News/Event
By Stella QiuAustralian consumer prices surged in the first quarter as war in the Middle East drove up energy costs, while core inflation stayed uncomfortably high for policymakers, keeping pressure on for a rate hike next week.The consumer price index (CPI) jumped 1.4% in the first quarter, the sh…
Australia’s 10-year government bond yield hovered around 5%, staying in a sideways range near multi-decade highs as a sharp rise in inflation kept expectations of a rate hike next week.The headline inflation accelerated to 4.6% annually in March, slightly below forecasts of 4.7%, but remained above…
The annual inflation rate in Australia climbed to 4.1% in Q1 2026 from 3.6% in the previous period but slightly below expectations of 4.2%.This marked the highest level since Q4 2023 and well above the central bank’s 2–3% target, as the war in the Middle East drove up energy costs.On a quarterly ba…
By Wayne ColeThe Australian dollar dipped on Wednesday after data showed core inflation rose a little less than expected in the first quarter, although the ongoing impact of surging energy costs still has traders anticipating further interest-rate hikes.The Aussie eased 0.2% to $0.7164 FX:AUDUSD, o…
By Kumar TanishkAustralian shares pared losses on Wednesday afternoon after a key trimmed mean measure of core inflation indicated price pressures may not be as bad as feared, prompting traders to slightly dial back May rate hike bets.The S&P/ASX 200 ASX:XJO was trading 0.1% lower, or 7.4 points, a…
The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note held its recent advance near 4.35% on Wednesday as investors positioned ahead of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decision, which is expected to be Chair Jerome Powell’s final meeting before his term ends in May.The Fed is widely anticipated to keep in…
Australian consumer prices surged in the first quarter as war in the Middle East drove up energy costs, while core inflation was again uncomfortably high for policymakers, keeping pressure on for a rate hike next week.The consumer price index (CPI) jumped 1.4% in the first quarter, the sharpest ris…
Australia’s annual inflation jumped to 4.6% in March 2026 from 3.7% in the previous month, marking the highest reading since September 2023 and remaining outside the central bank’s 2–3% target.However, the latest result was slightly below market forecasts of 4.7%.Goods inflation accelerated (5.5% v…
Australian consumer prices surged in the first quarter as war in the Middle East drove up energy costs, while core inflation was again uncomfortably high for policy makers and added to pressure for a hike in interest rates next week.Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics out on Wednesday sho…
By Kumar TanishkInsurer Prudential Plc LSE:PRU, LSE:PRU reported a nearly 10% rise in first-quarter new business profit on Wednesday, while warning that energy-driven inflation poses risks to its smaller South Asian businesses and could dampen consumer sentiment.The London and Hong Kong dual-listed…
Australian equities fell 45 points, or 0.5%, to 8,666 in early Wednesday trade, marking a seventh straight session of losses and the lowest in three weeks.A weak lead from Wall Street Tuesday pressured risk appetite, as traders turned cautious ahead of the U.S. Fed’s rate decision later in the day…
By Kumar TanishkAustralian shares fell for a seventh straight session on Wednesday, dragged down by banks and miners, as investors awaited a key inflation report that could seal the case for further rate tightening.The S&P/ASX 200 ASX:XJO slid 0.5% to 8,666.80 by 0028 GMT, on track for its longest…
Gold (XAU/USD) is seen consolidating around the $4,600 mark during the Asian session as traders keenly await the outcome of a two-day FOMC policy meeting, due later this Wednesday.
By Hari KishanInflation in most countries will be markedly higher this year than predicted three months ago amid a stalemate in the energy crisis brought about by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to a Reuters poll of around 500 economists, who barely altered their positive global growth vi…
Bitcoin (BTC) price is nearing key support at $75,648 on Wednesday, after two consecutive days of pullbacks this week.
The EUR/USD pair consolidates around 1.1700, inside Tuesday’s trading range, during the Asian trading session on Wednesday.
EUR/JPY edges lower after three days of gains, trading around 186.80 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The currency cross declines as the Euro (EUR) struggles amid heightened risk aversion driven by uncertainty over a potential ceasefire in the Middle East.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), an index of the value of the US Dollar (USD) measured against a basket of six world currencies, currently trades near 98.65 during the Asian trading hours on Wednesday.
