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.
4,096 total articles
The CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company condemned recent Iranian strikes on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as economic terrorism, urging that no nation be allowed to hold the crucial route hostage. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber delivered the remarks in a video address to S&P Global's CERAWeek, after cancelling an in-person appearance because of the…
Hungary’s central bank cut its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 1.7% from 2.4% and emphasized a cautious, data-led approach to base rate decisions. The bank said tight monetary conditions remain necessary, highlighted the importance of foreign exchange market stability for anchoring inflation expectations, and warned that higher energy prices will push …
A March flash survey from S&P Global showed U.S. private-sector activity eased to its weakest point in 11 months, with services cooling, manufacturing holding up, and businesses reporting sharply higher input costs linked to the Middle East war. The results point to rising consumer price pressure even as timely labor data remain mixed.
NASA has outlined a plan to allocate $20 billion across the next seven years to develop a surface base on the moon, intended to support the agency’s objective of returning astronauts to the lunar surface and enabling long-term human habitation. The framework was presented at a Washington, DC meeting with program partners, and is linked to an execut…
Hungary's central bank held its policy rate at 6.25% on Tuesday, stepping back from additional rate cuts after a 25-basis-point reduction last month. Rising inflation projections tied to climbing global energy prices and heightened Middle East tensions prompted policymakers to pause their easing cycle with the country's national vote weeks away.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged President Trump to keep up military pressure on Iran, telling the president the current U.S.-Israeli campaign is a historic opening to alter the Middle East, according to people briefed on U.S. official discussions and reported by the New York Times. Over the past week, the crown prince reportedly ma…
Iran has started requesting transit payments from commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, according to reporting that cites people familiar with the matter. The charges - reportedly as high as $2 million per voyage - are being sought informally from a limited set of ships, with some reportedly paying. The program appears inconsistent, l…
The International Monetary Fund has signaled plans to send a staff mission to Maputo in the coming months as Mozambique seeks renewed engagement to address deepening fiscal pressures. Sovereign spreads have surged to levels associated with severe financial stress, domestic banks are nearing capacity for government debt purchases, and central bank s…
Wolfe Research's Stephanie Roth told clients that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to raise interest rates this summer. While inflation remains above the Fed's 2% objective with upside risks to headline and core measures, Roth says the labor market will not support a hike. Market expectations have shifted sharply, and ongoing geopolitical tensions c…
The conflict involving Iran, now into its fourth week, has triggered a sharp disruption to energy markets that is reverberating through advanced and emerging economies alike. Countries with heavy energy import dependence, concentrated manufacturing bases, or fragile fiscal and foreign-exchange positions are showing the greatest vulnerability. Polic…
The National Retail Federation projects U.S. consumer outlays for Easter 2026 will climb to a record $24.9 billion, a 5.5% rise from 2025. Per-person budgets are also expected to set a new high, and candy remains the dominant category for holiday shoppers, according to an NRF survey of 7,845 adults conducted with Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Iranian authorities are increasingly reluctant to participate in face-to-face ceasefire negotiations, fearing such meetings could expose top officials to targeted attacks. Tehran also views a pause in U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure with suspicion, interpreting it as a possible tactic to calm global oil markets ahead of renewed milita…
Barclays lifted its 2026 year-end S&P 500 target to 7,650 from 7,400, pointing to robust corporate profits driven by technology and steady U.S. growth as the rationale. The brokerage raised its 2026 S&P 500 earnings-per-share estimate to $321 from $305, upgraded several sector ratings and outlined a downside case of 5,900, while warning that higher…
Iran has halted natural gas exports to Turkey following an Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field on March 18. Turkey, which sourced about 14% of its gas from Iran last year, continues to receive supplies from Russia and Azerbaijan and is drawing on stockpiles. The length of the interruption is unknown and Turkish authorities have not commented…
The military action involving Iran has triggered abrupt moves in Britain’s mortgage market, pushing two- and five-year fixed rates higher and prompting lenders to withdraw a significant share of products. Moneyfacts data shows rate gains and product removals at levels not seen since the pandemic and the 2022 mini-budget turmoil.
In minutes from its most recent meeting, Brazil's central bank said the scale and length of future interest-rate adjustments will be decided gradually as new economic and geopolitical information becomes available. The statement followed a 25-basis-point reduction that set the policy rate at 14.75% and emphasized that ongoing geopolitical conflicts…
Goldman Sachs warns that the ongoing conflict involving Iran is putting renewed upward pressure on global oil markets, with significant implications for U.S. inflation. The bank's commodities strategists project sharp near-term Brent crude averages under constrained Strait of Hormuz flows and outline scenarios where prices could surge toward or abo…
Bank of America has downgraded its GDP growth projection for the Dominican Republic to 3%, saying the country's rebound will be slow. The bank highlighted a contrast between a recovering tourism sector and a more sluggish performance across the rest of the economy, while flagging a narrowing window for reforms and heightened sensitivity to oil pric…
Germany’s foreign minister said he believes U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States held talks with Iran could mark a shift in the month-long Middle East conflict. The assessment follows Trump’s Truth Social post describing conversations with Tehran as "very good and productive," despite Iran’s denial that any talks occurred. Joh…
Documents reviewed show Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team issued grand jury subpoenas and nondisclosure orders seeking phone, text, online account, billing, IP and bank records for Kash Patel over multi-year periods. The scope and duration of the requests, and a court nondisclosure order, were disclosed by Republican senators before a subcommittee …
U.S. stock index futures slipped after a sharp one-day rally as uncertainty resurfaced over possible talks between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump delayed planned strikes on Iran’s power grid citing productive discussions, but Iranian officials deny negotiations occurred. The geopolitical uncertainty has pushed oil prices higher …
British business activity slowed in March to its weakest pace in six months as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran sent costs for manufacturers sharply higher, according to a preliminary S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index. The composite PMI fell to 51.0 from 53.7 in February, while a separate S&P gauge of manufacturers' input prices recorded its larges…
U.S. stock futures were subdued and oil prices climbed as new strikes rattled the Middle East following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a short delay to planned attacks on Iran’s power infrastructure. Tehran denied that substantive talks had taken place, and investors await U.S. flash purchasing managers index data for early indications of…
China's largest state-owned banks are positioned to recover part of their margin losses after nearly 54 trillion yuan (about $7.8 trillion) in time deposits mature in 2026 and roll over at much lower rates. Analysts say the shift in deposit pricing, together with policy moves by banks and the regulator, should help stabilise net interest margins af…
Foreign investors have withdrawn a record-scale $50.45 billion from selected Asian equity markets in March as fears of Middle East supply disruption tied to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran lift crude prices and prompt a reassessment of rate paths. The bulk of selling has focused on Taiwan, South Korea and India, with technology names particular…
