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.
4,093 total articles
Bank Negara Malaysia held its overnight policy rate at 2.75% on Thursday, in line with the unanimous forecast of 27 economists surveyed by LSEG. The central bank's choice reflects subdued headline inflation of 1.6% year-over-year in January and a view that current price dynamics are not an immediate policy concern, even as global energy prices rise…
U.S. equity futures fell early Thursday as the conflict involving Iran extended into a sixth day, lifting oil prices and adding to investor uncertainty. Republican senators blocked a congressional measure aimed at limiting President Trump's authority to continue strikes. Energy benchmarks rose sharply, while Broadcom stock jumped after better-than-…
Morgan Stanley now expects the European Central Bank to hold interest rates through 2026 and postpone previously forecast cuts until 2027, citing higher inflation risks tied to the conflict in the Middle East and recent energy-price increases. The move follows similar shifts by other brokerages and comes as oil jumps amid supply concerns.
U.S. equity futures fell as investors absorbed a widening Middle East conflict and its potential economic consequences. Iran launched a new missile barrage toward Israel, safe-haven assets gained, and oil extended a steep weekly rally, while markets awaited upcoming U.S. labor data and Fed commentary.
A unanimous poll of analysts expects the State Bank of Pakistan to keep its policy rate at 10.5% at an upcoming review, as rising global energy costs and regional tensions heighten inflationary risks and constrain further easing. Policymakers have cut the key rate sharply since mid-2024 but face external headwinds that could delay additional reduct…
Japan’s largest labour federation, Rengo, said member unions are asking for an average wage increase of 5.94% in the 2026 wage negotiations, a demand underpinned by persistent inflation and chronic labour shortages. The figure is slightly below last year’s 6.09% request but still tops Rengo’s 2026 target of at least 5%. Separate union group UA Zens…
An IMF staff mission to Kenya has concluded after talks with Kenyan authorities focused on recent economic developments and technical preparations for a requested lending programme. The IMF said discussions highlighted the need for stronger fiscal discipline, improved fiscal credibility, and greater resilience to external shocks. Kenyan officials a…
German government bonds are ceding ground to other traditional safe havens such as gold, the Swiss franc and the yen as investors reevaluate shelter options. Concerns over Germany's planned fiscal expansion, coupled with the European Central Bank's reduction of pandemic-era bond holdings, have prompted questions about a future supply-demand imbalan…
A senior European Central Bank supervisor says direct exposures of euro zone banks to the Iran-Israel conflict are small, but cautions that rising energy prices and a cooling economy could produce more serious strains on lenders' balance sheets. He also flagged rapid growth in synthetic securitisation as an area needing closer supervisory oversight…
South Korean officials and semiconductor executives warn that the escalating U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran could threaten supplies of key materials used in memory chip production, notably helium, and complicate plans by tech companies to expand AI data centers in the Middle East. Industry leaders say some firms source essential inputs from the reg…
Global markets opened the day divided after a fresh escalation in the Middle East, with energy and safe-haven assets pushing higher even as Asian equities rallied. U.S. and Israeli air strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader have prompted renewed missile activity and political moves in Washington, while China kicked off its National People’s Cong…
Foreign investors reduced exposure to Asian equities for a fourth consecutive month in February, with South Korea experiencing record outflows. Concerns over rich technology valuations, AI-related spending plans and heightened geopolitical risk tied to the Middle East weighed on sentiment. Some markets, including Taiwan and India, received net fore…
China's National People's Congress released a comprehensive Five-Year Plan that sets growth and fiscal targets, accelerates a push for technological self-reliance in the face of intensified competition with the United States, raises defence spending, commits capital to state banks, and outlines social and food security initiatives aimed at addressi…
China will use a special treasury bond to inject 300 billion yuan ($43.59 billion) into state-owned banks this year and deepen reforms of state financial enterprises, according to the government work report presented at the opening of the National People's Congress. The measures are intended to replenish capital, tackle non-performing assets and re…
China has set its 2026 economic growth target at 4.5%-5.0%, slightly under last year’s 5.0% outcome. Officials paired the target with a more proactive fiscal stance, a new 100 billion yuan demand-support fund and plans to boost R&D spending by more than 7% annually. Analysts say the lower target gives policymakers flexibility to pursue domestic ref…
Australia's monthly household spending indicator increased in January to A$78.98 billion, reflecting a modest rebound that did not fully compensate for December's decline. Annual spending growth slowed to 4.6%, while consumers shifted toward essentials as concerns over rising interest rates persist. The data leaves markets expecting further tighten…
The U.S. Senate voted 53-47 on Wednesday to block a bipartisan war powers resolution that would have sought to halt President Donald Trump's military operations against Iran and require congressional approval before further hostilities. Supporters argued the measure was necessary to restore Congress's constitutional authorization role after the adm…
Global equity markets climbed on Wednesday as signs that hostilities in the Middle East might de-escalate, together with calmer energy markets, prompted investors to unwind some positions. Economic surveys for February showed broadly firm activity across the United States, China and Europe. Separately, President Trump formally submitted Kevin Warsh…
China’s annual parliament session convenes as leaders prepare to present a growth target of 4.5% to 5% for 2026 and publish the 15th five-year plan outlining priorities for 2026-30. The government is expected to emphasize upgrading high-tech industries and bolstering domestic demand, but analysts warn those objectives pull resources in opposite dir…
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Goldman Sachs lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler and Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black will appear before the House Oversight Committee to answer questions about their relationships with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, following a Justice Department release of documents and subsequent corporate and lega…
U.S. aviation authorities briefly stopped incoming flights to LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday after Scandinavian Airlines Flight 907, which had reported a security concern, landed safely at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Port Authority identified the incident as an unfounded bomb threat and the FAA lifted the ground stop shortly after 2 p…
The U.S. Postal Service has retained Alvarez & Marsal to help develop contingency plans as the agency confronts mounting losses and a sharp decline in mail volumes. Postmaster General David Steiner cautioned the service could exhaust its cash within 12 months without substantial changes, and he will testify to Congress on March 17 about the financi…
The Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book reports a modest increase in U.S. economic activity, ongoing price rises and a broadly stable labor market. The report - compiled from business and community contacts through February 23 - arrives as policymakers prepare for their March policy meeting amid fresh inflation risks from higher oil prices and ongo…
The White House said Spain agreed to cooperate with U.S. military operations after President Donald Trump threatened trade measures over Madrid's refusal to allow U.S. aircraft to operate from jointly run bases in southern Spain. Spanish leaders have publicly condemned recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and denied agreeing to such military coo…
Firms and institutional investors, including Gulf-based backers, launched a wave of large equity offerings in the days after tensions in the Middle East escalated into open conflict. LSEG data show roughly $20 billion of equity deals were announced in the three trading days from Friday to Tuesday, accounting for almost 16% of this year's issuance t…
