U.S. existing home sales fell 4.9% in January to an annual rate of 4.08 million units, a decline larger than economists had expected. The 4.08 million annualized pace missed the consensus forecast of 4.12 million units. National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun cited a persistent affordability problem: mortgage rates have stayed elevated near … Read more

The Federal Reserve faces a delicate task as it concludes its first policy meeting since the presidential inauguration, navigating the line between preserving monetary independence and responding to pressure from President Trump to cut interest rates immediately. Having lowered rates by a full percentage point last year, the Fed currently plans to maintain its policy … Read more

Morgan Stanley projects that mortgage rates will gradually decline through 2026 as long-term Treasury yields fall. The housing market has been constrained since 2022, when mortgage rates rose from about 3.5% to nearly 7%. Although recent Fed rate cuts have helped, mortgage rates have generally remained above 6.5%, limiting buyer activity and slowing home sales … Read more

The Congressional Budget Office has released a new analysis showing that President Trump’s tax-cut plan would raise federal deficits by $2.8 trillion over the next 10 years when economic feedback is included. That figure is larger than an earlier estimate of $2.4 trillion and reflects an added $441 billion in interest payments on the national … Read more

Gold surged 26% in the first half of 2025 to reach record levels, yet investor appetite remained strong—particularly through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). According to the World Gold Council’s Q2 Gold Demand Trends report, total global investment demand climbed 78% year-on-year, marking the most robust half-year since 2020. ETF inflows in Australia and across the globe … Read more

India has proposed reciprocal zero tariffs on selected US imports — including steel, auto components, and certain pharmaceuticals — for limited quantities as part of recent trade negotiations. The goal of this proposal is to speed the conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement before the expiration of the US administration’s 90-day tariff pause. By offering … Read more

April’s U.S. consumer price report surprised on the upside, with both headline and core inflation rising just 0.2% for the month—lower than the 0.3% many economists had expected. On an annual basis, inflation cooled to 2.3%, the weakest pace since early 2021, signaling further progress toward price stability. Some categories hinted at early effects from … Read more

After a brief rally on Wednesday prompted by President Trump’s more conciliatory remarks about China and comments from the Federal Reserve, the U.S. dollar resumed its decline on Thursday. Officials in Beijing clarified that no formal trade negotiations had taken place, and reiterated calls for the United States to lift tariffs. That clarification tempered investor … Read more

Markets are confronting renewed fears of stagflation as persistent inflation around 3% coincides with concerns about President Trump’s assertive trade policies. Although many investors remain optimistic about a pro-growth agenda, a Bank of America survey indicates that fund managers’ worries about stagflation have climbed to a seven-month high. New tariffs on autos, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals—combined … Read more

The BRICS economic alliance is displaying signs of internal disagreement over efforts to move away from the US dollar, with India positioning itself as a notable dissenting voice. Although BRICS members have often talked about reducing dollar dependence, India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, recently said India has “no interest” in replacing the dollar for BRICS … Read more