Economy

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.

Articles

7,187 total articles

Bank of Russia Lowers Key Rate to 14% Despite Inflation Spike from Drone Strikes

Bank of Russia Lowers Key Rate to 14% Despite Inflation Spike from Drone Strikes

The Bank of Russia cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 14% even as inflation accelerated following Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries and an e-commerce warehouse. The central bank also pared its growth projection for the year to a range between zero and 1% and lifted its 2026 inflation forecast to 6-7%, citing a notable rise in fuel…

Bank of Japan Poised to Keep Policy Rate at 1% as Inflation Expectations Climb

Bank of Japan Poised to Keep Policy Rate at 1% as Inflation Expectations Climb

The Bank of Japan is widely expected to hold its policy rate at 1% at the July 30-31 meeting after raising borrowing costs by 25 basis points in June. Forecasters anticipate an upward revision to fiscal 2026 GDP growth, a slight downward tweak to core inflation forecasts because of energy subsidies, and continued anchoring of long-term price expect…

Bank Rate to Stay at 3.75% as Inflation Risks from Middle East Persist

Bank Rate to Stay at 3.75% as Inflation Risks from Middle East Persist

A July 21-24 poll of 70 economists finds unanimous expectation that the Bank of England will keep its policy rate at 3.75% on Thursday and likely maintain it through much of 2026 as inflation remains above target. A temporary dip in June inflation to 2.6% followed a brief easing of conflict in the Gulf and lower fuel prices, but renewed hostilities…

Warsh’s Quiet Fed Meets a Loud Bond Market as Long-Term Yields Surge

Warsh’s Quiet Fed Meets a Loud Bond Market as Long-Term Yields Surge

A sharp repricing in U.S. Treasury markets has driven two-, 10- and 30-year yields to their highest levels in years. Market reactions to rising oil prices, geopolitical uncertainty around Iran, and solid U.S. economic data are combining with Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's decision to reduce forward guidance, producing rapid shifts in expect…

Anduril in Talks on Funding That Could Value It Near Major Defense Primes

Anduril in Talks on Funding That Could Value It Near Major Defense Primes

Anduril is discussing a new financing round that could peg its valuation at roughly $100 billion, placing the California-based defense technology company in the vicinity of large defense contractors. The talks include proposals for a two-step funding arrangement tied to performance benchmarks; Anduril says no decisions have been made.

Markets Brace for Fed Decision and Heavy Tech Earnings as AI Spending Looms

Markets Brace for Fed Decision and Heavy Tech Earnings as AI Spending Looms

U.S. equity markets enter a testing week with a Federal Reserve policy meeting and a heavy slate of corporate earnings, led by technology firms heavily invested in artificial intelligence. Recent sharp declines in Alphabet and Tesla following earnings have soured market sentiment, while rising oil prices and elevated Treasury yields raise questions…

ECB Survey Sees Inflation Stable for Now, Returns to 2% by 2028

ECB Survey Sees Inflation Stable for Now, Returns to 2% by 2028

A European Central Bank survey found that euro area inflation expectations have been largely stable over the past three months, with price growth expected to fall sharply next year and to reach the ECB's 2% target in 2028. The survey kept this year's inflation projection at 2.7%, raised the 2027 forecast to 2.2% and trimmed economic growth estimate…

Stagflation Fears Return as Gulf Violence Sends Oil Back to $100

Stagflation Fears Return as Gulf Violence Sends Oil Back to $100

Renewed Gulf hostilities have driven Brent crude back to $100 a barrel, pushed European gas and government bond yields higher, and reignited concerns about stagflation - the coexistence of elevated inflation and sluggish growth. Trade frictions, including fresh U.S. tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, add to the uncertainty facing households…

Central Banks Under the Microscope as Oil Hits $100 and Tariff Fears Return

Central Banks Under the Microscope as Oil Hits $100 and Tariff Fears Return

Next week’s calendar centers on central bank decisions and corporate earnings against a backdrop of rising energy prices and fresh U.S. trade measures. Brent crude has moved back above $100 a barrel amid concerns about shipping chokepoints in the Middle East, while the U.S. levied new tariffs on a broad set of trading partners. The Federal Reserve,…