By Paul HannonThe U.K. is set to see a slowdown in economic growth and a pickup in inflation as a result of the Middle East conflict, and the Bank of England may have to respond with big rate rises if the disruption to energy supplies is likely to be prolonged, the National Institute of Economic an…
Visa says it saw broad-based spending improvement in both credit and debit in the U.S. in its fiscal second quarter, which it attributes in part to higher tax refunds. Payments volume rose 8% in the U.S. in the quarter with 7% growth for debit and a 10% increase for credit, with both metrics accele…
The USD/CAD pair seesaws between tepid gains/minor losses, below the 1.3700 mark, during the Asian session on Wednesday amid a combination of diverging forces. The lack of progress in US-Iran peace talks continues to benefit the US Dollar's (USD) reserve currency status and supports spot prices.
The US officials said that President Donald Trump instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor Anna Breman said on Wednesday that “the first quarter measures of core inflation have remained stable within the target band of 1–3%.”
GBP/USD inches higher after registering little losses in the previous day, trading around 1.3520 during the Asian hours on Wednesday.
The AUD/JPY cross declines to around 114.50 during the early Asian trading hours on Wednesday. The Australian Dollar (AUD) softens against the Japanese Yen (JPY) following the release of the Australian inflation report.
The AUD/USD pair continues with its struggle to conquer the 0.7200 mark and drifts lower following the release of Australian consumer inflation figures during the Asian session on Wednesday.
Australia Quarterly RBA Trimmed Mean CPI (YoY) climbed from previous 3.4% to 3.5% in 1Q
Australia Quarterly Consumer Price Index (QoQ) meets forecasts (1.4%) in 1Q
Australia Quarterly Consumer Price Index (YoY) meets forecasts (4.1%) in 1Q
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price gains ground for the third successive day, trading around $96.90 per barrel during the Asian hours on Wednesday.
Australia Quarterly RBA Trimmed Mean CPI (QoQ) declined to 0.8% in 1Q from previous 0.9%
Australia Quarterly Consumer Price Index (QoQ) below forecasts (1.4%) in 1Q: Actual (1.1%)
Australia Quarterly Consumer Price Index (YoY) above expectations (4.1%) in 1Q: Actual (4.6%)
On Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) sets the USD/CNY central rate for the trading session ahead at 6.8608 compared to the previous day's fix of 6.8589 and 6.8347 Reuters estimate.
Silver (XAG/USD) edges higher during the Asian session on Wednesday, though it lacks follow-through as traders opt to move to the sidelines ahead of the crucial FOMC policy update.
The S&P/TSX Composite declined 0.7% to close at 33,584 on Tuesday, weighed down by stalled US-Iran negotiations.With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, fears of an energy shock sparking global inflation persist. Although the Bank of Canada and US Fed are expected to hold rates on Wednesday, i…
Gold price (XAU/USD) holds steady near $4,600 during the early Asian session on Wednesday. The precious metal steadies as traders await a key Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate decision later on Wednesday.
Pump.fun, the leading Solana-based meme coin launchpad, said Tuesday it has permanently burned approximately $370 million worth of $PUMP tokens previously repurchased in the open market.
NZD/USD gains ground after registering modest losses in the previous day, trading around 0.5890 during the Asian hours on Wednesday.
The USD/JPY pair struggles to capitalize on the previous day's goodish rebound from sub-159.00 levels, or a one-week low, and oscillates in a narrow band during the Asian session on Wednesday.
US stocks closed lower on Tuesday, retreating from record highs as concerns over the sustainability of the artificial intelligence boom and rising oil prices weighed on investor sentiment.The S&P 500 fell 0.49% to close at 7,138.80, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.9% to 24,663.80.The Dow Jones…
Global markets saw a mix of developments on Tuesday, as Amazon expanded its partnership with OpenAI following a shift away from exclusivity with Microsoft, oil prices surged amid tensions involving Iran and OPEC changes, concerns over OpenAI’s growth weighed on semiconductor stocks, and The Coca-Co…
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will exit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on May 1, dealing a blow to the oil producers' group as an unprecedented energy crisis caused by the Iran war exposes discord among Gulf nations, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
By Mauro OrruAirbus confirmed its aircraft-delivery target for the year, a sign of confidence that it can assemble enough planes despite an engine shortage that forced it to slow production of its best-selling A320 jets.The European plane maker said it was on track to ship about 870 commercial airc…
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will publish its data for March on Wednesday at 01.30 GMT. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to see a rise of 4.7% YoY in March, compared to 3.7% in February.
