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.
5,129 total articles
Oil prices rose after U.S. strikes in southern Iran described by Washington as defensive, occurring while Iranian negotiators were in Doha for talks on a potential settlement with the U.S. Hopes for a quick breakthrough were tamped down by both capitals, supporting the dollar and producing mixed stock moves. The situation has reinforced expectation…
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka increased its overnight policy rate by 100 basis points to 8.75% from 7.75% in an unexpected move designed to blunt rising inflation and defend the rupee amid a regional energy shock tied to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The decision surprised many economists and comes as Sri Lanka contends with steep fuel price hike…
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino has indicated that the central bank is closely watching geopolitical developments in the Middle East to determine the appropriate timing and speed for future interest rate increases. Speaking before parliament on Tuesday, Himino emphasized that the central bank's objective is to maintain market confidence …
The U.S. dollar experienced weakness during Tuesday's trading session as market participants reacted to emerging hopes for a diplomatic resolution in the Middle East. Investors are closely monitoring discussions aimed at ending the three-month conflict with Iran and potentially reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz. While these peace prospects have …
In an effort to increase the size of its military forces during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has enacted a new decree focused on providing financial relief to recent recruits. The measure specifically targets individuals who have entered into contracts with the Russian defense ministry and provides significant d…
The Bank of Korea (BOK) is anticipated to maintain its current base interest rate during its upcoming policy review on Thursday. According to a recent survey of economists, there is a growing consensus that the central bank will move toward monetary tightening later this year. While immediate rate hikes are not expected at this specific meeting, a …
Japan has experienced a shift in its global financial standing, descending to the position of the world's third-largest net creditor in 2025. According to data released by the Finance Ministry on Tuesday, this decline occurs even as the nation's net external assets reached an unprecedented level. While Japan's total net external assets, held by ind…
In a series of significant communications on Monday, President Donald Trump detailed specific requirements regarding Iran's enriched uranium holdings. The President stated that these nuclear materials must either be handed over to the United States for destruction at home or be destroyed within Iran, potentially in coordination with the Atomic Ener…
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has begun preventive, superficial radiotherapy on his scalp following the removal of a basal cell lesion on April 24, according to his medical team. Doctors say the 80-year-old leader will keep up his daily activities without restrictions as he prepares for an expected October run for a fourth non-conse…
Nigeria's economy expanded 3.89% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, a slight deceleration from the 4.07% growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, government statistics show. The slowdown affected both oil and non-oil sectors. Since assuming office in 2023, the president has removed fuel and power subsidies, devalued the naira and revi…
The Bank of Israel reduced its benchmark short-term rate to 3.75% from 4% on May 25, marking the third cut in six months. Policymakers pointed to a sharp appreciation of the shekel and steady inflation - 1.9% year-on-year in April, inside the 1-3% target - as justification for easing, while warning that geopolitical risks linked to the Iran conflic…
Speaking at the Vatican during the presentation of Pope Leo's first encyclical on artificial intelligence, Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah argued that responsibility for the trajectory of AI cannot rest solely with technology companies. He warned of the 'real possibility' that AI could displace workers 'at very large scale' and said supporting thos…
Kevin Warsh’s elevation to Federal Reserve chair completes President Donald Trump’s imprint on the top ranks of U.S. economic policy. That alignment alters a dynamic in which Trump previously blamed Jerome Powell for unfavorable economic signals. Warsh’s appointment brings the Fed’s near-term performance into clearer political focus as inflation, m…
According to a Goldman Sachs client note released late on Friday, hedge funds ramped up purchases of technology shares last week at the fastest clip in nearly three months. Stocks tied to artificial intelligence developments, notably semiconductor and chip makers, have largely avoided the economic drag tied to the Iran war, and funds increased long…
Futures tied to the major U.S. indices rose sharply on Monday as reports indicated that Washington and Tehran had reached an agreement in principle to end their conflict. The prospect of a deal - including the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz - sent oil prices tumbling and lifted equities in Asia, Europe and U.S. futures. Officials from …
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a diplomatic framework that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz appears close, while also warning Washington will pursue other options if talks with Iran fail. The draft deal reportedly would extend a ceasefire, lift restrictions on Iranian oil exports and end a blockade of Iranian ports, though Tehran has yet…
Renewed prospects for a deal to end the Iran conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz encouraged investors to take on more risk, sending stocks in Tokyo and Taipei to record highs while weighing down oil and the U.S. dollar. Skepticism persists after U.S. President Donald Trump urged caution, and market liquidity is thin with public holidays in the…
Huawei Technologies has announced an ambitious roadmap for semiconductor development, aiming to achieve high-end chip designs with transistor densities equivalent to 1.4-nanometre processes by the year 2031. This target comes as the company seeks to navigate the complexities of U.S. sanctions, which have restricted China's ability to manufacture th…
A growing rift has emerged between President Donald Trump and members of his own party in Congress over a proposed $1.776 billion fund intended for individuals the president describes as victims of government weaponization. The conflict surfaced during deliberations on a $72 billion immigration enforcement spending bill, which became a primary site…
New government data released on Monday indicates that Singapore's economy experienced a robust expansion in the first quarter of 2026. The nation's gross domestic product grew by 6.0% compared to the same period last year, significantly exceeding the official advance estimate of 4.6%. This performance was also stronger than anticipated on a quarter…
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's April meeting noted software price increases contributing to higher core inflation, while Citi analysts attribute much of the divergence between core CPI and core PCE to a sharp rise in memory and computer software prices tied to AI demand. The development is seen as a sector-specific supply-demand dislocation tha…
U.S. Treasury yields have climbed sharply amid uncertainty about a negotiated end to the recent U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and persistent inflation pressures, putting pressure on the White House and Congress to respond as borrowing costs filter through the economy. Officials in Washington say the rise may be temporary, but market participants warn …
A recent global bond sell-off that accelerated two weeks ago has cooled slightly, but investors remain cautious on government debt as central banks face pressure to tighten policy amid higher oil-driven inflation. Japan has seen particularly sharp moves: the 10-year government bond yield reached levels last seen in September 1996, the 30-year yield…
After an outsized corporate reporting season that helped lift the S&P 500 to near-record levels, investors are confronting renewed inflation pressures and a rise in Treasury yields that could challenge stock valuations now that company reporting is largely complete. Key data—including the Fed-preferred PCE inflation reading—are due this week and ha…
Riot police used tear gas and forced entry into the Republican People’s Party (CHP) headquarters on Sunday to evict the leadership ousted by a court decision, witnesses said. The court has annulled the CHP's 2023 congress results and reinstated former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, while the ousted leadership vows legal appeals and continued occupati…
