By Priya Raman
Economist by training. Covers central banks, inflation, jobs data and the policy decisions that shape the cycle.
Palm Oil Futures Jump as Brent Crude Surges Past $90 on Strait of Hormuz Tensions
Palm oil futures in Malaysia opened higher Monday, tracking a sharp jump in crude oil prices. Brent crude surged past $90 a barrel as geopol
World Cup Boost Fails to Lift Mexico's Sluggish Economy as USMCA Uncertainty Looms
Mexico's World Cup co-hosting generated a short-lived tourism boost, but the economy remains sluggish with a 0.6% Q1 contraction. The outloo
Fed Hawk Hammack Signals Possible Rate Hike as Inflation Stays Stubborn
Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack has floated the possibility of another interest rate hike, even as markets expect rates to hold steady
Oil Surges Past $86 as Middle East Shipping Risks Intensify, Diesel Margins Hit Record
Brent crude topped $86 a barrel as new security threats in the Middle East raised the risk of shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hor
US Consumer Sentiment Hits Five-Month High, But Rising Gas Prices Threaten Recovery
Consumer sentiment hit a five-month high in July, but the mood boost may be short-lived as rising gas prices from Middle East tensions threa
Consumer Sentiment Rises in July, But Gas Price Spike Could Reverse Gains
US consumer sentiment improved more than expected in July, but the survey timing raises doubts. Most responses came before gas prices surged
US Factory Output Stalls in June as Mining and Utilities Prop Up Industrial Production
US factory output stalled in June, with overall industrial production rising just 0.1% as mining and utilities did the heavy lifting. Capaci
Malaysia Stocks Edge Up as Q2 Growth Beats Forecasts, Inflation Eases
Malaysia's stock benchmark edged higher after Q2 2026 growth came in at 5.8%, beating forecasts, while June inflation eased to 1.9%. The com
RBC Cuts TotalEnergies Forecasts as Gas Trading Weakens Ahead of Q2 Results
RBC Capital Markets cut its earnings forecasts for TotalEnergies through 2028 after a weak second-quarter update. Gas trading cooled from a
Germany's Factory Order Backlog Hits Record High in May as Supply Constraints Persist
Germany's factory order backlog reached a new record in May, with outstanding orders rising 1.7% from April. However, economists caution tha
Oil's Rebound Puts ECB Rate Hikes Back on the Table for Investors
Oil rebounded sharply this week, briefly topping $85 a barrel, as tensions in the Gulf raised supply fears. The jump pushed eurozone bond yi
South African Rand Weakens as Traders Await Inflation Data and SARB Rate Decision
South Africa's rand weakened as traders prepared for June inflation figures and a tight South African Reserve Bank rate decision next week.