• Russia’s central bank holds rates amid high inflation

    MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Russia's central bank held interest rates unchanged on Friday as Moscow's military offensive on Ukraine has led to stubbornly high inflation and labor shortages. The central bank raised rates to 16 percent in a series of hikes last year to cool the pace of price rises. Analysts are...
  • Asian markets struggle as US data dents Fed rate cut optimism

    Equities across the world had surged Thursday in response to the central bank's closely watched dot plot projection that it would lower borrowing costs three times this year, even after figures showed prices ticking up in January and February. .
  • Eurozone business activity stabilizes in March

    Brussels, Belgium - Business activity in the eurozone stabilized in March thanks largely to a "modest recovery" in the service sector, a closely watched survey showed on Thursday. The HCOB Flash eurozone purchasing managers' index (PMI) published by S&P Global stood at 49.9 in March, up from 49.2 in February. A figure...
  • IMF chief urges countries to strengthen independence of central banks

    "Financial stability benefits the whole economy and reduces the risk that the central bank becomes reluctant to raise interest rates for fear of causing a financial meltdown," she added.
  • Gold hits fresh record above $2,200 on rate cut hopes

    The gains have been helped by a weaker dollar and the gold's attraction as a safe haven as geopolitical tensions rise. Because bullion does not generate any interest, it benefits when central banks lower borrowing costs as its safe-haven status makes it more attractive to investors.
  • White House announces $20bn in grants, loans to boost Intel chip production

    Washington, United States - The White House unveiled almost $20 billion in new grants and loans Wednesday to support Intel's US chip-making facilities, marking the Biden administration's largest funding announcement yet as it tackles China's dominance of the crucial technology. President Joe Biden's decision to make the announcement during a trip...
  • Cash-strapped Pakistan gets draft approval for $1.1 bn IMF payout

    Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan reached a tentative deal to unlock a $1.1 billion tranche of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout deal, the global lender said Wednesday, giving much-needed respite to the South Asian nation. Last summer, cash-strapped Pakistan sketched a $3 billion deal with the IMF as it battled a...
  • Federal Reserve begins two-day talk on interest rates

    Washington, United States - The US Federal Reserve began two days of discussions on Tuesday at which policymakers are expected to hold firm on interest rates, and continue discussions about when to start cutting them. The meeting got under way in Washington at 9am local time (1300 GMT) on Tuesday, the...
  • Saudi inflation rises to 1.8% in February

    RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA –   Saudi Arabia’s inflation accelerated to 1.8 percent in February compared to January 2024, according to data by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).  The cost-of-living index for February rose to 110.64 points, according to the base year 2018, from 108.67 points in the same month a year earlier.  Inflation...
  • Lego net profit falls

    Its net profit fell five percent to 13.1 billion kroner ($1.24bn).
  • US consumer inflation in Feb up as Federal Reserve mulls rate cut

    The annual consumer price index (CPI) came in at 3.2 percent last month, the Labor Department said, while the "core" measure stripping out volatile food and energy prices edged down slightly to 3.8 percent.
  • High inflation leaves Nigeria struggling ahead of Ramadan

    Lagos, Nigeria - The holy fasting month of Ramadan begins early next week in Nigeria, with the worst economic crisis in a generation leaving many in Africa's most populous Muslim country struggling to buy food. With food inflation at around 35 percent, worshipers taking part in Friday prayers at the central...
  • Lufthansa profit spikes in 2023

    Its net profit shot up to US$1.82bn as demand booms.
  • Egypt’s IMF loan increased by $5bn after central bank floats pound

    The agreement, announced by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the IMF's mission chief for Egypt, Ivanna Vladkova Hollar, came hours after the country's central bank hiked interest rates and said it was floating the pound. By the time the markets closed on Wednesday, the Egyptian pound was trading at a...
  • Asian markets mostly down as China sets 5 percent growth goal

    Hong Kong, China - Asian markets largely fell on Tuesday after China set an ambitious five percent annual growth target and Wall Street shares dropped ahead of the release of key US economic indicators. Tokyo finished flat, a day after Japan's benchmark Nikkei index hit a record high, closing above 40,000...
  • China’s annual political conclave starts as economy sputters

    Proceedings kick off Monday at 3:00 pm with the opening ceremony of China's People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which will last until next Sunday. At a press conference, CPPCC spokesperson Liu Jieyi said that "economic topics are of great concern" to the body's over two thousand members.
  • Swiss central bank posts 2023 loss

