June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.
June 18, 2026 05:31 ETThe Philippine central bank lifted its key interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday to control inflation expectations and mitigate the risk of second-round effects. The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas decided to lift the reverse repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 percent. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were adjusted.
June 18, 2026 06:34 ETAfter moving higher early on in the session, France's equity benchmark CAC 40 retreated Thursday morning with investors turning a bit cautious amid concerns some major central banks, including the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates this year. The positive start as geopolitical tensions eased following Iran and the U.S. signing an interim peace agreement.
June 18, 2026 06:01 ETGold prices were a tad higher on Thursday as easing geopolitical tensions offset pressure from a stronger dollar and higher Treasury yields. Spot gold edged up 0.3 percent to $4,268.61 an ounce, after having fallen 1.7 percent on Wednesday on the back of hawkish Fed policy and upbeat retail sales...
June 18, 2026 06:26 ETCryptocurrencies are trading on a mildly negative note as markets digest the potential rate hikes from the Fed while heaving a sigh of relief at the signing of the U.S.-Iran peace deal to end the Middle East conflict.