Currencies

Brazil bank lending slows further in August as tight monetary policy bites

BRASILIA -Outstanding bank lending in Brazil continued to lose momentum in August, central bank data showed on Monday, as high interest rates helped cool activity in Latin America's largest economy. ...

Shutdown showdown

What matters in U.S. and global markets today By Mike Dolan, Editor-At-Large, Finance and Markets Buoyant world stock markets seem oblivious to the possibility that the...

Fed's Miran sees Trump economic overhaul driving down rates, others see a risky bet

WASHINGTON -New Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran's call for big interest rate cuts is based on faith that President Donald Trump's economic plans will quickly lower the rate of interest that...

Dollar falls ahead of data releases, risk of US government shutdown looms

SINGAPORE -The dollar eased on Monday ahead of a slew of U.S. economic releases that could provide further clarity on the Federal Reserve's rate path, while the growing risk of a U.S. government...

BOJ board's hawkish flex lowers bar for an October rate hike

TOKYO -A hawkish board split at the Bank of Japan's policy meeting this month has increased pressure on its dovish governor Kazuo Ueda to move faster on interest rate hikes, raising the prospect the...

US dollar at risk if Trump can sway Fed to more dovish stance, says PGIM exec

NEW YORK -The risk that pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump could shift the Federal Reserve to an overly dovish stance is the main near-term concern for the U.S. dollar, said a senior executive...

Fed's Miran math may overstate the impact of immigration on inflation

An economist whose research provided a foundation for Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran's argument that President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown will slow inflation by cutting demand for...

Solid US consumer spending in August underscores economy's resilience

WASHINGTON -U.S. consumer spending increased slightly more than expected in August as households went on vacation and dined out, keeping the economy on solid ground as the third quarter progressed,...

Russian fuel crisis causes long queues and headaches for motorists

SEVASTOPOL, Crimea -A long queue of cars outside a petrol station in Sevastopol, a port city in Russian-controlled Crimea, laid bare the challenges drivers across Russia are facing in a widening...

With US backing, Argentina gains time - but October vote will be crucial

LONDON -Argentina's whatever it takes moment with the United States this week may have given the country its best chance to escape decades of chaotic debt defaults and bailouts, investors say. But...

Wall Street opens higher after inflation data calms rate-cut jitters

Wall Street's main indexes opened higher on Friday, after the latest inflation data came in line with expectations, easing concerns that persistent price pressures could delay interest rate cuts by...

Instant View: US PCE matches expectations in August

NEW YORK -The U.S. Commerce Department said on Friday its Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index rose 0.3% in August, versus the prior 0.2% rise in July and matched the estimate of economists...

US consumer spending increases solidly in August

WASHINGTON -U.S. consumer spending increased slightly more than expected in August, keeping the economy on solid ground as the third quarter progressed, while inflation continued to rise at a...

US stock index futures extend gains after August inflation data

U.S. stock index futures extended gains on Friday, after an in-line inflation reading reinforced bets that the Federal Reserve may proceed with interest rate cuts this year. A Commerce...

Canada's GDP rebounds in July after three months of contraction

OTTAWA -Canada's monthly gross domestic product rebounded from three months of contraction to grow by 0.2% in July as mining, manufacturing and wholesale trade boosted growth, data showed on Friday. ...

Sharif calls for American investment in Pakistan in Trump meet

ISLAMABAD -Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited American companies to invest in the country during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House that also focused on how...

Japan revises July real wages to show contraction from growth

TOKYO -Japan revised real wages in July to a 0.2% fall from a previously reported growth of 0.5%, a labour ministry release showed on Friday. With the revision, Japan's...

Fed's Daly: 'A little bit more' rate cutting likely needed 'over time'

San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Mary Daly repeated on Thursday that the U.S. central bank likely needs to cut interest rates further, but it needs to move slowly as it balances risks to...

Russia's state debt-servicing costs will rise by 23% in 2026

MOSCOW -Russia's debt-servicing costs will rise by 22.5% in 2026 from this year, reaching 8.8% of the total budget expenses, due to an increase in borrowing and high interest rates, Finance Ministry...