    The bank has raised its interest rates to tame inflation..
  • Turkey’s inflation rises to 67.1% in February

    On a monthly basis, inflation rose 4.5 percent in February, slower than the 6.7 percent rise logged in January. Erdogan said Sunday that anti-inflation policies "will begin to be felt in practice towards the end of the year".
  • Major stock markets trade mixed as US inflation data awaited

    London, United Kingdom - Major stock markets traded mixed Thursday before the release of US inflation data that could present a clearer idea on when the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates as inflation cools. Traders reacted also to yet more earnings, with the Paris CAC 40 reaching a fresh...
  • Geopolitical risks, sanctions keep commodity markets on edge

    Istanbul, Turkey--The commodity markets saw supply concerns and rises by optimism from China, despite the negative impact of the Fed's announcements, sanctions, and ongoing geopolitical risks. Uncertainties as to when the Fed will start cutting interest rates persist, and the minutes of last week's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting...
  • Manufacturers pack smartphones with AI tools to boost sales

    Barcelona, Spain - Smartphone makers are packing their latest devices with flashy new artificial intelligence tools such as real-time voice translation and advanced photo editing in efforts to reignite consumer demand. The trend was on display at the telecom industry's biggest annual show, the four-day Mobile World Congress (MWC) which got...
  • AI in focus as world’s biggest mobile fair gets underway in Spain

    Barcelona, Spain - The world's biggest mobile phone fair throws open its doors in Barcelona Monday with the sector looking to artificial intelligence to try and reverse declining sales. Phone makers are expected to focus on the unique AI-powered tools of their latest handsets at the four-day Mobile World Congress in...
  • Lloyds Group profit is $6.2bn

    High interest rates benefitted the British lender and banking sector as a whole.
  • GCC, OPEC boost ties to stabilize global oil markets

    During his meeting with OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, Albudaiwi praises the significant efforts of OPEC and its crucial role in maintaining the stability and balance of oil markets and addressing future challenges, in coordination with member states of the bloc.
  • Construction costs set to rise in UAE, Saudi Arabia in 2024: Report

    Dubai, UAE -- Construction costs are set to increase in the UAE by 2-3 percent, and in Saudi Arabia by 5-7 percent in 2024, following an increase of 3 percent and 7 percent respectively in 2023. Increases will challenge construction firms, which will need to develop new processes and capabilities to...
  • China cuts key mortgage rate to boost economy

    China last year recorded one of its worst annual growth rates since 1990, dampening hopes for a rapid economic recovery following the end of draconian Covid restrictions in late 2022. In January, consumer prices fell at their quickest rate in more than 14 years, piling pressure on the government to...
  • Commerzbank net profit $2.4bn

    This is the bank's biggest net profit in 15 years.
  • Higher prices boost Coca-Cola sales despite Middle East hit

    Chief Executive James Quincey described consumers in North America as "holding up well," although he acknowledged "a little softening" through 2023 in the United States due to persistently higher prices that have pressured low-income shoppers. Coca-Cola projected 2024 revenue growth of six to seven percent when foreign exchange and the...
  • European stocks firm as markets await US inflation data

    London, United Kingdom - Europe's main stock markets steadied Friday as traders reacted to more earnings updates from top companies, while awaiting revisions to US inflation data. Asia saw holiday-thinned trade, with investors there struggling to build on another record-setting day on Wall Street. "Today sees things slow down after a...
  • Unilever annual profit drops 15%

    Group revenue dipped 0.8 percent to 59.6 billion euros.
  • Tunisia parliament votes to let central bank finance budget

    The parliament ratified by a huge majority of 92 votes out of 133 an amendment to an article that prohibited the central bank from financing the public treasury. The new measure allows the central bank to lend the state US$2.2 billion to be repaid without interest in 10 years after...
  • OECD predicts rise in global economy amid Middle East ‘risk’

    The OECD raised its 2024 world economic growth forecast Monday but warned that the Middle East conflict posed a risk, with disruptions in Red Sea shipping threatening to increase consumer prices. Global growth "proved unexpectedly resilient" in 2023, reaching 3.1 percent as inflation declined faster than anticipated..
  • McDonald Q4 profit up

    McDonald's cited war in the Middle East as a drag.
  • Turkey’s inflation 65% in Jan, piles pressure on central bank

    Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey's annual inflation rate stayed stable in January at nearly 65 percent, but month-on-month consumer price increases jumped sharply following a huge minimum wage hike, official data showed Monday. The year-on-year inflation rate moved to 64.86 percent -- up a notch from 64.77 percent in December, the TUIK...
  • Ex-Amazon economist to head Turkey’s central bank

    Erkan resigned just a week after completing a historic series of interest rate hikes that have pushed the baseline rate from 8.5 percent to 45 percent. The bank said last week that it intends to keep rates high for the immediate future to make sure inflation is brought under control.
  • GCC central banks mimic Fed, hold interest rates steady

    Abu Dhabi, UAE--In a significant move that underscores the interconnectedness of global monetary policies, central banks across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have announced decisions to hold their interest rates steady, mirroring the recent actions of the US Federal Reserve. This collective stance reflects a cautious approach to navigating the...
  • WEF24: Geopolitical upheaval to affect global economy

    Geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Middle East unrest, and China-Taiwan ties are key economic disruptors, says Bill Browder of Hermitage Capital.
  • Global stock markets swing ahead of Fed’s latest rate decision

    "Markets are eagerly anticipating today's meeting from the Federal Reserve with traders looking for signs over whether a March rate cut is plausible," said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets.
  • Norway’s sovereign wealth fund posts record US$213bn profit

    Oslo, Norway - Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest, said Tuesday it raked in a record profit of 2.2 trillion kroner ($213 billion) last year, driven by tech stocks and a weak national currency. The fund's total value reached close to 15.8 trillion kroner last year. The 16.1 percent return...
  • US Fed rate cuts become question of when, not if

    Washington, United States -- The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to start cutting interest rates in the coming months, as inflation edges closer to its long-run target of two percent. What is less clear, however, is when the first of those cuts will come. While the US central bank is...
  • US Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge rises before rate decision

    The US Federal Reserve's favored measure of inflation ticked higher last month, according to government data published. The latest announcement will likely ensure the US central bank keeps interest rates on hold at its next decision announcement on Wednesday, as policymakers continue talks on when to start cuts.
  • ECB to urge patience on rate cuts in battle against inflation

    The central bank is tipped to leave rates unchanged for a third consecutive meeting, keeping the benchmark deposit rate at a record four percent. The bank's governing council is expected to repeat that it considers rates are currently at levels that "will make a substantial contribution" to returning inflation to...
  • Rising costs, debt challenges grip Egypt’s economy

    Egypt begins 2024 with steep increases in essential services' prices, exacerbating the economic strain on its citizens amidst a broader economic crisis.
  • European market up on record-busting Wall Street

    A surge in tech titans including Apple, Amazon, Nvidia and Facebook parent Meta on Friday pushed New York's S&P 500 index to its first new all-time high since early 2022 thanks to bets on lower borrowing costs this year.
  • European Central Bank to signal no rush to cut interest rates

    The Frankfurt institute is tipped to pause for the third meeting in a row following a historic run of hikes to tame runaway prices, leaving the benchmark deposit rate at four percent. ECB president Christine Lagarde said last week rates had likely reached their peak but that it was too...
  • Markets track Wall St rally but China worries cast shadow

    Broader markets were also enjoying a day in the sun though traders struggled to maintain the morning's momentum. Tokyo put on more than one percent thanks to the weaker yen as data showing Japanese inflation slowing eased pressure on the country's central bank to shift away from its ultra-loose monetary...
  • China’s economy to grow steadily in 2024, say analysts

    Beijing, China--China's economy is likely to pick up the pace and grow steadily in 2024 after a bumpy recovery last year, propelled by the gradual increase in domestic demand and with more stimulus policies in the offing, China Daily reported, citing officials and economists on Wednesday. Economists said the country...
  • CBUAE balance sheet touches US$182 billion in November 2023

    Abu Dhabi, UAE--The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) saw its balance sheet soar to $182.43 billion at the end of November 2023, marking a significant surge in its financial strength. This impressive growth is revealed in the bank's latest balance sheet report. The report highlights a robust...
  • China’s economic recovery stalls as growth flags

    The country's national bureau of statistics said that GDP grew 5.2 percent to hit 126 trillion yuan ($17.6 trillion) as the country battled a crippling property crisis, sluggish consumption and global turmoil. Official GDP figures remain a key source of insight into the health of the world's second-largest economy.
  • Markets drop as Middle East tensions rise, rates cut delayed

    While inflation is on a general downward path, there is a worry that it could pop back up anytime, particularly with tensions in the oil-rich Middle East showing no sign of calming.