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.
7,102 total articles
Polestar's chief executive says surging fuel prices have changed how consumers evaluate electric vehicles, prompting growing interest in both new and used models. The company reported a $383 million net loss in the first quarter amid pricing pressures, intensifying competition and tariffs, even as volumes rose 7% year-on-year. Geopolitical disrupti…
The United States and China announced a protocol setting out best practices for artificial intelligence as President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for a two-day summit. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is able to have substantive AI discussions with Beijing because the United States is ahead in AI cap…
Yardeni Research says the Federal Reserve's tilt toward easing is becoming harder to justify and may soon be replaced by a tightening orientation. The firm argues a 2026 rate cut is "essentially off the table," citing renewed inflation momentum, five consecutive years above the Fed's 2% goal, inflationary pressures from AI infrastructure investment…
OPEC+ leaders have agreed to continue monthly increases in official oil quotas through September to complete the rollback of production reductions introduced in 2023. Delegates say the technical restoration will proceed in planned stages, but actual supply growth is impeded by a blockade on Persian Gulf exports tied to the Iran conflict that began …
The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to travel to China soon, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying preparations for the visit have been completed. The trip will add to a long record of meetings between Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping; the two last met in Beijing in September. The announcement coincides wi…
A White House readout of a leadership summit published Thursday states that President Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump China is interested in buying more U.S. oil as a way to reduce dependence on shipments that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Chinese state media made no mention of the oil discussions, and China’s foreign ministry has not i…
China recorded a contraction in new yuan loans in April, with lending shrinking by 10 billion yuan—the first monthly decline since July 2025. The shortfall came amid seasonal front-loading of credit, soft domestic demand tied to a prolonged property slump and fragile private-sector confidence, even as broader monetary aggregates continued to grow.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from within his own party after a difficult set of local election results. Reports that his health minister may resign to mount a leadership bid, and a public call for reflection from his former deputy, have intensified scrutiny on his future. The government says it will press on, whil…
The British government has affirmed plans to change the regulatory framework for money market funds, mandating higher liquidity holdings and measures to ease asset sales during episodes of market stress. The reforms follow regulatory work since the March 2020 market dislocation and a 2023 consultation, and the new regime is expected to be in place …
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the National Bank of Romania to maintain its policy rate at 6.50% at the May 15 meeting. The bank is likely to raise its inflation projection, which should produce a hawkish press-conference tone while dropping explicit forward guidance. Rate increases are judged unlikely; liquidity tools and exchange-rate dy…
Turkey’s central bank raised its interim inflation target for end-2026 to 24% from 16%, and adjusted targets for subsequent years, citing continued inflationary pressure from the Iran war and uncertainty over energy supplies. Governor Fatih Karahan made the announcement during the bank’s quarterly inflation report presentation in Istanbul and stres…
U.S. equity futures rose as investors balanced renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence against a high-profile summit between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping. Oil prices remain elevated above $100 a barrel as markets await any Iran-related outcomes from the talks. Cisco announced a large restructuring focused on AI, while the U.…
A Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) industry survey shows British house prices falling more steeply in April, driven by elevated borrowing costs that have cooled buyer activity. Forward-looking measures point to further near-term softness, with notable regional divergence between the South and the North and continued pressure in the l…
Chinese President Xi Jinping described a revised approach to relations with the United States after a summit with President Donald Trump, saying both leaders agreed to pursue a constructive, strategically stable relationship for the next three years and beyond. Xi emphasized cooperation as the foundation of ties, paired with measured competition th…
A recent poll of economists indicates Thailand’s economy likely expanded 2.2% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, slowing from 2.5% in the previous quarter, with seasonally adjusted quarterly growth estimated at just 0.1%. The slowdown reflects softer domestic spending and a pronounced tourism downturn linked to regional flight disruptions, …
French President Emmanuel Macron’s choice to lead the Bank of France, Emmanuel Moulin, faces parliamentary scrutiny that could test the president’s remaining political capital. Lawmakers in finance committees of both chambers will vote on the nomination, with approval dependent on a combined threshold that the noes not exceed 60% of votes. The outc…
Banks across the Asia Pacific region have raised loan loss provisions tied to the fallout from the Iran conflict, citing indirect costs from higher oil prices, supply-chain strain and weaker corporate balance sheets. While current provisions are smaller than those taken during the COVID shock, analysts say prolonged disruptions could translate into…
Investors are positioning for a period of elevated U.S. Treasury yields as rising oil prices linked to a protracted Middle East conflict push inflation expectations higher. Long-term yields, including the 10-year, have jumped, increasing borrowing costs across mortgages, corporate debt and leveraged loans. Market participants warn that incoming Fed…
Bank of Japan board member Kazuyuki Masu said the central bank should move to raise interest rates as soon as possible provided there are no clear signs of an economic slowdown. Though he voted to keep rates unchanged at the April meeting, Masu warned that energy and chemical price rises linked to the Iran war could feed into persistent inflation a…
Global markets remain driven by a record-setting rally focused on artificial intelligence, even as investors contend with persistent inflation risks, oil trading above $100 a barrel and stalled efforts to end the Iran war. A high-profile summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping in Beijing has so far produced few specifics, …
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping called publicly for improved relations as a high-profile summit opened in Beijing. Both leaders offered conciliatory language ahead of detailed negotiations on technology controls, Taiwan, and regional security issues that have affected energy flows.
The U.S. dollar found upward momentum on Thursday, supported by climbing Treasury yields and safe-haven demand stemming from Middle East tensions. As investors adjust their expectations for Federal Reserve policy following recent inflationary signals, the global currency market remains focused on a high-stakes meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Ji…
The British housing market continues to face significant headwinds as buyer confidence remains low. According to the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) released on Thursday, economic pressures stemming from the Iran war and climbing mortgage interest rates have contributed to a persistent sense of pessimism among…
Despite a significant jump in U.S. producer price inflation and a corresponding rise in bond yields, equity markets showed notable resilience on Wednesday. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both achieved new record highs as investors turned their attention toward the upcoming summit in Beijing between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping. This mark…
The New Zealand residential property market experienced a decline in April, according to the latest figures from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). Median house prices saw a seasonal adjustment downward, reflecting the impact of rising expenses on consumer behavior. While most regions remained relatively steady and general market con…
