Economy

Euro area banks rebound as ECB begins rate cuts, disbursing $78.5 billion in loans in July 2024

This resurgence is encouraging for Europe’s banks, which heavily depend on mortgage lending for profits 

India’s foreign exchange reserves reach new peak of $684 billion in August 2024, says Central Bank

RBI noted that the reserves have been on an upward trend for some time

Japan’s Q2 GDP growth revised down to 2.9 percent on slower corporate, household spending

Japan's central bank raised its key interest rate to 0.25 percent from 0-0.1 percent in July

GDP grows by 0.2 percent in Euro area and EU in Q2 2024, reports Eurostat

This follows a GDP increase of 0.3 percent in both regions during the Q1 2024

China’s foreign exchange reserves reach $3.2882 trillion at August end, up $31.8 billion

August's increase in the country’s reserves was due to currency translation and asset price changes

World food prices ease marginally in August, says UN FAO

The FAO lowered its forecast for global cereal production in 2024 by 2.8 million metric tons to 2.851 billion tons

ECB considers rate cuts as inflation reaches lowest levels since mid-2021, says official

Investors expect two or three more borrowing cost cuts this year, with additional actions in 2025 

Japan’s real wages up 0.4 percent in July, second consecutive monthly rise

Japan's base wages, or regular pay, rose 2.7 percent, marking the fastest pace of increase in nearly 32 years

U.S. job openings hit 3.5-year low, 25-basis-point September rate cut remains more likely

Traders are currently closely watching the labor market following four straight monthly increases in unemployment, which sparked fears of a recession

India, Singapore elevate bilateral ties, ink four deals across key sectors

Singapore, with an investment of around $160 billion in the Indian economy, is a leading economic partner for India

Japan’s ongoing efforts to implement four-day workweek to attract, retain workers

The country is grappling with a labor shortage exacerbated by a declining birthrate

South Korea’s inflation rises to 2 percent in August, slowest annual rise in 3.5 years

South Korea's core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, rose 2.1 percent annually

Japanese companies achieve record $244 billion in pretax profits during April-June

Capital spending surges 7.4 percent to 11.92 trillion yen in Q2

India to produce 6 million chips daily with new semiconductor unit in Gujarat

The chips produced here will serve various industries, including automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics

Japan’s manufacturing sector signals recovery in August as output returns to expansion: PMI

Japan's input price inflation strengthened to a 16-month high as higher raw material prices and exchange rate weakness persisted

Germany’s manufacturing sector recession deepens further in August as new orders dip: PMI

Weak demand across supply chains led to a further decline in delivery times on inputs in August for the 22nd month in a row

China’s international trade in goods, services up 12 percent to $593.9 billion in July 2024

For services, the value of exports was 228.8 billion yuan, while imports reached 367.1 billion yuan

South Korea’s August exports reach $57.9 billion, up 11.4 percent YoY, driven by strong semiconductor demand

Imports rose by 6 percent year-on-year to $54 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $3.83 billion

Eurozone inflation hits 3-year low of 2.2 percent in August, signaling possible ECB rate cut next month

The inflation landscape is gradually improving, highlighting the progress toward the ECB's 2 percent target

Fitch reaffirms U.S. credit rating at AA+, says fiscal profile unlikely to change much after elections

The agency expects most 2017 Trump tax cuts to continue, impacting revenue and increasing deficits 

Japan unemployment rate rises to 2.7 percent in July

The job availability ratio inched up to 1.24 in July, rising for the first time in four months

Japan upgrades economic assessment for first time in over a year, reflecting improved consumer spending

The government noted that consumption is rising as shipping disruptions at some automakers ease 

U.S. economy grows 3 percent in Q2 2024, powered by robust consumer spending and business investment

This growth marks a strong rebound from a sluggish 1.4 percent increase in Q1 2024 

OECD forecasts Malaysia’s GDP growth at 4.9 percent for 2024, 4.7 percent for 2025

This growth is driven by increased domestic demand and a recovery in electronics exportsÂ