Former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on members of the BRICS group of nations on Friday, warning the alliance would quickly collapse if it ever becomes a significant economic force. "When I heard about this group from BRICS, six countries, basically, I hit them very, very hard. And if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly," Trump said without specifying which nations he was referring to. The BRICS group currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and has recently expanded to include other nations. In addition to...
Tokyo's inflation accelerated in December 2024, with the headline consumer price index posting at 3.4% after a lower increase of 3.1% in the prior month, data released by Statistics of Japan on Friday showed. The reading, which includes all items, is the highest since April 2023. The core CPI, which doesn't count fresh food items, was up 2.5% over the same month in the previous year after a 2.4% gain in November 2024. Food prices, excluding perishables, climbed 4.7% in December, faster compared with the 4% rise a month before. Rent prices, on the other hand, have been growing steadily by...
The European Central Bank cut interest rates on Thursday and policymakers guided for a further reduction in March as concerns over lacklustre economic growth supersede worries about persistent inflation. It was the fifth ECB rate cut since June and markets expect two or three more this year, driven by arguments that the biggest inflation surge in generations is nearly defeated and the flagging economy needs relief. "We know the direction of travel," ECB President Christine Lagarde told a press conference after the decision. "At which pace, with what sequence, what magnitude, will be...
US citizens filing new applications for unemployment insurance rose to 207K for the week ending January 25, the US Department of Labor (DoL) reported on Thursday. The reading missed the preliminary estimate and was lower than the previous week's unrevised reading of 223K. The report also highlighted the seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate at 1.2%, while the four-week moving average eased to 212.50K, marking a decrease of 1K from the previous week's unrevised average. Furthermore, Continuing Jobless Claims fell by 42K to 1.858M for the week ending January 18.(AL) Source: FXstreet
German exports are expected to decline by 0.3% in 2025 due to weakening competitiveness as well as growing geopolitical and trade tensions, according to the government's annual economic report published on Wednesday. European governments and companies are on alert for possible new tariffs under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, while the question of how to revive Germany's flagging economy is central to a national election due on Feb. 23. The annual government report said economy - still Europe's largest - is expected to grow by 0.3% this year, down from a previously...
Australia's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% QoQ in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, compared with the 0.2% increase seen in the third quarter, according to the latest data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday. The market consensus was for a growth of 0.3% in the reported period. The Australian monthly Consumer Price Index is foreseen at 2.5% in December. Quarterly CPI inflation expected to ease further below 3%, with core figures nearing RBA's goal. The Reserve Bank of Australia will meet on February 18 to decide on monetary policy. The Australian...
China's official NBS Manufacturing PMI increased to 49.7 in June 2025 from May's 49.5, matching market expectations while marking the third consecutive month of contraction in factory activity.
It...
Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he plans to send a single letter to over 150 countries outlining the tariff rate they will face, saying, "It's all going to be the same for everyone, for that...