U.S. stock futures took a significant hit due to growing fiscal concerns that were exacerbated by Moody’s recent decision to lower the U.S.’ long-standing triple-A credit rating to Aa1. The credit rating agency highlighted increasing entitlement expenditures, rising interest costs, and ongoing political deadlock as major risks to maintaining debt sustainability. In a televised interview,
New Zealand first quarter 2025 producer price index PPI Input +2.9% q/q PPI Output +2.1% — Stats NZ summary: The largest output industry contributions were from: electricity, gas, water and waste services, up 26.2 percent manufacturing, up 2.3 percent rental, hiring and real estate services, up 1.4 percent. The largest input industry contributions were from:
US Treasury Secretary Bessent spoke with CNN on Sunday. He was forthright with his threat to foreign countries that Trump’s tariff will jump back a “reciprocal” level if trade deals are not reached with the US: “Trump has put them on notice that if you do not negotiate in good faith, you will ratchet back
A viral AI image The weekend started off with a bang as the US credit rating was downgraded by Moody’s late in the day. That will start things on a soft footing but a few developments afterwards also aren’t promising: 1) Bessent’s reaction to the downgrade When he campaigned for the job of Treasury Secretary,
The UK Times (gated) interview with Prime Minister Starmer. From the report (bolding is mine): The prime minister is expected to announce broad plans for a youth mobility deal on Monday as part of a wider agreement with the European Union The deal will bring Britain into the closest alignment with the EU since Brexit
The recent decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to accept a luxurious Boeing 747-8 airplane valued at approximately $400 million from Qatar has ignited significant controversy in the United States, drawing legal, ethical, and political scrutiny. Many are asking: Is it legal for Trump to accept the airplane gift? Is President Trump Allowed to Accept
A Penny Stock – API Isotopes (ASPI) Conversation: Balancing Risk, Reward, and Reality (And You Can Also Check out ASPI Stock) Investing is often discussed in dry terms of charts, analysis, and percentages, but let’s step away from that and eavesdrop on a candid and lively conversation between two seasoned investors, John and Mike. Friends
Just as markets were finding their footing following a series of positive trade developments, Moody’s delivered a late-week shock by downgrading the US sovereign credit rating from Aaa to Aa1. The move overshadowed the optimism sparked by the US-China tariff truce and the broader de-escalation of trade tensions. The trade outlook appears less volatile in
AUD/NZD trades near the 1.0900 zone with minor losses on Friday. The pair maintains a bullish outlook despite mixed short-term signals. Key support is clustered below 1.0880, with resistance near 1.0920. The AUD/NZD pair is experiencing mild selling pressure on Friday, hovering near the 1.0900 zone as the market approaches the Asian session. Despite the
Moody’s Ratings The US government is in the middle of discussing a generational tax cut and Moody’s just voted. The ratings agency downgraded the full faith and credit of the USA to Aa1 from Aaa. That means that all three ratings agencies have now removed the US top rating. The drop comes a year after
