Central banking
Divided Fed holds key interest rate steady, defying Trump’s demands for aggressive cuts
Key Points The Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-2 to keep the federal funds rate set in a range between 4.25%-4.5%. The decision was met with opposition from governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller, both of whom have advocated for the Fed to start easing. This was the first time since late 1993 that multiple […]
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Australia’s second-quarter inflation drops to lowest since March 2021, supporting case for rate cut
Michele Bullock, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), speaks during a news conference at the bank’s head office in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2025. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Australia’s headline inflation rate in the second quarter of the year slipped to its lowest point since March 2021, coming in […]
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Singapore warns of slowdown in second half of the year as it keeps monetary policy steady
Singapore retains its title as the most expensive city for high-net-worth-individuals, according to Julius Baer’s 2025 Global Wealth and Lifestyle report. Deejpilot | E+ | Getty Images Singapore’s central bank warned that the city-state’s economy is “projected to moderate in the second half of 2025 from its strong pace in [the first half],” as it […]
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With Trump pressure and a ‘new Lebanon,’ can Hezbollah’s shadow economy be dismantled?
Key Points “Hezbollah finds itself in its greatest predicament since its foundation,” one regional expert told CNBC. Hezbollah makes money from industries like banking and construction, but also runs international drug trafficking and smuggling operations as far afield as Bulgaria and Argentina. Its revenues are estimated in the billions of dollars annually. Following Israel’s aggressive […]
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‘This market is pricing in perfection,’ warns Verdence Capital CIO as tariff deadline looms
Fast Money ‘This market is pricing in perfection,’ warns Verdence Capital CIO as tariff deadline looms Published Sun, Jul 27 202511:00 AM EDT Alexa LoMonaco Stephanie Landsman@stephlandsman WATCH LIVE Source
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European Central Bank holds interest rates as tariff turmoil keeps policymakers on edge
The President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde at the 2025 European Central Bank Forum on Central Banking on June 30, 2025 in Sintra, Portugal. Horacio Villalobos | Corbis News | Getty Images The European Central Bank on Thursday kept interest rates steady amid major economic uncertainty, as the European Union scrambles to negotiate […]
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Thai cabinet approves Vitai Ratanakorn as next central bank chief, official says
Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval for Vitai Ratanakorn to be the next governor of the Bank of Thailand, a government official said. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval for Vitai Ratanakorn to be the next governor of the Bank of Thailand, a government official said. The appointment of Vitai, 54, the […]
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Singapore dollar exhibits safe-haven currency features. But it’s no yen or Swiss franc — yet
A staff member counts Singapore dollar currency notes at Raffles Place financial business district in Singapore on October 6, 2022. Roslan Rahman | Afp | Getty Images In times of uncertainty, investors turn to safe-haven assets — gold, Treasuries as well as currencies such as the Japanese yen, U.S. dollar and the Swiss franc. These […]
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China holds key lending rates as softening consumer sentiment persists in world’s second largest economy
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) building in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Bloomberg | Getty Images China kept its benchmark lending rates steady on Monday as the country continues to grapple with weak consumer sentiment and softening growth. The People’s Bank of China held the 1-year loan prime rate at 3.0% and […]
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Central banks are increasingly buying gold from local mines as prices surge
Gold prices fell on Tuesday, retreating from near a four-week high, as a modest rise in the dollar weighed on the metal, although uncertainty over the U.S.-China trade agreement kept investors cautious and limited the bullion’s decline. Sven Hoppe | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Central banks are increasingly looking to bolster their gold reserves. […]
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