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.
5,142 total articles
Japanese government bond yields and market expectations for the Bank of Japan's next rate increase were disrupted after renewed strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliation. The two-year JGB yield dropped, signalling reduced odds of an immediate policy move, while analysts weigh competing pressures from safe-haven demand and potential imported inflat…
The HCOB Eurozone Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.8 in February from 49.5 in January, its best reading since June 2020 and the first reading above the 50 growth threshold since August. The improvement was led by a sharp uplift in new orders and a rise in factory output, with Germany returning to growth and several other economies posting expansions. H…
Global markets moved sharply lower and commodity prices jumped after coordinated U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran sparked broader regional retaliation. U.S. equity futures fell heavily, oil surged on fears for the Strait of Hormuz and gold climbed as investors sought safety. Asian equities slid amid geopolitical tensions and renewed worries abo…
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) said it has raised its readiness to intervene in currency markets after the franc strengthened to its strongest level against the euro since 2015. The bank warned that a rapid, excessive appreciation of the franc threatens price stability and could push inflation into negative territory, potentially harming Swiss expor…
U.S. equity futures fell sharply as renewed military strikes across the Middle East and statements from political leaders stoked fears of a widening conflict. Oil prices rose while gold and government bonds rallied, pushing the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield to an 11-month low. The market reaction arrives ahead of a busy U.S. data calendar that includ…
JPMorgan has reduced its 2026 non-oil growth forecast for Gulf Cooperation Council economies following a weekend escalation in the Iran conflict, cutting the bloc-wide estimate by 0.3 percentage points and making larger downgrades for Bahrain and the UAE. The bank also revised its expectations for monetary policy in Turkey and Israel, shifting its …
India's economy expanded 7.8% year-on-year in the October-December quarter under a newly revised GDP series, down from 8.4% in the prior quarter. Strong private consumption and double-digit manufacturing growth helped the country remain the fastest-growing major economy, even as government expenditure and private investment cooled. Authorities said…
A report from Transport & Environment (T&E) finds that expanding battery manufacturing within the EU could reduce the price disadvantage versus Chinese-made cells from roughly 90% today to about 30% by 2030, provided local producers scale up and achieve efficiency gains. The group calls on the European Commission's forthcoming Industrial Accelerato…
India’s central bank governor told a national newspaper that, absent shocks, interest rates will remain "around this level or lower" for an extended period. He reiterated the Reserve Bank of India’s focus on aligning the weighted average call rate with the policy repo rate, noted large surplus liquidity that has pushed the call rate below the polic…
Shipping congestion around the Strait of Hormuz has surged after attacks damaged three tankers in the Gulf, prompting hesitancy among shippers and increased insurance and charter costs. The strait carries roughly a fifth of seaborne oil trade, a comparable share of liquefied natural gas and about a third of seaborne fertiliser. Market moves include…
Iran's chief security official, Ali Larijani, said Tehran will not enter negotiations with the United States, rejecting media accounts that suggested Iran had sought dialogue following coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Larijani's comments came amid a surge in strikes across the region, with Israel t…
India's manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest clip in four months in February, driven by stronger domestic demand that lifted new orders and production, according to the HSBC India Manufacturing PMI compiled by S&P Global. Export growth cooled to its weakest in 17 months, and employment gains remained modest despite rising confidence among f…
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino said the central bank is likely to continue raising interest rates as it moves gradually toward a more neutral policy stance. Speaking in Wakayama, Himino noted underlying inflation remains below the BOJ's 2% target but is expected to rise toward it, and that the four rate increases since early 2024 have s…
In an address opening Argentina's new congressional session, President Javier Milei urged a reworking of the country's tax code to prioritize growth, and announced his government will pursue changes to the electoral system and the criminal code. His remarks came days after Congress approved contested labor reforms that critics say ease the way for …
China’s central bank has eliminated the 20% reserve requirement on foreign-exchange forward contracts, a step designed to make it easier for market participants to buy dollars and slow the yuan’s recent surge. The move, announced after the yuan reached a near three-year high, follows a months-long rally that has buoyed capital inflows but started t…
A spike in oil prices after renewed strikes between Iran and Israel has raised the risk of weaker growth and higher inflation in Japan, analysts say. With over 90% of its crude oil imported from the Middle East and only three months of reserves on hand, Tokyo faces a difficult trade-off: weaker consumption from higher fuel costs could undercut econ…
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino said the central bank is likely to continue raising interest rates gradually to steer policy toward a more neutral stance. He noted that the impact of previous rate hikes on the economy has been limited so far, underlying inflation is rising steadily, but it is premature to conclude inflation has definitiv…
Private-sector data from Australia and New Zealand Banking Group and employment site Indeed show job advertisements rose 3.2% month-on-month in February, reaching their strongest level in 16 months. The rise followed a revised 5.2% gain in January, produced consecutive monthly increases for the first time since October 2024, and saw year-on-year an…
Investors are increasingly focused on how artificial intelligence will reshape corporate earnings and employment, leaving equity markets sensitive to sector-specific developments. The upcoming U.S. jobs report for February and remaining fourth-quarter earnings - including Broadcom - will provide fresh signals on growth, labor resilience and the Fed…
President Donald Trump said in a Truth.Social video that U.S. combat operations against Iran will continue in full force until stated objectives are accomplished. He confirmed three U.S. service members were killed, warned there will likely be additional American casualties, and said the United States will avenge their deaths. His remarks follow a …
A landmark court decision that made it illegal to evade social insurance contributions was intended to redirect resources toward consumers by strengthening welfare entitlements. Six months after the ruling, reporting from factories in southern China shows many firms and workers responding in ways that reduce immediate costs but undermine the ruling…
Australia's national home values rose 0.8% in February to a record median of A$922,838, led by strong increases in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, according to Cotality. The rise came despite a 25 basis-point interest rate increase by the Reserve Bank of Australia to 3.85%. Sydney and Melbourne were flat for the month, with advertised listings rising…
President Donald Trump told CNBC that U.S. military operations targeting Iran are progressing 'very well - ahead of schedule' as strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces expand a regional confrontation. Reports say Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed killed and multiple senior regime figures are among the dead. The U.S. milita…
Saudi Arabia's benchmark index opened lower by roughly 2.2% as broad selling in the financials and materials sectors outweighed a near 3.4% rise in Saudi Aramco. Major lenders recorded notable drops, and the market continued to trade with elevated volatility amid concerns over regional tensions and their potential effect on oil flows and economic a…
Analysts at HSBC and UBS warn that escalating military exchanges involving the U.S., Israel and Iran increase the risk to energy markets, particularly if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is impeded. HSBC describes oil market risk as asymmetrical and highlights Hormuz transit as the central concern, while UBS expects upward pressure across the …