The EUR/USD pair trades in negative territory around 1.1715 during the early Asian session on Wednesday. Uncertainty over a potential Middle East ceasefire continues to boost a safe-haven currency such as the US Dollar (USD) against the Euro (EUR).
By Scott DiSavinoU.S. natural gas futures held steady on Tuesday as lower output in recent weeks offset near-record flows to liquefied natural gas export plants.On its last day as the front-month, gas futures for May delivery NYMEX:NG1! on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 0.9 cent, or 0.4%, to…
GBP/USD eased 0.12% on Tuesday, closing near 1.3520 and continuing the broader consolidation around 1.3500 that has held through recent sessions.
XAU/USD declined 1.85% on Tuesday, closing near $4,596 after the spot session pushed down to a low close to $4,555 before recovering modestly into the New York close.
Chile's central bank held its benchmark interest rate at 4.50% in a unanimous decision, with the Banco Central de Chile (BCCh) board citing the worsening Middle East conflict as a key factor weighing on the policy outlook.
USD/JPY traded in a tight 80-pip range on Tuesday, closing near 159.62 after the session touched a low of 158.96 in early Asia and a high of 159.79 late in the New York session.
NZD/USD slipped 0.4% on Tuesday, closing near 0.5885 after a session high close to 0.5925 and a fresh rejection from the 0.5900 handle.
AUD/USD posted a near-flat close on Tuesday, settling around 0.7180 after a session that traded within a roughly 70-pip range between 0.7130 and 0.7200.
Ethereum (ETH) is hovering near $2,300 on Tuesday, following signs of distribution across key onchain metrics over the past week, as US-Iran peace talks leave the market in a state of uncertainty.
Ireland Consumer Confidence dipped from previous 56.7 to 53.3 in April
United States API Weekly Crude Oil Stock rose from previous -4.4M to -1.79M in April 24
OCBC strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong notes USD/IDR has turned lower with the broader US Dollar (USD) pullback, but says recent Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) softness reflects external uncertainty from a potential prolonged United States (US)–Iran conflict and vulnerability to energy shocks.
Bitcoin's (BTC) rally above $76,000 appears to be driven more by forceful positioning than broad market conviction, according to crypto market-making firm Wintermute.
DBS Group Research economists Byron Lam and Daisy Sharma highlight that China’s 1Q 2026 real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose to 5.0% year-on-year from 4.5% in Q4 2025, supported by strong external demand but uneven domestic momentum.
By David LawderPro-tariff and human rights groups asked the Trump administration on Tuesday to impose new import bans, duties and quotas to combat forced labor practices in China and other countries and to press trading partners to adopt U.S.-style enforcement mechanisms.Some 60 witnesses are sched…
TD Securities’ Head of Commodity Strategy, Bart Melek, argues that Gold is under pressure as Oil-driven inflation keeps real rates elevated and raises the opportunity cost of holding the metal.
The CAC 40 fell 0.5% to close at 8,104 on Tuesday as investors focused on upcoming central bank policy meetings, corporate earnings, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.The European Central Bank is widely expected to keep rates unchanged on Thursday, but markets are watching for signals of future…
HSBC upgraded its stance on US equities to “overweight” from “neutral” on Tuesday, citing strong earnings momentum and easing geopolitical risks that are shifting investor focus back to fundamentals.The brokerage, however, downgraded Europe ex-UK to “neutral,” warning that economic conditions remai…
OCBC strategists Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong describe USD/SGD as slipping on broad USD weakness and expects two‑way, range‑bound trading in the near term, with resistance around 1.2780–1.2850 and support near 1.2720–1.2670.
Bed Bath & Beyond NYSE:BBBY rallied as much as 35% on Tuesday morning after posting its Q1 earnings that signalled the company’s long-term turnaround strategy is gaining traction.Despite the post-earnings momentum, BBBY’s relative strength index (RSI) sits in the early 60s – indicating potential fo…
TD Securities analysts expect Canada’s Spring Economic Update to show a CAD 60 billion deficit over 2026–27, slightly better than the prior budget shortfall.
