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
A Reuters poll of 24 economists indicates Brazil's economy probably expanded 1.0% in January-March from the prior quarter, led by a rebound in manufacturing and a pickup in services and household spending. Annual growth is seen at 1.8%. Official figures are due Friday. Analysts note improving industrial momentum, support from rising oil exports and…
John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, told attendees at the Reykjavík Economic Conference that identifying structural shifts in productivity as they occur is one of the central difficulties facing economic policymakers. He highlighted historical episodes of productivity acceleration and slowdown, underlined the 'recognit…
Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams told an economic conference that identifying structural changes in productivity as they occur is extraordinarily difficult. In prepared remarks for the Reykjavík Economic Conference in Iceland, Williams said expectations of future growth adjust slowly and that an initial productivity shift ma…
The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 3.8% year-on-year in April, the fastest increase since May 2023, propelled by sharp energy price gains linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Core inflation also ticked up, consumer spending remained robust, and markets expect interest rates to stay elevated for an extended period.
Ivan Cepeda, a leftist senator shaped by exile and the assassination of his father, is campaigning to extend and intensify the economic and social reforms initiated by President Gustavo Petro. Leading in opinion polls but unlikely to secure an outright majority on Sunday, Cepeda has outlined an agenda of 'social capitalism' that includes expanded i…
A recent selloff in U.S. government bonds is eroding the traditional negative correlation between stocks and Treasuries, as inflation worries, stronger U.S. growth signals and fiscal pressures push long-term yields higher. The change has raised questions about the effectiveness of the 60/40 portfolio and prompted many managers to favor shorter matu…
UniCredit's deputy vice chair and head of the bank's risk committee, Elena Carletti, cautioned that Europe is less equipped than the United States to counter banking stress that originates from links between crypto assets and lenders. She cited the U.S. use of a 'systemic risk' exception during the 2023 Silicon Valley Bank crisis to guarantee all d…
U.S. equity futures moved lower while Brent crude climbed after a new round of strikes between U.S. and Iranian forces undermined hopes for a near-term peace accord. Investors are awaiting the April personal consumption expenditures price index, a Federal Reserve-favored inflation measure, which may influence rate outlooks already complicated by hi…
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned that the Federal Reserve's independence continues to be vulnerable and will require continued backing from both voters and lawmakers. Speaking to French-speaking central bankers in Cambodia, she tied the threat to a mix of economic shocks that are pushing up prices while weighing on growth, a…
Sources say the People’s Bank of China privately asked major state-owned banks to increase lending in May as household and corporate loan demand stayed subdued following an unexpected drop in new yuan loans in April. The move underscores Beijing’s efforts to shore up growth amid a housing downturn, rising energy costs linked to the U.S.-Israeli war…
Masazumi Wakatabe, former deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, told a meeting of a pro-spending faction in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that the central issue for potential rate increases is the economy's capacity to tolerate tighter monetary conditions rather than the specific timing of a move such as June. Wakatabe, now a Waseda Universit…
The U.S. Treasury added Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) to its list of sanctioned entities, citing ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp. The move penalizes shipowners that arrange passage with, or pay tolls to, the PGSA. Tehran created the body to formalize control of the Strait of Hormuz; recent hostilities and a contested draf…
Foreign investors continued a sustained buying run in Japanese equities for an eighth consecutive week to May 23, injecting a net 1.08 trillion yen. The tech segment led inflows after a strong demand outlook for AI chips, while long-term Japanese government bonds drew renewed foreign purchases as the bond selloff cooled.
Global markets turned cautious after fresh hostilities between the United States and Iran, with air raid alerts in Kuwait, a sharp rise in Brent crude and broad weakness across Asian equities. Safe-haven demand lifted the dollar and U.S. Treasury yields, while central bank commentary flagged the risk that an energy shock could prolong inflation eve…
Thailand's manufacturing production index fell 0.36% in April compared with the same month a year earlier, the industry ministry reported. The result was weaker than the 0.2% year-on-year gain foreseen in a Reuters poll and followed a revised 1.30% rise in March. The ministry cited the war in the Middle East, higher costs that squeezed profits and …
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson has indicated that the central bank's primary objective remains returning inflation to its 2% target. Speaking at a conference in Tokyo hosted by the Bank of Japan and its associated think tank, Jefferson noted that the current resilience of the U.S. labor market provides the necessary latitude to focus o…
European Central Bank (ECB) chief economist Philip Lane has signaled that the energy disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East could exert a lasting influence on inflation rates. Speaking at a conference in Tokyo hosted by the Bank of Japan and its associated think tank, Lane noted that even if a swift resolution to the ongoing war …
Austan Goolsbee, the President of the Chicago Federal Reserve, has issued a warning regarding the potential inflationary consequences of the current enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence. Speaking at a Bank of Japan conference on Thursday, Goolsbee suggested that the heightened expectations for productivity boosts driven by AI could inadve…
The US dollar maintained a strong position near its highest level in a week on Thursday, bolstered by reports of military strikes conducted by the United States against a target in Iran. These developments have heightened geopolitical tensions and complicated ongoing peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran. As hopes for a quick diplomatic …
Global financial markets experienced a period of hesitation on Thursday as investors navigated a complex landscape of geopolitical instability in the Gulf and looming macroeconomic indicators from the United States. The combination of fresh military action in Iran and the anticipation of critical inflation data has created a cautious environment ac…
The Bank of Korea has elected to keep its benchmark interest rate steady, maintaining the current level at 2.50%. This decision comes as the central bank's monetary policy board evaluates the potential impact of the Iran war on national growth. While the pause was largely anticipated by economists, the central bank is navigating a complex landscape…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced a significant organizational restructuring that will involve reassigning almost all of its national staff to its Washington, D.C., headquarters later this year. This move includes the termination of remote work arrangements and the relocation of approximately 450 employees currently stat…
The Australian government has formally introduced a bill in parliament aimed at implementing significant changes to the nation's tax framework. These proposed reforms represent one of the most substantial overhauls of tax regulations seen in several decades, specifically targeting capital gains and property investment incentives. The primary object…
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson has indicated that the current monetary policy framework is appropriately positioned to address a landscape characterized by persistent upside risks to inflation. Speaking at the 2026 Bank of Japan-Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies Conference in Tokyo, Jefferson noted that the existing federal f…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has embarked on a comprehensive review of its various sanctions programs and lists. This initiative aims to increase the overall efficacy of these measures while simultaneously alleviating the regulatory and operational compliance pressures currently faced by financial institutions. A key component of this effort…
