Economy
Central banks, inflation, jobs and growth, and the policy decisions that shape the cycle.
Chile's central bank cuts growth forecast again, keeps inflation timeline
Chile's central bank trimmed its growth forecast for this year to 0.25%-0.75%, citing weaker spending and mining output. Yet it kept its vie
Czech central bank signals it can hold rates steady in September
Czech National Bank vice governor Eva Zamrazilova says the bank can likely hold rates on September 17, even as she flags upside inflation ri
Rand holds firm despite GDP contraction as oil and US data loom
South Africa's rand barely moved after the economy contracted in the second quarter, as oil prices near $100 and upcoming US inflation data
Bank of Thailand holds rates at 1% but signals possible future cuts
The Bank of Thailand held its policy rate at 1.00% again, noting growth remains low and uneven. But minutes show officials are wary of cutti
Chile inflation accelerates in August, complicating central bank rate cuts
Chile's consumer prices rose 0.6% in August, pushing annual inflation to 4.1% and above the central bank's tolerance range. The hotter-than-
Saudi Arabia's Q2 GDP Shrinks 4.7% as Oil Output Cuts Bite
Saudi Arabia's economy shrank 4.7% in the second quarter as oil output cuts weighed heavily, with oil activities down nearly 25%. Non-oil gr
South Africa's economy shrinks 0.2% as Iran war hits demand
South Africa's economy contracted 0.2% in the second quarter, its first decline in nearly two years, as the Iran war pushed up fuel prices a
Small business optimism slips in August as owners eye economy
Small business sentiment cooled in August as the NFIB Optimism Index slipped to 98.7 from 99.8. Owners grew less confident about the broader
Semiconductors increasingly power China's trade engine
China's exports jumped 25% in August, just below forecasts, while imports rose 28.2%. Semiconductors are becoming a larger share of trade, d
South Africa's rand slips as GDP data looms with contraction expected
South Africa's rand edged lower as investors awaited GDP data expected to show the economy contracted 0.1% in Q2, after 0.5% growth in Q1. T
South Africa's rand steadies as investors await growth data, bond auction
South Africa's rand was little changed Monday as investors looked ahead to a busy week of local data, including second-quarter growth figure
RBA keeps rate hike option open as business mood sours
The Reserve Bank of Australia says it could raise rates again if inflation proves stubborn, even as surveys show business conditions at six-