TWOFER TUESDAY: SUN SHINES ON CONSUMERS, RAIN FALLS ON HOME PRICESEconomic data often arrives in twos on Tuesdays. And today investors had their pick between an improved consumer confidence reading and a Case-Shiller report that showed home price growth sagging.The mood of the American consumer, wh…
Poland expects economic growth to reach 3.6% in 2026, according to a baseline scenario prepared by the Ministry of Finance that does not take the Iran war into account, the ministry said on Tuesday.The Polish government on Tuesday adopted the draft projections for 2026 to 2030."Real gross domestic…
BP LSE:BP. on Tuesday posted a first-quarter underlying replacement cost profit, its version of net income, of $3.2 billion, compared with expectations of $2.67 billion in a company-provided poll of analysts and $1.38 billion a year ago.
The Fifth District Service Sector Activity remained relatively solid in April, as the revenues index held steady at 9, while the demand index eased to 10 from 21 but stayed in positive territory, pointing to continued expansion.Expectations remained strong, with forward-looking indexes for both rev…
United Parcel Service CEO:
U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly ticked up in April as a ceasefire in the war with Iran boosted stock prices while labor market perceptions improved, a survey showed on Tuesday.The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index climbed 0.6 points to 92.8 this month. Data for March was rev…
TruMerit 2025 Nurse Migration Report reveals workforce inequities widening across regions.PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / April 28, 2026 / TruMerit™ (formerly CGFNS International) today released its 2025 Nurse Migration Report, revealing significant shifts in global nurse migration patterns an…
NZD/USD trades around 0.5890 on Tuesday, down 0.35% on the day, after failing to hold above the 0.5900 level. The pair moves lower as the US Dollar (USD) strengthens, supported by increased demand for safe-haven assets.
The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index rose just 0.9% year-over-year in February 2026, down from 1.2% in January and below market forecasts of 1.1%.This marks the slowest annual growth since July 2023, highlighting the ongoing cooldown in the US housing market.For the ninth straight…
US stocks opened lower on Tuesday, led by weakness in technology shares, as investors reassessed whether the artificial intelligence boom can sustain its momentum.The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell more than 1.15%, while the S&P 500 dropped around 0.54%.In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Avera…
United States 7-Year Note Auction: 4.175% vs previous 4.255%
By Jessica CoacciU.S. home-price growth slowed in February as affordability pressures shaped home buyer decisions.The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures home prices across the country, rose 0.7% in the 12 months through February, compared with a 0.8% increase in Jan…
U.S. single-family house prices were unchanged on a monthly basis in February, but elevated mortgage rates as the war with Iran continues could keep the dream of owning a home out of the reach of many young Americans.The flat reading in house prices followed an upwardly revised 0.2% increase in Jan…
By Jessica CoacciU.S. home-price growth slowed in February as affordability pressures shaped home buyer decisions.The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures home prices across the country, rose 0.7% in the 12 months through February, compared with a 0.8% increase in Jan…
By Hari KishanInflation in most countries will be markedly higher this year than predicted three months ago amid a stalemate in the energy crisis brought about by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to a Reuters poll of around 500 economists, who barely altered their positive global growth vi…
The Euro (EUR) trims a part of its intraday losses against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday as the Greenback loses momentum, with traders repositioning ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision due on Wednesday while continuing to monitor developments in the Middle East.
USD/JPY trades around 159.50 on Tuesday, up modestly by 0.07% on the day, after briefly falling below the 159.00 level following the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) policy decision.
Tether, the largest stablecoin company, has unveiled a new custom compute Bitcoin (BTC) mining infrastructure in collaboration with Canaan, the world’s leading manufacturer of BTC miners, and ACME Swisstech, a Swiss-based project management firm.
USD/CAD climbed 0.33% on Tuesday, settling close to 1.3670 after a steady grind higher off Monday's intraday low near 1.3600.
