Economic outlook
Here’s how China could retaliate against U.S. tariffs
China is the world’s second-largest economy and second-largest importer of U.S. goods. Entities in China hold at least $784 billion in U.S. federal debt. The country also controls much of the world’s rare element supply, which is vital for manufacturing technology. China could weaponize these assets if an all-out trade war breaks out, to the […]
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How China used Vietnam to evade higher U.S. tariffs
The threat of rising tariff rates on U.S. imports could hobble the economic trajectory of countries such as Vietnam. Foreign direct investment in Vietnam has increased in recent years as firms search for ways to manage risks stemming from production in China. Vietnam has received approximately $18.5 billion in net foreign direct investment, according to World Bank […]
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BOJ deputy governor flags chance of rate hike next week
Shoppers in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2022. James Whitlow Delano | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Bank of Japan will debate whether to raise interest rates next week, as prospects of sustained wage gains heighten and the U.S. policy outlook becomes clearer in President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural address, Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino said. […]
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Australia November retail sales rise by most in 10 months on Black Friday boost
Pedestrians pass shops in the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, Australia, on Friday, July 26, 2024. Lisa Maree Williams | Bloomberg | Getty Images Australian retail sales saw the biggest increase in 10 months in November as Black Friday discounting drew cost-conscious shoppers, but even so they missed forecasts suggesting consumer demand remains subdued. Analysts also suspect the extra demand was just brought forward from […]
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World Bank raises China’s GDP forecast for 2024, 2025
Densely built residential apartment developments near the Kangbashi New District of Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, China, on Aug. 16, 2011. Qilai Shen | Corbis Historical | Getty Images The World Bank raised on Thursday its forecast for China’s economic growth in 2024 and 2025, but warned that subdued household and business confidence, along with headwinds in the property sector, […]
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Japan’s budget to hit record, but with reduced new bond issuance, Reuters reports
Pedestrians walk past the Finance Ministry building in Tokyo March 13, 2009. Toru Hanai | Reuters Japan’s government is set to compile a record $735 billion budget for the fiscal year from April due to larger social security and debt-servicing costs, adding to the industrial world’s heaviest debt, a draft seen by Reuters showed. The 115.5 trillion […]
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China plans $411 billion special treasury bond issuance next year, Reuters reports
Chinese national flags flutter in front of the Great Hall during the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) on March 12, 2023 in Beijing, Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images Chinese authorities have agreed to issue 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) worth of special treasury […]
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How the Federal Reserve’s rate policy affects mortgages
The Federal Reserve lowered its interest rate target three times in 2024. This has many Americans waiting for mortgage rates to fall. But that may not happen for some time. “I think the best case scenario is we’re going to continue to see mortgage rates hover around six and a half to 7%,” said Jordan […]
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New Zealand sinks into recession, more rate cuts coming
Buildings in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Photographer: Fiona Goodall/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images New Zealand’s economy sank into recession in the third quarter as activity dived far more sharply than expected and output in the prior quarter was slashed, a dire result that cements the case for […]
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10-year Treasury yield leaps to 4.5% as Fed signals caution on future rate cuts
U.S. Treasury yields jumped on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve announced its latest interest rate cut, but signaled fewer could be on the horizon. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed more than 11 basis points to 4.498%, hovering around the key 4.5% level in afternoon trading. The 2-year Treasury yield surged more than 10 […]
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