In a significant move, Fitch Ratings has downgraded the United States of America’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from ‘AAA’ to ‘AA+’. The rating downgrade reflects concerns over the nation’s expected fiscal deterioration in the next three years, a growing government debt burden, and the erosion of governance relative to peer countries. Fitch highlights […]

In July, factories across Asia encountered a slowdown in demand, reflecting the ongoing struggle for growth in the global economy. Nine private surveys revealed that six of Asia’s major producers experienced a contraction in manufacturing activity, with China’s manufacturing activity slipping into contraction unexpectedly for the first time in three months. The slowdown extended to […]

Saudi Arabia, which was previously recognized as the fastest-growing economy in the G20, is now experiencing a notable economic slowdown in the second quarter of this year. During this period, the country’s GDP only expanded by 1.1% annually, a stark contrast to the impressive 11.2% growth seen in the same quarter of 2022. The main […]

Argentina’s economic woes are set to receive a much-needed boost as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the country reach a staff-level agreement. The agreement unlocks access to $7.5 billion in funds from the IMF to support Argentina’s struggling economy, which has been grappling with a tough economic backdrop. The agreement aims to address Argentina’s […]

The European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to raise its benchmark deposit rate by a quarter-percentage point to 3.75 per cent, matching a high last seen in 2001. This move marks the ninth consecutive rate increase and comes on the heels of the US Federal Reserve’s similar decision to raise rates. ECB President Christine Lagarde’s […]

In a bold move to combat surging inflation, the Federal Reserve has decided to resume its rate-rising campaign, lifting its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point to a range of 5.25-5.5 per cent. This marks the 11th hike in the central bank’s anti-inflation crusade that commenced in March 2022, taking borrowing costs to the highest […]

Oil prices surged nearly 2% on Friday, marking a fourth consecutive weekly gain as mounting evidence of supply shortages and escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine intensified concerns in the global oil market. According to Reuters, Brent crude futures climbed $1.43, equivalent to 1.8%, settling at an impressive $81.07 per barrel, with a weekly gain […]

Japan’s economy is set to make a notable comeback with an expected growth of 1.4% in 2023, surpassing last year’s 1.0% rise, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest projection. The bright economic outlook comes as pandemic restrictions are eased, stimulating increased consumer spending and overall economic activity. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the IMF’s chief economist, […]

The Israeli shekel experienced a dramatic rollercoaster ride on Monday, as investors grappled with the potential long-term impact of rising political tension in the country. The shekel weakened for a third consecutive day, dropping 0.7% against the dollar, after initially surging more than 1%, only to plummet by as much as 1.5%. The cause of […]