By Maria MartinezThe German government is working on a draft budget for 2027 which includes total borrowing of 196.5 billion euros ($229.73 billion) as it aims to bolster infrastructure and defence, sources told Reuters on Tuesday.This compares with 50.5 billion euros in 2024 under the previous gov…
US private employers added an average of 39,250 jobs per week in the four weeks ending April 11, 2026, according to the ADP Research Institute, slightly below the downwardly revised 40,250 weekly gain in the prior period.The data suggests a stabilization in hiring momentum following an acceleration…
The consumer goods giants that built empires on household staples are struggling to justify their valuations.At the time of writing, Nestlé has shed nearly a quarter of its market value over the past five years.PepsiCo is up just 6.9%. Procter & Gamble, 11.2%. Colgate-Palmolive, 4.3%.Only Coca-Cola…
The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw marginal gains on Tuesday's session, with futures holding near 49,200 and the underlying cash index adding roughly 0.1%, propped up by a 5% jump in Coca-Cola (KO) after a stronger-than-expected earnings print.
The National Bank of Hungary left its benchmark rate unchanged at 6.25% in its April 2026 meeting, as widely anticipated, marking the second consecutive hold.The decision reflects a cautious stance amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iranian conflict, which has pushed up global ener…
By Paul HannonEurozone households expect inflation to be much higher over the coming year than they did before the onset of the conflict in the Middle East, a worrying sign for officials at the European Central Bank as they prepare to set interest rates.According to a survey of 19,000 adults conduc…
By Paul HannonEurozone households expect inflation to be much higher over the coming year than they did before the onset of the conflict in the Middle East, a worrying sign for officials at the European Central Bank as they prepare to set interest rates.According to a survey of 19,000 adults conduc…
The UK’s benchmark FTSE 100 index edged higher on Tuesday, supported by a strong rally in energy stocks after BP reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings.The gains put the index on track to end a six-day losing streak, even as geopolitical tensions continued to weigh on sentiment.The FT…
By Shruti AgarwalAustralian shares closed at their lowest in nearly four weeks on Tuesday as stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks and caution ahead of domestic inflation data kept investors on edge.The S&P/ASX 200 index ASX:XJO closed 0.6% lower at 8,710.70 points, its lowest finishing level since April…
European equity markets were poised to open little changed on Tuesday, as stalled efforts to resolve the US–Iran conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz kept sentiment subdued.US President Donald Trump and his national security team were reportedly skeptical of Iran’s latest proposal, which defers…
Italy’s producer prices rose 4.2% year-over-year in March 2026, ending four consecutive months of declines and marking the steepest increase since February 2025, primarily fueled by soaring energy prices tied to the Iran conflict.On the domestic market, prices jumped 5.4%, reversing a 3.7% drop in…
Taylor Wimpey share price continued its relentless freefall, reaching its lowest level July 2023, down by over 46% from its since July 2023. It has plunged by over 45% from its highest point in October 2024, erasing billions of dollars in value. This crash may continue in the foreseeable future aft…
France’s registered unemployment increased by 35,600 in March 2026, reaching 3.109 million, following a revised 8,500 decline in February.This rise marks the end of four consecutive months of falling unemployment, led by the 25-49 age group, where joblessness rose by 25,600 to 1.803 million.Unemplo…
UK 10-year gilt yields rose to 5%, nearing levels last seen in 2008, as stalled US-Iran negotiations and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz heightened inflation concerns and strengthened expectations of a tighter Bank of England policy.The geopolitical tensions have added pressure on mar…
Retail trade in Spain rose by 4.1% year-on-year in March 2026, the most in four months, following an upwardly revised 2.3% increase in the prior month.Growth was led by non-food sales (7% vs 3.5% in February), especially household equipment (7.6% vs 1.6%) and healthcare items (6.1% vs 1.8%), while…
Spain’s unemployment rate climbed to 10.83% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 9.93% in the previous period, above market expectations of 9.8%.The number of unemployed persons rose by 231,500, reaching a total of 2.71 million.This seasonal spike follows the conclusion of the holiday period, a ty…
European stocks traded slightly lower on Tuesday as investors monitored geopolitical developments and digested a fresh batch of corporate earnings.The pan-European Stoxx 600 index slipped 0.1% shortly after the opening bell, reflecting cautious sentiment across markets.Oil prices moved higher in ea…
By David MillikenEaster promotions on chocolate eggs, home renovation materials and clothing helped lower shop price inflation in April, offering households some respite ahead of an expected further rise in prices caused by the Iran war.The British Retail Consortium said on Tuesday that its monthly…
