Economy

US narrows record trade deficit as imports shrink 3.4% in April

Highlights: US imports in April dropped sharply amid inflation concerns. The declining imports helped narrow the US trade deficit from a record hi...

US job market outpaced expectations, unemployment steady at 3.6%

US employment figures were better-than-expected in May while the unemployment rate remained stable at 3.6%, the labor department said on Friday. The...

US GDP declined 1.5% in Q1, consumer spending stayed strong

In a revised GDP data on Thursday, the Commerce Department said that the US economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.5% in the first three months of this...

Fed expresses urgency for raising rates in inflation fight

The central bank on Wednesday released the details of their meeting from May 3-4 as it raced to combat the spiraling high inflation that threatened to...

Kiwis gear up for more mortgage rates as RBNZ raises OCR

Highlights As expected, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand raises the OCR by 50 bps This brings the OCR from 1.5% to 2% Expecting to raise the OCR m...

RBNZ to announce OCR rates on Wednesday, what to expect?

Highlights The Central Bank of NZ to announce the official cash rates (OCR) Wednesday It is almost certain that it will raise the OCR According t...

Labor Party win in Australia: How will the result affect New Zealand...

Anthony Albanese, belonging to the Labor Party, was sworn in as Australia's 31st Prime Minister on Monday. Albanese defeated  Conservative Party'...

Why is China moving against the tide in terms of interest rate chang...

Highlights China’s government has initiated country-wide lockdowns as rising COVID cases spark concerns. Lockdowns across the country have...

US home sales drop for 3rd straight month, mortgage rates rise sharp...

Highlights: Borrowing costs rose for a third straight month in April, keeping home buyers at bay. Homebuyers are dealing with the highest lending...

Budget 2022: What would be the top 3 focus areas in Thursday’s annou...

Highlights Grant Robertson will unveil his fifth budget on 19 May. Health and climate change are to be the top priority areas of the budget. Kiwi...

Does Budget 2022 addresses cost-of-living crisis in NZ?

Highlights FM Grant Robertson in his Budget speech expressed concern over the high cost of living Announced several measures to support low-income...

NZ Budget 2022: Key spending areas in a nutshell

Highlights Healthcare takes centerstage in Budget 2022 FM Robertson is of the view that the healthcare is fragmented and unequal in NZ The larges...

AIA, AIR, SKO: 3 NZX stocks to eye as travel starts to recover

9 pandemic. Serko Limited (NZX:SKO) SKO is a corporate travel technology company that announced its full-year results today. It said that it was...

Is NZ’s Budget 2022 going to be a `Well-Being’ one?

Highlights The NZ Federal Budget for 2022 has been positioned as a `Well-Being’ Budget The Finance Minister faces a tough challenge to bring...

US homeowners look for tenants to help pay their mortgages

Highlights: More and more buyers in the US are warming up to the idea of renting out extra space as expenses surge. The housing market in the US i...

Political unrest in Sri Lanka amid rising economic turmoil

Highlights Several economists have said that the main problem behind Sri Lanka’s current situation is economic mismanagement. Hundreds hav...

Budget 2022: FM Robertson stresses health, low-emissions economy as...

Highlights Grant Robertson delivered another pre-Budget speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce He underlined healthcare, high wage, and a lo...

US inflation slowed down to 8.3% in April as gasoline prices eased

Highlights: April CPI slowed down to 8.3% YoY for the first time since August. Gasoline prices slid 6.1% in the month after soaring 18.3% in March...

What is wage inflation and how is it different from consumer price i...

Highlights: Wage inflation is an increase in wages and salaries due to shortages of labour New Zealand’s annual wage inflation has hit 3.0%...

Explained: How Russian economy is holding on despite heavy sanctions

Highlights: Despite geo-political turmoil and heavy sanctions, Russia picked up its exports in April. Most of Western European and other countries...