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Economy

Malaysia Aims for Lower Inflation in 2025 as Subsidy Reform Takes Shape

Malaysia expects inflation to moderate towards the lower end of its target range in 2025, driven by a phased rollback of fuel subsidies, according to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Ramli outlined a "surgical approach" to removing fuel subsidies, focusing on higher-income

Singapore's MAS May Hold Off on Easing Despite Low Inflation

Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) may hold off on easing monetary policy at its January review, despite slowing inflation, as the central bank seeks to assess the impact of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's policies, analysts told Reuters. This comes as data next week,

Fed Cuts Rates, But Mortgage Costs Climb Higher

Despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to lower interest rates and potentially make homes more affordable, mortgage costs continue to rise, reports the Wall Street Journal. This unexpected outcome is driven by several factors, including rising long-term Treasury yields and stubborn inflation. Average 30-year mortgage rates have climbed to

Japan 'Alarmed' by Yen's Slide, Warns of Intervention

The Japanese government is "alarmed" by recent sharp moves in the currency market and stands ready to intervene if speculative activity becomes excessive, top finance officials said on Friday, reports Reuters. This strong statement comes as the yen continues its rapid decline against the dollar. The dollar reached

Trump-Backed Funding Plan Fails, Government Shutdown Looms

The Republican-led House of Representatives rejected a temporary funding plan backed by President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday, with just over 24 hours to spare before a US government shutdown, reports Bloomberg. The move capped an extraordinary two days in Washington that tested the incoming president's power. Trump and

New Zealand Plunges into Recession, Prompting Calls for Deeper Rate Cuts

New Zealand's economy has fallen into recession, contracting far more sharply than anticipated in the third quarter, according to data released on Thursday by Stats NZ, as reported by Reuters. This dire outcome, exceeding even the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) own pessimistic forecasts, is

Australia's Budget Deficit Widens as Government Increases Spending

Australia's government will face larger budget deficits in the coming years, driven by increased spending on healthcare, cost-of-living support, and veterans' care, reports Reuters. Despite trimming this year's deficit forecast, the Labor government is prioritizing public spending to navigate a slowing economy and upcoming elections.

UK Inflation Hits Eight-Month High, but Services Inflation Holds Steady

British inflation surged to an eight-month high in November, reaching 2.6%, as reported by Reuters. However, the rise in services prices, a key indicator of underlying inflationary pressures closely watched by the Bank of England (BoE), remained steady at 5.0%, offering some respite to the central bank. The

South Korea's M&A Market Collapses as Investment Drops 40%

South Korea's merger and acquisition (M&A) market experienced a dramatic downturn in 2024, with investment plummeting by approximately 40 percent compared to last year, reports Yonhap News Agency. According to data from corporate research firm CEO Score, the combined M&A investment by the top

Canada's Inflation Cools Further, Giving Bank of Canada More Room to Ease Rates

Canada's inflation rate slowed to 1.9 percent in November, coming in slightly below economists' forecasts and down from two percent in October, reports the Financial Post. This deceleration, driven by price declines across all major components of the consumer price index, is expected to provide the