Irish consumer sentiment fell for a second successive month in April, but the pace of decline was smaller than the previous month as households started to better manage the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, a survey showed on Tuesday.The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey dropped to 53…
Italian producer prices (PPI) were up by 4.2% year-on-year in March, posting the steepest annual rise since February 2025, the national statistics agency ISTAT said on Tuesday.The rise is "mainly explained by the price increases of the energy component on the domestic market, particularly marked fo…
Retail sales in Slovenia returned to growth, advancing by 4.6% year-on-year in March 2026, following a downwardly revised 2.7% decline in the previous month.This marked the sharpest growth in retail activity since September 2022, as sales rebounded notably in non-food products (3.8% vs -0.8% in Feb…
Australian consumer confidence is slowly recovering from the twin shocks of rising interest rates and soaring gasoline prices. But still, it remains at levels not seen since the start of the 1970s, says Sophia Angala, an economist at ANZ. The ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian consumer confidence rose 3.5 p…
British grocery inflation eased to 3.8% in the four weeks to April 19 from 4.3% in the previous period, data from Worldpanel by Numerator showed on Tuesday, indicating that the impact from the Iran war had not hit supermarket shelves yet.The data showed UK grocery sales increased 0.9% in the four-w…
Australian shares fell 57 points, or 0.7%, to 8,709 in Tuesday morning trade, marking a sixth straight decline and the lowest level in three weeks.Sentiment remained cautious ahead of March inflation data due Wednesday, with markets expecting a reading of around 4.7%, potentially the highest since…
US stocks ended mixed on Monday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closing at fresh record highs, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged lower as rising oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty tempered investor sentiment.The S&P 500 gained 0.12% to close at 7,173.91, while the Nasdaq Comp…
Germany’s 10-year Bund yield rose to 3.06%, nearing its highest level since 2011, after the European Central Bank reported a sharp increase in inflation expectations for March.According to the ECB’s latest consumer survey, prices are now expected to rise by 4% over the next 12 months, up from 2.5…
Silver traded near $76 an ounce on Tuesday, holding within a narrow range as investors assessed renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the US–Iran conflict, which has triggered a historic energy supply shock and intensified inflation concerns.Tehran reportedly delivered a fresh proposal to Washingto…
Poland expects economic growth to reach 3.6% in 2026, before slowing to below 3% from 2028, according to a baseline scenario prepared by the Ministry of Finance that does not take the Iran war into account, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna reported on Tuesday.The Polish government is expected to adopt the dr…
European stocks are expected to open higher on Tuesday as investors track geopolitical developments and prepare for a busy earnings and central bank calendar.European markets point to modest gainsAccording to market data from IG, the UK’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open slightly higher.Germany’s…
Retail sales in Lithuania rose by 5.7% year-on-year in March 2026 from an upwardly revised 2.9% in the previous month.Growth rebounded in food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.9% vs -0.3% in February), while retail trade excluding automotive fuel continued to expand (5.5% vs 2.3%), alongside mai…
Australian household spending remains resilient in the face of higher interest rates and rising fuel costs, according to CBA data in the week to April 18. Spending in the week was 3.5% higher than the weekly 2025 average, the data shows. Spending on discretionary goods also remains solid and is tra…
Gold prices were little changed on Tuesday after giving up earlier gains, as investors weighed uncertain US-Iran diplomacy and a heavy week of central bank decisions against the pressure of a stronger dollar and firmer oil prices.Bullion found some support from persistent geopolitical risk, but tha…
UK grocery inflation fell to 3.8% in the four weeks to April 19 from 4.3% in the previous period, researcher Worldpanel by Numerator said on Tuesday, providing some relief for shoppers ahead of an expected further rise in food prices due to the Iran war.Worldpanel said UK grocery sales increased 0…
Yields on U.K. government bonds climb, with 10-year yields hitting a one-month high, on concerns that high energy prices will drive up inflation, potentially forcing the Bank of England to raise interest rates. In addition, political unease and uncertainty around the future of Keir Starmer as U.K…
Wholesale prices in Ireland fell by 0.2% year-on-year in March 2026, easing from a 5.5% drop in the previous month.This marked the softest decline in fourteen months, as prices increased for pulp and paper products (4.6% vs 2.5% in February), fabricated metal products, except machinery equipment (4…
