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.
5,201 total articles
Over the weekend in Barcelona, a multinational gathering of left-leaning politicians, activists and intellectuals convened to map out responses to the rise of right-wing and nationalist movements. With participation from over 6,000 delegates representing more than 40 countries, the summit focused on addressing cost-of-living concerns, pressing for …
President Donald Trump accused Iranian forces of firing on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and said the United States has presented a "very fair and reasonable deal," warning that failure to accept it could bring strikes on key infrastructure. A U.S. delegation is set to travel to Islamabad for talks, with Vice President JD Vance expecte…
Participants at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings confronted the narrow range of tools available to blunt repeated geopolitical shocks. Institutions committed up to $150 billion in new support for vulnerable developing economies and resumed engagement with Venezuela’s acting government, but attendees concluded that near-term outcomes hinge on …
A Morgan Stanley research report finds that widespread adoption of generative AI across enterprises is catalyzing a rise in new software projects rather than causing broad developer layoffs. While AI speeds routine code generation, the firm says that the resulting surge in projects shifts bottlenecks downstream - to review, integration, testing, se…
Global markets are pricing in a diplomatic resolution to the U.S.-Iran conflict, but Bernstein cautions that the logistical disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz is unprecedented and could keep crude supplies tight for longer than investors expect. Asia-Pacific economies, which are heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude and ha…
A growing cohort of high-achieving Chinese students, scientists and business leaders are choosing to sidestep or leave the United States and return to China. Concerns over U.S. social instability, restrictive immigration policies and economic pressure are weakening the long-standing perception of the U.S. as the premier destination for China’s top …
Bernstein's extended outlook argues that generative AI will materially alter the software landscape through 2030 but will expand the market for key players rather than eliminate them. The firm identifies Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) as primary beneficiaries, as rising GPU/ASIC and CPU demand to support trainin…
Bernstein projects that trading in event-based contracts on prediction market platforms will grow from roughly $240 billion in volume by the end of 2026 to about $1 trillion by 2030. The firm describes a structural evolution from niche gaming sites to broader 'information markets,' supported by clearer federal regulation, mainstream distribution de…
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps abruptly reversed a government declaration that the Strait of Hormuz was open, firing on commercial vessels and issuing radio warnings that effectively closed the passage. The episode exposes a widening split between Iran’s diplomatic leadership and its powerful military wing after the death of the Supreme L…
The state government of Victoria will extend its public transport subsidy program, offering free transit for May and 50% fares for the remainder of the year. The policy, estimated to cost about A$432 million, is aimed at lowering household transport costs and reducing reliance on private vehicles amid record domestic fuel prices and refinery disrup…
A fleet of Chinese-made humanoid robots outpaced professional human runners during a half-marathon in Beijing, signaling a sharp improvement from last year’s technical setbacks. More than 100 machines took part, and the winning unit from Honor completed the distance in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. The event underscores national policy support intende…
Morgan Stanley says that while headlines tying higher oil prices to stronger electric vehicle demand have driven market enthusiasm, the bank remains doubtful that this will produce a meaningful near-term increase in shipments for South Korean battery manufacturers. The firm points to the historical need for prolonged oil shocks, persistent EV price…
South Korean authorities reported that North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile eastward on Saturday. The launch comes amid a series of recent tests and is being viewed in the context of broader international security dynamics, including shifts in U.S. military attention toward the Middle East. Details on the missile type and flight p…
Uranium is regaining strategic importance as expanding demand and supply constraints push the metal into a prolonged bull market. Analysts point to the conflict in Iran as amplifying supply risks—disrupting inputs to the nuclear fuel cycle—and to policy-driven expansion of nuclear power, alongside electricity-hungry technologies, as key sources of …
A short-lived reopening of the Strait of Hormuz ended within hours after Iran reinstated strict maritime controls. Iranian gunboats intercepted and fired on several commercial vessels following a reversal prompted by Washington's decision to keep a naval blockade in place, leaving LNG shipments stalled and elevating risk perceptions across energy a…
BCA Research's latest Global Investment Strategy report finds the recent rise in energy prices tied to the Middle East conflict unlikely to trigger sustained, broad-based inflation. The firm points to growing labor market slack and slowing nominal wage growth as key buffers that should prevent inflation expectations from becoming unanchored over th…
A report says the Trump Organization and local partners intend to develop a 70-story mixed-use skyscraper in Tbilisi, Georgia, branded as 'Trump Tower Tbilisi.' The project, designed by Gensler and supported by a consortium including Archi Group and Biograpi Living, would combine luxury residences, retail and hotel-style amenities and would be the …
Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda said the yen risks additional weakness if markets conclude the Bank of Japan is slow to respond to inflationary pressures. He pointed to interest rate differentials, investor behavior in times of global stress and concerns over Japan's fiscal trajectory as drivers of yen selling, and urged targeted poli…
Australia has signed a contract with Japan to buy the initial three of 11 upgraded Mogami-class stealth frigates in a deal valued between A$15 billion and A$20 billion (about $10.8 billion). The agreement, formalized in Melbourne by Australian and Japanese defense ministers, names Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as lead contractor and commits to domest…
Morgan Stanley researchers, in a report released this week, analyzed past innovation cycles from electrification and mechanization to IT and automation and conclude that AI is likely to augment labor rather than cause wholesale displacement. While AI is spreading faster than previous technologies, the bank warns that any net employment gains are un…
The U.S. Treasury on Friday granted a one-month license allowing countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products that were already loaded on vessels as of April 17, extending a temporary permission that had lapsed earlier in April. The move is aimed at relieving global energy strains tied to disruptions in the Middle East, even as it draws crit…
China recorded substantial year-on-year increases in exports of clean-energy technologies in March, with solar cell shipments up 80%, EVs rising 53% and lithium-ion batteries growing 34%. The export strength follows an energy supply shock tied to the ongoing conflict in Iran and the effective paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz seven weeks ago, which…
President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he may not extend a temporary ceasefire with Iran if a final deal is not secured by Wednesday, warning that military action could resume. His comments, including a pledge to seize Iran's enriched uranium if necessary, come as Iranian officials dismiss the demand as a "non-starter" and …
The Australian government has extended a temporary waiver on fuel-quality standards until September, allowing higher sulfur in petrol to help maintain domestic supply amid ongoing supply-chain disruption linked to conflict in Iran. Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced the move on television, confirming the permitted sulfur cap will rise to 50 part…
President Donald Trump has indicated an imminent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that he described as potentially "historic." His social media posts linked the outreach to the stabilization and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and he said his forthcoming China visit will seek to formalize trade and security arrangements. Markets showed …
