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.
7,046 total articles
The U.S. dollar maintained its upward trajectory on Wednesday as renewed military confrontations in the Middle East triggered higher energy costs and renewed inflation anxieties. Despite recent economic indicators falling short of forecasts, capital flows are increasingly aligning with expectations of Federal Reserve tightening, supported by surgin…
Brazilian federal lawmakers have finalized a legislative package designed to reduce fiscal friction for digital infrastructure development. By removing specific federal levies on specialized technology hardware, the measure aims to lower procurement costs and accelerate domestic data center deployment ahead of executive ratification.
OpenAI announced on Sept 1 that an internally tested model named Astra exhibits capabilities well beyond those of the most advanced publicly available OpenAI model, GPT-5.6 Sol. The company said Astra's elevated performance means it will be developed and released with additional safety layers. The disclosure follows a separate incident in which Ope…
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the United States must stop posturing and engage seriously if trade negotiations are to restart. Ottawa halted a negotiation over a pact intended to prevent additional U.S. tariffs on August 21, 2026, citing unacceptable last-minute U.S. demands. Tensions have been amplified by public comments and actions fr…
The Bank of Israel left open the possibility of additional reductions in short-term interest rates provided inflation remains low and policymakers see the economy react appropriately to a third straight quarter-point cut. Deputy governor Andrew Abir identified July's 1.5% inflation rate and the shekel's relative strength as key factors behind the d…
The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran is blocking its inspectors from visiting nuclear sites, leaving the agency unable to confirm the location or condition of significant stocks of enriched uranium. The restricted 11-page IAEA document circulated in Vienna highlights proliferation concerns and urges Tehran to allow immediate ver…
U.S. Central Command reported it launched strikes on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets inside Iran at noon ET on September 1, citing recent IRGC attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and threats to U.S. personnel. The action, which came after a series of strikes and counterstrikes in the region over the prior week, coincide…
The U.S. delegation at the G20 urged member countries to agree on measures to reduce global trade and fiscal imbalances, with a particular focus on China’s export-driven surplus. The appeal comes amid a renewed sell-off in global government bonds, with Japan's 10-year yield climbing to 3% and broad-based increases in yields across major markets. Di…
The Bank of Israel indicated it may continue lowering short-term interest rates so long as inflation remains subdued and the economy responds benignly to a third straight reduction. Deputy Governor Andrew Abir identified July's 1.5% inflation - below the midpoint of the government's 1% to 3% target range - and the shekel's appreciation versus the d…
U.S. construction spending declined 0.5% in July to $2.158 trillion, the lowest monthly level since October 2023, according to the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The drop was led by a pullback in single-family residential construction as rising mortgage rates and a glut of unsold homes continue to weigh. Private nonresidential activity showed…
Government borrowing costs across major economies have climbed to levels not seen in decades. A mix of higher inflation expectations, renewed oil-price pressure tied to U.S.-Iran tensions, large corporate bond issuance to fund AI infrastructure and mounting public debt have propelled sovereign yields higher. Central bank rhetoric and policy options…
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told G20 delegates he expects the Strait of Hormuz to lose strategic importance within two years as increased U.S. oil output and new overland infrastructure reduce global reliance on the chokepoint. He also announced an intensified campaign of financial measures against Iran, including threats to sanction aircraft …
Senegal's international debt securities fell to fresh lows as markets braced for an expected statement from the International Monetary Fund following its recent staff visit. The country's June 2031 dollar bond hit a new trough while other foreign-currency bonds also weakened amid ongoing talks aimed at resolving a debt crisis stemming from the 2024…
European markets enter the new season with benchmark gas prices at their highest in three and a half years and equities unusually weak for this time of year. A disrupted Qatar supply has deepened backwardation in gas markets, reducing incentive to build inventories ahead of winter. At the same time, sovereign yields are rising across the continent …
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled a clear demand for Japan to pivot away from loose policy and accelerate interest rate increases after a rare joint intervention to support the yen. His comments, delivered after talks with BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda at the G20, effectively narrow Tokyo’s policy room and increase pressure on both the centr…
President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he has significant respect for Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh and said Warsh "will do what he has to do" on interest rates. Warsh recently warned that the Fed will "have work to do" if policymakers do not gain confidence that inflation is on track to reach 2%. The Fed's preferred inflation…
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has signaled it will consider rescinding Rule 14a-8, which governs shareholder proposals included in public companies' annual proxy statements, effectively returning authority to individual states. The agency also issued a separate notice proposing updates to the proxy solicitation process. The moves have…
At the Kansas City Fed’s annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh moved away from strict non-communication, offering a calibrated description of how he will judge inflation progress. His comments, framed as a 'reaction function' rather than explicit forward guidance, were sufficient to prompt futures, bond and equity mark…
At a two-day G20 finance meeting in Asheville, U.S. officials argued that sustained economic growth is the most viable path to address record global debt. U.S. Treasury officials and the Federal Reserve chair emphasized removing regulatory barriers, rebalancing trade with China, and the role of AI-driven investment in shifting global capital flows,…
The Securities and Exchange Commission has submitted a proposal to the Office of Management and Budget that would eliminate the federal rule governing when and how shareholders may submit proxy proposals. The action, sent for OMB review last week and announced via an OMB notice published Monday, aligns with Chairman Paul Atkins' long-stated concern…
Bank of America analysts warned that expectations for euro-area interest rates and inflation have diverged, with markets currently pricing in more ECB tightening than the bank thinks is justified. The mismatch, driven in part by a recent surge in natural gas to highs not seen since the start of the war in Iran, leaves room for trades that exploit a…
Prediction market Kalshi said it has permanently barred former Congressman George Santos from its platform and imposed a penalty exceeding $71,000 after concluding he placed bets on his own attendance at President Trump's State of the Union address and made false social media statements that benefited those wagers. The disciplinary move comes amid …
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC he believes the Japanese government and the Bank of Japan will take actions that result in a stronger yen. He said he had information markets do not have and indicated the market is already pricing in a potential move by the BOJ. The yen rose against the dollar after his comments as he hosted a Group …
A federal judge in San Jose ruled that a trust replacing Silicon Valley Bank's former holding company may not pursue a $1.71 billion claim against the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, finding that the holding company and its officers bore responsibility for the investment decisions that produced large losses in the bank's securities portfolio.
National dwelling prices in Australia declined for a fifth consecutive month in August, with Cotality data showing a 0.9% drop from July and broader weakness across capital cities and regional markets. Sales activity has weakened materially and policy moves, tax changes and slowing credit growth point to continued pressure on the housing sector.
