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...
With just days to go until the Federal Reserve delivers its rate decision due Wednesday, expectations for the Fed to lean more dovish are gaining traction following a string of cooler inflation reports but Barclays is pushing back, warning it's much too early for a Fed pivot as tariff-induced inflation is just a matter of time. "Although May's inflation estimates were soft, we retain our view that it is just a matter of time until cost-push pressures from tariffs feed through to consumer prices," Barclays' analysts said, cautioning, "we do not expect the FOMC will take much signal" from the...
Iran called on U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday to force Israel to cease fire as the only way to end the four-day-old aerial war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was on the "path to victory". Israeli forces stepped up their bombardment of Iranian cities, while Iran proved capable of piercing Israeli air defences with one of its most successful volleys yet of retaliatory missile strikes. "If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on...
European Union Council President Antonio Costa called for a "constructive position" with the United States on trade tariffs to prevent a trade war, speaking on Monday ahead of a G7 meeting in Canada. Costa emphasized that if the EU faced discriminatory measures, it would need to respond, noting that "the European Commission is prepared to respond, particularly in trade matters." "We have to keep nerves of steel. I have great hope that, in the end, some line of rationality will guide political action... as no tariff will increase U.S. exports of goods or services to Europe," Costa said in a...
Iran launched a new attack on Israel on Sunday night, with explosions seen in the coastal city of Haifa. Israel began further attacks on military targets in Iran, despite international calls for diplomacy and de-escalation, according to CNN. Local officials in both countries reported at least 224 deaths in Iran and 14 in Israel, while Iran's Health Ministry said at least 1,277 people have been injured since Israel launched a wave of attacks on Friday. In addition, Iran's semi-official Mehr News reported on Sunday that the fourth phase of Iran's operations against Israel had begun. Iranian...
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States will continue to support Israel, adding that he hopes there will be a deal between Iran and Israel but that they have to fight. Trump opposed Israel's plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the US president preferred to keep the US out of the fray for now. Key quotes Says he hopes there will be a deal between Iran and Israel, but sometimes you have to fight. Says he would not say whether he has asked Israel to stop attacks on Iran. Says the US will continue to support Israel in its...
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...