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.
2,628 total articles
The U.S. comptroller of the currency indicated he would consider allowing senior members of Congress to see an unredacted application from World Liberty Financial to become a national trust bank. Democratic senators raised conflict-of-interest concerns during a Senate Banking Committee hearing and urged the regulator to withhold or delay review, wh…
The average U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 5.98% this week, its lowest reading since September 2022, driven by a retreat in the 10-year Treasury yield amid legal and policy developments. Economists warn the move is likely transitory and insufficient on its own to rekindle broad housing demand without an increase in for-sale inventory. Per…
Canada’s minister overseeing trade with the United States described private conversations among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico about the upcoming USMCA review as not discouraging. Ottawa is readying formal negotiations with Washington ahead of the treaty’s renewal deadline of July 1, 2026. The minister noted the existence of bilateral arrangements wit…
U.S. negotiators in Geneva presented stringent conditions to Iranian counterparts, calling for the destruction of principal nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, the transfer of remaining enriched uranium to the United States, and permanent, non-expiring limits on Iran's nuclear program. Iran refused those demands and declined to halt e…
A federal judge refused to freeze construction of a $400 million White House ballroom intended to replace the demolished East Wing, concluding preservationists failed to satisfy the legal threshold for a preliminary injunction. The ruling clears the way for the administration to continue work while a broader lawsuit by the National Trust for Histor…
Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey reports the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.98% as of Thursday, the first reading in roughly three and a half years to fall into the 5% range. The survey also shows the 15-year fixed-rate averaged 5.44%, slightly above last week. Freddie Mac’s chief economist said the lower rate alongside i…
Preparations for a potential meeting in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are behind schedule, according to analysts and former government officials familiar with the planning process. Sources point to limited bilateral contacts, a small inexperienced organizing team on the US side, and contrasting US and Chine…
The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed rescinding a 2024 rule that broadened the scope for treating workers as employees when they are financially dependent on a company. The administration says the rule was legally flawed and reduced workers' flexibility. The proposal would instead revive a standard emphasizing the level of control employers ex…
China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee has revoked the delegate status of nine senior military officers, including Ground Force Commander Li Qiaoming and Information Support Force Political Commissar Li Wei, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. The committee took the action during a two-day session this week; the official notic…
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared the island will defend itself against what he described as 'terrorist and mercenary aggression' following a clash in which Havana says four exiles were killed and six wounded after arriving by a Florida-registered speedboat and opening fire on a Cuban patrol. The episode unfolded amid strained ties with th…
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran told a television interview audience that the central bank should lower interest rates by roughly one percentage point in 2026, pointing to stable price trends and the disinflationary influence of artificial intelligence. He warned it is premature to conclude the labor market is fully stable, criticized excess…
An ING Consumer Research survey of households in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Spain finds that nearly three quarters of respondents believe higher government expenditure on defense and infrastructure will harm their personal finances, mainly via inflation, higher taxes or cuts to existing programmes. Fewer than a third see…
UK government bond yields have fallen by more than 20 basis points since mid-February as demand for gilts rises. Moves in 10-year gilts tracked declines in US Treasuries, while two-year swap rates hit fresh lows reflecting lower Bank of England policy expectations. Improved appetite for gilts is supported by reduced inflation risks and US equity vo…
Goldman Sachs' prime brokerage told clients this week that the recent rally in U.S. software and IT services shares may continue, even as hedge funds and other investors hold unprecedented short positions on the sector. The S&P 500 software and services index has plunged more than 18% year-to-date, losing over $1.2 trillion in market value, yet pos…
The Kremlin characterized a marked fall in oil and gas receipts and a widening budget deficit as manageable, routine challenges that can be handled within the broader framework of macroeconomic stability. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov outlined measures including stronger reserve-fund allocations and near-term b…
Official figures released Thursday show 957,000 young people aged 16-24 were classified as not in employment, education or training (NEET) in the final quarter of 2025, an increase from the previous quarter and close to the peak recorded a year earlier. The NEET rate rose to 12.8% while broader unemployment measures also remain elevated. Bank of En…
South Africa’s finance minister argued that meeting fiscal metrics alone will not be sufficient to attract private investment, highlighting the need for stronger economic growth. The government’s budget indicates a third straight primary surplus and a projected peak in debt this year, while improved domestic demand and robust commodity prices have …
Poland says it will remain a loyal U.S. ally while warning it will not accept being taken advantage of, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told parliament. He pressed for increased European responsibility for regional defence, highlighted the disproportionate cost of defending NATO's eastern flank, and framed the government's stance as a careful ba…
The European Central Bank disclosed it sold a portion of U.S. dollar assets in the first quarter of 2025 and reinvested all proceeds into Japanese yen, a move described as a standard rebalancing to match target allocation. The bank reported a 909 million euro gain from that transaction, reduced the share of dollars in its foreign currency assets an…
UBS projects the UK Debt Management Office will issue £271 billion of gilts in the 2026-27 fiscal year, a decline from the current year driven by lower net borrowing and fewer redemptions. The bank anticipates around £20 billion of long-dated gilts and £34 billion of index-linked bonds in the remit, notes a high level of unallocated supply, and arg…
U.S. stock futures slipped as investors digested high-profile quarterly reports from Nvidia and Salesforce. Nvidia delivered stronger-than-expected profits and a revenue outlook above forecasts, yet questions about the timing and scale of shareholder returns muted investor reaction. Salesforce shares fell after management set a fiscal 2027 revenue …
London’s benchmark edged down at Thursday’s early trade while staying close to all-time highs. Investors parsed quarterly and annual results from major listed companies including Rolls-Royce and London Stock Exchange Group, even as currency moves and overseas developments - including talks between the U.S. and Iran and continuing AI-related debate …
Man Group reported a 35% jump in assets under management to a record $227.6 billion for 2025, yet pre-tax profit declined 14% to $407 million as market volatility weighed on performance. While several systematic and multistrategy funds delivered solid gains, management fees eased and shares fell about 2.5% on the day.
Sentiment among Britain’s business and professional services firms improved dramatically in the latest CBI quarterly survey, rising to -3 from -50, the best reading since August 2024. Consumer-facing services remain firmly downbeat at -45. The mixed picture comes amid downgraded growth forecasts, high unemployment, slowing wage growth and ongoing c…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi surprised markets by nominating two academics known for reflationary views to the Bank of Japan board, sending a clear message of opposition to higher interest rates. The appointments - Toichiro Asada and Ayano Sato - alter the board’s balance and could influence the trajectory and politics of Japan’s policy normalisat…
