Recently, Britain’s new finance minister Rachel Reeves has indicated that she is considering approving inflation-busting pay increases for nearly 2 million government employees in an effort to prevent potential public sector strikes. This move comes in light of the recommendations made by two pay review bodies for wage rises of 5.5% for teachers and staff
Economy
Barcelona has recently announced plans to raise the tourist tax for cruise passengers visiting the city for less than 12 hours. Currently set at 7 euros per day, the tax will be substantially increased for stopover cruise passengers. The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, stated in an interview with El Pais newspaper that this decision
Wall Street’s main indexes took a hit recently due to a sell-off driven by tech stocks and mixed earnings reports. The sell-off was further intensified by a global cyber outage that affected CrowdStrike’s shares, causing them to drop to an over two-month low. This incident had a domino effect on tech giant Microsoft as well,
Chinese consumer spending seems to be at a standstill, despite the numerous attempts by the government to encourage citizens to spend. With household deposits slowing down and banks reducing interest rates, one would expect an increase in consumer spending. However, data suggests otherwise. Chinese households saw a decrease in the amount of money deposited in
The World Trade Organization recently expressed concerns over China’s lack of financial transparency in providing support to key industrial sectors. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for the WTO to have a clear picture of the extent of financial support given to industries such as electric vehicles and aluminum and steel production. Without this
The International Monetary Fund’s chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, recently spoke with Reuters about the Federal Reserve’s shift towards easing rates. He noted that the cooling inflation data is allowing the Fed to make a “very reasonable” decision in this regard. Gourinchas mentioned that while the U.S. labor market remains strong, there is no rush for
France’s public finances are in dire straits, according to the national public audit office, Cour des Comptes. The staggering deficit figure of 154 billion euros has left the country dangerously exposed to potential economic shocks. This financial crisis comes at a delicate time for President Emmanuel Macron’s government, following a parliamentary election that resulted in
The World Bank, with backing from the U.S. and Australia, is stepping in to provide a financial lifeline for Pacific Island nations. This move comes as Western banks are pulling out of the region, leaving these small countries vulnerable to being cut off from global finance. The region, comprising 18 small countries and territories, spans
In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, publicly endorsed Donald Trump for the upcoming U.S. presidential race. This marks a significant shift in Musk’s political stance, as he has previously voiced his support for Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. Musk’s endorsement of Trump has raised eyebrows among
Argentina’s central bank recently announced a new strategy to sell U.S. dollars in the country’s parallel foreign exchange markets in an attempt to combat inflation and stabilize the country’s money supply. This decision marks a significant shift in the country’s monetary policy and has sparked discussions about its potential impact on the economy. Economy Minister
Recently, whistleblowers at OpenAI have raised concerns about the company’s allegedly restrictive non-disclosure agreements. The whistleblowers claim that employees were required to sign agreements that limited their ability to raise concerns about the company to federal authorities. This includes overly restrictive employment, severance, and nondisclosure agreements that could potentially penalize workers who speak out. One
The prospect of impending U.S. interest rate cuts is causing a stir among investors, who now find themselves at a crossroads. The dilemma they face is whether to maintain their allegiance to the stalwart Big Tech stocks that have been the backbone of market returns for an extended period, or to pivot towards lesser-loved sectors
Following the aftermath of the pandemic, Wall Street banks have reported a significant increase in deal flow and investment banking activity in their quarterly earnings reports. Major U.S. banks such as Citigroup, JPMorgan, and Wells Fargo have all witnessed a surge in investment banking revenue, signaling a healthier pipeline for deals in the market. Merger
Following England’s dramatic victory in the European Championship semi-final, the City is likely to be buzzing with excitement. However, the euphoria from Ollie Watkins’ stoppage-time strike sending England into the final against Spain has not overshadowed the ongoing challenges in the financial markets. While celebrations are in order, investors must remain vigilant as the battle