The European Central Bank (ECB) announced on Thursday (October 30th) that it kept its key interest rates unchanged after its October policy meeting, as expected. This decision leaves the main refinancing operations rate, the marginal lending facility rate, and the deposit facility rate at 2.15%, 2.4%, and 2%, respectively. The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to maintain the main refinancing operations rate, the marginal lending facility rate, and the deposit facility rate at 2.15%, 2.4%, and 2%, respectively. The decision will be announced on Thursday at 13:15 GMT. The rate...
The S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI eased to 52 in September 2025 from an over three-year high of 53 in August, in line with market forecasts, preliminary estimates showed. Output expanded for a fourth month, yet the increase was significantly softer than August's 39-month high. New orders increased for the ninth month but growth was only marginal, partly due to higher export losses from tariffs. Manufacturing job growth edged down, with input inventories rising at a softer pace. Meanwhile, lead times lengthened to the greatest degree in four months. On the price front, input prices...
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...
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...
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,...
Wolfe Research said the latest call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored a thaw in relations but cautioned that tariff relief is unlikely in the near term. The firm described the September 19 call as the capstone to "a week of positive noises on the US-China relationship," with both sides issuing upbeat readouts. Trump highlighted Xi's approval of the TikTok deal framework and "productive" talks on trade, fentanyl, and Russia-Ukraine. Beijing's statement was "pragmatic, positive, and constructive" but also warned that "the US side should avoid...
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...
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had agreed with President Xi Jinping to cut tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing cracking down on illegal fentanyl trade, resuming purchases of...