The Bank of England's MPC voted 5-4 to keep Bank Rate at 4% at its November 5 meeting, in line with expectations. Four members favored a 25 bps cut to 3.75%, reflecting growing support for easing. Policymakers noted that CPI inflation has peaked and underlying disinflation is developing, aided by still-restrictive policy, lower wage growth, and easing services inflation. A sluggish economy and increasing labor market slack are also strengthening disinflation. The MPC said the risks to achieving the 2% target are now more balanced: inflation persistence has become less of a concern, while...
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...
US President Donald Trump seized the opportunity to lash out at Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Tuesday during a meeting with Philippine President Bongbong Marcos. After spending weeks normalizing the White House by publicly criticizing the Fed and attempting to undermine the US central bank's political autonomy, President Trump is working hard to justify his efforts to circumvent US laws that prevent him from having a say in who runs the Fed and what they do. Donald Trump nominated Jerome Powell to take over the Fed's top job in 2018 and has been very vocal about his displeasure...
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has lent his support to Jerome Powell amid regular attacks from Trump administration officials, saying he sees no reason for the Federal Reserve chairman to resign. "Nobody is telling me he should resign now," Bessent said of the US central bank chief, speaking Tuesday on Fox Business. "His term ends in May. If he wants to continue, I think he should. If he wants to leave early, I think he should." Powell has been criticized by President Donald Trump for months for leading the Fed on hold, refusing to continue rate cuts last year due to concerns about the...
Foreign investors are increasingly uneasy about U.S. monetary policy after President Donald Trump's public criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, according to Yardeni Research. Though Trump recently said it was "highly unlikely" he would fire Powell, Yardeni noted the president also added, "I don't rule out anything," leaving markets jittery. "We don't believe President Trump will fire Powell," Yardeni wrote, "but, just in case, we examine the credibility crisis that could ensue if he does." Officials in Tokyo and Beijing reportedly view Powell's ouster as more of a "when" than...
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...
The U.S. Supreme Court's tough questioning of President Donald Trump's global tariffs has fueled growing speculation that they will be overturned, but it also raises the potential for further...