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.
4,094 total articles
The Bank of England's Credit Conditions Survey for Q1 2026, published Thursday, shows that availability of secured credit to households increased in the three months to end-February 2026 and is expected to rise further through the three months to end-May 2026. Unsecured household credit availability was unchanged in Q1 but is expected to increase i…
The International Monetary Fund has reached a staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka that, once formally approved, will unlock roughly $700 million in financing. The IMF said the funds come with a call to accelerate policy and structural reforms to protect macroeconomic stability as Sri Lanka continues to recover from its severe economic crisis, a 20…
A recent poll of economists indicates Chinese banks likely issued substantially more net new yuan loans in March than in February, with estimates around 3.4 trillion yuan versus 900 billion yuan in February. The rise is attributed to seasonal post-Chinese New Year lending activity and firmer credit demand, while other measures such as M2 growth and…
Markets are cooling after a brief rally as fresh developments in the Middle East undercut hopes for immediate de-escalation. Asian equities and U.S. futures slipped, while sovereign bonds in Europe outperformed Treasuries. Key data releases due Thursday and cautious commentary from U.S. central bank officials add to the near-term uncertainty. Most …
A government gauge of household sentiment fell to 33.3 in March, sliding 6.4 points from February in the first decline after three months of improvement. Officials pointed to rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict as weighing on the fragile recovery, and said the data complicates the Bank of Japan’s choice over a possible April rate i…
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Congress to enact the Clarity Act to establish a federal regulatory framework for digital assets. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Bessent warned that unclear rules have driven crypto activity to jurisdictions with clearer regimes, and he called on lawmakers to overcome disagreements - notably between bank…
Foreign purchases of Japanese stocks swung to a net inflow of 2.96 trillion yen in the week through April 4, reversing most of the prior week's heavy withdrawals. The shift came as investor sentiment steadied ahead of a ceasefire in the Iran war and as seasonal portfolio reallocation and a rise in long-term government bond yields attracted overseas…
President Donald Trump said U.S. naval, air, and ground forces deployed around Iran will remain in position until Washington secures what he calls a "real agreement" with Tehran. The president warned the "shootin' starts" if no accord is reached, while reiterating demands that Iran abandon nuclear weapons and ensure the Strait of Hormuz is open and…
Analysts overwhelmingly expect the Monetary Authority of Singapore to tighten policy at its April 14 review as the Middle East war drives energy prices higher, raising inflation risks and clouding near-term growth prospects. Policymakers face the trade-off between imported cost pressures and a slowing external outlook while the government rolls out…
During a meeting in Taipei, U.S. Senator Jim Banks called on Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan to approve a previously proposed $40 billion special defence budget, saying passage would signal to China and the international community that Taiwan is committed to 'peace through strength.' The plan remains under debate in a parliament where the opposition hold…
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Anna Breman said she still expects the economy to grow in 2026, conditional on a sustained ceasefire in the Middle East and easing fuel and supply-chain pressures. The bank left the cash rate at 2.25% to assess the conflict's fallout while warning inflation could rise above the 1%-3% target band.
Global markets rallied sharply and oil prices plunged on April 8 after a ceasefire in the Iran war, propelling equities higher, sending European sovereign yields lower and triggering the largest one-day fall in U.S. oil in five years. Policymakers and investors face renewed uncertainty about whether the move marks a durable shift in sentiment or a …
The U.S. administration is exploring a plan to shift American troops away from NATO members perceived as unsupportive of the Iran war and station them in allied countries that backed the campaign. The measure, reported to be under discussion among senior officials, would not amount to a full withdrawal from NATO, which the president cannot execute …
A temporary two-week ceasefire in the Iran conflict has reduced immediate inflation concerns and prompted traders to partially revive bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut later this year. Still, elevated oil prices, fresh regional incidents and lingering uncertainty about the durability of peace mean monetary easing is not assured.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters he expects negotiations with Iran to begin in Pakistan on Saturday and sought to downplay Iranian complaints that key clauses of a 10-point ceasefire proposal were breached. Vance reiterated U.S. red lines on nuclear enrichment and said the administration will judge the talks based on what Iran is willing…
Rep. Ritchie Torres has asked federal market regulators to examine a surge of trades in oil and equity futures that took place just before an announced pause in hostilities in Iran. He sent a letter to the heads of the SEC and CFTC drawing attention to the timing of the activity and citing past concerns about trading around geopolitical events.
The United Arab Emirates has requested detailed clarification of the U.S.-Iran two-week ceasefire arrangement to confirm Tehran’s full commitment to halt attacks in the region and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without conditions. A UAE foreign ministry spokesperson, writing on X on Wednesday, said such clarity is necessary to ensure immediate cess…
San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly said the U.S. economy's underlying fundamentals remain strong, citing continued consumer spending and business investment. She warned that uncertainty around the Iran conflict and elevated oil and gas prices could affect inflation and other sectors, and she did not signal a definitive shift in the F…
France will keep its planned public deficit target for 2026 unchanged despite a larger-than-expected narrowing of the shortfall in 2025. Budget Minister David Amiel told the senate finance committee that the 2025 improvement - to 5.1% of GDP from 5.8% - reflected one-off factors and that the macroeconomic consequences of the Iran conflict in 2026 w…
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's March meeting, released on Wednesday, indicate that officials continue to view interest rate reductions as possible if inflation falls in line with their forecasts. Policymakers stressed the need to remain agile in adjusting policy in response to incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.
Chris Phelan, currently an adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, is reported to be the principal candidate to become President Donald Trump’s next chief economist. If formally nominated and later confirmed by the Senate, he would assume the chairmanship of the Council of Economic Advisers, replacing Stephen Miran. Since Miran stepped …
The White House says President Donald Trump wants the Strait of Hormuz reopened to tankers and other vessels without limitations, including tolls. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reported a rise in traffic on Wednesday and declined to specify who controls the waterway. Tehran has proposed fees for passage amid ceasefire talks, and Mr. Trump suggested …
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's March 17-18 meeting indicate a growing contingent of policymakers viewed interest rate increases as a potential response to inflation running above the 2% target, a stance reinforced by the inflationary effects of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. At the same time, many participants continued to include rate reducti…
San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly told a Utah business audience that the U.S. economy remains fundamentally sound even as the conflict in Iran injects uncertainty and market volatility. Daly pointed to continued consumer spending and business investment, acknowledged potential inflation and labor-market concerns, and stressed the Fe…
U.S. officials pursued a temporary truce with Iran via back-channel negotiations run through Pakistan even as the president amplified public threats toward Tehran. Pakistan's military leadership presented a ceasefire proposal to Iran that ultimately produced a two-week pause and reopened the Strait of Hormuz, according to people familiar with the d…
