Prices
Japan wanted inflation and Iran war could grant that wish. But it’s not the type Tokyo desires
TOKYO, JAPAN – FEBRUARY 05: Tourists and shoppers walk through the Tsukiji shopping area on February 5, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images News | Getty Images The Bank of Japan has long stated that sustained levels of inflation will help it move ahead with policy normalization, after having ended the world’s […]
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China leaves March benchmark lending rates unchanged for 10th straight month
BEIJING, CHINA – NOVEMBER 11: The national flag of China flies in front of the headquarters of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) on November 11, 2025, in Beijing, China. The PBOC serves as the country’s central bank, overseeing monetary policy, financial regulation, and currency issuance. (Photo by Cheng Xin/Getty Images) Cheng Xin | Getty […]
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Copper joins gold in broad commodities sell-off. There’s a worrying reason behind it
Key Points Both precious and industrial metals fell in Thursday trading as investors are starting to worry this oil shock will go on long enough to cause an economic slowdown or recession. An unusual stagflation scenario is occurring with rates rising on inflation fears, while economic growth expectations are being lowered. But some warn that […]
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Government bonds face ‘perfect storm’ as Iran war rattles Europe’s central banks
Europe’s sovereign bonds are facing “a perfect storm” after new inflation fears sparked by the Iran conflict forced the region’s central banks to signal a new course for interest rates on Thursday, sending yields soaring. The Bank of England left interest rates unchanged at 3.75% on Thursday, with the European Central Bank also holding steady […]
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Switzerland risks the ire of the White House as it flags potential currency intervention
Swiss officials say the Iran war is making them more willing to intervene against any significant appreciation in the country’s currency, but doing so risks another dispute with the White House. The Swiss National Bank announced on Thursday that, as expected, it was holding its key interest rate at 0%. But its policymakers said: “Given […]
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Gold and silver sell-off accelerates as inflation fears grip global markets
Gold and silver joined a broad sell-off on Thursday, with the metals shedding around 5% and 10%, respectively, as fears about the Iran war and inflation gripped global markets. At 8:43 a.m. ET, spot gold was down 4.9% at just over $4,600 an ounce. Front-month gold futures were down 5.8% at $4,612. Stock Chart IconStock […]
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European stocks tumble 2% as Iran war intensifies; miners lead losses
Vadimrysev | Istock | Getty Images LONDON — European stocks slumped on Thursday as the Iran war escalated further following attacks on Iranian and Qatari energy infrastructure. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was down 2.1% as of 12:10 p.m. in London (8:10 a.m. ET), with all major bourses in negative territory and all sectors except for […]
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The Fed decision, Micron earnings, Amazon’s USPS contract and more in Morning Squawk
This is CNBC’s Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Happy Thursday. I’m back after a long weekend skiing in Colorado, just in time for yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting. Stock futures are lower this morning. The three major indexes are coming off a losing day. Here are five key things investors need […]
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Europe’s central banks are no longer in a ‘good place’ as Iran war upends forecasts
A projection of a Euro currency sign is pictured on the facade of the European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on Dec. 30, 2025. Kirill Kudryavtsev | Afp | Getty Images Before the war on Iran began in late February, Europe’s central banks enjoyed a more benign inflation outlook as […]
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Bank of Japan keeps rates steady as expected, warns Iran war may push up inflation
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) headquarters is seen beyond the cherry blossoms in Tokyo on March 20, 2023. Kazuhiro Nogi | Afp | Getty Images The Bank of Japan on Thursday kept its rates steady at 0.75% as expected, but noted that inflation risks now are tilted to the upside due to the Iran war. […]
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