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.
6,932 total articles
China has announced a package of retaliatory measures targeting U.S. entities, including business bans on seven organisations, tighter export scrutiny for drones bound for the United States and restrictions on the use of U.S.-based agencies for certain factory inspections under China’s product-certification framework. Beijing said the actions respo…
U.S. equity futures inched higher amid optimism about a potential deal to ease Middle East tensions, tempering oil-driven inflation concerns. Market attention also centered on sharp capital spending at SpaceX and comments from Elon Musk that affected both SpaceX and AMD, while Novo Nordisk shares fell after Wegovy pill sales missed expectations.
Officials at Britain’s Treasury are evaluating the potential to raise several billion pounds more in borrowing by utilising flexibility within the government's fiscal rules. Finance minister John Healey said there is "scope for more and more rapid investment." The possible funds could be allocated to infrastructure, housing and business support and…
U.S., Iran and Oman are reportedly close to an interim arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington aiming to announce a deal on Wednesday. Iranian media, however, have indicated Tehran may delay any reopening while it perceives persistent U.S. threats. The talks, described as weeks-long negotiations, are said to seek a return to a U…
India’s services sector growth cooled sharply in July, with HSBC’s India Services PMI falling to 53.3 from June’s 57.4. New business registered its weakest expansion in close to four-and-a-half years, international demand moderated, and business confidence declined to a seven-month low. Input cost inflation eased while selling prices rose, and the …
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) left its benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25% following a unanimous vote by the six-member Monetary Policy Committee, retaining a "neutral" policy stance. Governor Sanjay Malhotra cited heightened global instability from conflict in West Asia, uncertainty over U.S. tariffs and supply-chain disruptions as drivers of…
The Reserve Bank of India opted to maintain its policy repo rate at 5.25% and kept its stance at neutral, citing that recent increases in headline inflation are largely attributable to higher fuel costs while broader price pressures remain contained. The decision was unanimous among the six-member rate-setting committee. Retail inflation climbed ab…
Indonesia's economy expanded 5.29% year-on-year in the April-June quarter, a deceleration from 5.61% in the first quarter but above the Reuters poll median forecast of 5.10%. Manufacturing, agriculture and construction recorded growth in Q2 while mining contracted due to quota constraints. The economy faces strains from weak investor confidence, a …
Major semiconductor equities rallied across Asian markets following Wall Street’s record close, led by SK Hynix and Samsung, even as SpaceX and AMD faced investor scrutiny. SpaceX reported record revenue but massive AI-focused capital expenditure that has analysts concerned about future funding needs. Oil’s pullback eased pressure on bond yields an…
China’s services sector recorded its most modest expansion since September 2024 in July, according to a private business survey. The RatingDog China General Services Purchasing Managers’ Index declined to 50.4 from 54.1 in June, remaining above the 50-point threshold that distinguishes growth from contraction. The private reading outperformed offic…
Internal records from the Bank of Japan’s June policy meeting highlight ongoing discussions regarding rising consumer inflation and the pace of monetary policy adjustment. The central bank increased its benchmark rate to a 31-year high of 1 percent during the session, responding to compounding macroeconomic pressures including elevated fuel costs f…
OpenAI and its subsidiary Statsig will pay $3.2 million to resolve U.S. Justice Department claims that they favored foreign workers on temporary visas and discriminated against U.S. job applicants. The settlement resolves allegations that the companies steered foreign hires to certain openings and implemented recruitment practices that discouraged …
Two-year U.S. Treasury yields fell to a two-week low on Tuesday as oil prices tumbled amid reports of progress in talks to resolve the U.S.-Iran conflict. Traders reduced the probability of a Federal Reserve rate increase in September, while benchmark 10-year yields also declined and the 2-10 curve flattened.
A recent poll of 35 analysts finds overwhelming expectation that Mexico's central bank will hold its policy rate at 6.50% at its upcoming meeting, reflecting a prolonged pause in monetary easing. The survey shows most economists expect the rate to remain at that level through 2026 and many through 2027, while data on inflation and GDP provide mixed…
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that lifts withdrawal restrictions on certain bank deposits held by foreign nationals and by Russian-registered branches and representative offices of foreign companies. The change applies to ruble equivalents credited to special Type C accounts between June 1, 2026 and the decree's effective date, A…
Oracle’s aggressive investment in AI infrastructure has left the company with negative free cash flow, hefty borrowing and near-junk credit ratings. Large long-term data centre leases, rising capital expenditure plans and concentrated future revenue commitments have prompted ratings agencies and investors to reassess the company’s financial resilie…
The U.S. trade deficit contracted to $73.3 billion in June, a 5.6% fall from May, as both exports and imports declined. Goods flows were the main driver of the move: exports of goods fell, led by lower industrial supplies and petroleum-related shipments, while goods imports fell with notable decreases in computer and capital goods. The government e…
U.S. Treasury yields fell Tuesday after oil prices tumbled roughly 4% to a three-week low on reports that mediators are making headway toward ending the U.S.-Iran conflict. Comments from Qatar and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz could come within days reduced traders' expectations for a Fede…
The Labor Department's JOLTS report showed U.S. job openings fell by 178,000 in June to 7.359 million, driven largely by a drop in healthcare and social assistance vacancies. At the same time, hiring rose by 96,000 and layoffs remained subdued, while economists cautioned about falling survey response rates and flagged potential risks to payroll and…
Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said she remains receptive to potential interest-rate increases while emphasizing a data-dependent approach to return inflation to the Fed’s 2% target. Speaking in a statement and later on CNBC, Paulson described recent inflation improvements as welcome but limited, supported the decision to hold the policy r…
Canada recorded a trade surplus of C$3.86 billion in June, marking the fourth month in a row of positive trade balances. Exports rose 0.4% and hit a record C$77.5 billion, lifted by a 16.5% jump in metal and non-metallic mineral products—chiefly a 27.9% increase in unwrought gold, silver and platinum group metals. Imports climbed 0.2% to a record C…
On Aug 4, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. will do "whatever it takes" to aid Japan’s recent moves to shore up the yen, confirming Washington joined a joint intervention last week and discussing potential use and scaling of the Fed’s FIMA repo facility to support the Bank of Japan. Bessent also addressed reserve reallocations involvin…
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that negotiators may reach a short-term agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz imminently, while Gulf mediators continue drafting language aimed at de-escalation. Conflicting incidents and statements, including a fresh strike on a vessel and denials of direct talks, have left markets and regional ob…
The World Bank's report finds that artificial intelligence could condense a century of development into a decade for developing countries, provided they rapidly address shortfalls in power, internet access and workforce skills. The analysis also concludes emerging markets face lower job-displacement risk from generative AI than high-income countrie…
Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said she remains uncertain about the appropriate path for interest rates and will base future decisions on trends in underlying inflation. In an essay, she described two possible outcomes: one where policy is already mildly restrictive and will bring inflation back to 2% in an acceptable time frame, and anoth…
