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...
Retail sales rose faster than expected at the start of the holiday shopping season in November, pointing to steady growth in the U.S. economy. Sales at U.S. retailers rose 0.7% last month, the government said Tuesday. Retail sales account for about a third of all consumer spending and provide clues to the strength of the economy. What they do show is that the U.S. is ending 2024 on a strong note. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal had forecast a 0.5% gain last month. Key details: Sales of new cars and trucks jumped 2.6% in November to lead the retail gain. Auto sales account...
Inflation in the US, as measured by the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 2.7% on a yearly basis in November from 2.6% in October, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Wednesday. This reading came in line with the market expectation. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.3% following the 0.2% increase recorded in October. The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 3.3% on a yearly basis to match October's increase and analysts' estimate. The monthly core CPI rose 0.3% in November. Market reaction to US inflation data These figures don't...
The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for November, a key measure of inflation, is due out on Wednesday at 13:30 GMT by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Markets are eagerly awaiting the release, as it could trigger significant swings in the US Dollar (USD) and influence the Federal Reserve's (Fed) plans for interest rates in the coming months. As per the CPI measure, US inflation is expected to rise at an annualized rate of 2.7% in November, slightly higher than the 2.6% growth reported in the previous month. Annual core CPI inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy...
President-elect Donald Trump has already signaled that trade tariffs are likely to form part of his political agenda, but against concerns that a tit-for-tat U.S.-EU trade spat could threaten a fresh wave of inflation, Citi argues that tariffs may prove deflationary in the Eurozone at a time when the economy is in the doldrums. "Even if the EU retaliates like-for-like with reciprocal tariffs, the HICP impact is likely negligible," Citi economists said in a recent note. Imports from the U.S. make up just over 10% of euro area goods imports, a quarter of which is energy but this is unlikely...
China's consumer inflation shrank more than expected in November as recent stimulus measures did little to offset a stubborn deflationary trend, while producer inflation also contracted. Consumer price index inflation fell 0.6% month-on-month in November, government data showed on Monday. That was lower than expectations for a 0.4% decline and worse than the 0.3% contraction seen in the previous month. CPI grew 0.2% year-on-year, lower than expectations for a 0.5% gain and weaker than the 0.3% growth seen in the previous month. The figures suggest that while some aspects of China's...
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...