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.
4,092 total articles
Westpac Banking Corp posted a first-half net profit of A$3.41 billion for the six months ended March 31, a 3% rise from a year earlier but below the Visible Alpha consensus of A$3.47 billion. The result was pressured by lending competition, increased credit impairment charges and weaker Treasury income, which collectively trimmed the bank's net int…
Oil climbed further above $100 a barrel after Iran exercised control over the Strait of Hormuz, a development that has tightened shipping and stoked an energy-price shock. The move coincided with a rise in U.S. Treasury yields and a broadly weaker tone for stocks. Analysts warn that sustained energy-price pressure could push inflation materially ab…
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that inflation is already rising and that the global economy could face a substantially worse outcome if the Middle East conflict continues into 2027 and oil climbs to roughly $125 per barrel. She said the IMF's previously outlined mild slowdown scenario is no longer feasible…
Mexican inflation is forecast to have moderated in April, according to a median estimate from a 12-analyst poll, potentially allowing the central bank to conclude its prolonged easing cycle with a final 25 basis-point cut at its upcoming meeting. Both headline and core annual inflation are projected to decline from March levels, while monthly price…
Maersk confirmed that its commercial vessel Alliance Fairfax transited the Strait of Hormuz after receiving an offer of military protection from U.S. forces. The ship, operated by Farrell Lines Inc., was one of two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels Central Command said completed passage through the strategic waterway.
Benjamin Moore’s chief executive, Dan Calkins, told shareholders the company is seeing consumers shift from premium to mid-range paint as higher inflation, rising gas prices and increased mortgage rates squeeze household budgets. A small rise in home remodeling has not compensated for a slowdown in existing-home sales, and the company’s global foot…
South Africa’s central bank will monitor incoming economic data before choosing its next policy step as the conflict in Iran has raised global energy prices and complicated the inflation outlook. Governor Lesetja Kganyago said the bank held rates at 6.75% in March to assess the shock and remains committed to returning inflation to its 3% target des…
Blackstone President Jon Gray told a Milken Institute panel that the surge in artificial intelligence infrastructure spending is creating a rapid expansion in blue-collar employment tied to data-center construction and related work. QTS, a Blackstone-backed operator, plans to increase its on-site workforce from 10,000 to 40,000 within a year. The r…
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that the administration will implement President Donald Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on cars imported from the European Union to 25%. Greer said he discussed the move and compliance concerns with European and German trade officials over the weekend. The European Commission rejected the U.S. cl…
New York Federal Reserve President John Williams told an audience in New York that policymakers are more aligned on the current monetary stance than recent FOMC voting patterns imply. He highlighted shifting labor force dynamics, a revised break-even for job growth, stable longer-term inflation expectations, and a likely higher long-run federal fun…
Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel warned that the European Central Bank may need to raise interest rates in June if the inflation outlook shown in forthcoming ECB projections does not improve materially. The remark follows the ECB's decision to hold policy steady last week despite internal debate about further tightening. Inflation hit 3% last mon…
Berkshire Hathaway-owned Dairy Queen has put plans to expand further in the Middle East on hold as franchisees contend with supply-chain constraints tied to tensions that include conflict in Iran and shipping restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the chain is testing an AI-powered ordering chatbot in roughly 50 drive-thrus as…
Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel warned that the European Central Bank could raise interest rates in June if the inflation outlook in upcoming ECB projections does not show material improvement. With inflation at 3% last month and oil prices above $110 per barrel amid the war in Iran, Nagel said the bank must guard against an initial shock becomi…
Bank of America analysts argue that the approaching U.S. midterm elections are becoming a meaningful input into Washington's trade and foreign policy calculations. The bank warns that an extended conflict could lift gas prices and that electoral timing may make the Administration less inclined to pursue aggressive tariff measures; it expects effect…
New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said monetary policy is in a good position to address economic uncertainty arising from the war in the Middle East, while cautioning that risks to both inflation and employment have increased. He outlined growth, unemployment and inflation projections for the year and stressed that energy-related sup…
New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said the central bank's monetary stance is well positioned to confront elevated economic uncertainty stemming from the conflict in the Middle East. Speaking at an event in New York City, Williams highlighted the potential impact of supply disruptions and higher energy prices on inflation and growth, …
Chancellor Friedrich Merz marks his first year in office amid a sharp deterioration in relations with the United States after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on European car imports and to remove thousands of U.S. troops from Germany. The moves followed Merz’s public criticism of U.S. policy on the Iran conflict and hav…
Portugal's president has signed legislation that increases the residency requirement for citizenship applications, moving the standard waiting period from five years to up to 10 years for most applicants. The measure, approved by parliament with backing from the minority center-right Social Democratic Party and the far-right Chega party, also sets …
A government-linked think tank has lowered its GDP forecast for Russia after concluding that higher global oil prices cannot compensate for disruptions to production and exports caused by Ukrainian drone attacks and new Western sanctions. The center revised down oil and petroleum product export projections for 2026-2029 and cut this year's growth o…
Bolivia has opened investor outreach for its first dollar-denominated sovereign bond in four years after its new government sidestepped a potential external debt default in March. Deutsche Bank Securities and Santander will lead investor meetings beginning Monday to gauge interest in a benchmark-sized transaction. The approach comes as emerging-mar…
Mexico's central bank released its monthly economist survey showing a higher year-end 2026 inflation forecast and slightly weaker 2026 GDP expectations, while the 2027 outlook for inflation stayed unchanged and growth was nudged up. The poll reflects the average views of 43 economists surveyed by Banco de Mexico.
The United Arab Emirates issued a missile threat warning on Monday, the first since a ceasefire between the US and Iran was implemented about a month ago. The alert came after an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. tanker was hit by Iranian drones outside the Strait of Hormuz. The US began operations to restore transit through the strait, deploying naval an…
Wolfe Research finds the U.S. economy has shown resilience since the Iran conflict began, supported by fiscal stimulus from the One Big Beautiful Bill and a surge in AI-related capital expenditure. Analyst Stephanie Roth cautions, however, that the shock from higher crude prices and geopolitical risk is accumulating beneath the surface and could be…
The Brazilian government on May 4 relaunched the Desenrola consumer debt relief program, widening eligibility and offering discounts of 30% to 90% for borrowers earning up to five times the minimum wage. Finance Minister Dario Durigan said the program will use the Operations Guarantee Fund (FGO) - to be topped by up to 5 billion reais from the Trea…
The European Central Bank's chief supervisor cautioned against reducing capital requirements for banks, arguing that weaker rules would not necessarily increase lending to the economy and could instead lead to higher shareholder distributions. EU banks are pressing for relief from a planned tightening of capital regulations, saying the rules restri…
