The recent economic data coming out of China has painted a bleak picture of the country’s economic health. With new home prices plummeting, industrial output slowing, export and investment growth declining, and unemployment on the rise, the pressure is mounting on Beijing to take decisive action to jumpstart growth. While there were some data points
Economy
Indonesia’s outgoing government recently submitted a 2025 budget plan to parliament targeting a narrower deficit and higher expenditure than the current year. The budget proposal, worth 3,613.1 trillion rupiah, projects a deficit of 2.53% of GDP – narrower than this year’s 2.7%. This move signifies that Southeast Asia’s largest economy intends to remain fiscally prudent
The recent surge in the US stock market can be attributed to positive economic data that has alleviated concerns about an impending recession. Following a significant sell-off earlier in the month, the S&P 500 has managed to bounce back by over 6%. This recovery has been fueled by reports on retail sales, inflation, and producer
Wealth managers utilize cash sweep programs to transfer uninvested cash in brokerage accounts to partner banks, allowing clients to earn returns on idle funds. However, these programs have come under scrutiny due to disputes surrounding the interest rates paid by partner banks, which are often lower than alternative options such as money market funds. Recent
The recent appointment of Alan Taylor, an economics professor specializing in international economics and financial crises, to the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has drawn attention from economists and financial experts alike. Taylor, a British-born professor currently at Columbia University in New York, brings a wealth of experience from both academia and the financial
The recent uptick in the U.S. stock market has been quite significant, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recording their biggest weekly percentage gains since late October. This positive momentum has been attributed to the easing of fears of an economic downturn. Investors are now eagerly awaiting the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, hoping for more
In the current financial landscape, Asian stocks are holding firm, showcasing resilience amidst global economic uncertainties. The dollar, on the other hand, is struggling with lower U.S. Treasury yields, signaling potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in the near future. Regional equities, particularly in Japan and Australia, have been showing positive signs with
Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the largest lender in the country, recently announced its annual cash profit for the year ending June 30. Surprisingly, the cash profit of A$9.84 billion exceeded expectations, although it was slightly lower than the previous year’s record of A$10.16 billion. Additionally, the bank declared its highest-ever dividend of A$2.50 per share,
Currency markets were in a state of uncertainty as investors awaited the release of U.S. economic data to determine the likelihood of significant rate cuts. The dollar was seen hovering at 147.17 yen, remaining relatively steady after touching a one-week high of 148.23 overnight. At the same time, the euro was positioned at $1.0931, inching
Republican U.S. vice presidential candidate JD Vance expressed his support for Donald Trump’s stance on giving presidents a say in Federal Reserve Board policy-making, particularly when it comes to interest-rate moves. This position was outlined during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” program, where Vance emphasized the importance of allowing political leaders to
China’s bond market, the second-largest in the world, recently experienced a turbulent week with the central bank heavily intervening to stem a plunge in yields. This move comes at a time when the economy is struggling, raising concerns among investors. Despite the unprecedented government actions to cool down the market, some die-hard investors remain bullish
India’s markets regulator, SEBI, recently responded to allegations made by Hindenburg Research regarding the head of the organization, Madhabi Puri Buch. SEBI urged investors to remain calm and exercise due diligence before reacting to such reports. It stated that the allegations against the Adani Group have been thoroughly investigated, with most investigations already completed. SEBI