Germany's HCOB Manufacturing PMI slipped to 48.5 in September 2025, down from 49.8 in August, surprising market expectations for stabilization at 50. The reading signaled the steepest contraction in four months. Production continued to expand but at the softest pace in two months, while new orders fell for the first time in four months, marking the sharpest decline since January. Export sales also dropped for a second consecutive month. Firms relied on existing backlogs to support output, though outstanding business was depleted at the fastest rate in nine months. Employment fell further,...
Economic activity in the UK's private sector expanded at a softer pace in September than in August, with the S&P Global Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) declining to 51 from 53.5. This reading came in worse than the market expectation of 52.7. In this period, the Manufacturing PMI fell to 46.2 from 47, while the Services PMI edged lower to 51.9 from 54.2. Commenting on the survey's findings, "September's flash UK PMI survey brought a litany of worrying news including weakening growth, slumping overseas trade, worsening business confidence and further steep job losses," said...
A highly anticipated meeting between the U.S. and Chinese presidents is more likely to take place next year than this fall, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said Tuesday. "We're looking forward to getting together, as President Trump said, and potentially in the near future, but certainly next year," Perdue said. His comments came during a press conference with a group of U.S. lawmakers on a rare visit to Beijing the first since 2019. After a call Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the two agreed to meet around a...