German factory orders grew at a faster pace in March as manufacturers rushed to secure raw materials ahead of potential future price increases and supply shortages. Factory orders increased 5.0 percent in March compared to February's revised growth of 1.4 percent, Destatis reported Thursday. The monthly increase significantly outpaced the 1.0 percent forecast.
Australia's trade balance registered its first deficit since late 2017 amid a sharp increase in imports, data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The trade deficit totalled A$1.84 billion in March compared to a surplus of A$5.03 billion in February. This was the first...
A report released by the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday showed crude oil inventories in the U.S. decreased by slightly less than expected in the week ended May 1st. The EIA said crude oil inventories fell by 2.3 million barrels last week after tumbling by 6.2 million barrels in the...
The UK service sector growth accelerated in April despite headwinds arising from the Middle East conflict, final survey data from S&P Global showed Wednesday. The services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 52.7 in April from March's 11-month low of 50.5. The flash reading was 52.0. The index has...
The Treasury Department on Wednesday revealed the details of this month's auctions of three-year and ten-year notes and thirty-year bonds. The Treasury announced plans to sell $58 billion worth of three-year notes, $42 billion worth of ten-year notes and $25 billion worth of thirty-year bonds. The...
May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.
Switzerland's unemployment rate decreased further in April to the lowest level in five months. The unadjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.0 percent in April from 3.1 percent in March. In the corresponding month last year, the jobless rate was 2.8 percent. There were 146,902 unemployed people in April compared to 146,255 in the prior month.
Denmark's industrial production expanded strongly after falling in the previous month. Industrial production advanced a seasonally adjusted 8.6 percent month-on-month in March, reversing a 4.5 percent decline in February. The pharmaceutical industry grew 15.0 percent compared to February, and output produced in the electronics industry jumped by 37.0 percent.
Romania's retail sales declined for the eighth straight month in March. Retail sales fell by a working-day-adjusted 3.2 percent year-on-year in March, slower than the 5.9 percent decrease in February. Sales have been falling since August 2025. Sales of non-food products alone contracted 7.4 percent annually in March, and those of food products dropped 3.0 percent.
The monetary base in Japan was down 11.3 percent on year in April, the Bank of Japan said on Thursday - coming in at 570.787 trillion yen. That missed expectations for a decline of 10.5 percent following the 10.6 percent drop in March. Banknotes in circulation were down 1.8 percent, while coins...
The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a higher open on Wednesday, with stocks likely to extend the upward move seen over the course of the previous session. Optimism about an end to the conflict in the Middle East is likely to generate early buying interest following an upbeat report...
European stocks are seen opening mixed on Thursday after posting strong gains in the previous session on optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal and easing concerns about inflationary pressures. U.S. President Donald Trump said he has had "very good talks" with Iran over the past 24 hours and...
Indian shares were fluctuating on Thursday after posting strong gains in the previous session following reports that the U.S. and Iran are close to reaching a deal to end their conflict. The benchmark BSE Sensex was little changed at 77,975 while the broader NSE Nifty index was up by 13 points at...
The Australian market is trimming the early gains in mid-market moves on Thursday, extending the gains in the previous session, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is moving above the 8,850 level, with gains in mining and financial stocks partially offset by weakness in energy and technology stocks.
Asian markets are a sea of green on Thursday, following the positive cues from Wall Street overnight, with the Japanese markets surging in post-holiday trading, amid optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal and the related easing of crude oil prices and concerns about global inflationary pressures. The two sides are nearing a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding to end the war.
Consumer price inflation in Luxembourg accelerated further in April to the highest level in four months. The consumer price index rose 3.1 percent year-on-year in April, faster than the 2.4 percent increase in March. Energy prices surged by 17.7 percent annually as the repercussions of the war in Iran continue to exert significant pressure on costs.
Eurozone producer prices increased in March due to a strong rebound in energy prices, Eurostat said Wednesday. Producer prices grew 3.4 percent on a monthly basis, reversing a 0.6 percent fall in the prior month. The rate exceeded economists' expectations of 3.3 percent. Excluding energy, producer...
Hungary's industrial production expanded at the fastest pace in three-and-a-half years. The volume of industrial production surged an unadjusted 6.7 percent annually in March, reversing a 0.9 percent decrease in February. Moreover, this was the quickest growth since September 2022, when production jumped 12.3 percent.