Reuters US Economy

By Ann Saphir (Reuters) – The boards of directors at the Cleveland, St. Louis and Minneapolis Federal Reserve banks had wanted a half-point interest-rate hike before the mid-March collapse of two regional U.S. banks, minutes of the Fed’s discount rate meetings showed on Tuesday Their votes for an increase in the discount rate – what …

Three Fed bank boards wanted bigger rate hike in March Read More »

By Davide Barbuscia NEW YORK (Reuters) -The U.S. government’s deadline to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling could be sooner than expected, raising the prospect of a short-term debt limit extension, analysts said on Tuesday. Goldman Sachs analysts said weak tax collections so far in April indicate a higher probability that the so-called “X-date,” when …

US debt ceiling deadline could be sooner than anticipated, banks warn Read More »

By Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada’s annual inflation rate eased in March to 4.3%, its slowest pace in 19 months but still more than double the Bank of Canada’s 2% target, data showed on Tuesday. The headline inflation figure fell from 5.2% in February, matching expectations, as a decline in energy prices …

Canada’s inflation rate slows to 4.3% in March, slowest pace since 2021 Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday will lay out the Biden administration’s principal objectives for the U.S.-China economic relationship in a speech in Washington, the Treasury said on Tuesday as tensions between the world’s two largest economies has thwarted high-level meetings. Yellen, who said last week she still hopes to visit …

Yellen to lay out U.S. economic priorities on China in Thursday speech Read More »

By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. single-family homebuilding increased for a second straight month in March, while permits for future construction surged, offering some glimmers of hope for the depressed housing market ahead of the busy spring selling season. The improvement in the single-family housing market segment, which was reported by the Commerce Department …

US housing market stabilizing as single-family homebuilding, permits surge Read More »

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The European Central Bank’s (ECB) chief economist on Tuesday backed a further interest rate increase at the ECB’s next meeting but said its size would depend on incoming data, especially a survey of euro zone banks. The ECB is expected to raise rates for a seventh straight meeting on May 4 in a …

ECB’s Lane backs May rate hike with size depending on data Read More »

By Winni Zhou and Tom Westbrook SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Violet Zhu, a Shanghai-based electronic components exporter, has been attending jewellery auctions and chatting on social media forums on the subject this year, looking to invest in rubies and diamonds. “I don’t have the brain for stock investments, and I am waiting to redeem mutual fund …

Chinese households turn to jewellery and gold in flight to safety Read More »

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said on Tuesday Russia is building its international reserves with assets that cannot be targeted by Western sanctions, the TASS news agency reported. Western countries froze around $300 billion – or half – of Russia’s international reserves after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into …

Russia building reserves in assets the West can’t sanction – central bank chief Read More »