, May 26 - The Japanese government in its May assessment kept its overall judgment that the economy is recovering moderately, while underscoring that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and volatility in financial markets pose notable risks. Officials left most sector evaluations unchanged, noting modest improvements in business investmen…
U.S. equity futures climbed as traders returned from the holiday weekend, even as fresh military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran undermined hopes for a near-term peace settlement. Brent crude rose sharply above $98 a barrel, well above pre-war levels, while gold eased as the dollar held up. Tech earnings and AI demand helped lift specific equit…
The European Central Bank has warned that private credit markets pose potential financial stability risks after recent turmoil in the United States and several corporate defaults. While direct euro-area exposures are currently limited, the ECB highlighted vulnerabilities tied to concentrated sector bets, deteriorating borrower cash-flow metrics and…
The European Central Bank said private credit market disruptions are unlikely to trigger systemic instability across the euro area, but identified concentrated exposures and potential second-round effects for insurance companies and pension funds. The ECB warned that limited regulatory visibility and ties between private credit and other riskier in…
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman told an audience in Sydney that while artificial intelligence is being rapidly adopted across industries, the predicted large-scale displacement of entry-level white-collar roles has not occurred to the extent he once expected. Speaking at a Commonwealth Bank of Australia conference, Altman said his team was broadl…
Sri Lanka’s central bank raised its overnight policy rate by 100 basis points to 8.75% from 7.75%, the biggest move in four years. The decision, prompted by rising inflation and a weakening rupee tied to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, comes as the island nation contends with a sharp energy-driven cost shock, dwindling reserves and risks to economi…
European equities were largely flat early Tuesday while oil climbed after U.S. forces conducted strikes in southern Iran that sank two IRGC vessels. The actions have cooled hopes for an imminent U.S.-Iran deal and pushed Brent crude higher, benefiting energy names even as broader indices showed mixed movement.
A monthly survey of major UK retailers found shop price inflation rose to 1.2% in May from 1.0% in April, driven in part by disruption and higher energy costs tied to the Iran war. Food inflation eased to 2.7%, while furniture and health and beauty categories recorded the largest increases. Retailers are urging government action to cut non-commodit…
European Central Bank board member Isabel Schnabel said the ECB should raise interest rates in June, arguing that the current energy-price shock is already transmitting to the wider economy and can no longer be ignored. She cautioned that the scale and persistence of the disruption mean monetary tightening will be necessary even if a rapid geopolit…
ECB board member Isabel Schnabel said the bank should lift interest rates in June, even if peace talks with Iran produce an agreement, arguing that the energy shock has been prolonged, is reverberating across consumption and supply chains, and that monetary policy can no longer 'look through' the effects.
Oil prices rose after U.S. strikes in southern Iran described by Washington as defensive, occurring while Iranian negotiators were in Doha for talks on a potential settlement with the U.S. Hopes for a quick breakthrough were tamped down by both capitals, supporting the dollar and producing mixed stock moves. The situation has reinforced expectation…
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka increased its overnight policy rate by 100 basis points to 8.75% from 7.75% in an unexpected move designed to blunt rising inflation and defend the rupee amid a regional energy shock tied to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The decision surprised many economists and comes as Sri Lanka contends with steep fuel price hike…
