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.
5,907 total articles
The Czech National Bank raised its main policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%, the first increase in four years, citing upward pressures from wages, services-sector inflation and economic effects tied to the recent Iran conflict. Most analysts had expected the move and markets had already priced it in, while the outlook for further hikes has soft…
European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane said Thursday in Hertfordshire, UK, that the current disturbance to the European economy is a "medium shock," smaller than the disruption seen in 2022. He defended the ECB's decision to raise interest rates to contain price shocks and noted that commodity prices can move differently - even if oil fa…
The Bank of Botswana elected to keep its monetary policy rate at 5.5%, saying prior measures have eased liquidity pressures and bolstered the foreign exchange market. The central bank projects inflation will average 9% in 2026 and fall to 5.5% in 2027, while warning of upside and downside risks tied to fuel costs, administered prices, economic acti…
Norges Bank left its deposit rate unchanged at 4.25% while indicating another increase is forthcoming. The bank's outlook now sees rates edging just above 4.5% by year-end as policymakers cite rising inflation pressures driven by labor costs and imported price impulses. Market participants and lenders have adjusted their forecasts in response.
The recent tapering of energy-driven inflation risks following an agreement between the United States and Iran has reduced one source of price pressure. Still, four developed-market central banks are actively tightening, and others - including the U.S. Federal Reserve - indicated readiness to raise rates if inflation accelerates. This review ranks …
The escalation of inflation tied to the Iran war has prompted a number of major central banks to raise borrowing costs or signal that hikes are likely, with the U.S. Federal Reserve in particular abandoning the assumption that a temporary shock can be ignored. Damage to oil infrastructure and depleted stocks mean energy market normalisation could b…
India's thermal coal imports fell to 65 million tons in the January-May period, the lowest five-month level in four years, driven by increased domestic production, a sizable expansion in renewable generation and higher costs for imported coal and shipping, according to commodities consultancy BigMint. Total power generation rose, with thermal outpu…
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee held the Bank Rate at 3.75% following a 7-2 split, according to the minutes of the June meeting. Most members judged that pausing preserves optionality given continuing uncertainty over energy prices and potential second-round inflation effects, while two members argued for an immediate 25 basis point…
The Bank of Spain's 2025 annual report finds the country's housing market growing rapidly but not producing the systemic financial stability threats characteristic of past property booms. While prices, sales and mortgage lending increased in 2025, key vulnerability indicators remain contained. The central bank calls for coordinated national and loc…
The Bank of Spain said its preliminary view is that the economy grew between 0.5% and 0.6% in the second quarter versus the prior three months. It kept its baseline 2026 growth forecast at 2.3% and the 2027 projection at 1.7%, but raised inflation expectations for 2026 and 2027 and warned that continued conflict in the Middle East poses substantial…
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to keep Bank Rate at 3.75%, opting to hold policy steady amid falling yet still elevated global energy prices and mixed domestic signals. The BoE highlighted uncertainty over the economic impact of higher energy costs and warned of the risk that prolonged energy pressure could produce second…
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to hold the Bank Rate at 3.75% in its June meeting, concluding that it would be premature to raise interest rates given ambiguous signs about the durability of recent inflationary pressures. Two members - external member Megan Greene and Chief Economist Huw Pill - favored a 25 basis-point in…
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she wants to preserve a constructive working relationship with Israel after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced he was ending direct contact with her. In a post on X, Kallas emphasized her openness to continued, respectful engagement and reiterated the EU’s stance that a two-state solu…
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced the commissioning today of Russia's second domestically constructed ice-class liquified natural gas carrier, the Konstantin Posiet, at the Zvezda shipyard in the Primorsky region. The vessel is part of a program to supply LNG from Arctic projects to Asian and other markets throughout the year, using Arc7-c…
Swiss National Bank Chairman Martin Schlegel told reporters that uncertainty stemming from the Middle East remains high and that the central bank reviewed recent events prior to completing its monetary policy decision. He warned deescalation could be temporary, said energy markets are heavily affected, and indicated the SNB's readiness to step into…
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…
