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.
7,101 total articles
Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said the war in the Middle East is already pushing up energy prices and lifting overall inflation. He warned that if disruptions persist the conflict could trigger a large supply shock that raises inflation while damping economic activity. Williams reiterated the Fed's commitment to returning…
Minutes from the European Central Bank's March meeting show officials were reluctant to raise interest rates prematurely despite concerns that the Iran war could trigger a renewed energy-driven inflation surge. The ECB left its policy rate at 2% and signalled a likely decision to hold again in April unless incoming data points to a sustained rise i…
John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said the war in the Middle East is contributing to higher energy prices that are feeding through to inflation. Speaking at the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York 2026 Member Symposium, Williams noted signs of supply-chain disruption and rising fuel costs affecting airfares, groceries…
A member of the European Central Bank's decision-making circle said the bank cannot rule out an interest rate increase at its April 30 meeting even though energy prices currently sit near the ECB's baseline path and large second-round inflation effects have not yet materialised. Policymaker Martins Kazaks stressed that meetings remain 'live' and th…
The International Monetary Fund cautions that Asia is more vulnerable than other regions to an energy shock linked to a prolonged Middle East conflict because of its large dependence on oil and gas imports. While regional growth entered 2026 supported by lower-than-expected U.S. tariffs, a strong technology export cycle and loose financial conditio…
Bahrain's sovereign and corporate bonds have strengthened following a two-week truce between the US and Iran, with intermediate and long-end option-adjusted spreads reported narrower than before the conflict. The rally comes despite missile and drone strikes linked to the outbreak of the Iran war on Feb. 28, and amid persistent fiscal pressures inc…
A survey of roughly 1,700 German manufacturers released Thursday by industry lobby group DIHK finds a drop in the share of firms planning investments in the United States, while interest in China and the Asia-Pacific region has risen. The report links the shift to trade tensions with the U.S., and highlights the euro area as the leading destination…
Turkey said it will continue to back negotiations between the United States and Iran, urging both sides to adopt a constructive approach. The Turkish Defence Ministry reiterated support for converting the current ceasefire into a permanent truce and lasting peace. U.S. and Iranian officials may return to Pakistan for more talks as soon as this week…
A planned handover to Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair appears increasingly uncertain as Senator Thom Tillis has vowed to block confirmation until a Justice Department investigation into Jerome Powell’s oversight of Fed headquarters renovations concludes. With Powell’s term ending May 15 and the Senate Banking Committee slated to hold Warsh’s h…
Top U.S. banks posted a mixed set of first-quarter results as volatility tied to Middle East tensions and sector-specific selloffs lifted trading revenues but clouded the outlook for investment banking and dealmaking. Interest income rose with renewed loan demand, credit quality showed limited deterioration, and profits at major banks generally bea…
Peru’s financial markets reacted sharply after left-leaning congressman Roberto Sanchez, a former cabinet minister under Pedro Castillo, rose into a likely second-place finish in a tightly contested presidential race. With around 12% of votes to Keiko Fujimori’s 17% and roughly 92% of ballots counted, Sanchez’s platform calling for a constituent as…
German banking industry representatives and national authorities are coordinating reviews of Anthropic's new AI model, Mythos, amid cybersecurity concerns that the model could expose vulnerabilities in banks' legacy technology. The German Banking Association is working with member bank cyber specialists, the finance ministry, the Bundesbank and fin…
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey told the BBC at the IMF meeting in Washington that rising oil and gas prices linked to the Middle East conflict represent a "very big energy shock" that could feed into UK inflation. He said the Bank will not pre-empt its 30 April policy decision and is waiting for clearer data on the economic pass-through, wh…
U.S. stock futures rose amid growing investor optimism about talks to extend a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and early positive remarks from corporate earnings. Oil prices remained under $100 a barrel despite modest gains. China’s economy exceeded expectations in the first quarter with 5% year-on-year growth, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufact…
Ebanx, the Curitiba-founded cross-border payments company, said it is broadening its global reach with immediate launches in Thailand, Indonesia and Turkey and planned entries into Malaysia and Vietnam next quarter. The company, backed by Advent International and FTV Capital, has shifted a growing share of gross profit to markets beyond Brazil and …
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said he will not rush decisions on interest rate increases as higher oil and gas prices from the Iran war complicate the outlook. Speaking in Washington at the IMF spring meetings, Bailey stressed the difficulty of gauging how energy-driven price rises will pass through to the UK economy. His comments echoed s…
Japan's Financial Services Agency views private credit as a potential cornerstone of its forthcoming financial strategy to channel rising corporate funding needs, even as private credit markets overseas face redemption pressures. Officials point to a shift in corporate behaviour, an uptick in M&A activity and a push for investment-led growth under …
Alexander Demarco, head of Malta's central bank and an ECB policymaker, said the euro area may be moving toward the European Central Bank's adverse scenario for inflation and growth. He cautioned against rushing to tighten policy, noting that inflation expectations remain anchored, ECB credibility is strong and the bank entered the current shock fr…
A recent jump in European government bond yields tied to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has increased borrowing costs for national treasuries across the continent, intensifying pressure on fragile public finances even before slower growth and planned fiscal measures take effect. While equity markets have pared losses amid hopes of a quick end to the …
Estonian central bank policymaker Madis Muller said the European Central Bank may not have sufficient data by its April 30 meeting to determine whether interest rates should be raised in response to a recent jump in euro zone inflation to 2.5%.Muller pointed to the war in the Middle East and rising energy costs as the trigger for the inflation upti…
Global equity benchmarks rose to fresh highs and the U.S. dollar extended losses as investors increased bets that the Middle East conflict may be winding down. U.S. President Donald Trump posted that direct talks between Israel and Lebanon "will happen tomorrow", helping fuel rallying markets. Gains were broad-based, led by Asia-Pacific shares and …
A Reuters poll of economists found that 65% expect the Bank of Japan's policy rate to reach 1.00% by the end of June, with opinions divided between an immediate move in April and a hike in June. The escalation of the Middle East conflict involving Iran has heightened concerns about higher energy costs, inflationary pressure and further yen weakness…
The head of the European Banking Authority said lenders currently hold sufficient capital and liquidity buffers to withstand the immediate strains from geopolitical tensions, but supervisors must prepare for evolving threats - notably AI-related cybersecurity challenges and risks tied to private credit interconnections with regulated finance.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he is pursuing a pause in hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, announcing on Truth Social that the two countries will hold direct talks on Thursday after decades without direct contact. His comments come amid ongoing fighting with Hezbollah and broader U.S.-led efforts to stabilize the region, with mediation expe…
Official data show China’s economy expanded 5.0% year-on-year in the first quarter, outpacing market forecasts, while quarterly growth matched expectations at 1.3%. Industrial output surprised to the upside in March, but retail sales, fixed-asset investment and property investment lagged. Market response was modest and commentary from strategists h…
