The University of Michigan (UoM) is expected to release the preliminary reading of its monthly Consumer Confidence Index for September on Friday. This survey captures US consumers' views on their personal finances, business conditions, and purchasing plans, and is typically released alongside the University of Michigan Consumer Expectations Index and the University of Michigan Consumer Inflation Expectations Index. Consumption is a major contributor to US Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The UoM Consumer Sentiment Index and Inflation Expectations Index have a solid reputation as...
New bank loans in China surged more than expected to a record high in January as the central bank moved to shore up a patchy economic recovery, reinforcing expectations for more stimulus in coming months as U.S. tariffs threaten to pile more pressure on the economy. Chinese banks extended 5.13 trillion yuan ($706.40 billion) in new yuan loans in January, more than quadrupling the December figure, data from the People's Bank of China showed on Friday, beating analysts' forecasts Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted new yuan loans would rise to 4.5 trillion yuan last month, up sharply...
Retail sales in the US contracted 0.9% month-over-month in January 2025, much worse than forecasts of a 0.1% drop, and following an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in December. It is the biggest decline in retail sales since March 2023, with severe weather and LA fires weighing on consumer spending. Sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-4.6%) recorded the biggest decline, followed by motor vehicles and part dealers (-2.8%); nonstore retailers (-1.9%); furniture (-1.7%); building material & garden equipment (-1.3%); clothing (-1.2%); health and personal care...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday took what could become his most consequential action involving international trade early in his second administration. Trump, who signed a memorandum calling for reciprocal tariffs, told a group of reporters in the Oval Office that "if you build your product in the United States, there are no tariffs." The goal is to bring down America's budget deficit, estimated to be approaching $2 trillion. The president added that the action "is fair to all. No other country can complain." Trump ordered Howard Lutnick and Jamieson Greer, his picks for commerce...
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a presidential memorandum outlining his plan to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on foreign countries. "They put a tax or a tariff on us and we put a tariff on them," Trump said at a news conference in the Oval Office. The president said that under the plan, the U.S. would treat other countries' non-tariff policies as unfair trade practices that require tariffs in response. That includes value-added taxes, or VATs, and other practices deemed by the U.S. Trade Representative's office to be unfair restrictions on trade. Trump said that foreign countries...
Core producer prices in the United States, which exclude food and energy costs, rose by 0.3% over a month in January 2025, following an upwardly revised 0.4% increase in December, in line with market forecasts. On a yearly basis, core producer inflation was 3.6% in January, down slightly from an upwardly revised 3.7% in December but well above market estimates of 3.3%.Source: Trading Economics
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...
Less than four months ago, President Donald Trump met with Qatar's leader, praised his magnificent palace, and signed a comprehensive defense agreement with the Gulf monarchy, a key ally that hosts...