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.
7,187 total articles
With the Federal Reserve set to conclude a two-day policy meeting this week, bond investors are taking a cautious stance. Most expect the Fed to maintain the federal funds rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range, but rising energy costs and lingering inflation ambiguity have reduced conviction. Managers are prioritizing liquidity, short- to intermediate-dura…
The Federal Reserve meets July 28-29 with markets pricing in a meaningful chance of a rate hike, but several factors - softer inflation readings, a temporary lull in U.S.-Iran hostilities and the precedent that the Fed rarely raises only once after an extended pause - make a single, isolated increase a high bar. Data showing consumer price gains sl…
Italy will apply to draw €14.9 billion ($16.94 billion) from the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument by year-end to finance defence spending, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told parliament. The move follows a period of fiscal strain tied to rising energy prices and comes after Rome obtained partial use of the EU's nationa…
QatarEnergy has told Edison it cannot supply three additional liquefied natural gas cargoes, extending a force majeure declaration through the end of September. Edison reports it has replaced the majority of affected deliveries and says it can meet customer needs and contractual obligations, while the disruption has already weighed on the company's…
The Bundesbank said on Tuesday that Germany's economy likely saw a small expansion in the second quarter. Strong industrial activity and resilient consumer outlays appear to have counterbalanced the negative effects of higher energy and commodity prices stemming from the Middle East war. Economists polled by Reuters expect a 0.1% quarter-on-quarter…
Germany's economy likely recorded modest growth in the second quarter as a durable industrial sector and steady consumer spending helped counter the negative impact of higher energy and commodity costs linked to the war in the Middle East. The Bundesbank cautioned that temporary factors which supported activity may fade and that the conflict will r…
U.S. President Donald Trump will receive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday as both leaders confront a pivotal moment in the six-month-old campaign against Iran. The visit comes amid tensions between the two men, efforts to restart diplomacy with Tehran, and broader regional risks that have weighed on oil mark…
Nasdaq futures declined as investors expressed caution about AI-related capital spending and competitive pressure from China, hitting chip stocks and related ETFs. Attention now turns to upcoming earnings from major technology companies and a Federal Reserve decision that could shape borrowing-cost expectations.
South Korea is evaluating a proposed $19.8 billion investment to build a 6.3 gigawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) combined-cycle power plant in Encinal, Texas. Government sources say the project is in late-stage consultations with U.S. authorities and may be reviewed soon by a Korea-U.S. strategic committee before formal notification to the U.S. in…
China’s regional statistics for the first half of 2026 reveal a widening split in economic performance: provinces concentrated in semiconductors, electric vehicles, robotics and AI-related manufacturing posted stronger expansions while areas dependent on property and older industries lagged. National GDP growth slowed to 4.7% in the first half, wit…
U.S. equity futures showed mixed movement as markets prepared for a heavy schedule of technology-sector earnings that could influence perceptions of the ongoing artificial intelligence investment cycle. The Federal Reserve begins a two-day policy meeting amid uncertain inflation signals partly tied to war-linked energy disruptions. Separately, Pres…
Australia’s housing market has entered its steepest slowdown since the pandemic as higher interest rates and the reversal of investor tax incentives have reduced buyer demand and chilled sentiment. Price declines in Sydney and Melbourne, plunging loan enquiries and weaker auction outcomes are translating into lower volumes for trades, removals and …
Chip and semiconductor-related stocks plunged across Asian markets, driven by reports that raised questions about the funding model for AI infrastructure and signs of accelerating Chinese competition in advanced chipmaking equipment. South Korea's KOSPI fell nearly 10% and triggered a circuit breaker, and Japan's Nikkei slid 4.4%. Nvidia dropped af…
A July poll of 42 economists found India’s GDP growth is set to decelerate to 6.6% in the fiscal year ending March 2027 from last year’s 7.7%, before nudging up to 6.8% in FY2027/28. The slowdown is attributed to fragile private investment and a rise in oil prices following the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which together threaten domestic demand, infl…
A poll of analysts indicates Mexico's economy likely returned to growth in the second quarter, with industrial activity cited as the main driver. The median forecast points to a 1.3% seasonally adjusted expansion between April and June, reversing a 0.6% contraction in the prior quarter. Annual growth for the period is estimated at 1.5%. Official pr…
The U.S. Treasury on Monday took 84 companies and individuals off its sanctions lists as part of a review aimed at streamlining programs and lowering compliance burdens. The action is the second set of removals under a wide-ranging review launched by Secretary Scott Bessent in May and follows a prior deletion of 76 outdated listings.
Government bond yields across the euro zone fell on Monday after oil prices slid sharply following a halt in strikes between the United States and Iran. The move reduced near-term inflation pressures and prompted money markets to scale back expectations for how high the European Central Bank will lift its deposit rate.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed the upcoming budget will not include changes to stamp duty on property sales. The tax raised £16.6 billion in the last financial year and is often cited by economists as a barrier to mobility. Burnham reiterated the government’s intent to make taxation fairer while flagging spending pressures that could require…
U.S. Treasury yields fell and oil prices plunged after reports that the United States and Iran suspended offensive actions, while investors await a Federal Reserve policy announcement later in the week. The 10-year Treasury yield eased modestly, and benchmark crude benchmarks dropped more than 6% amid reduced fears of an extended disruption to Midd…
Bridgewater Associates' co-chief investment officers cautioned clients that increased government engagement with artificial intelligence could slow the technology's rollout and introduce greater uncertainty for investors. In a client note, the co-CIOs said regulation, while important to reduce harmful outcomes, could lower returns on AI investments…
Oil prices fell sharply after the United States paused strikes on Iran and Tehran indicated a reciprocal pause, reducing the conflict-driven premium that pushed crude well above recent averages. WTI traded near $83.75 and Brent near $86.73, but with the Strait of Hormuz still closed - a route carrying about 20% of global oil - markets remain suscep…
Hedge funds increased their relative exposure to U.S. healthcare equities to levels close to a five-year high last week, according to a Goldman Sachs note dated July 24. Investors have been concentrating purchases in medical equipment, life sciences tools and pharmaceutical names, driven by enthusiasm over AI's potential in drug discovery, projecte…
Brazil’s Finance Minister Dario Durigan criticized recent U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods as unjustified interference, said he will raise the issue with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at next month’s G20 meetings, and expressed confidence the dispute will be settled after October’s presidential election. He also dismissed the likelihood of a…
New orders for U.S.-manufactured non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft increased 0.9% in June, while shipments of the same category rose 1.9%, figures the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau released on Monday show. These metrics feed into the equipment component of GDP and precede the government’s advance estimate of second-quarter growth.
China’s commerce ministry rejected new U.S. tariffs imposed over alleged forced labour as unjustified protectionism, urged their removal and said it reserves the right to respond; the duties, which assign China a 12.5% rate, could strain a fragile trade truce as both sides signal continued dialogue.
