U.S. consumer spending dipped unexpectedly in May, underscoring a shift in household behaviour as the stimulus from advance purchases ahead of looming import duties evaporated. After two consecutive months of modest gains, total outlays fell by 0.1 percent, marking the second… Read More ›
Geopolitics
Robust Capital and Liquidity Buffers Underpin US Banks’ Downturn Resilience – US Fed
The Federal Reserve’s 2025 stress test results confirm that the nation’s largest banking institutions possess the financial strength to navigate a severe economic downturn without government support or curbs on lending. Fed supervisors subjected 22 major banks to a hypothetical… Read More ›
EU and China’s Trade Talks Now tied to Cognac and EV tariffs
China and the European Union have made notable progress this month in their high-stakes trade negotiations, as both sides edge closer to resolving key disputes before a landmark leaders’ summit in Beijing on July 24–25. Recent breakthroughs include a tentative… Read More ›
China’s May Industrial Profits Hit by Demand Shortages and Policy Shifts
In May, China’s once-resilient industrial sector saw a sharp reversal as profits tumbled 9.1 percent year-on-year, snapping a brief two-month uptick in growth. The downturn, affecting firms with annual revenues above 20 million yuan, spotlights a confluence of economic headwinds… Read More ›
Sterling Rally Spurs Market Focus on Future Drivers
The British pound surged to its strongest level against the U.S. dollar since October 2021, trading above \$1.37 as markets weigh the next catalysts for further gains. Driven predominantly by a softer dollar, sterling’s rally has reignited debate over the… Read More ›
Surging Energy Demand and Fossil Fuel Dependence Drive CO₂ Emissions to Record High
Global carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector climbed to an unprecedented 40.8 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of record highs. Despite a historic surge in renewable energy capacity, the world’s appetite for power… Read More ›
US Treasury Yields Slide as Market Forces Outpace Fed’s Patience
Despite Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s insistence that the central bank is in no rush to trim its benchmark rate, U.S. Treasury yields have trended lower in recent sessions. The retreat comes amid shifting market expectations, ebbing inflation pressures and… Read More ›
Trump’s Metal Levies Rattle Retail Aisles as Packaging Costs Surge
President Trump’s decision to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50 percent has sent shockwaves through America’s packaging supply chain, translating into higher costs that are now rippling through the grocery aisles. What began as a measure designed… Read More ›
China’s Exploitation of Myanmar Fuels Its Rare Earth Metals Hegemony
In recent years, Beijing has quietly leveraged Myanmar’s rich ionic clay deposits to cement its global dominance in the rare earth metals sector. While China remains the world’s top producer of these critical minerals, it now relies heavily on imports… Read More ›
Oil Slumps as Middle East Ceasefire Announcement Unwinds Risk Premium
Brent crude futures plunged to their lowest level in more than a week on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Israel and Iran have agreed to a full ceasefire, extinguishing fears of supply disruptions that had driven prices… Read More ›