Russia is witnessing an unprecedented surge in potato prices, with retail costs more than doubling or even tripling compared with a year ago. Adverse weather last season, including spring frosts and drought conditions, slashed harvests by around 12%, leading to… Read More ›
Regulations & Legal
Tokyo and Washington Edge Closer to Tariff Truce with Targeted Concessions
In a bid to resolve escalating trade tensions, Japanese and U.S. negotiators have reported concrete advances during their latest round of talks aimed at rolling back punitive tariffs on key sectors. This fifth ministerial-level meeting, held in Washington last week,… Read More ›
US Fed’s Data-Driven Caution Explains Why Interest Rates Are Poised to Stay Put
Federal Reserve officials are widely expected to maintain their policy interest rate at its current level as they balance signs of cooling inflation, a still-resilient labor market and growing global uncertainties. After a series of rate hikes over the past… Read More ›
Surge in Clean Energy Drives Global Investment Toward All-Time High of $3.3 Trillion
Global energy investment is on track to reach an unprecedented $3.3 trillion in 2025, propelled by a widespread pivot to clean energy technologies, supportive policy frameworks, and the drive for energy security. Despite lingering economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, investors… Read More ›
Silver Soars to 13-Year Apex on Industrial, Monetary and Supply Dynamics
Silver has surged to levels unseen since early 2012, breaching the $35-per-ounce mark and briefly touching $36 as investors and consumers alike bemoan tightening supplies, buoyant industrial demand, and an uncertain monetary backdrop. The precious metal’s performance in 2025 has… Read More ›
Global Equity Funds Suffer Second Consecutive Weekly Outflow as Tariff Worries Mount
Global equity funds experienced a second straight week of net withdrawals in the seven-day period ending May 28, shedding $7.5 billion as investors became increasingly risk-averse amid renewed concerns over U.S. tariff threats and the broader implications for economic growth…. Read More ›
Fed’s Pause Under Scrutiny as Inflation Eases but Consumers Hold Back
Federal Reserve policymakers are widely expected to maintain their current benchmark interest rate in the months ahead, despite the latest data showing signs of cooling inflation and increasingly cautious consumer behavior. Although the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—a key… Read More ›
OPEC+ Holds Firm on July Output Hike Amid Market Share and Compliance Concerns
OPEC+ ministers on Saturday approved a further increase of 411,000 barrels per day to their collective oil production ceiling for July, underscoring a strategic commitment to regain lost market share and address persistent compliance issues among member states. The decision,… Read More ›
U.S. Banks Post Strong First-Quarter Gains on Robust Fee Income and Wider Lending Margins
U.S. banks collectively reported $70.6 billion in after-tax profits for the first quarter of 2025, marking a 5.8% increase from the prior quarter and underscoring resilient revenue streams despite mounting economic headwinds. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) highlighted that… Read More ›
Tariff Checkpoint: How the Court’s Stay on Trump’s Levies Ripples Across Markets and Policy
In a landmark decision this week, the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down the vast majority of President Trump’s sweeping, across-the-board import tariffs, ruling that he had exceeded his statutory powers under emergency authority. The permanent injunction halts blanket… Read More ›