Bank of Japan Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Dimming Outlook
In its May 2025 meeting, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) decided to keep its short-term interest rate unchanged at 0.5%, the highest level since 2008 and in line with market expectations. The decision was made unanimously, reflecting the bank’s cautious...
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U.S. Economy Contracts in Q1 2025: A Surprising Shift from Growth to Contraction
According to the initial estimate, the U.S. economy shrank at an annualized rate of 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025—the first contraction since Q1 2022 and sharply below market expectations for 0.3% growth. This marks a dramatic reversal from...
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Germany’s Economy Grows in Q1 2025 — Recovery in Sight or Just a Pause in Recession?
Germany’s economy showed a glimmer of life in the first quarter of 2025, posting a modest 0.2% quarterly GDP growth, exactly in line with expectations. This uptick ends a streak of contraction—but only temporarily. On an annual basis, the German...
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China’s Manufacturing Momentum Slows in April: Growth Persists, but Headwinds Strengthen
Despite holding above the threshold that separates growth from contraction, China’s factory activity slowed in April, revealing signs of mounting pressure on the world’s second-largest economy. The Caixin China General Manufacturing PMI fell to 50.4 from March’s reading, marking its...
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U.S. Job Openings Drop to Six-Month Low in March 2025
In March 2025, the number of job openings in the United States dropped by 288,000 to 7.192 million—marking the lowest level since September of last year and falling short of market expectations (7.48 million). The data, released via the JOLTS...
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Trump Enters a New Phase: Foreign Policy, Deregulation & the 2026 Midterms
After a whirlwind first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term as president, Trump enters a new phase as his focus has now shifted toward foreign policy, trade agreements, and domestic deregulation. This phase aims to redefine his presidency’s direction....
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Consumer Confidence in Germany Improves Sharply – May 2025
Germany’s consumer sentiment is showing signs of recovery, reflecting an improvement in Consumer Confidence in Germany. The GfK Consumer Climate Index for May 2025 climbed to -20.6, up from -24.3 the previous month. Not only is this figure better than...
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Limited Increase in Initial Jobless Claims in the US
In the third week of April 2025, the number of initial jobless claims in the United States increased by 6,000 to reach 222,000. This figure aligns with market expectations and remains near the lowest two-month level. Significant Decline in Total...
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9.2% Surge in Durable Goods Orders in the US
In March 2025, new orders for durable manufactured goods in the United States rose by 9.2%, reaching a total of $315.7 billion. This growth marks the third consecutive monthly increase and far exceeds the market forecast of 2%. Durable Goods...
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Germany’s Business Climate Index Hits Highest Level Since July
In April 2025, Germany’s Ifo Business Climate Index increased slightly to 86.9 points, marking the highest level since July 2024. This represents a modest rise from 86.7 points the previous month and defies earlier forecasts, which predicted a decrease. This...
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