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.
5,920 total articles
The New Zealand Labour Party has voiced significant criticism regarding the government's latest budget, arguing that the current fiscal direction fails to adequately support citizens facing rising living expenses. While acknowledging the importance of returning the national accounts to a surplus, Barbara Edmonds, the shadow finance minister for the…
The U.S. dollar is poised to conclude a weekly losing streak as reports emerge regarding a potential ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. The reported deal, which currently awaits approval from President Trump, seeks to extend an existing truce for 60 days and lift restrictions on maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of …
New economic data released on Friday indicates that annual core inflation in Tokyo slowed to 1.3% for the month of May. This figure represents the fourth consecutive month where the capital's core consumer price index (CPI) has remained below the Bank of Japan's established 2% target. The deceleration follows a 1.5% increase recorded in April and m…
Following a closely contested Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, Reserve Bank of New Zealand member Hayley Gourley has indicated that interest rate increases are likely to occur in the near future. While the official cash rate was held at 2.25% on Wednesday, the decision was reached via a casting vote from Governor Anna Breman to resolve a 3-…
Equity markets reached historic levels on Thursday, propelled by an extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. While the S&P 500 and Nasdaq achieved record highs, the broader economic landscape remains complex, characterized by a divergence between rising inflation and slowing growth figures. Investors are currently navigating a…
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a state budget that creates a progressive surcharge on high-end secondary residences in New York City, commonly referred to as a 'pied-a-terre' tax. Backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and approved by state legislators, the measure is projected to produce about $500 million per year for the city. The budget also dir…
A court filing shows Brazil's government and the Federal District have approved a plan enabling the district to contract an approximately 6 billion reais loan from the credit-guarantee fund FGC to support state-run lender BRB. Guarantees will be provided by a bank syndicate using the district's revenue flows from state and municipal participation f…
The Dallas Fed’s trimmed mean inflation gauge showed a slight decline to 2.3% year-over-year in April, down from 2.4% in March. Proponents of the measure, including its producers, warn the reading may understate underlying price pressures because recent tariff-driven price jumps have reversed the measure’s usual statistical skew. Core personal cons…
HSBC has adjusted its outlook for Bank of Japan policy, now forecasting two 25-basis-point rate increases in 2026 — a move in June rather than July, followed by another in December — which would raise the policy rate to 1.25% by year-end. The bank pointed to three central factors: the near-term composition of the BoJ Policy Board, persistent inflat…
Speaking in New York, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a renewed partnership with the United States to reinforce both economies as global commercial relationships undergo a 'rupture.' He urged targeted collaboration in sectors such as aluminum, automobiles and critical minerals and highlighted Canada’s recent push to diversify exports…
St. Louis Federal Reserve President Alberto Musalem told an economic conference in Reykjavik that the Fed may need to raise its policy rate if disinflation does not resume within one to two quarters. His comments come as U.S. personal consumption expenditures inflation accelerated in April and as new Fed chair Kevin Warsh signals confidence in AI's…
The U.S. Treasury has publicly warned Oman against participating in the creation of a toll system for the Strait of Hormuz. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X that the U.S. government will not accept attempts to impose tolls in the strait and that the Treasury will target parties who help facilitate such a system, whether their involvement …
The Bank of Canada says Canada’s financial system remains resilient in the face of recent global shocks, but its 2026 Financial Stability Report highlights multiple vulnerabilities. The central bank pointed to heavy stock market exposure to large technology firms tied to artificial intelligence, growing hedge fund activity in funding and government…
Russia has placed a second tranche of 10-year sovereign bonds denominated in Chinese yuan, setting the size at 10 billion yuan (about $1.5 billion) with a coupon of 7.65%. The offering comes shortly after meetings between Russian and Chinese leaders in Beijing and follows previous yuan bond sales last year. The move reflects Moscow's efforts to rai…
The U.S. Treasury announced it has removed 76 persons, vessels and entities from the Specially Designated Nationals list, saying the entries were outdated. The department framed the action as a means to ease compliance costs for businesses and to prioritize enforcement activity against complex and high‑risk sanctions evasion, noting a marked rise i…
Brazil's central bank monetary policy director said the institution will act to prevent an uptick in inflation expectations from translating into actual inflation, stressing policymakers retain capacity and a legal duty to meet the 3% target and that recent rate cuts do not indicate a dovish pivot. He noted supply shocks tied to the Iran conflict s…
China priced a 6 billion yuan offshore green sovereign bond in Hong Kong, its first green note sale in the city. The offering was evenly split into three- and five-year tranches, with yields of 1.42% and 1.56% respectively, which tightened versus initial guidance. Proceeds are earmarked to finance or refinance green initiatives aimed at supporting …
St. Louis Federal Reserve President Alberto Musalem said he is skeptical that gains from artificial intelligence will reduce inflation sufficiently to permit easier monetary policy. Speaking at a Reykjavik conference, he argued current data - including inflation above target and a stable labor market - do not support a move to looser rates and warn…
South Africa's central bank raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 7%, the first hike since 2023, citing elevated inflation risks tied to the Iran war. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee voted 4-2 in favour of the increase after considering scenarios that showed higher inflation and slower growth. Markets saw a firmer rand, a drop in th…
The Bank of Canada’s 2026 Financial System Report concludes that Canada’s financial system remains resilient while pointing to rising vulnerabilities tied to lofty stock and corporate debt valuations and increased hedge fund purchases of sovereign bonds using leverage. The report, presented by Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers and Deputy Govern…
New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said monetary policy is currently appropriate given the economic outlook, while warning inflation will be elevated in the near term because of recent tariff hikes and an energy shock from the Middle East conflict. He described policy as slightly restrictive, signaled the Fed is taking a longer-term v…
The International Monetary Fund's mission chief for Sri Lanka said the country's monetary policy is broadly appropriate and that the economy retains the capacity to meet the IMF's 3% growth target this year. The remarks came after the Central Bank of Sri Lanka raised its overnight policy rate by 100 basis points to 8.75% amid inflationary pressure …
Senior Bank of Canada officials said the nation’s financial system has performed well over a challenging period, with households and firms largely stable and banks bolstering their shock-absorption capacity. However, the Financial Stability Report highlights rising vulnerabilities in asset valuations, expanding non-bank leverage and new risks tied …
UBS contends that recent increases in U.S. Treasury yields exaggerate the likelihood of near-term Federal Reserve rate hikes. While the bank has pushed back its timeline for when easing might resume to December and then to March 2027 for a further cut, it stops short of endorsing the more hawkish market pricing. UBS highlights slower-than-expected …
The Commerce Department's second estimate for first-quarter U.S. GDP was revised down to a 1.6% annualized pace, driven by weaker inventory investment and consumer spending. At the same time, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge - the personal consumption expenditures price index - rose 3.8% year-on-year in April, matching economists' ex…
