Coverage of fiscal and monetary policy, regulation, taxation, and geopolitical decisions that influence markets and everyday life. We break down government action and its economic impact.
Fiscal Policy
France is facing a manufacturing crisis. Factory closures jumped 30% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Industrial production is contracting. Jobs are being lost. And there's no quick fix in sight. The dual pressures of Asian competition and US tariffs are
Monetary Policy
A wave of interest rate cuts is sweeping across Africa as inflation finally eases after years of pain. Six central banks cut rates in the first quarter of 2026: Kenya, Egypt, Angola, Ghana, Mozambique, and Zambia. It's one of the most coordinated monetary easing cycles the continent has
Monetary Policy
New Zealand just delivered an inflation surprise that's forcing the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to completely rethink its monetary policy plans. Consumer price inflation came in at 3.1% for the fourth quarter of 2025, above the RBNZ's 1% to 3% target band and well
Monetary policy
The Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates again on March 17, lifting the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.10%. This is the second consecutive hike, and markets are pricing in at least one more before the cycle ends. The decision was narrow. The board voted 5
Fiscal Policy
China just announced its GDP growth target for 2026, and it's the lowest in decades. The government is aiming for 4.5% to 5% growth, down from around 5% in 2025. That might not sound like a big drop, but for China, it's a massive shift.
Monetary Policy
Just a few weeks ago, markets were confident the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates in 2026. Investors were pricing in a 70% probability of at least one rate cut by June. Wall Street analysts were telling clients to expect lower rates by summer. That entire narrative just died. Markets
Monetary Policy
The Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75% on March 19, and on the surface that sounds like nothing changed. But look closer at what the market is doing, and you see a completely different story. Investors are now pricing in four quarter point rate hikes by the
Explainers
There's a 21 mile wide strip of water between Iran and Oman that most people have never heard of. But right now, it's controlling everything from the price of gas in Ohio to the cost of shipping a container from Shanghai to Rotterdam. It's
Policy Watch
The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran just entered its third week, and if anything, it's getting worse. What started as targeted strikes has turned into the most intense military confrontation in the Middle East in decades. Iran has a new Supreme Leader now. After the
Monetary Policy
The Federal Reserve meets this week on March 17 and 18, and almost everyone expects the same outcome: nothing changes. Markets are pricing in a 92% chance that interest rates stay exactly where they are, stuck between 3.5% and 3.75%. But here's the thing. Even though
Interest rates
European central banks are choosing to keep interest rates steady despite the recent surge in global energy prices. The decision reflects a cautious approach as policymakers attempt to balance inflation risks with the need to support economic growth. The latest spike in oil prices, driven by geopolitical tensions in the
Monetary Policy