Bank of France Governor Warns U.S. Tariffs Raise Global Trade Uncertainty

Bank of France Governor Warns U.S. Tariffs Raise Global Trade Uncertainty

Emmanuel Moulin, governor of the Bank of France, said tariffs recently imposed by the U.S. administration increase uncertainty for global commerce and are not supportive of economic growth. The duties - introduced as a temporary global levy expired - target goods from 60 trading partners amid allegations of insufficient enforcement of forced labour…

U.S. Defence Firms Confront European Demand for Local Production and Sovereignty

U.S. Defence Firms Confront European Demand for Local Production and Sovereignty

At the Farnborough Airshow, U.S. defence contractors encountered growing European insistence on local production, technology access and industrial returns. Companies including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies and newer entrants such as Anduril are responding with European manufacturing, joint ventures and tailored offerings, while European go…

Nagel Says ECB Well-Placed to Tackle Renewed Energy-Driven Price Pressures

Nagel Says ECB Well-Placed to Tackle Renewed Energy-Driven Price Pressures

Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said the European Central Bank is well positioned to respond to a renewed surge in energy costs and must weigh incoming economic data before deciding on a possible interest-rate increase at its September meeting. The ECB left rates unchanged on Thursday, with policymakers signalling a September hike is possible am…

Oil spike drags bond markets as AI cash burn unnerves investors

Oil spike drags bond markets as AI cash burn unnerves investors

A sharp rise in oil following Red Sea attacks on tankers lifted Brent and pushed longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields higher, reviving concerns about inflation and the likelihood of further Fed tightening. At the same time, large tech firms reported cash outflows linked to AI investment, feeding equity losses and investor unease about capital spending…

Tariff Framework Links Forced Labor Compliance to Trade Costs on 60 Partners

Tariff Framework Links Forced Labor Compliance to Trade Costs on 60 Partners

The Trump administration has implemented tariff measures targeting sixty of the United States primary trading partners to address persistent gaps in how foreign nations manage the movement of goods created through coerced labor. By linking trade levies to supply chain transparency, the administration is enforcing compliance through direct economic …

Ottawa Signals It Will Retaliate if U.S. Imposes Threatened 50% Tariffs

Ottawa Signals It Will Retaliate if U.S. Imposes Threatened 50% Tariffs

Canada is preparing possible retaliatory measures if talks with the United States fail to avert a threatened 50% tariff set to take effect by August 19. The prime minister said Ottawa has reintroduced the possibility of countermeasures after having removed many such tariffs last September, and described recent exchanges with U.S. officials as refle…

ECB Weighs Multiple Measures to Curb Losses as Autumn Decision Looms

ECB Weighs Multiple Measures to Curb Losses as Autumn Decision Looms

The European Central Bank is examining several policy options aimed at reducing the financial losses faced across the Eurosystem, with a decisive conversation expected in the autumn, according to four sources. Measures being considered range from raising minimum reserve requirements to reintroducing tiered deposit rates or even charging banks fees.…

Lagarde Signals ECB Will Consider Raising Banks' Minimum Reserves

Lagarde Signals ECB Will Consider Raising Banks' Minimum Reserves

The European Central Bank will take up the question of increasing the minimum reserves that commercial banks must hold, ECB President Christine Lagarde said, a step that could reduce interest costs the Eurosystem pays on excess liquidity and help limit losses at some national central banks. Although the change was not discussed at the latest Govern…

U.S. Bonds Trail European and Asian Peers Over One and Five Years

U.S. Bonds Trail European and Asian Peers Over One and Five Years

Over the past year U.S. bond returns have been modest while their five-year performance is negative. International equity and developed-market ETFs, particularly those tied to Europe and Japan, have outpaced U.S. bond benchmarks, a divergence driven by higher U.S. rates, relatively firmer U.S. inflation, and differing central bank stances.