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☆ IMF upgrades global growth forecast as economy proves 'surprisingly resilient' despite downside risks
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slightly raised its global growth forecast, saying the economy had proven "surprisingly resilient" despite inflationary pressures and monetary policy shifts. The IMF now expects global growth of 3.2% in 2024, up by a modest 0.1 percentage point from its earlier January forecast, and in line with the growth projection for 2023. The IMF's chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, said the findings suggest the global economy is heading for a "soft landing," following a string of economic crises, and that the risks to the outlook were now broadly balanced. "Despite gloomy predictions, the global economy remains remarkably resilient, with steady growth and inflation slowing almost as quickly as it rose," he said in a blog post. But dimmer prospects in China and other large emerging market economies could weigh on global trade partners, the report said.

Persons: Pierre, Olivier Gourinchas Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF, U.S Locations: Nanjing, China

☆ 'We have woken up to a new paradigm in the Middle East' following Iran-Israel escalation, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Iran on April 14 urged Israel not to retaliate militarily to an unprecedented attack overnight, which Tehran presented as a justified response to a deadly strike on its consulate building in Damascus. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)Iran's weekend attack on Israel marks a "new paradigm" in the Middle East conflict, which risks escalating into a wider regional war, Chatham House's Middle East director said Monday. "The Israeli leadership will have a hard time not responding. Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles against military targets inside Israel on Saturday in response to a suspected Israeli strike that killed top Iranian officials in Syria. The attack, though well telegraphed in advance, has presented some opportunity for Israel to rehabilitate its image following its months-long onslaught in Gaza, which many perceive as disproportionate to Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attacks.

Persons: ATTA KENARE, Sanam Vakil, thinktank, it's, Vakil, CNBC's Organizations: Getty, Chatham House's Locations: Persian, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Damascus, AFP, London, Syria, Gaza

☆ Bank of England scraps outdated inflation forecasting model in major overhaul after Fed boss' review
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — The Bank of England on Friday announced a "once in a generation" overhaul of its inflation forecasting following a long-awaited review by former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke. The review — initiated following criticism of the central bank's recent policymaking — sets out 12 recommendations which BoE Governor Andrew Bailey said the bank was committed to implementing. They include the scrapping of the Bank's long-held "fan chart" forecasting system and the introduction of a revamped forecast framework. It added that the BoE currently relies more heavily than other central banks on a central forecast, which may not fully account for wider risks or how inflation expectations can become "de-anchored." Additionally, the review said the bank needed to improve its communication with the public, suggesting the it put less emphasis on the central forecast, simplify its policy statement, and reduce repetitiveness."

Persons: Ben Bernanke, —, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Bailey Organizations: Bank of England, City of, Federal, CNBC, Monetary, Bank Locations: City, City of London, United Kingdom, U.S

☆ WTO forecasts rebound in global trade but keeps geopolitical risks in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The World Trade Organization on Wednesday said that it expects global trade to rebound gradually this year, before rising further in 2025, as the impacts of higher inflation fall into the rearview mirror. In its latest "Global Trade Outlook and Statistics" report, the WTO forecast that total global trade volumes will increase by 2.6% in 2024, and by a further 3.3% in 2025. It follows a larger-than-expected 1.2% decline in 2023, as inflationary pressures and higher interest rates weighed on international trade. The trade rebound is expected to be "broad-based," including across Europe, which experienced some of the deepest falls in trade volumes last year as a result of geopolitical tensions and the energy crisis caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "Europe was really weighing on international trade in 2023, and we don't see that being the case anymore," Ossa said.

Persons: Ralph Ossa, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, Russia's, Ossa Organizations: World Trade Organization, Trade Outlook, WTO Locations: Europe, Africa, India, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, Qianwan, Qingdao Port, Qingdao, China, Ukraine

☆ EU's von der Leyen echoes Yellen's calls for tough stance on Chinese overcapacity
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference, Nurphoto | Getty ImagesEuropean Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said that Europe must talk tough with China on its perceived unfair trade practices, echoing calls a day earlier from U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Speaking ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's trip to Beijing later this week, von der Leyen said European companies should have the same market access in China as Chinese firms have in Europe, according to comments cited by Reuters. She also urged the German leader to take a hard stance with Chinese authorities about overcapacity and unfair competitive practices. Chinese overcapacity concernsChinese overcapacity has become a major point of diplomatic tension, with the U.S. and its allies contesting that excess production and subsidized goods from China are undercutting domestic businesses. It also contests that the U.S. — through initiatives such as the Inflation Reduction Act — is subsidizing its own manufacturing industry.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Janet Yellen, Olaf Scholz's, von der Leyen, Yellen, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Commerce Wang Wentao Organizations: Getty, European Commission, Treasury, Reuters, Monday, CNBC, U.S, China's, Commerce Locations: Europe, China, U.S, Beijing

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday said she would not rule out any measures, including potential tariffs, on China's green energy exports. "I wouldn't rule out anything out at this point. "I'm not thinking so much of export restrictions, as some shifts in their macroeconomic policy, and a reduction in the amount of, particularly local government subsidies, to firms," Yellen said. Washington's anxiety is shared by U.S. allies including Japan and Europe, as a glut of cheap Chinese products, such as solar panels, has flooded their markets. "It's fine for China's firms to export in this industry, to develop it.

