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
Tang Jie, founder of Chinese AI startup Zhipu and a Tsinghua University faculty member, said meaningful AI safety depends on broad participation, transparency and public oversight rather than restricting advanced models to a limited set of developers. Zhipu has published its GLM-5.2 model under an open-source license and plans to focus on research …
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has died at age 71 following a brief and sudden illness. His passing, which occurred after a recent trip to Kyiv, leaves an unexpected vacancy in the U.S. Senate and introduces uncertainty for pending legislation and the timing of key congressional priorities.
An analysis highlights how mounting geopolitical tensions, sustained inflation and more frequent economic shocks are eroding the traditional role of government bonds as portfolio protectors. Major investors are responding by raising equity exposure, adding alternative diversifiers and altering fixed-income approaches to contend with a landscape of …
Japanese authorities are moving to increase allocations to alternative investments at the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the nation’s roughly $1.8 trillion pension fund. Reports indicate a plan to raise exposure to unlisted equities, real estate and other private assets toward the existing 5% ceiling from about 1.7% recorded in March, w…
A CIBC Capital Markets analysis finds that the current wave of AI-related capital spending is contributing roughly 0.4 percentage points to U.S. annual inflation in 2026. The study says inflationary effects have arisen from elevated spending on data centers, computing gear and electricity, and that broader growth powered by AI investment and equity…
A government effort is underway to increase the allocation to unlisted shares, real estate and other alternative investments in the portfolio of the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). The move, which follows comments by Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama favoring greater domestic asset exposure, has already moved currency and bond markets. A…
The U.S. Postal Service will raise the price of a first-class stamp to 82 cents from 78 cents, effective Sunday. The move follows an April announcement of a 4.8% rise in mailing costs and comes as agency leaders warn of mounting financial pressure, including roughly $120 billion in cumulative net losses since 2007 and the risk of running out of cas…
Citi warns that an unrecognized bout of 'de facto fiscal austerity' - driven by stronger central revenue collection and curtailed local government spending - amplified China's economic deceleration in the second quarter. The bank says fiscal conditions tightened despite Beijing's pro-growth stance, contributing to weaker fixed-asset investment and …
Andy Burnham has quickly secured the backing required to succeed Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and is positioned to become the next UK prime minister. Despite the rapid consolidation of support inside his party, Burnham has provided only high-level priorities and limited detail on implementation, prompting concern among some Labour law…
A Paris court ruling permitting Marine Le Pen to run in the 2027 presidential election has heightened political uncertainty in France, with UBS warning that fiscal policy and pension reform will be central issues for investors. The first round is set for April 18, 2027, with a runoff on May 2. Parliamentary elections in June 2027 and an October bud…
President Donald Trump warned Iran of a devastating U.S. military response if Tehran pursues assassination threats against him, saying 1,000 missiles were "locked and loaded" and aimed at Iran. Senior U.S. officials pressed for a public Iranian commitment to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and to halt attacks on commercial shipping before broader nu…
Ukraine has formed a specialized 'long-range impact' command to expand strikes on Russian energy and transportation infrastructure, Ukrainian leadership said. Recent operations have targeted refineries, terminals and shipping routes, contributing to declines in Russian fuel output and prompting Moscow to curb diesel exports. Analysts caution it is …
BlackRock has placed energy security in its high-risk category in a new geopolitical outlook, citing disruptions to flows through the Strait of Hormuz that have displaced more than one billion barrels of crude and one-fifth of global LNG supply. The firm also elevated combined cyber and terrorism risks and highlighted accelerating technology decoup…
The Trump administration is expressing deepening pessimism regarding the feasibility of a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran, with senior U.S. officials emphasizing that Tehran must first demonstrate tangible compliance with an interim peace accord. This heightened skepticism is driven by ongoing disruptions to commercial shipping in the Str…
The Federal Reserve has restated its commitment to achieving price stability and maintaining longer-term inflation expectations at 2%, as detailed in its semiannual monetary policy report. The publication coincides with preparations for testimony by new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh before Congress, amid a volatile inflation landscape shaped by geopolitica…
US Treasury bond prices fell sharply on Friday as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran sparked renewed worries about inflationary pressures stemming from higher oil costs. The geopolitical landscape shifted when President Donald Trump announced that while the June ceasefire has ended, Iran has asked to resume negotiations and the …
Iran’s Foreign Ministry denies that Tehran asked to enter talks with the United States, contradicting President Donald Trump’s earlier statements. Tehran confirms it accepted a visit by a Qatari mediator and says its foreign minister will travel to Oman to discuss mechanisms for safe maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran warns any U.S…
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated Iranian financial facilitator Ali Ansari and multiple currency exchange firms, accusing him of channeling publicly funded assets into overseas real estate and commercial holdings that benefit Iran's supreme leader and other regime officials. The move, announced after Iran renewed a…
Warburg Pincus is reportedly close to acquiring PANTHERx Rare in a transaction valued at more than $7 billion including debt. The private equity firm is collaborating with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and while talks could conclude soon, sources say the agreement is not yet finalized and timing could change.
Argentine wheat producers have sold only 2 million metric tons of the new crop, a notably weak start this season, as planting progresses but forward prices for post-harvest delivery fall. The Rosario grains exchange reported sales represent 10.5% of expected output, below the five-year average, and highlighted risks of rising stocks if exports slow…
Euro zone government bond yields edged lower on Friday after Brent crude prices retreated and investors took a calmer view of recent U.S.-Iran tensions. Germany's two-year and 10-year yields each fell by 1 basis point, though both remained about 10 basis points higher on the week, marking their largest weekly rises in several weeks. Money markets t…
The Federal Reserve told Congress that U.S. inflation accelerated this spring, citing the effects of tariffs, higher energy costs tied to conflict in the Middle East, and spending related to the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The report said the Fed's preferred inflation gauge - the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Inde…
German carmakers experienced a sharp deterioration in Chinese sales during the April-June quarter, with Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW each posting at least a 30% year-on-year drop in China. Volkswagen recorded the largest fall at 36.6%. The sustained slowdown in China's auto market, waning policy support for green vehicles and rising fuel price…
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s selection of 15 external experts to lead a review of the Fed’s policy framework and practices has been met with largely positive initial reactions for its emphasis on expertise and independence. The group includes foreign central bankers, Obama-era appointees and private sector figures, and is expected to pursue …
A July poll of economists indicates the Bank of Canada will hold its overnight rate at 2.25% on July 15 and keep it at that level well into next year. Although headline inflation rose to 3.2% in May, forecasters expect price pressures to moderate, while economic recovery and strengthening export revenues reduce the urgency for immediate policy shif…
