Currencies

Bessent says US expects Japan to stop buying Russian energy

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that he told Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato that the Trump administration expects Japan to stop importing Russian energy. ...

Egypt poised to complete debt swap before end of 2025, minister says

WASHINGTON -Egypt is poised to complete another debt swap before the end of this year with its European partners, according to Planning Minister Rania al-Mashat, adding that more such transactions...

Greer, Bessent blast China's rare earths curbs, urge Beijing not to implement them

WASHINGTON -Top U.S. officials on Wednesday blasted China's major expansion of rare earth export controls as a threat to global supply chains, but said Beijing could still change course and avoid...

US retail sales likely rose in September; higher-income consumers drive growth

WASHINGTON -U.S. retail sales excluding motor vehicles and parts likely posted further gains in September, data from the Chicago Federal Reserve showed on Wednesday, though part of the rise probably...

US economic activity little changed, employment stable in recent weeks, Fed says

U.S. economic activity was little changed and employment was largely stable in recent weeks, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday, but there were emerging signs of weakness including more layoffs...

Global debt tops G20 agenda, South African central bank chief says

WASHINGTON/JOHANNESBURG -South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago warned on Wednesday that rising global debt poses a risk to financial stability. The Financial Stability...

Bessent says yen will find its own level if Bank of Japan follows 'proper' policy

WASHINGTON -U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday the yen will find its own level if the Bank of Japan follows proper monetary policy. Bessent made the remarks to...

Bessent says he plans to present Fed chief candidates to Trump in December

WASHINGTON -U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday said he plans to present three or four candidates to be the next leader of the Federal Reserve to President Donald Trump for him to...

'Made in Argentina' factories shutter, creating more challenges for Milei

By Nicolás Misculin BUENOS AIRES -For decades, Lumilagro rode to prosperity on the popularity of its signature steel or glass thermoses Argentines use to carry hot water to make mate,...

DAX Investors Cautious as France Remains in Focus

Investor concerns over political developments in France are keeping the DAX hovering near the flatline. Germany's leading index opened Thursday virtually unchanged at 24,188.15 points. The minority...

Data darkness in US spreads a global shadow

TOKYO/WASHINGTON -The U.S. government shutdown that has turned off the official flow of data could begin clouding the view for policymakers in Japan and other countries where insight into the...

India central bank's heavy hand returns to support rupee in replay of February defence

MUMBAI -The Reserve Bank of India intervened heavily in the currency market on Wednesday to shore up the rupee, traders said, adding the move was straight from the central bank's script defending the...

Asian equities draw inflows in September on Fed rate cut outlook, AI optimism

Asian equities saw strong inflows in September, boosted by the U.S. Federal Reserve's first rate cut in nine months, expectations of further easing this year, and a weaker dollar that lifted demand...

South African rand slips ahead of local data releases

JOHANNESBURG -The South African rand was weaker in early trade on Tuesday, as investors waited for the release of domestic economic indicator data due later in the day. At 0749 GMT the...

Sterling drops after UK data shows softer wage growth

LONDON -Sterling fell on Tuesday after data showed growth in average British earnings slowed slightly in the three months to August, suggesting the Bank of England may be able to continue cutting...

Economists see stronger US growth, but weak job gains and stickier inflation

WASHINGTON -Surging business investment is expected to offset weaker growth in consumption and global trade and keep the U.S. economy growing near trend, according to a National Association for...

India rupee's two-week calm suggests return of central bank's old playbook, traders say

MUMBAI -The Indian rupee's recent tight moves suggest the central bank has reverted to its old playbook of using heavy market intervention to keep the currency anchored to a level it deems...

Russia suspends reduction to damper payment subsidy

MOSCOW -Russia on Sunday suspended until May a reduction in the fuel damper payment subsidy to oil refineries, Russian news agencies reported. The damper is a payment to refineries to...

Brazil to begin construction on TikTok data center in six months, minister says

SAO PAULO -Construction on a TikTok data center in Brazil will begin in six months, an official said on Friday, with the project expected to bring in some 50 billion reais in investment. ...