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
U.S. stock index futures fell as investors absorbed news of intensified U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and weighed the risk that rising energy prices could stoke inflation. Oil climbed, gold extended gains, the dollar strengthened and the 10-year Treasury yield rose, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep rates elevated. Marke…
Market volatility caused by the widening conflict in the Middle East has increased the probability that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will refrain from raising interest rates at its March meeting, according to people familiar with the central bank's deliberations. Only a sudden, steep depreciation of the yen appears likely to force a March hike, while of…
European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane cautioned that an extended war in the Middle East could drive a significant rise in euro zone inflation while suppressing economic growth. Lane said higher energy prices from sustained regional conflict would exert upward pressure on inflation in the near term and harm activity, and the ECB is monit…
Global markets reacted sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged the United States would do "whatever it takes" to meet its military objectives in Iran. The escalation in air strikes, reports of damage to a U.S. embassy and regional data centers, and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz further rattled investors, lifting oil and…
China's annual parliamentary session beginning March 5 is widely expected to present a lower growth target in the 4.5%–5% range and to reiterate competing priorities: lift consumption and accelerate investment in high-tech sectors. The simultaneous release of the 15th five-year plan is likely to reaffirm this dual approach, leaving significant poli…
China has sought for years to shift growth reliance toward household consumption, but multiple structural constraints and large fiscal costs have limited progress. Policymakers have a menu of options - boosting social welfare, expanding services, reforming taxes, easing household registration rules, stabilising the property market, changing land ow…
China’s Premier Li Qiang is due to announce Beijing’s principal economic targets for 2026 when the annual parliamentary session opens on March 5. Observers expect a modest downward revision to the growth goal, steady fiscal deficit guidance, large special debt issuance for stimulus and infrastructure, a continued push on job creation amid a record …
China will present its 15th five-year plan when parliament convenes on March 5, laying out policy priorities for 2026-2030. The document is expected to signal how Beijing intends to raise household consumption, accelerate technological advancement and manage the role of manufacturing in the economy, while restating goals on urbanisation, research s…
Japan's spending on factories and equipment rose 6.5% year-on-year in the October-December quarter to 15.4 trillion yen, Ministry of Finance data showed, marking a fourth consecutive quarterly increase and a record high for the quarter. The result underpins expectations for an upward revision to GDP, even as consumption remains pressured by inflati…
Blackstone increased the portion of its private credit fund available for quarterly redemptions after investor requests exceeded the usual limit, resulting in net outflows of $1.7 billion for the quarter despite new commitments and a firm-led capital injection to satisfy remaining requests. The moves reflect strains in private credit as questions a…
Asian equities extended declines and the dollar gained in early trade after strikes on Iran prompted fears of higher energy costs and broader economic disruption. Brent crude and LNG prices jumped sharply, pressuring inflation dynamics and complicating the Federal Reserve's outlook, while Treasury yields, gold and cryptocurrencies registered mixed …
Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock warned that the central bank may not wait for first-quarter inflation readings before raising interest rates further, and highlighted the risk that rising energy prices tied to a deteriorating Middle East conflict could push inflation expectations higher. Bullock described the upcoming March 17-18 …
Japan's finance minister said authorities are tracking global markets with an "extremely strong sense of urgency" amid volatility linked to the Middle East conflict. Tokyo has maintained close contact with overseas financial officials, highlighted the possibility of currency intervention, and emphasized continued communication with international co…
Global currencies came under pressure as expanding military action in the Middle East raised concerns about energy supplies and the inflationary consequences for countries that rely heavily on imported fuel. The dollar strengthened on safe-haven flows, the euro and yen weakened after sharp moves, and policymakers signalled intervention and close mo…
Annual shop price inflation in the UK slowed to 1.1% in February, the British Retail Consortium reported, driven by softer food price growth and declines in non-food categories. The BRC noted narrower rises for food overall, a drop in non-perishable food inflation to a four-year low, and a small fall in non-food prices. The trade group warned that …
British finance minister Rachel Reeves is poised to present a cautious budget update as investors fret over recent strikes and counter-strikes in the Middle East. Fresh forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will accompany her remarks, but she is widely expected to refrain from new spending measures ahead of a full autumn budget.…
Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock told a business conference in Sydney that the RBA's policy board could raise interest rates at its March meeting if it judged inflation expectations were at risk of becoming unanchored. She emphasised that the board would not necessarily wait for the full first-quarter inflation read due in late Ap…
A weekend U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran set off a wave of market volatility on Monday as oil and gas prices posted their largest gains in years. Global stock indices outside the United States and China fell roughly 1-3%, bond yields jumped, and safe-haven flows pushed currencies and commodities into disarray. The U.S. equity market offered a notable …
Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock defended the board's decision to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points in February, citing strong January inflation readings and robust employment data. She warned that recent developments in the Middle East increase uncertainty for the inflation outlook, noting that a supply shock could push pric…
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the Capitol that Iran is producing hundreds of missiles each month and represents an unacceptable risk to regional and U.S. security. He described current U.S. military operations as focused on eliminating missile capabilities and naval assets inside Iran, confirmed Congressional notification, and sa…
Brazil expects to channel more than 250 billion reais ($48.4 billion) into sustainable investments over President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's current four-year term. Tatiana Rosito, who is leaving her post at the Finance Ministry to join the World Bank in July, said the emphasis for 2026 will be on consolidating existing initiatives and attracting …
Elon Musk’s social network X and AI startup xAI plan to repay roughly $17.5 billion of debt in full, according to people familiar with the matter. Morgan Stanley, which arranged the financings, has informed current lenders that the two firms will retire the outstanding obligations. The origin of the repayment funds has not been revealed. The compan…
The White House physician confirmed that President Donald Trump is applying a prescribed topical cream to the right side of his neck as a preventative skin treatment. The regimen is expected to last one week, though the physician warned that the visible redness may linger for a few weeks. No additional details about the specific medication or the u…
Janet Yellen said the conflict involving Iran will slow U.S. growth and add upward pressure on prices, reducing the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will ease policy soon. She noted inflation currently sits about one percentage point above the Fed's 2% goal, with tariffs accounting for roughly half a point of the 3% pace, and highlighted the ris…
A federal appeals court on Monday refused the Trump administration's bid to delay litigation over tariff refunds, directing that proceedings be immediately reopened and returned to the U.S. Court of International Trade. The decision follows the Supreme Court's ruling that the prior tariff program was unlawful and comes amid thousands of related law…
