Unease about the Future February 25, 2025 Equities this Tuesday did poorly in the Pacific Rim, closing down 2.4% in Indonesia, 1.8% in New Zealand, 1.4% in Japan, 1.3% in Hong Kong, 1.2% in Taiwan, 0.8% in China and 0.6% in South Korea. Digital money experienced a stellar 2024 but now two months into 2025…
In the latest economic update from Hungary, gross wages experienced a slight reduction in their growth rate for December 2024. According to data updated on February 25, 2025, the gross wages have reached an annual growth rate of 11.0%, marking a 0.9% decrease from November’s 11.9% rate. The decline in the growth rate of gross…
Worst Case German Election Result Averted February 24, 2025 (203) The German DAX index rallied 0.9% so far on a day that saw many Pacific Rim stock markets falter, including declines of 1.8% in New Zealand, 1.1% in India, 0.7% in Taiwan, 0.6% in Indonesia and Hong Kong, 0.2% in China. U.S. stock futures are…
Next Week’s Menu: February 22-28, 2025 February 21, 2025 Central Banks: Interest rate settings will be reviewed at central banks in Kyrgyzstan, Israel, South Korea, Hungary and Thailand. Minutes from the last European Central Bank Governing Council meeting will be published. Pill and Dhingra of the Bank of England and Hammack, Bostic, and Harker of…
Trump and Ueda Comments and Early February PMI Findings February 21, 2025 After weeks of confrontational trade talk and action, President Trump switched to a good cop approach on trade with China, expressing eagerness to hold talks soon with Xi Jinping and hope that a deal can be struck to lessen tensions over trade and…
The mood among French businesses has improved slightly according to the latest data released on February 21, 2025. The French Business Survey for February 2025 reveals that the business climate index has edged up to 97 from 96 in January, indicating a modest increase in confidence among French companies. January’s figure of 96, which had…
European Leaders Huddling About Ukraine, Japanese GDP Exceeds Expectations, and U.S. & Canada Observing Holidays February 17, 2025 (204) Today is Presidents Day in the United States and Family Day in Canada. These holiday observances will make for a shortened day in global financial markets and are apt to sap them of leadership. European leaders…
Next Week’s Menu: February 15-21, 2025 February 14, 2025 Central Banks: Interest rate policies will be reviewed next week by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), People’s Bank of China and Bank Indonesia. Policy board meeting minutes will be published by both the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, and…
U.S. Consumers Pausing for Clarification on Policies and Direction of Inflation February 14, 2025 The dollar’s recent step backward was extended this Friday. The weighted DXY dollar index fell 0.4% overnight and has retreated 2.0% in the three weeks since President Trump’s inauguration. The dollar dropped 0.6% overnight against the New Zealand dollar, 0.5% versus…
Awaiting Reciprocal Tariff Details and U.S. Producer Price Data February 13, 2025 America’s second inflation shoe this week, the January PPI report, is due within the half hour. President Trump has also promised an announcement today on “reciprocal tariffs,” conceivably the biggest round of levies thus far, and he will be meeting today with Indian…