Analysis: Indices

US Senate budget bill slashes money to fill oil reserve

WASHINGTON -The budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday slashes the amount of money available to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve even though President Donald Trump vowed on his...

Approval of Egypt's IMF programme review faces possible delay, sources say

CAIRO -The IMF may merge its fifth and sixth reviews of Egypt's $8 billion support programme because of slow progress on structural reforms, possibly delaying a new disbursement by half a year, three...

Euronext in talks to buy Athens Stock Exchange for $470 million

Euronext is in talks to buy up to 100% of the Athens Stock Exchange in a 399 million euro all-share deal that would be the latest for a group that already operates stock markets in countries...

HSBC raises average gold price forecasts for 2025 and 2026

HSBC raised its 2025 average gold price forecast to $3,215 an ounce from $3,015 and its 2026 forecast to $3,125 from $2,915, citing elevated risks and government debt. Gold tends to...

African Development Bank to give South Africa $475 million loan

JOHANNESBURG -The African Development Bank will give South Africa a $474.6 million loan to upgrade its transport and energy infrastructure, the bank said on Tuesday, the second big infrastructure...

India cabinet approves $11.7 billion employment incentives plan to create 35 million jobs

NEW DELHI -India's federal cabinet on Tuesday approved an employment-linked incentive scheme budgeted at 1 trillion rupees , aimed at generating nearly 35 million jobs over two years by offering...

EU wants upfront relief for key sectors in any US trade deal, sources say

BRUSSELS -The European Union wants immediate relief from tariffs in key sectors as part of any trade deal with the United States due by a July 9 deadline, but the bloc expects even a best-case deal...

UK factory downturn shows signs of easing, morale ticks up, PMI shows

LONDON -Britain's manufacturing sector showed some signs of turning a corner in its long slump and businesses pushed up their prices in June to offset higher labour costs, according to a survey...

South Africa seeks extension of Trump tariff deadline to pursue trade deal

JOHANNESBURG -South Africa has asked for more time to negotiate a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration before his higher tariff regime goes into effect on July 9, Pretoria's...

UK energy bills may rise as regulator approves 24 billion pound network upgrade

LONDON -Britain's energy watchdog has given the go-ahead to a 24 billion pound investment to upgrade the country's transmission system, but said the move could push up network charges on household...

Japan says it won't sacrifice farm sector for tariff deal after Trump rice complaints

Japan will not sacrifice the agricultural sector as part of its tariff talks with the United States, its top negotiator said on Tuesday, after President Donald Trump complained that the key Asian ally...

Trading Day: Ending first half on a record high note

NEW YORK -TRADING DAY Making sense of the forces driving global markets By Lewis Krauskopf, Markets Reporter  Jamie is enjoying some well-deserved time off,...

EU to accept Trump's universal tariff but seeks key exemptions, Bloomberg News reports

The European Union is open to a trade agreement with the United States that would apply a universal 10% tariff on many of its exports, but the EU is seeking U.S. commitments to reduce tariffs in key...

Citi expects gold price to consolidate around $3,100-$3,500 in third quarter

Citi expects the price of gold to consolidate around $3,100 to $3,500 per ounce in the third quarter, as prices moderate due to geopolitical de-escalation in the Middle East and an improved global...

US crude oil output hit record in April, EIA data shows

NEW YORK -U.S. crude oil production hit a record 13.47 million barrels-per-day in April, up from 13.45 million bpd in March, according to data released by the Energy Information Administration as...

Geopolitical tensions nudge oil outlook higher, but demand concerns persist

Analysts have marginally lifted their oil price forecasts after the flare-up of tensions in the Middle East, but rising OPEC+ supply and a tempered demand outlook continue to weigh on crude, a...

Saudi wealth fund annual profit tumbles 60% as high rates, inflation bite

DUBAI -Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund's assets exceeded $1 trillion in 2024, but its net profit slumped 60% from a year earlier, it reported on Monday, hurt by high interest rates and inflation...

Even as markets rally, Trump's policymaking causes market angst

As Wall Street puts April's tariff shakeout in the rearview mirror and indexes set record highs, investors remain wary of U.S. President Donald Trump's rapid-fire, sometimes chaotic policymaking...

FedEx resumes Israel services, imposes surcharge on select routes

Parcel giant FedEx said on Monday that it reinstated its services to and from Israel on June 27 after previously halting all pickups amid heightened flight safety risks in the Middle East. ...