Market News

Global markets were rattled on Friday after President Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs on all European Union imports starting June 1, rekindling fears about the economic toll of aggressive U.S. trade policies. However, those fears eased on Sunday when Trump postponed the tariff threat to July 9, helping risk sentiment rebound. The euro climbed

This week’s U.S. data paints a picture of resilience in the face of uncertainty. Jobless claims dipped slightly to 227K, coming in just below expectations and continuing to show a solid labor market. Manufacturing and services activity both surprised to the upside. The flash PMIs for May jumped to 52.3 in both sectors (well above

The UK economy grew more than expected in March, with monthly GDP up 0.2% and quarterly growth revised higher to 0.7% (vs. 0.6% forecast). The expansion was driven by stronger consumer spending and increased business investment. However, this growth reflects activity before the implementation of new U.S. tariffs and UK tax increases in April, so

The Fed held its benchmark rate steady at 4.5% today, as widely expected, despite continued pressure from President Trump for immediate rate cuts. Chair Powell reiterated that the economy continues to expand at a “solid pace” and that the Fed remains prepared to act as needed. Key highlights from the FOMC statement: The labor market

Market Update – U.S. Jobs Report & Global Developments U.S. Labor Market – April 2025 Wage Growth: Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% month-over-month, below expectations of 0.3%. Job Creation: The U.S. economy added 177,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in April, beating expectations of 135,000. While slightly slower than March’s revised 185,000 gain, it outpaces the three-month

“145% is too high. It will come down substantially.” Trump’s newest take on tariffs suggest the White House is weighing a significant reduction in tariffs on Chinese imports—from the current 145% down to 50–65%. A tiered structure is also under consideration, where goods deemed “strategic to American interests” could face tariffs of up to 100%,

The Bank of Canada held its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.75% this morning. While the decision was widely expected following recent tariff-related uncertainty, yesterday’s softer-than-anticipated inflation data—CPI rose just 0.3% month-over-month versus the 0.7% forecast—had sparked some speculation that the bank might consider a rate cut. The shift in U.S. trade policy, marked by

The U.S. dollar took another sharp hit today, sliding to a decade-low against the Swiss franc and a three-year low versus the euro. The drop comes amid intensifying trade tensions, particularly with China. After the U.S. confirmed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods yesterday, Beijing retaliated by raising its own tariffs on U.S. imports to

U.S. inflation cooled in March, signaling a potential easing of price pressures despite ongoing trade policy volatility. Consumer prices rose 2.4% year-over-year, down from 2.8% in February—the slowest pace since September—driven by declines in gasoline, airfare, and hotel costs. Softer inflation data may give the Federal Reserve room to cut interest rates, which could allow

Market Update: Week in Review Monday US: The economy showed mixed signals as a resilient services sector offset renewed weakness in manufacturing. Flash Manufacturing PMI slipped into contraction at 49.8 (vs. 51.9 expected), while Flash Services PMI surged to 54.3 (vs. 51.2), marking its strongest expansion in months. The data underscores ongoing concerns about uneven