Persons: Janet Yellen, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Yellen, White, they're Organizations: Treasury Locations: Washington, China, Beijing, Guangzhou, U.S, Japan, Europe

☆ European markets set to open mixed in lackluster short trading week; fresh euro zone data due
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European markets look set for a mixed open on Friday as investors wrap up a lackluster first trading week of the new quarter. Markets have struggled to gain traction this week, with the Stoxx 600 index closing just slightly higher Thursday. During Friday's session, investors will digest fresh data on euro zone construction and retail sales, as well as U.K. house prices. Markets in Asia-Pacific moved lower Friday, led by declines for Japan's Nikkei 225, after comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials fueled worries that the central bank could hold off on rate cuts. U.S. stock futures also turned lower on the comments, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average having notched its worst trading day in more than a year Thursday.

Organizations: Nikkei, U.S . Federal Reserve, Dow Jones Locations: Asia, Pacific, U.S

☆ Economist El-Erian says the Fed has turned into a play-by-play commentator
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. Federal Reserve has become too data dependent and has lost sight of its overall strategy, Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at Allianz, said Friday. The economist told CNBC that a longer-term, more strategic outlook could see policymakers settle on a new inflation target of closer to 3%. "Rather than be strategic, this Fed is overly data dependent, and has turned into a play-by-play commentator," El-Erian told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick at the Ambrosetti Spring Forum in Italy. "The Fed should be strategic, the Fed should provide a strategic anchor, a stabilizer." The U.S. Federal Reserve did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

Persons: Mohamed El, Erian, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, That's Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Allianz, CNBC Locations: Italy

☆ European markets set to open higher as momentum returns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European markets look poised to open higher Thursday as investors look to build momentum following a shaky start to the new trading quarter. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed higher Wednesday, shaking off some of the negative sentiment after euro zone inflation fell more than expected. Thursday is light on the earnings front, while the release of notes from the European Central Bank's last monetary policy meeting is expected to shine some light on the path for interest rate cuts. In Asia-Pacific, markets rebounded following a selloff in the previous session. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures inched higher overnight as investors digested comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Persons: Jerome Powell Organizations: Central, Rio Tinto, U.S . Federal Locations: Rio, Asia, Pacific, U.S

☆ Danone CEO downplays threat of weight loss drugs on food producers: 'We see ourselves as extremely complementary'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe CEO of French consumer goods giant Danone downplayed the threat of obesity drugs on its food business, arguing that consumers were likely to turn to healthy products as part of their new weight loss regime. Antoine de Saint-Affrique said that surging demand for drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro would only increase consumer appetite for more nutritional products. "We see ourselves as extremely complementary to GLP-1s," de Saint-Affrique told CNBC's Charlotte Reed Wednesday. GLP-1s, or glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists, are the underlying class of drugs in weight loss injections such as Wegovy and Mounjaro. watch nowThe rapid rise of such drugs has prompted concern among food makers, who fear falling sales as consumer appetite wanes.

Persons: Antoine de Saint, Affrique, Mounjaro, CNBC's Charlotte Reed, de, Kepler Cheuvreux Organizations: Danone SA, Bloomberg, Getty, Danone, Novo Nordisk

☆ European markets set to open lower as caution returns; euro zone inflation data due
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European markets are set to open lower Wednesday as sentiment turns cautious at the start of the new trading quarter. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed lower Tuesday after a subdued first day of trade after the Easter break. Wednesday is light on the corporate earnings front, but inflation data is due out of the euro zone and Turkey. Markets were lower in Asia-Pacific, tracking declines on Wall Street overnight, with shares of electric vehicle makers dropping on demand worries. U.S. stock futures were little changed in overnight trade.

Locations: Turkey, Asia, Pacific

☆ European markets poised for mixed start to the new trading quarter; euro zone manufacturing data due
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European stocks were poised for a mixed open Tuesday as major markets reopened after the Easter weekend and investors looked ahead to the start of a new trading quarter. European markets closed the first quarter of 2024 around 6.8% higher Thursday as recent inflation data continues to show that pressures from higher prices are cooling. On Tuesday, investors will digest fresh data for March on euro zone manufacturing, German inflation and U.K. house prices. Tesla's quarterly delivery numbers are also due.