The annual producer inflation rate in North Macedonia rose to 4.4% in March 2026 from 4.2% in the previous month, marking the highest level since September 2025.Producer prices increased further for intermediate goods excluding energy (2.9% vs 2.2% in February), consumer goods (2.5% vs 2.1%), durab…
By Paul HannonEurozone households expect inflation to be much higher over the coming year than they did before the onset of the conflict in the Middle East, a worrying sign for officials at the European Central Bank as they prepare to set interest rates.According to a survey of 19,000 adults conduc…
By Leika KiharaThe Bank of Japan is widely expected to hold off raising interest rates on Tuesday, but drop hawkish signals to leave itself scope to push up borrowing costs in coming months to counter inflationary pressure from the Middle East conflict.The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has complicated…
The pound held near $1.35 as the US-Iran impasse continues and domestic political pressures weigh on markets.Tensions intensified after a US official revealed President Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest proposal, which sought to delay nuclear program negotiations until the ongoing c…
The New Zealand dollar fell to $0.588, snapping a two-day winning streak, amid reports that President Trump was dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal, dampening hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.The proposal includes reopening the strait in exchange for the US li…
UK shop price inflation rose 1.0% year-on-year in April 2026, down from 1.2% in March and below market expectations of 1.5%.It marked the softest pace since last December and was below the three-month average of 1.1%, partly due to discounting in some goods.Food inflation slowed to 3.3% from 3.4% i…
Global markets and technology sectors saw significant developments on Monday, as OpenAI and Microsoft reworked their partnership to allow broader cloud distribution, China moved to block Meta Platforms’ planned acquisition of Manus, US officials weighed Iran’s latest proposal amid ongoing tensions…
European stocks are expected to open higher on Tuesday as investors track geopolitical developments and prepare for a busy earnings and central bank calendar.European markets point to modest gainsAccording to market data from IG, the UK’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open slightly higher.Germany’s…
The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note climbed to around 4.35% on Tuesday, marking a one-month high as investors positioned ahead of the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting.The central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged in what could be Jerome Powell’s final meeting as…
Italy’s industrial turnover rose by 0.6% month-on-month in February 2026, following a downwardly revised 0.2% fall in the previous month.Foreign sales rebounded (1.9% vs -1.6% in January), more than offsetting a small drop in domestic sales (-0.2% vs 0.6%).On a yearly basis, industrial turnover, ad…
The UniCredit Bank Austria Manufacturing PMI fell to 51.2 in April 2026 from 52.4 in March, signaling a loss of momentum as conditions in the sector softened.The slowdown was driven by renewed declines in both output and new orders.Production also slipped back into contraction territory, while expo…
Eurozone median inflation expectations for the next 12 months jumped to 4.0% in March 2026, the highest level since October 2023 and up sharply from 2.5% in February.This marked the largest monthly increase since early 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine first disrupted energy markets.The escal…
Ireland’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 53.3 in April 2026 from 56.7 in the previous month, marking its lowest level since December 2022 and extending the decline for a second straight month.Still, the 3.4-point drop was far milder than March’s sharp 8.5-point fall, hinting the pace…
New Zealand’s filled jobs rose 0.3% from a month earlier to 2.35 million in March 2026, the highest in 14 months, according to Statistics New Zealand.Jobs increased by 14,600 from a recent low in July but remained about 39,000 below levels seen two years earlier.The improvement in employment reflec…
By Maria MartinezThe German government is working on a draft budget for 2027 which includes total borrowing of 196.5 billion euros ($229.73 billion), sources told Reuters on Tuesday.This compares with 50.5 billion euros in 2024 under the previous government, before Germany threw off decades of fis…
By Paul VieiraOTTAWA--The Bank of Canada likely will keep its main interest rate unchanged Wednesday, but there is growing doubt that officials can hold rates steady the longer energy prices remain elevated, economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal say.The conflict in the Middle East has effe…
US stock index futures edged lower on Tuesday as investors turned cautious ahead of the opening bell, with the stand-off between Washington and Tehran keeping oil prices elevated and limiting appetite for risk.The move suggested traders were reluctant to extend recent gains while the prospect of a…