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.
2,608 total articles
A former Bank of Japan executive cautions that the central bank’s next quarterly outlook is likely to highlight the potential for large swings in underlying inflation driven by the Iran war, complicating decisions over the timing and pace of further rate rises. The conflict has pushed up oil prices and disrupted shipping, introducing uncertainty ar…
Asian equities extended a global sell-off as investors reacted to mounting risks from the Middle East. Concerns that the conflict could produce a lengthy energy shock pushed borrowing costs higher, lifted the dollar and pressured risk-sensitive currencies. Oil prices were volatile but showed limited net movement after a sharp overnight rise, while …
The dollar strengthened toward multi-month highs as investors moved to safety amid an intensifying Middle East conflict and inconsistent diplomatic accounts. Expectations for higher-for-longer energy prices lifted the dollar and pushed bond yields up, while risk-sensitive currencies slid. Policymakers' potential tightening and a reported U.S. troop…
The Trump administration announced plans to vacate the Education Department's Lyndon B. Johnson headquarters in Washington, relocating the agency to a smaller office within the capital while the Department of Energy will occupy the LBJ building. Officials described the shift as a cost-saving reorganization as the administration continues steps to r…
Roberto Perli, who oversees implementation of monetary policy at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, indicated that the central bank's large-scale Treasury bill purchases - currently about $40 billion per month - are likely to be scaled back after the April 15 tax-payment date. Perli said the reduction could be gradual to reflect uncertainty arou…
Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr said a sustained rise in oil and commodity prices tied to the Iran conflict could lift inflation expectations, complicating the Fed's path to easing monetary policy. He urged patience in any rate reductions and expressed concern that recent supervisory changes have weakened banking system resilience.
A surge of retail trading in South Korea has helped lift the KOSPI to extraordinary gains over six months and driven record participation and balances, while recent Middle East conflict and a historic single-day drop have tested investor resolve. Despite volatility, individual investors have increased activity and deposits, motivated by income conc…
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson warned that persistent increases in energy prices could push inflation higher and weigh on consumer and business spending, creating a difficult trade-off for policymakers. Speaking at a Dallas Fed event, Jefferson said the Fed's policy is "appropriately positioned" to support the labor market while inflat…
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook told an audience at the Yale School of Management that the war in Iran has shifted the balance of risks for the Fed’s dual mandate toward inflation. She described the labor market as balanced but fragile, highlighted concerns for young workers in a low hire, low fire environment, and said the Fed is monitoring art…
Global equities, U.S. Treasury yields and precious metals dropped on renewed concerns about Middle East escalation and the inflationary implications of higher energy prices. Oil rose sharply, while weak Treasury auction demand and breaches of key technical levels compounded investor pessimism as the quarter closes.
Brazil's central bank opposes imposing caps on credit-card interest rates, Governor Gabriel Galipolo said, while indicating the bank is looking for other mechanisms to help consumers manage debt. The statement follows President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's directive to his new finance minister to propose alternatives to ease household debt, amid ris…
A New Mexico jury found Meta liable under state consumer protection laws and imposed a $375 million penalty for enabling child sexual exploitation on its platforms. The state is preparing a second, bench-phase of the trial in May that could lead a judge to require changes to how Facebook, Instagram and other Meta apps serve and verify underage user…
Stock indexes tumbled and global bond markets sold off on March 26 as a near-month-long conflict in the Middle East rekindled fears of prolonged disruption to oil and gas flows. Brent crude spiked to $108.01 a barrel while safe-haven demand pushed the U.S. dollar higher and gold lower. Market participants reacted to statements from Iranian and U.S.…
Mexico’s central bank reduced its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 6.75%, moving from 7.00% and signaling it is considering an additional cut though offering no timetable. Banxico cited the exchange rate, subdued economic activity in early 2026, and the level of existing monetary restriction as determinants of the decision, while notin…
French maritime authorities confirmed that an unauthorized drone was detected near the naval base in Toulon on March 24. Police responded to the scene, questioned the individual operating the device, and the Mediterranean prefecture said unauthorized drone sightings over military sites in Europe have risen recently, while offering little further in…
The Bank of Canada cautioned that permanent structural changes - including heightened U.S. trade protectionism, tighter Canadian immigration controls and the spread of artificial intelligence - will present significant policy challenges over the next five years. Senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers said the central bank must adapt its forecasting …
Anchorage Digital said it will integrate Justin Sun’s Tron blockchain into its regulated platform, enabling U.S. institutional clients to custody Tron’s token, tronix. The move follows a recent $10 million settlement by Sun to resolve SEC charges and comes as U.S. policy debates and current decentralized trading patterns shape access to the token.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that a U.S. insurance initiative intended to improve the safety of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will begin soon. The program, first announced by the President on March 3, will have the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation provide insurance guarantees accompanied by naval…
An internal memo indicates that the International Criminal Court's executive arm is still reviewing allegations of sexual misconduct made against Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. Khan has temporarily stepped aside and denies wrongdoing. Outside judges reportedly concluded the factual record did not establish misconduct, but the Bureau of the Assembly o…
Bank of England policymaker Alan Taylor said policymakers should keep interest rates unchanged until the full economic effect of the war in Iran becomes clearer. Taylor, previously a long-standing proponent of lower rates before the conflict began, voted this month with the rest of the Monetary Policy Committee to hold borrowing costs. He cited sig…
The average U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 6.38%, the highest reading since early September, Freddie Mac reported on Thursday. Rising oil prices tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict have heightened inflation concerns and lifted U.S. Treasury yields, driving mortgage rates up for the fourth consecutive week and eroding recent gains in …
Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey reports the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.38% as of March 26, 2026, up from 6.22% the prior week. The 15-year fixed-rate rose to 5.75%. Freddie Mac's chief economist notes the housing market is showing gradual improvement compared with a year earlier, with purchase and refinance applications hig…
The Bank of Israel is widely expected to maintain its policy rate at 4.0% at its upcoming decision, as conflict involving Iran has heightened inflationary pressures through rising oil prices. Economists surveyed unanimously forecast no change, citing elevated risk premiums, supply constraints linked to regional fighting, and fiscal developments tie…
President Donald Trump told a Cabinet meeting that Iran has asked to negotiate after U.S. forces carried out Operation Epic Fury for about three weeks. He said the campaign has devastated much of Iran's military capacity - including the navy, air force, missile launchers and drone facilities - and that Tehran now faces a choice to reach a deal and …
UBS now anticipates the Federal Reserve will postpone the start of its easing cycle until September, followed by a second reduction in December. The bank points to persistent core inflation, tariff-related price pressures, oil-driven volatility linked to Iran, and a changed Fed view of the labor market as reasons for the delay. UBS leaves open the …
