Sales of new US single-family homes fell more than expected in January, signaling a slowdown in housing market activity and the broader economy early in the first quarter, Reuters reports. The sharp decline, as reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, is attributed to persistently high mortgage rates and the

The Japanese yen's recent surge has caught the attention of global investors, reversing its performance from last year and emerging as the top-performing G10 currency against the dollar this year, Nikkei Asia reports. The yen reached a high of 148.56 early Wednesday, marking a more than 5%

Warren Buffett's expressed intention to increase his stake in Japan's top five trading houses has sent their stock prices surging, Nikkei Asia reports. The billionaire investor's comments, outlined in his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, come as the companies agreed to raise the

South Korea's central bank has cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.75%, bringing the total reduction to 50 basis points since October. The move, anticipated by economists, aims to stimulate the economy amidst forecasts of slowing growth. The Bank of Korea (BOK) cited

Spot gold prices edged higher on Monday, hovering near their record highs reached last week, Reuters reports. This upward momentum is attributed to a weakening US dollar and anticipation for key US inflation data due later this week. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $2,939.15 an ounce by

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum directing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to tighten restrictions on Chinese investment in strategic sectors, Nikkei Asia reports. This move aims to protect national security interests from perceived threats posed by China. The memorandum, signed on Friday, asserts

China is intensifying its efforts to strengthen its agricultural sector and ensure food security, according to a new policy document, Reuters reports. This comes amid concerns about US tariffs, an economic slowdown, and the impacts of climate change. The State Council's annual rural policy blueprint, known as the

The Trump administration has reportedly pressed Mexico to impose its own tariffs on Chinese imports as a means of mitigating the impact of threatened US tariffs, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. This call was reportedly conveyed by US officials, including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, at a Thursday

Canada's retail sales experienced robust growth in December, rising 2.5% on a monthly basis, exceeding analysts' predictions, Reuters reports. Economists attribute this surge to a combination of holiday spending and a sales tax break implemented by the government. Analysts polled by Reuters had projected a more

Sales of existing homes continued their decline in January, marking a weak start to the year after two consecutive years of sluggish performance, The Wall Street Journal reports. This decline follows a trend of depressed sales throughout 2024, attributed to persistently high home prices and mortgage rates. According to data