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.
7,088 total articles
The District of Columbia Office of Disciplinary Counsel has filed ethics charges against Ed Martin, a Justice Department official, alleging he leveraged his government position to pressure Georgetown University Law Center over its teaching of diversity, equity and inclusion. The complaint centers on a February 2025 letter in which Martin, then inte…
Israel’s foreign minister declared that the country is not aiming for a never-ending conflict with Iran and that decisions on when to halt operations will be made in consultation with the United States. Speaking in Jerusalem as the confrontation entered its 11th day, the minister declined to set a timeline. Germany’s foreign minister, also in Jerus…
BofA Securities has rescinded earlier expectations for two 25-basis-point Bank of Canada cuts and now projects the central bank will hold policy steady through 2026. The change follows a sharp rise in oil prices after the launch of the U.S.-Israel "Epic Fury" operation in Iran, which BofA says simultaneously lifts near-term growth prospects for Can…
Foreign investors pared back purchases of emerging-market assets in February to a net $21.7 billion, down sharply from January’s record inflows. Debt continued to draw the bulk of allocations, while equity purchases slowed and regional patterns showed differentiated investor interest across Asia, Latin America, and other markets.
Banking regulators in the Trump administration plan to release draft revisions to Basel banking rules in the coming weeks that industry executives say will likely reduce capital requirements for some U.S. banks. The Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and FDIC are preparing an industry-friendlier proposal along with a related…
A poll of economists indicates Argentina's Consumer Price Index probably rose 2.7% in February, down from January's 2.9% and marking the first monthly slowdown since June. Despite the softer monthly reading, year-on-year inflation is expected to rise to 32.7%, keeping pressure on policymakers and President Javier Milei's pledge to eliminate inflati…
Deutsche Bank strategists say the Bank of England has experienced the largest shift in rate expectations among major central banks this month as markets respond to fast-moving energy developments in the Middle East. Where the BoE was priced for more than two full rate cuts through the end of 2026 at the end of February, pricing as of Tuesday mornin…
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board reported total net assets of C$279.4 billion for 2025, supported by a 6.7% total-fund net return. The plan recorded C$18.5 billion in investment income and C$4.1 billion in contributions, while paying out C$8.5 billion in benefits and incurring C$1.0 billion in administrative expenses. Performance trailed an 11.…
Bain Capital is approaching the final close of its sixth pan-Asia private equity fund after securing approximately $10.5 billion in commitments, well above its original $7 billion goal. Limited partners have provided about $9 billion, while the firm plans to contribute $1.5 billion of its own capital. Separately, Bain has raised around $2 billion f…
U.S. equity futures rose after remarks from President Donald Trump raised hopes the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran could be drawing to a close sooner than his prior four-to-five-week estimate. Crude and natural gas prices eased from the worrying $120 per barrel threshold, providing relief to battered travel stocks. Yet Iran's declaration that an o…
Canadian S&P/TSX March futures climbed 0.4% early Tuesday, supported by gains in gold even as oil tumbled following remarks that the Middle East conflict might abate. Market participants remain cautious in Canada’s resource-heavy benchmark, with attention turning to upcoming U.S. inflation figures and Canada’s jobs report ahead of the Bank of Canad…
Two European central bank policymakers said the outbreak of conflict in Iran and resulting energy price volatility could materially change Europe's economic trajectory, but warned the ECB should not react hastily. Gediminas Simkus of Lithuania and Madis Muller of Estonia urged a measured approach ahead of the ECB's March 19 policy meeting, stressin…
The Japanese government has announced an ambition to raise annual sales of domestically produced semiconductors to 40 trillion yen by 2040, a fivefold increase from current levels. The goal extends an existing 2030 target and will be supported by broader public investment and forthcoming detailed roadmaps to be integrated into next year’s budget pl…
U.S. equity futures rose and oil prices eased after President Donald Trump said the week-long conflict involving Iran could be over "very soon," though Tehran has signaled it is prepared to continue fighting and may disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Traders parsed mixed signals from the White House, volatility returned to risk assets o…
Estonian central bank Governor Madis Muller told a Vilnius conference audience that the likelihood the European Central Bank's next policy move will be a rate increase has risen in recent weeks. He urged the ECB to assess whether the recent jump in energy prices and its pass-through to inflation will be temporary or more persistent, while stressing…
Standard Chartered and Morgan Stanley have moved their expected timing for the Bank of England's first rate cut into the second quarter, citing elevated inflation risks from a sharp rise in oil and gas prices tied to the Middle East conflict. Markets are pricing a high probability that the BoE will leave rates unchanged at its March meeting, while …
Reserve Bank of Australia Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser said a true policy debate is likely at the board meeting next week as uncertainty from the Middle East conflict pushes oil prices higher. Hauser stressed the policy response will hinge on the magnitude and persistence of the resulting price shock, while also pointing to softer consumption and …
Global markets briefly rallied on remarks from President Donald Trump that the conflict with Iran could be "very complete" and "over soon," but those gains were checked after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed they would decide the war's end and hardliners declared continued oil blockade plans. Brent crude plunged as much as 11% to $88.05 a barrel b…
China's exports surged in the January-February period, lifting the trade surplus to $213.6 billion and keeping the country on course for a record-breaking year. Exports rose 21.8% in U.S. dollar terms, far exceeding recent monthly gains and beating consensus expectations. Imports also posted strong growth, while domestic factory earnings remain und…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s views on monetary policy were interrogated in parliament after reports she raised concerns about further rate hikes during a meeting with Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said the premier made no specific policy requests and underscored the legal balance between the BOJ’s autonomy …
Asian equities jumped and crude prices slumped at the start of trading after U.S. President Donald Trump said the Middle East war could be "over soon." The move followed a volatile session in which oil initially spiked, Wall Street sold off and then recovered, leaving investors to weigh upbeat rhetoric from Washington against defiant actions in Ira…
The dollar eased from recent safe-haven highs as markets reacted to comments suggesting the Middle East fighting might be more limited than feared. Brent crude fell sharply from Monday’s peaks, while risk-sensitive currencies and equities steadied. Traders remained cautious amid conflicting signals from U.S. remarks and Iran’s rejection of those as…
National Australia Bank's business survey recorded unchanged conditions in February at the long-run average, while business confidence fell into negative territory for the first time in nearly a year amid higher borrowing costs and rising input expenses. Sales and investment signals were positive, but labour and cost pressures climbed and retail pr…
Revised government data show Japan's economy expanded faster in October-December 2025 than initially reported, driven by a sharp rise in corporate capital expenditure. The upgrade raises fourth-quarter GDP growth to 1.3% annualised, while household spending and the fallout from the Middle East conflict pose near-term risks to domestic demand and fu…
The Canadian government has cleared TikTok to continue operating in Canada and greenlit an investment by the platform after completing a national security review. The decision is conditional on legally binding undertakings from TikTok Canada, including measures to better protect Canadian user data, enhanced protections for minors, an independent th…
