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Asia factory activity shrinks as US tariffs bite, China bucks trendby hellenicshippingnews… on 1 September 2025 at 10:00 am
U.S. tariffs took a toll on factory activity across Asia, overshadowing a surprisingly upbeat performance in China, private surveys showed on Monday, keeping pressure on policymakers to underpin the region’s fragile economic recovery. The outcome reinforces concerns that manufacturers in Asia, which have been frontloading shipments to beat higher U.S. levies, will struggle to grow …
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The fight for the Fed reaches its decisive momentby hellenicshippingnews… on 1 September 2025 at 10:00 am
Is the Federal Reserve independent? The institution and even its leader, Chair Jerome Powell, remain steadfast for now. The definitive answer, though, depends on whether President Donald Trump is successful in firing Governor Lisa Cook over unproven mortgage fraud allegations. If he prevails in an inevitable court fight, he will have carte blanche to reshape …
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Danger ahead! Five examples of risky central bank politicizationby hellenicshippingnews… on 1 September 2025 at 10:00 am
There is legitimate debate about the actual independence of modern-day central banks, but almost everyone agrees that overt politicization of monetary policy – as we appear to be seeing in the United States – is dangerous. Why is that? Central banks are essentially arms of government, and many worked in close conjunction with national Treasuries …
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China consumption gets silver lining from insurersby hellenicshippingnews… on 1 September 2025 at 10:00 am
China’s insurers are turning into an important policy lever for the government. Falling interest rates have prompted the country’s savers to move more of their money from banks to non-traditional financial institutions like the $146 billion Ping An 601318 and peers. They are funnelling those funds into stocks as well as investing more in health …
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Doves vs Data: Is the Fed flying blind into a rate cut?by hellenicshippingnews… on 1 September 2025 at 10:00 am
As traders brace for what could be the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut in nine months, a growing chorus of analysts is sounding the alarm: this might be a mistake. Following Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s unexpectedly dovish tone last week, most major brokerages pivoted swiftly, now betting on a September cut. But not everyone’s convinced. …
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What’s in a number? How economic data (should) drive decisionsby hellenicshippingnews… on 1 September 2025 at 10:00 am
The ancient Greeks knew a thing or two about democracy. So when a former government statistician from Greece recently made a plea to preserve something essential for “the functioning of democracy itself,” heads turned. The subject of his juicy take? The very dry business of publishing trustworthy economic data. The normally low-profile public servants who …
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China manufacturing activity shrinks for fifth straight month in Augustby hellenicshippingnews… on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
China’s manufacturing activity shrank for a fifth straight month in August, an official survey showed on Sunday, suggesting producers are waiting for further clarity on a trade deal with the U.S. while domestic demand remains sluggish. The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 49.4 in August versus 49.3 in July, remaining below the 50-mark …
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Most Trump tariffs are not legal, US appeals court rulesby hellenicshippingnews… on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
A divided U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday that most of Donald Trump’s tariffs are illegal, undercutting the Republican president’s use of the levies as a key international economic policy tool. The court allowed the tariffs to remain in place through October 14 to give the Trump administration a chance to file an appeal with …
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US consumer spending strong in July; services inflation warms upby hellenicshippingnews… on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
U.S. consumer spending increased by the most in four months in July while services inflation picked up, but economists did not believe the signs of strong domestic demand would prevent the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates next month against a backdrop of softening labor market conditions. The report from the Commerce Department on Friday …
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India committed to improving ties with China, Modi tells Xiby hellenicshippingnews. on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said New Delhi was committed to improving ties with Beijing in a key meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping on Sunday, as both countries resolved to put aside differences from a years-long border standoff. Modi is in China for the first time in seven years to attend a two-day meeting …
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Chinese banks face profit squeeze as loan growth faltersby hellenicshippingnews. on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
Top Chinese banks’ first-half results on Friday will underline the impact of slowing loan growth in a deflationary economy, a piling up of bad loans as defaults by small businesses and consumers rise, and narrowing margins due to lower rates. As the outlook for the world’s No.2 economy is clouded by heightened geopolitical tensions, frail …
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How CEOs are responding to geopolitical uncertaintyby hellenicshippingnews. on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
When the rules of global trade could change any day, how do you make decisions? McKinsey experts report from the business frontlines of geopolitical turmoil. The recent wave of tariffs, trade negotiations, and geopolitical tensions ground the world’s businesses to a halt—but only for a while. Business leaders cannot give in to paralysis; they need …
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White House moves forward on plans for a Department of War, WSJ Reportsby hellenicshippingnews. on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
The Trump administration is advancing plans to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing a White House official, after U.S. President Donald Trump raised the prospect on Monday. Restoring the Department of War name for the government’s largest department would likely require congressional action, …
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China non-manufacturing activity expands in August, PMI showsby hellenicshippingnews. on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
China’s non-manufacturing activity expanded at a quicker pace in August, an official survey showed on Sunday. The non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which includes services and construction, rose to 50.3 from 50.1 in July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The NBS composite PMI of manufacturing and non-manufacturing was 50.5 in August, compared …
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German unemployment at highest level in more than 10 yearsby hellenicshippingnews. on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
In Germany, three million is not just a number. In the context of the labour market, it represents a symbolic threshold – one that separates strength from weakness. Although this benchmark is entirely arbitrary, today’s labour market data will probably leave a larger mark on the public debate than the trend of the last few …
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China’s trade envoy meets US officials to discuss economic tiesby hellenicshippingnews. on 31 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
China’s trade representative Li Chenggang visited the United States from August 27-29, holding discussions with U.S. officials on bilateral economic and trade relations, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Saturday. Li met with representatives from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Commerce, and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to exchange views on …
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India can use US squeeze to demand more from Chinaby hellenicshippingnews… on 29 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
U.S. President Donald Trump’s quest to reorder global trade is having unlikely effects. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin next week on his first trip to the People’s Republic in seven years. He is in a strong position to demand more from Chinese firms. Modi will be …
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US reports solid July consumer spending; core inflation firmerby hellenicshippingnews… on 29 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
U.S. consumer spending increased solidly in July while underlying inflation picked up as tariffs on imports raised prices of some goods, but that data will probably not prevent the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates next month against the backdrop of softening labor market conditions. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic …
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Traders nudge up bets on Fed rate cuts after inflation databy hellenicshippingnews… on 29 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
Traders of short-term U.S. interest rate futures added slightly to bets the Federal Reserve will start a series of gradual rate cuts next month, after government data showed inflation by the Fed’s preferred measure rose 2.6% in July from a year ago. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week that while upside inflation risks remained, …
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Fed Governor Cook’s mortgages: What’s known and what’s notby hellenicshippingnews… on 29 August 2025 at 9:00 pm
U.S. President Donald Trump says he is removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook for “cause,” citing what he said were “false statements” on two mortgages she took out in 2021, about a year before the Senate confirmed her appointment to the Fed. The thrust of Trump’s accusation – first made public by Federal Housing Finance …