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.
7,188 total articles
UniSuper has raised its currency hedging of foreign holdings, arguing the Australian dollar is undervalued and likely to strengthen as the interest rate differential with the United States moves in Australia's favor. The decision reflects recent moves by the Reserve Bank of Australia and shifts in market rate expectations, and follows similar steps…
India’s private-sector activity accelerated in February, led by a notable pickup in manufacturing sales and output, while services expansion eased. HSBC’s flash Composite PMI, compiled by S&P Global, rose to 59.3 from 58.4 in January, supported by the fastest rise in total new orders since November and a marked increase in international sales. At t…
Advance estimates point to a slowdown in U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter after two strong quarters, with the 43-day government shutdown and easing consumer outlays weighing on output. Forecasters expect GDP to have expanded at a roughly 3.0% annualized pace, supported by tax-cut related refunds and sizable AI-driven business investment t…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to abandon prolonged fiscal austerity and boost long-term investment through a multi-year budget framework, targeting areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and shipbuilding. She also vowed to introduce specific indicators to monitor progress on fiscal consolidation and pledged to avoid policies …
Senior U.S. officials are evaluating a constrained military response against Iran that could take place within days and would focus on a small number of military or government targets. The proposed initial strike is designed to compel Tehran to rein in its nuclear enrichment while preserving scope for negotiations. No final decision has been made a…
The White House has floated a policy to prohibit investors holding more than 100 single-family homes from acquiring more properties, according to a memo shared with congressional committee leaders. The proposal includes carve-outs for developers and renovators who supply rental stock, and officials are seeking to insert the measure into a Senate ho…
The U.S. dollar is positioned to close its strongest week since October after a string of upbeat U.S. data, a more hawkish reading from Federal Reserve minutes and heightened geopolitical tensions with Iran. The greenback held gains in early Asian trade, pressured the pound and euro, and found additional safe-haven support following a larger-than-e…
Indonesia and the United States have signed a reciprocal trade agreement following protracted negotiations, Indonesian officials said. The accord was signed by Indonesia's senior economic minister and the U.S. Trade Representative after Washington agreed last year to reduce Indonesia's exports to the U.S. to 19% from an earlier 32% figure. Presiden…
Japan’s core consumer price growth slowed to 2.0% year-on-year in January, the weakest pace in two years, while the BOJ-preferred measure excluding fresh food and fuel dipped to a 2.6% gain. The moderation aligns with the central bank’s expectation of a temporary fall below 2% driven by base effects from last year’s spike and introduces uncertainty…
CIBC economists Benjamin Tal and Katherine Judge say Canada’s housing market is caught in an imbalance: nominal prices have eased from pandemic highs, but remain unaffordable for many buyers while still falling short of levels that make new construction viable. They describe structural problems in the homebuilding sector, a lag in official housing …
The European Central Bank has imposed a 12.18 million euro penalty on J.P. Morgan SE for underreporting risk-weighted assets between 2019 and 2024. The ECB found that the bank misclassified corporate exposures for 15 consecutive quarters and excluded certain transactions when calculating capital requirements. JPMorgan says it self-reported the issu…
The International Monetary Fund will unveil its long-awaited annual assessment of U.S. economic policy on February 25, delivering analysis of fiscal shortfalls, trade and current account gaps, and a general evaluation of the dollar’s valuation. IMF officials reaffirmed the dollar’s central role in the global monetary system even amid recent depreci…
The International Monetary Fund characterized Venezuela’s current economic and humanitarian situation as "quite fragile," citing estimated triple-digit inflation, rapid currency depreciation and a public debt burden equivalent to 180% of GDP before arbitration or judgments. The IMF said it has paused formal relations with Caracas since 2019 but is …
Freddie Mac data show U.S. mortgage rates declined to their lowest levels in over three years. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.01% this week, while the 15-year averaged 5.35%. Freddie Mac's chief economist says the lower rates are improving affordability and boosting homeowners' financial positions, and refinance activity has more than d…
The International Monetary Fund says Lebanon's economy has shown resilience and a modest rebound driven by tourism, but a durable return to growth hinges on a suite of comprehensive reforms. IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack confirmed ongoing, complex discussions with Lebanese authorities ahead of a requested IMF-supported program in March 2025, stressi…
The U.S. International Trade Commission has launched a formal investigation into the automotive rules of origin under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The probe will assess the rules' effect on the U.S. economy, competitiveness and whether recent technology changes affect their relevance. The review examines tighter regional value…
Canada’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $1.3 billion in December from a revised $2.6 billion in November, led by a 2.6% rise in exports driven by higher precious metals shipments and record aerospace exports. The Canadian dollar’s appreciation tempered values in local currency even as exports rose 4.5% in U.S. dollar terms. Annual figures sh…
The United Kingdom has not given permission for the United States to use the Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands or an English airfield for any potential strike on Iran, according to people familiar with the situation. The decision follows a buildup of U.S. military assets in the Middle East and public comments by the U.S. president identifying…
The U.S. trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion in December, a rise of $17.3 billion from November and notably above economists' $55.5 billion forecast. For the full year 2025 the deficit amounted to $901.5 billion, a slight decline of 0.2% from 2024, with exports and imports both increasing year-over-year.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Chinese technology companies have moved at an 'amazingly fast' pace and made 'remarkable' advances across much of the tech stack, while noting uneven progress across different areas. His remarks come amid a race between China and the United States to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI). Altman also discussed Ope…
President Donald Trump told the opening meeting of his Board of Peace that the United States will provide funds to strengthen the United Nations, improve its facilities and make the organization viable. The pledge comes amid an administration policy of withholding mandatory payments to U.N. regular and peacekeeping budgets and reductions in volunta…
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari criticized the practical value of cryptocurrency and questioned the utility of stablecoins compared with existing payment apps during a speaking engagement in North Dakota on Thursday. He also defended the Fed’s institutional independence in the face of political attacks, citing recent cri…
Household expectations for inflation over the next year declined to 13.1% in February from 13.7% in January, central bank data show. Analysts say the drop, following a VAT-driven price spike at the start of the year, increases scope for additional monetary easing after the central bank trimmed its key rate by 50 basis points to 15.5%. Community dou…
The White House has prepared detailed operational plans that would rely on British facilities - Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford - for potential strikes on Iran. The UK has not given prior approval for use of those bases for such an operation, citing worries about compliance with international law. In response to the absence of clearance, President Tr…
Canada's merchandise trade deficit narrowed to C$1.31 billion in December as exports grew faster than imports, driven principally by metals and non-metallic mineral shipments, especially unwrought gold. The share of exports sent to the United States fell to just over 67.4% of total exports, the lowest proportion on record outside two pandemic month…
