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
Analysts at ING say reports of a US-Iran breakthrough that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz may ease crude prices temporarily, but are unlikely to prompt rapid shifts in Federal Reserve or European Central Bank policy. ING highlights that market forces - including a substantial supply shortfall, the need to rebuild strategic reserves, and signs of…
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations aimed at excluding preexisting foreign government investments from certain provisions of the Section 892 rules published in December. The guidance would set new applicability dates and introduce a transition period for portions of the December proposal addressing w…
European Central Bank Governing Council member Dimitar Radev said in Reykjavik that the ECB should not postpone addressing economic consequences from the Iran war, arguing that waiting too long could prove more costly than acting sooner. He emphasized the asymmetric tradeoff when inflation expectations risk becoming less firmly anchored and urged g…
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Anna Paulson said the central bank's present policy stance is appropriately calibrated for an uncertain economy where inflation remains high. Speaking in New Jersey, Paulson characterized policy as "mildly restrictive," indicated the Fed is prepared to act if risks materialize, and observed that market…
China has named Ding Xiangqun to lead the National Financial Regulatory Administration, marking the first time a woman has been appointed to the top role at the agency. Ding, 60, will serve as party secretary and succeeds Li Yunze, whose departure follows media reports of a corruption investigation. Her background includes leadership of the People’…
Zambia has launched a cash tender offer to buy back its $1.36 billion bond maturing in 2053. The transaction will be financed with a $600 million loan from the African Development Bank alongside government resources. The government is proposing near-term and later participation prices of $780 and $740 per $1,000 of principal, respectively. The bond…
The European Union has agreed to unlock €16.4 billion ($19.1 billion) in previously frozen funds for Hungary, subject to agreed reforms. The package, announced in Brussels, includes money from post-pandemic recovery, cohesion support, and allocations linked to academic freedoms. The deal marks a political milestone for Hungary's new leadership and …
Canada's economy entered a technical recession in the first quarter of 2026 as real GDP fell an annualized 0.1%, following a revised 1.0% contraction in Q4 2025. The downturn was led by weak business and government capital spending, a jump in imports and a sharp pullback in residential activity, while household consumption rose marginally.
An analysis of filings and data for 51 business development companies shows aggregate unrealised losses reached 2.35% of net asset value in Q1 2026, the biggest quarterly decline since Q2 2022. Identifiable payment-in-kind interest remained elevated at roughly $477 million, underscoring stress in private credit portfolios as higher borrowing costs …
Preliminary national data released on Friday show that inflation in the euro area’s four biggest economies remained above the European Central Bank’s 2% target for a third consecutive month in May. France, Italy and Spain recorded inflation rates above 2%, while parts of Germany reported falling inflation after a temporary fuel discount was applied…
Preliminary figures from Germany's statistics office show headline inflation slowed to 2.7% in May from 2.9% in April, undercutting the 2.8% Reuters forecast for the EU-harmonized index. At the same time, core inflation - which strips out food and energy - accelerated to 2.5% from 2.3%. The print arrives ahead of a euro zone inflation release expec…
Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman told a conference in Iceland that it is too soon to quantify the Iran conflict's economic impact, but warned that prolonged supply disruptions and a broadening energy-led inflation shock could necessitate tighter monetary policy to rebalance risks.
Global equity funds recorded net inflows in the week to May 27 after a prior week of withdrawals, propelled by a rally in AI-related technology shares and a rebound in sentiment. Broader flows showed strong demand for bond funds, continued outflows from Asian and emerging market equities, and weakness in precious metals and money market funds.
Statistics Canada reported that real gross domestic product fell at an annualized rate of 0.1% in the first quarter, marking two straight quarters of annualized contraction after a downwardly revised 1.0% fall in the fourth quarter. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP was unchanged, avoiding a sequential contraction. The data show weak business inve…
Brazil's economy returned to expansion in the first quarter, registering 1.1% growth from the previous quarter. The uptick was led by household spending and a rise in gross fixed capital formation, with agriculture and the extractive industry contributing on the supply side. Annual GDP rose 1.8%, in line with market forecasts.
Preliminary national statistics show German headline inflation eased to 2.7% in May from 2.9% the prior month, while core inflation - excluding food and energy - climbed to 2.5% from 2.3%. The data precedes an expected uptick in euro zone inflation and increases the chance of monetary policy action by the European Central Bank.
Preliminary May data from the euro zone's four largest economies indicate headline inflation remained above the European Central Bank's 2% goal for a third consecutive month. A jump in fuel prices linked to the Iran war has begun to push up costs in transport, entertainment and fresh food in several countries, strengthening the case for an ECB rate…
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said he welcomed financial markets scaling back expectations for further rate increases, but warned the path for policy depends on developments in the Middle East. He defended the decision to tolerate inflation above the 2% target while the economy softens, but said that tolerance would be withdrawn if evidenc…
Futures on Canada's major stock gauge rose modestly after reports that the United States and Iran agreed to extend a ceasefire and relax shipping restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that eased risk sentiment. Oil prices fell and investors prepared for Canada’s first-quarter GDP release, while markets continued to price in a high proba…
China has signaled it could open trade investigations targeting the European Union at the same time EU officials meet to consider strengthening mechanisms to limit heavily subsidized imports. The exchange centers on a proposed 'overcapacity instrument' that would allow Brussels to cap imports and apply sector-wide tariffs, measures that would most …
Japan's Ministry of Finance reported that authorities spent 11.7 trillion yen, roughly $73.5 billion, on foreign exchange intervention over the past month to prop up the yen. Officials are understood to have intervened around the turn of the month, including during Golden Week when liquidity was thin. Despite the outlay, the yen has returned to lev…
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Jeffrey Schmid warned that recent increases in energy prices should not be assumed to be fleeting, given that inflation has remained above target for an extended period. He highlighted consumer strain from higher gasoline costs, described U.S. energy firms as cautious about boosting output despite eleva…
U.S. stocks have pushed higher this year, driven by technology gains tied to artificial intelligence optimism, but upcoming economic data - notably the June jobs report - and quarterly results from Broadcom could challenge the rally. Investors are watching inflation measures, bond yields and signals about Federal Reserve policy closely; a stronger-…
Discussions within the Federal Reserve and among outside analysts center on altering liquidity rules to lower banks' demand for reserves, a change that could shrink the central bank's $6.7 trillion balance sheet. Estimates of potential reserve reductions vary - one bank places the figure near $700 billion, while a senior Fed policymaker doubts even…
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche has moved swiftly since his April appointment, aligning the Justice Department with several Trump-prioritized actions. But a $1.776 billion fund established under a settlement of Trump’s IRS lawsuit has provoked fierce Republican pushback in the Senate and raised new legal concerns after a federal judge dis…
