The ISM Services PMI rose to 52.4 in October 2025 from 50 in September, beating forecasts of 50.8, pointing to the strongest expansion in the services sector since February. Both business activity (54.3 vs 49.9) and new orders (56.2 vs 50.4) rebounded while the continued contraction in employmet (48.2 vs 47.2) shows a lack of confidence in the continued strength of the economy. "There was no indication of widespread layoffs or reductions in force, but the federal government shutdown was mentioned several times as impacting business activity and generating concerns for future layoffs",...
US existing-home sales fell 2.7% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.93 million units in June 2025, down from 4.04 million in May and below market expectations of 4.01 million. This marked the lowest sales pace since September 2024, as the median home price climbed to $435,300, the highest ever recorded for June and the 24th consecutive year-over-year price increase. Sales of single-family homes declined by 3% to 3.57 million, while condominiums and co-ops held steady at 360,000 units. Regionally, sales dropped in the Northeast (-8%), Midwest (-4%), and South...
The U.S. Federal Reserve's independence is under threat from mounting political interference, according to a clear majority of economists polled by Reuters, although no one expects a July interest rate cut despite a recent divergence in views among policymakers. President Donald Trump has made it almost a daily routine to personally attack Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the central bank's stance of holding rates due to tariff-related risks of higher inflation. A recent jump in inflation suggests businesses are now passing some of the tariffs onto consumers. Most Federal Market Open Committee...
Indonesia has agreed to eliminate tariffs on more than 99% of U.S. goods and scrap all non-tariff barriers facing American firms, while the U.S. will drop threatened tariffs on Indonesian products to 19% from 32%, the two countries said on Tuesday. Trump hailed the deal, which he first announced on July 15, in a posting on his Truth Social media platform, calling it a "huge win for our Automakers, Tech Companies, Workers, Farmers, Ranchers, and Manufacturers." Details of a framework for the accord were released in a joint statement by both countries, and a fact sheet issued by the White...
US President Donald Trump announced that a 19% tariff will be imposed on goods from the Philippines, following trade talks prompted by Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s recent visit to the White House. The new tariff is slightly lower than the 20% rate initially announced on July 9. As part of the deal, Trump stated that U.S. exports will face no import taxes in the Philippines. The White House also revealed new details of a finalized trade agreement with Indonesia, under which a 19% tariff will apply to Indonesian goods. Additionally, a 40% tariff will be imposed on any goods...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said his administration had completed a "massive deal" with Japan, which will see the Asian country subject to a 15% tariff on exports. Trump said that Japan will invest $550 billion into the U.S., of which the U.S. will "receive 90% of the Profits." "Japan will open their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things. Japan will pay Reciprocal Tariffs to the United States of 15%," Trump said in a social media post. Announcement of the deal comes shortly after reports said Japan's top...
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher, tracking Wall Street gains overnight.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.41% after hitting a fresh record high on Thursday, while the Topix added 0.61%. South...
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...
American consumers struggling to access food assistance payments due to the government shutdown are unable to fill their shopping carts, and that's "hurtful," according to the company behind Stop...