Reuters US Economy

By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) – World Bank President David Malpass said on Tuesday that central banks should reduce long-term bond holdings rather than shrinking short-term assets, as this would free up more bank capital for small business loans and could help tame inflation. Malpass told a news conference that the central …

World Bank chief calls on central banks to cut long-term bond holdings Read More »

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s currency has lost more than 15% of its value since the start of the year, piling further pressure on the population more than two years into a crisis that has plunged many into poverty and fuelled demonstrations. Protesters took to the streets in several areas of the country on Monday night, …

Lebanon’s currency plummets again amid financial crisis and political deadlock Read More »

TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s balance of trade deficit widened to 16.2 billion dinars ($5.65 billion) in 2021 against a deficit of 12.8 billion dinars in 2020 due to higher imports from China and Turkey, the state Institute of Statistics said. The deficit has been one of the main problems facing Tunisia as it grapples with …

Tunisia’s balance of trade deficit widens to 16.2 billion dinars in 2021 Read More »

By Liz Hampton (Reuters) – The U.S. oilfield services and equipment sector added 7,450 jobs in December, even as overall hiring in the United States slowed, according to a report released on Monday by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, an industry trade group. The sector has regained some 62,289 jobs since shedding a peak …

Oilfield service jobs rise in December, bucking slowdown in U.S. hiring Read More »

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan and Canada have agreed to start talks on an investment protection agreement, both governments said on Monday, part of the Chinese-claimed island’s efforts to boost ties with fellow democracies in the face of growing pressure from Beijing. Taiwan has been angling for trade deals with what it views as like-minded partners …

Taiwan, Canada to start talks on investment agreement Read More »

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The Omicron coronavirus variant sweeping Israel will cost the economy around two billion shekels ($641.81 million) every 20 days, central bank governor Amir Yaron said on Monday. “At this point we are not talking about a macro-economic development,” Yaron told parliament’s finance committee. The economic hit would come from decreased consumption and …

Omicron will cost Israel $640 million every three weeks, central bank chief says Read More »