Economy

Japan’s credit profile to benefit from higher interest rates, stronger inflation outlook: Fitch

Higher inflation helps lower the value of outstanding debt and pushes down Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio

U.S. small business confidence at 6-month high in June despite inflation worries

22 percent of businesses planned to increase compensation in the next three months

Japan’s base pay rises 2.5 percent in May, the fastest in 31 years

Japan's nominal wages rose 1.9 percent to $1,850, marking the highest year-on-year increase in 11 months

Japan faces shortfall of nearly one million foreign workers by 2040 to meet growth goals

5.91 million foreign workers are expected to be employed in Japan by 2040

U.S. trade deficit rises 0.8 percent to $75.1 billion in May on weaker exports

Trade impacted the U.S. GDP in the first quarter, restricting the economy to a 1.4 percent annual growth rate

Eurozone unemployment rate marginally declines to 6.4 percent in May

Unemployment among young persons in the eurozone reached 14.2 percent in May

U.K. manufacturing activity grows in June, input cost inflation at 17-month high: PMI

Tight supply lines, higher import costs and freight issues also contributed to higher purchase prices

Germany’s inflation eases to 2.5 percent in June, paving way for ECB rate cut

Inflation in Europe's largest economy had already slackened to 2.3 percent in March, its lowest level since June 2021

Japan revises Q1 GDP contraction to 2.9 percent from 1.8 percent on data corrections

Japanese companies project inflation to hit 2.3 percent three years from now and 2.2 percent five years later

Vietnam cuts VAT to 8 percent on select goods and services till year end

Vietnam's finance ministry has also reduced various fees and charges by up to 50 percent until year-end to support businesses

Germany’s unemployment rate rises to 6 percent in June

Unemployment in Germany rose to 2.727 million individuals in June, a monthly increase of 4,000

Australian shares plummet 1.4 percent as inflation surges to 4 percent, stoking rate hike fears

Morgan Stanley analysts expect an August rate hike, which may further weaken domestic trading conditions

Canada’s unexpected inflation surge dampens hopes of July rate cut

The annual inflation rate accelerated to 2.9 percent in May from 2.7 percent in April

Spain’s GDP expands 2.5 percent annually in Q1 2024, exceeding initial estimates

GDP grew by 0.8 percent sequentially, a faster pace than the 0.7 percent growth seen in the fourth quarter of 2023

ECB may cut interest rates twice more this year, to reach as low as 2.25 percent in 2025

While the ECB must ensure inflation returns to 2 percent, it shouldn’t overly dampen economic activity with interest rate cuts

China’s foreign direct investment plunges 28 percent to $57.94 billion in 5-month period

The manufacturing sector attracted 28.4 percent, or 117.1 billion yuan, of the total FDI inflow

Korea, Japan to take appropriate measures against currency volatility

Japanese yen has neared the 160 mark against the U.S. dollar, a level unseen in decades

Tax reforms, improved power sector to boost investment in Dominican Republic: IMF

The Dominican Republic leads Latin America in GDP growth, with an average annual rate of around 5 percent per year since the 1970s

China’s general public budget spending rises 3.4 percent to $1.52 trillion

During the first five months of the year, tax revenues declined 5.1 percent annually to 8.0462 trillion yuan

Eurozone business recovery slows in June as activity hits 3-month low: PMI

After hitting a 27-month high in May, business confidence across the eurozone declined in June

U.K. public debt rises to $3.47 trillion in May, highest since 1961

Borrowing in the U.K. reached 33.5 billion pounds in the first two months of the financial year

Swiss National Bank lowers key interest rate to 1.25 percent in second round of rate cuts

The SNB now expects inflation to be 1.3 percent in 2024, 1.1 percent in 2025, and 1 percent in 2026.

People’s Bank of China keeps interest rates unchanged in line with expectations

The one-year LPR was kept at 3.45 percent, while the five-year LPR was maintained at 3.95 percent