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.
7,101 total articles
Statistics Canada reported that employment rose by 75,100 in July and the national unemployment rate fell to 6.4%, its lowest level in two years. The increase exceeded Bloomberg consensus expectations and was led by private-sector hiring and a rise in self-employment, even as public-sector headcount declined. Wage growth moderated to a 2.8% year-ov…
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defense agreement in Mecca today, a move announced by a Turkish official as regional tensions escalate following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. The pact is intended to strengthen ties among the three Sunni nations aligned with the United States, but the specifics of commitments and the br…
Markets remain active in mid-August as authorities weigh further support for the yen, U.S. inflation figures and a tentative Iran-Oman initiative to manage passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Investors are also parsing central bank decisions from Australia and Norway, upcoming U.S. retail and producer price releases, and U.K. GDP data that could …
Mexico's central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.50% in a unanimous vote, maintaining previous inflation projections that see headline and core inflation at 3.5% in Q4 2026 and 3.0% in Q4 2027. Banxico said headline inflation is expected to converge to target by the fourth quarter of 2027, while noting upside risks to the infla…
Zbtlink Electronics said it is pausing sales of certain router models and removing associated software from its website after cybersecurity researchers identified a built-in backdoor in at least 20 of its devices. The company described the component as an after-sales support tool used only with customer authorization, while researchers warned the m…
U.S. imports of crude oil from Saudi Arabia fell to zero in July, according to preliminary U.S. Department of Energy data, marking the first full month without Saudi shipments since 1985. The interruption is linked to disruptions in Persian Gulf crude flows tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict. Refiners have shifted toward other sources, including increa…
A U.S. district judge has ordered the Department of Defense to lift a temporary suspension of its review process for wind energy projects, siding with renewable energy groups that challenged the freeze. The injunction requires the Pentagon to restart assessments of whether proposed wind farms would interfere with military operations and will stay i…
Ghana's year-on-year consumer inflation fell to 4.6% in July from 5.3% in June, the national statistics service reported on Thursday. Government statistician Alhassan Iddrisu pointed to slower food inflation as the main contributor to the monthly decline. The statistics office also highlighted that more than 86% of inflation reflects domestic goods…
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said outside a Rio Tinto aluminum plant in Quebec that U.S. import duties on foreign aluminum are largely being passed through to American purchasers. He argued that addressing the aluminum dispute could clear the way for a larger trade agreement covering metals, autos and lumber as talks continue ahead of an Aug…
President Donald Trump publicly affirmed his satisfaction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's performance after a media report said the president had expressed frustration about munitions shortages and being misled about weapons stockpile levels. Trump dismissed the account, praised recent military actions, touted expansion in defense manufacturi…
A Reuters poll of 18 analysts indicates Mexico's annual headline inflation probably slowed to 3.12% in July, the fourth straight monthly decline and the lowest reading since May 2020. Core inflation also appears to have eased to 3.94%, while month-on-month consumer prices are estimated to have risen 0.03%. The central bank is expected to hold its p…
Chief executives from two of Brazil's largest banks voiced support for further reductions in the Selic rate after the central bank lowered its benchmark by 25 basis points to 14% - the fourth straight cut. Executives credited the restrictive policy for curbing inflation, noted that real rates remain high globally, and urged structural steps to brin…
U.S. Treasury yields rose as investors tracked diplomatic activity aimed at resolving the Iran conflict ahead of Friday’s July employment report. Two-year yields gained 3.53 basis points to 4.214% and the 10-year yield rose 2.41 basis points to 4.641%. Oil prices firmed on uncertainty around Iran-Oman negotiations, attacks on Saudi tankers, and the…
U.S. nonfarm productivity rose at a 1.4% annualized pace in the second quarter, outpacing expectations and following an upward revision to first-quarter growth. Unit labor costs climbed 1.3% in Q2, matching a downwardly revised Q1 pace and coming in below economists' forecasts. Hourly compensation and year-over-year labor cost gains were moderate, …
Brazil's finance minister described lowering interest rates as the country's primary challenge, while asserting that public finances are balanced. His comments followed a central bank decision to trim the benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 14.00% for the fourth straight meeting. The minister emphasized the need for continued fiscal discipline to …
Multiple private phone conversations between President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh since Warsh’s May 2026 confirmation have been reported by two separate outlets. The disclosures come amid market turbulence after Warsh’s July 29 press conference and with uneven economic data ahead of key employment and inflation releases, com…
The Czech National Bank left its key policy rate unchanged at 3.75% on Thursday, maintaining the two-week repo rate after a June rate increase — the first in four years. The bank cited ongoing monitoring of domestic inflation pressures, rapid credit expansion, and wage growth as reasons for its more restrictive stance compared with regional peers. …
Yardeni Research on Thursday argued the U.S. economy is on firm footing and that Federal Reserve officials ought to adopt a more hawkish policy stance. The note highlights booming consumer spending and business investment, rising GDP deflators, and an AI-driven surge in hyperscaler capital expenditures as reasons upside inflation risks now outweigh…
A Reuters poll of 13 analysts shows Egypt's annual headline inflation is expected to have risen to 15.6% in July from 14.3% in June, driven by an unfavourable base effect and stronger food and non-food price pressures. Core inflation is also projected to remain elevated. The statistics agency CAPMAS will publish the official July reading on August …
Federal judges have increasingly criticized the Justice Department for misconduct by its lawyers, but the two internal watchdog offices charged with policing the department - the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Office of Inspector General - have seen substantial staff losses and a marked decline in new investigations. Internal departu…
U.S. stock futures traded near unchanged as investors weighed reports of progress in talks with Iran and sifted through a steady stream of corporate earnings. Key developments included negotiations over maritime routing through the Strait of Hormuz, mixed corporate guidance from Sandisk and Block, softer-than-expected private payroll growth in July…
President Donald Trump said discussions with Iran appeared to be moving in a positive direction, but provided no details as attention remains fixed on a possible agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran disputed parts of the U.S. account and said talks were limited to mediators in Oman, even as both sides signalled steps toward agreeing on …
A poll of 35 economists indicates China’s export growth moderated in July from June’s sharp rebound but remained robust, supported by global demand for AI-related products and an uptick in shipments ahead of expected U.S. tariff increases. Imports are also expected to have slowed from June, while the trade surplus likely narrowed. Official activity…
Asian equity benchmarks cooled after recent rallies in AI-linked technology stocks, with South Korea and Japan posting notable declines following prior sharp gains. The swings followed sell-offs in U.S. equities including SpaceX and Advanced Micro Devices over worries about heavy AI investment. At the same time, a reported Iran-Oman proposal touchi…
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said she is prepared to raise the central bank's short-term interest rate target if inflation does not begin to moderate. Speaking in remarks prepared for an Anchorage luncheon, Cook emphasized that risks to the inflation side of the Fed's mandate are currently larger than risks to employment and stressed a commit…
