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.
2,050 total articles
Chinese companies have sharply increased use of foreign-exchange derivatives to protect against a strengthening yuan and heightened market volatility linked to the war in Iran. Record net selling in forward contracts and large outright dollar sales to banks accompany rising corporate hedging ratios encouraged by regulators, even as policy tweaks an…
An internal Pentagon memo dated March 6 and signed by Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies permits limited exemptions to a previously announced six-month phase-out of Anthropic’s AI tools when mission-critical national security operations lack viable alternatives. Units seeking exceptions must present comprehensive risk mitigation plans. The me…
In a closed Senate briefing this week, administration officials estimated the United States spent at least $11.3 billion during the first six days of the campaign against Iran. That figure, which does not represent the total cost of the conflict, was shared as lawmakers pressed for more detail. Congressional aides expect the White House to seek add…
Oil jumped sharply despite the International Energy Agency's unprecedented release of strategic reserves, reinforcing inflation concerns and pushing two-year U.S. Treasury yields to their highest level since September. The move put pressure on equity markets, leaving most major U.S. indexes lower by the close, while sector and currency markets refl…
Guatemala’s opposition-led Congress has elected a new slate of magistrates to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), appointing five titular and five alternate members for the 2026-2032 term. The move, occurring late Tuesday, is part of a broader overhaul of the country’s top courts and prosecutor’s office that has drawn warnings from international …
California Governor Gavin Newsom said state authorities have been informed of and are responding to a reported FBI warning that Iran may be considering offensive drone attacks targeting the West Coast. Newsom said the state is coordinating through its operations center and has formed work groups to address drone-related concerns.
Cellnex’s chief executive Marco Patuano says consolidation among European telecom tower operators is likely to decelerate because of market volatility tied to recent Middle East tensions. He signalled the company remains open to selling assets, including its Swiss operations, and stressed the sector faces broader pressures from higher energy prices…
Iran has told intermediaries that it requires a U.S. guarantee preventing future strikes by the United States or Israel as a condition for agreeing to a ceasefire. The demand, conveyed through European and Middle Eastern back-channels and reported by officials speaking on condition of anonymity, raises questions about Washington's ability or willin…
UBS economists warn that recent increases in crude oil tied to Middle East tensions create an added strain on Canadian consumers and are likely to raise headline inflation in the near term. While higher prices deliver some benefits to Canada as a net exporter, UBS says gains will be limited geographically and could be offset by weaker consumption i…
The Trump administration plans to launch tariff investigations under Section 301 aimed at multiple countries over alleged unfair trade practices, with the U.S. Trade Representative overseeing a process that includes consultation with foreign governments, public hearings and comment periods. The probes are expected to be announced as soon as Wednesd…
The U.S. budget deficit for February stood at $308 billion, nearly unchanged from the same month a year earlier, as a roughly equal rise in receipts and outlays left the monthly gap little changed. Treasury receipts totaled $313 billion, up $17 billion from a year earlier, while outlays reached $621 billion, also up $17 billion. Customs duties mode…
President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed skepticism about reports that Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, saying "We don't think so," and encouraged American oil companies to continue using the route. His comments contradict a Reuters report that cited sources saying Iran laid about a dozen mines. The administration said the confli…
A recent Quaest poll commissioned by brokerage Genial indicates a statistical tie between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a hypothetical second round of Brazil's October presidential election, with each candidate receiving 41% in the survey. The poll also provides a range of first-round outcomes across seven simu…
Russian authorities are weighing a possible 10% reduction in all non-sensitive budget expenditures for 2026 while redirecting more revenue into the budget reserve fund. Final decisions are contingent on whether the recent spike in oil prices, driven by conflict-related supply disruptions, proves sustainable. Officials say cuts would avoid touching …
U.S. consumer inflation in February rose 2.4% from a year earlier and 0.3% from January, aligning with economists' forecasts. While the print relieved some inflation concerns, market attention shifted to the spike in crude-oil prices after the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, prompting investor anxiety about future inflation and influencing moves in …
Senior Gulf officials say several of the region's largest economies have begun reviewing sovereign wealth fund strategies and other financial commitments to manage economic damage from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The reassessments could include reversing investment pledges, divestments and a re-evaluation of global sponsorship deals as governme…
Wolfe Research says recent jumps in gasoline prices tied to the Iran conflict could shift spending toward energy, creating a small drag on nominal GDP, but fiscal stimulus from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and elevated tax refunds are expected to cushion consumers and sustain spending in the near term.
Wells Fargo economists say a sharp uptick in oil and gasoline prices has become a new downside risk for the U.S. economy. With employment growth stalling and real personal income excluding transfers weakening, sustained higher fuel costs could push inflation above 3% and produce outright declines in real income. The bank nonetheless finds the econo…
Sweden's finance ministry has reduced its projection for 2026 economic growth to 2.8%, down from a December forecast of 3%. The revision, announced in Stockholm by Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson, attributes the downgrade to softer household confidence driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Despite the cut, the ministry notes the …
Consumer prices in the United States rose 2.4% year-on-year in February, and the month-on-month Consumer Price Index climbed 0.3% from January - both outcomes matching economist forecasts. Investors, however, focused on the fallout from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has pushed oil prices sharply higher and raised concerns about future …
The Bank of Israel issued a formal statement warning that increased defence spending and a higher deficit target related to the Iran war raise short-term downside risks to economic activity. The central bank emphasized disciplined fiscal choices, advising against funding new non-war programs or tax cuts, and warned that the revised 2026 deficit tar…
U.S. consumer prices increased 0.3% in February, matching economists' expectations and following a 0.2% rise in January. Gasoline costs reversed a recent two-month decline and broader inflation measures showed mixed signals: headline CPI held at a 12-month gain of 2.4%, while core CPI excluding food and energy slowed to a 0.2% monthly gain. Officia…
U.S. stock index futures edged downward following a Labor Department report showing February consumer price readings that matched economist forecasts. The headline Consumer Price Index increased 0.3% month-over-month and 2.4% year-over-year, while the core CPI rose 0.2% month-over-month and 2.5% year-over-year. Markets responded cautiously as inves…
The Department of Homeland Security has reinstated the Global Entry program for pre-approved low-risk travelers after a suspension that began on Feb. 22. The agency said the pause was intended to "preserve limited funds and personnel" during a partial government shutdown, but pressure from airlines and travel groups contributed to the program's res…
A sharp rise in oil prices following the escalation of conflict involving Iran has reduced the space for interest-rate cuts among many emerging market central banks. Higher inflation expectations, risk aversion and upward pressure on borrowing costs have prompted policymakers from Central and Eastern Europe to Latin America and Turkey to reassess p…
