The US dollar index fluctuated around 98.4 on Friday (December 19) and is expected to close the week relatively unchanged. Investors are still weighing the chances of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next year, as inflation continues to decline and signs of weakness in the US labor market emerge. The latest inflation data indicates price pressures are easing. The November CPI report showed headline inflation fell to 2.7%, the lowest since July and below market expectations. Core inflation also weakened to 2.6%, the slowest pace since early 2021. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose to...
The US House of Representatives is set to begin voting on a Republican tax and budget bill that largely contains many of President Donald Trump's wish list items. President Trump has informally referred to the tax and budget bill as his "big, beautiful bill," prompting Republican lawmakers to officially rename the document the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Key Republicans have been pushing back against the bill's opponents within their own party after some hardline Republicans voiced their displeasure with the broad outlines of the bill: some feel it doesn't include enough cuts to key...
President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill faces a critical stress test on Wednesday as Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives try to overcome internal divisions about cuts to the Medicaid health program and tax breaks in high-cost coastal states. The gate-keeping House Rules Committee has scheduled an unusual 1 a.m. ET (0500 GMT) hearing that is expected to run well into daylight hours where members will debate details of the measure. If passed by Congress, it would reduce some health and food benefits for low-income Americans, cancel green-energy programs and provide...
British inflation jumped to a higher-than-expected annual rate of 3.5% in April from 2.6% in March, official figures showed on Wednesday. A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a reading of 3.3% in April while the Bank of England earlier this month projected inflation of 3.4%. April saw increases in gas, electricity and water prices, alongside higher taxes on employers - all of which are likely to push up prices. Earlier this month the BoE predicted that inflation would peak at 3.5% this year. Some officials at the central bank disagree with its key assumption that the climb in...
China's Commerce Ministry said early Wednesday that US measures on China's advanced chips are ‘typical of unilateral bullying and protectionism.' Chinese authorities urged the US to immediately correct its erroneous practices. US measures on China's advanced chips are ‘typical of unilateral bullying and protectionism.' US chip measures seriously undermine the stability of the global semiconductor industry chain and supply chain. US abuses export controls to contain and suppress China, violating international law and basic norms. Suspects that US measures constitute discriminatory,...
President Donald Trump outlined plans for a new defense system dubbed "Golden Dome," highlighting advanced technology, international interest and a projected cost of $175 billion. Key Quotes Made announcement about the Golden Dome defense shield. Selected architecture for the Golden Dome. Will include space-based interceptors. Canada says it wants to be part of it. Gold Dome should be operational by the end of my term. We're helping Israel with their system. Our technology is more advanced than Israel's. Bill in Congress to include $25 billion for the Golden Dome. Talks...
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack noted during an interview with Axios that the evolving policies of the U.S. government continue to make it increasingly difficult for policymakers to manage the economy. If not addressed, Hammack sees a stagflation scenario, in which low growth is accompanied by high inflation, as increasing. Key highlights Extraordinary uncertainty is weighing on economic activity. Upcoming policies could offset the effects of trade policy. Hammack sees a stagflation outcome as a likely scenario. I don't want to overreact to trade. White House...
The wave of new U.S. tariffs has severely dampened the mood among exporters and 42% of companies now expect their export revenues to decline markedly, according to a global survey by Allianz Trade published on Tuesday. The credit insurer surveyed 4,500 exporters in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Britain, the United States, Singapore and China about global trade in March and April, before and after the tariffs spiral on April 2. Before Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day', when the president announced new tariffs against almost all trading partners, only 5% of companies had expected...
Indonesia's government sees economic growth reaching at least 5.2% next year as it continues to focus on improving food production, energy security and people's wellbeing, its finance minister told parliament on Tuesday. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said economic growth in 2026 would be between 5.2% and 5.8% next year with the bottom end of the range the same as 2025's growth target. "We will reach the target in 2026 by maintaining people's purchasing power... development of natural resources downstream industry and improving the investment climate, as well as human resources,"...
Gold rises in the early Asian trade. There's a broad commodities uptrend, driven by macro uncertainty, a weaker dollar, and persistent demand for "hard" assets, says Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst...
Oil extended declines after OPEC+ agreed to a bigger-than-expected production increase next month, raising concerns about oversupply just as US tariffs fan fears about the demand outlook.
Brent...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakened against its US counterpart and reversed part of Friday's recovery from the lowest level since July 23 following Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda's remarks....