Fed Can Takes Its Time on Rate Decisions, Says Fed Vice Chair

Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson stated that the US economy's strength provides policymakers with the flexibility to carefully consider future interest rate adjustments, Bloomberg reports. His comments suggest a more cautious approach to further easing of monetary policy. Delivering prepared remarks Wednesday at an event at Vassar

China Holds Steady on Lending Rates Amid Trade Tensions

China's benchmark lending rates remained unchanged at the monthly fixing on Thursday, Reuters reports. This decision, while widely expected, reflects the authorities' cautious approach to monetary stimulus amidst renewed trade tensions with the United States and concerns about currency stability. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) remained

Global Trade Tensions Will Slow World Growth, Says BOE Governor

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has warned that rising global trade fragmentation will weigh on worldwide economic growth, according to Wall Street Journal, citing an interview Bailey gave on Tuesday. "Fragmentation is bad for global growth," Bailey said during an interview with Brussels think-tank Bruegel. The BOE

BOJ Governor Blames US Weakness for Summer Market Volatility

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda attributed the sharp fluctuations in currency and stock markets last summer primarily to investor concerns over weak US jobs data and the potential for a US economic slowdown, as reported by Reuters. Speaking to parliament on Tuesday, Ueda acknowledged that the BOJ's

UK Wage Growth Surges Despite Weak Economy, BoE Remains Cautious

UK private sector wage growth accelerated in the last three months of 2024, reaching its fastest pace in a year, as reported by Reuters. This unexpected surge highlights the Bank of England's (BoE) cautious approach to interest rate cuts despite the overall weakness of the UK economy. The

Singapore's January Exports Unexpectedly Fall 2.1%

Singapore's non-oil domestic exports unexpectedly fell 2.1% year-on-year in January, defying forecasts and ending December's strong growth streak, reports Reuters. The decline, revealed in data released Monday, is greater than the 1.1% drop predicted by a Reuters poll and contrasts sharply with the 9.

Japan's Economy Surges in Q4, Beating Expectations

Japan's economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.8% in the October-December quarter, exceeding market expectations and signaling robust domestic demand, according to government data released Monday, as reported by Reuters. This outperformance, driven by stronger-than-anticipated business spending and consumption, is likely to bolster the Bank of

Tax Increases to Hit UK Businesses Hard, Surveys Show

British employers are bracing for a significant financial impact from the government's upcoming tax increases, leading to widespread price hikes, job cuts, and plummeting business confidence, according to multiple surveys cited by Reuters. Two major surveys, one by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) and another by

Markets Weekly: Trump vs the World Puts Rate Cuts at Risk

President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policy has thrown down the gauntlet, not just to America's trading partners, but also to the Federal Reserve. With a flurry of new tariffs, threats of more to come, and a clear desire for lower interest rates, Trump has created a
Markets Weekly: Trump vs the World Puts Rate Cuts at Risk

Retail Federation Warns of Higher Prices Amidst Trump's Reciprocal Tariff

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is warning that President Trump's new reciprocal tariffs will lead to higher prices for American consumers,The Hill reports. The president signed a memorandum on Thursday authorizing the US to impose tariffs on foreign trading partners, citing unfair practices. "While we support