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

6,933 total articles

Wall Street Futures Tick Up as Oil Pulls Back and Middle East Tensions Flare

Wall Street Futures Tick Up as Oil Pulls Back and Middle East Tensions Flare

On July 9, U.S. equity futures inched higher as crude prices eased following renewed U.S. strikes on Iran and reciprocal attacks by Iran on Kuwait and Bahrain. The geopolitical escalation, coming after President Donald Trump said an interim ceasefire was "over," has rattled hopes for a swift resolution to a four-month conflict and prompted investor…

Qatar Urges Diplomacy as U.S.-Iran Hostilities Escalate

Qatar Urges Diplomacy as U.S.-Iran Hostilities Escalate

Qatar has called on Iran and the United States to recommit to diplomatic channels and implement a June memorandum as clashes between the two sides intensified. The U.S. said it struck roughly 90 targets in Iran, while Tehran responded with attacks it described as aimed at U.S. military facilities in the Gulf. The exchanges have put the future of a …

Asian Equities Advance Amid Semiconductor Rebound and Energy Market Volatility

Asian Equities Advance Amid Semiconductor Rebound and Energy Market Volatility

Asian equity markets experienced a mixed trading session driven by divergent forces. Semiconductor stocks rallied following reports of potential policy shifts in China, lifting major indices across the region. However, gains were tempered by a sharp increase in oil prices after diplomatic tensions escalated in the Gulf. The surge in crude costs rei…

UK Housing Market Stalls as Fragile Sentiment Weighs on Activity

UK Housing Market Stalls as Fragile Sentiment Weighs on Activity

A recent survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) indicates a marginal easing in the downturn within Britain's housing market during June. Despite this minor uptick, the sector continues to grapple with fragile sentiment driven by persistent uncertainties regarding inflation trajectories and future interest rate movements. Th…

Global economy weathers Middle East war shock but risks remain, agencies say

Global economy weathers Middle East war shock but risks remain, agencies say

The heads of the IEA, IMF, World Bank Group and WTO said the global economy has so far shown broad resilience to the shock from the war in the Middle East but cautioned that uncertainty is high and impacts could persist. The institutions urged progress toward a resolution, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and pledged continued cooperation to …

Manna Moves Into U.S. Southwest, Targets Tulsa as Drone Delivery Testing Ground

Manna Moves Into U.S. Southwest, Targets Tulsa as Drone Delivery Testing Ground

Manna, an Irish-founded drone delivery startup, said it will enable autonomous drone orders to reach 90% of Tulsa residents within a year. The company plans to begin flights for partners including DoorDash, McDonald’s and Uber Eats within two months and to operate from 40 local bases by mid-2027, positioning the U.S. southwest as a key battleground…

Swiss Official Sees Strong Prospect of Keeping U.S. 15% Tariff Rate

Swiss Official Sees Strong Prospect of Keeping U.S. 15% Tariff Rate

A senior Swiss trade official said there is a good chance the United States will stick to a 15% tariff rate agreed in an initial deal. Switzerland remains in talks to finalise a trade agreement while a separate universal 10% U.S. tariff is set to expire on July 24. The official also flagged the need for faster Swiss economic growth and lower energy…

U.S. Crude and Refined Petroleum Shipments Set New Monthly Record in April

U.S. Crude and Refined Petroleum Shipments Set New Monthly Record in April

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that total U.S. crude and petroleum exports reached a record 13.6 million barrels per day in April, driven by higher crude shipments and strong propane and distillate exports amid disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz tied to the Iran war. Finished petroleum product exports also hit their h…

Appeals Court Keeps Trump Name Off Kennedy Center Facade During Appeal

Appeals Court Keeps Trump Name Off Kennedy Center Facade During Appeal

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit declined to allow the Trump administration to restore President Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center facade while it contests a district judge’s directive ordering the name removed. The decision leaves in place a May order from U.S. District Judge Christopher…

IMF to Discuss Shifts in Central Banks’ Forward Guidance in Coming Months

IMF to Discuss Shifts in Central Banks’ Forward Guidance in Coming Months

The International Monetary Fund said it plans to engage with central banks about evolving uses of forward guidance on monetary policy, underscoring the importance of clear communications while officials reconsider how and when to signal future policy moves. IMF deputy research director Petya Koeva Brooks highlighted the tool's past usefulness and t…

Euro-area yields push higher as Trump questions Iran truce, oil surges

Euro-area yields push higher as Trump questions Iran truce, oil surges

Euro zone government bond yields climbed on Wednesday to their highest levels in a month after U.S. President Donald Trump said he believed the interim agreement to end the war with Iran was over. The remarks, together with reported strikes and retaliatory actions in the Gulf and a U.S. revocation of an Iranian oil licence, sent oil sharply higher …

Markets Retreat as Trump Declares Iran MOU 'Is Over'; Oil Jumps

Markets Retreat as Trump Declares Iran MOU 'Is Over'; Oil Jumps

U.S. President Donald Trump said the memorandum of understanding that had framed a ceasefire with Iran "was over" after the two sides exchanged attacks overnight, comments that sent oil prices sharply higher and pressured stocks and government bonds. Oil rose about 5% to $78 a barrel, European equities fell roughly 1.1%, the dollar strengthened and…

A Snapshot of Leading Consumer and Enterprise AI Models as Competition Intensifies

A Snapshot of Leading Consumer and Enterprise AI Models as Competition Intensifies

OpenAI plans to release GPT-5.6 on Thursday after postponing the launch because of U.S. government concerns about national security risks posed by more powerful AI systems. The roll-out occurs as competition heightens across the AI sector, with developers racing to boost performance, lower costs and broaden enterprise features. Chinese firms are no…

IMF trims 2026 world growth outlook to 3.0%, expects a recovery in 2027

IMF trims 2026 world growth outlook to 3.0%, expects a recovery in 2027

The International Monetary Fund has nudged its projection for global economic growth in 2026 down to 3.0%, citing continued risks from the war in the Middle East, rising trade fragmentation and the potential for market corrections tied to artificial intelligence. The IMF expects growth to recover to 3.4% in 2027, while raising its forecast for 2026…