☆ Top ad guru Martin Sorrell downplays chances of Trump's Truth Social capturing serious market share
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Advertising guru Martin Sorrell has questioned the prospects of Donald Trump's newly public Truth Social platform, saying it was currently "unfathomable" that clients would want to buy ads on the site. Sorrell, founder and executive chairman of digital marketing firm S4 Capital, said when asked if clients were likely to advertise. Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the company behind Truth Social, went public Tuesday after merging with shell company Digital World Acquisition in a deal known as a special purpose acquisition (SPAC). A spokesperson for TMTG firmly dismissed claims that the share price move defied logic when contacted by CNBC. Truth Social lost $10.6 million in the first nine months of 2023 on revenues of $3.4 million.

Persons: Martin Sorrell, Donald Trump's, Sorrell, ", TMTG, Semafor, Trump Organizations: CNBC, Trump Media & Technology, Truth, Associated Press, WPP, Twitter Locations: British, U.S

☆ Falling fertility rates pose major challenges for the global economy, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Falling fertility rates are set to spark a transformational demographic shift over the next 25 years, with major implications for the global economy, according to a new study. That would leave 49 countries — primarily in low-income regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia — responsible for the majority of new births. "Future trends in fertility rates and livebirths will propagate shifts in global population dynamics, driving changes to international relations and a geopolitical environment, and highlighting new challenges in migration and global aid networks," the report's authors wrote in their conclusion. That shifting demographic landscape will have "profound" social, economic, environmental and geopolitical impacts, the report's authors said. "As the workforce declines, the total size of the economy will tend to decline even if output per worker stays the same.

Persons: Asia —, Dr, Christopher Murray Organizations: Institute for Health Metrics, CNBC Locations: Saharan Africa, Asia, Chad, Niger, Tonga, Samoa, Asia's Tajikistan

☆ Gucci owner Kering tanks 14% after Asia profit warning, dragging down Europe luxury brands
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Gucci store at Harbour City shopping mall, operated by Wharf Holdings Ltd., in Hong Kong, China, on Friday, June 2, 2023. Shares of French luxury group Kering plunged 14% on Tuesday after the company warned that Gucci sales look set to fall 20% year-on-year in the first quarter, amid declining Asia transactions. Kering plunged to the bottom of the Stoxx 600 after a delayed open, dragging other European luxury lines with it. Gucci comparable revenues in the first quarter are expected to be down by nearly 20% year on year." The slowdown is expected to derive primarily from Asia — and chiefly from China, whose economy has been struggling.

Persons: Gucci, Kering, Christian Dior, Hermes, Burberry Organizations: Wharf Holdings Ltd, Gucci, Asia — Locations: Harbour City, Hong Kong, China, Asia, London, Pacific

☆ Unilever to split off its ice cream unit including Ben & Jerry’s
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A family enjoys the visitor attractions at Ben & Jerrys factory in Waterbury, Vermont on June 24, 2021. Consumer goods giant Unilever said Tuesday that it is separating its ice cream unit, which includes Ben & Jerry's and Magnum, as part of a restructuring plan that will impact 7,500 jobs. "The proposed changes are expected to impact around 7,500 predominantly office-based roles globally, with total restructuring costs now anticipated to be around 1.2% of Group turnover for the next three years (up from the around 1% of Group turnover previously communicated)," a statement said. This is breaking news story, please check back later for more.

Persons: Jerrys, Jerry's Organizations: Consumer, Unilever Locations: Waterbury , Vermont

☆ ‘Alarm bells are ringing’: Poland’s president says NATO must urgently ramp up defense spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks to members of the media following a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on March 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. Kevin Dietsch | Getty ImagesPolish President Andrzej Duda said Monday that NATO must urgently increase its defense spending to ensure it does not become the next target of a Russian attack. Duda said it was therefore more critical than ever to ramp up the alliance's military investment, describing his increased spending targets as "common sense." The Polish president, whose country shares a land border with Ukraine, has spearheaded calls to supply weapons to Kyiv since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion. During a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden last week, Duda called for NATO to raise its minimum military spending target to 3% of GDP to further strengthen the alliance's defenses.

Persons: Andrzej Duda, Joe Biden, Kevin Dietsch, Duda, Vladimir Putin, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Putin, it's Organizations: U.S, White, Getty, NATO, CNBC, Polish, U.S . House Locations: Washington , DC, Moscow, Ukraine, Poland, U.S, Sweden, Congress, Russia

☆ Fed and other banks to make 'major progress' on rates this year, BIS chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank look poised to make "major progress" in cutting interest rates this year, according to the central bank of central banks. BIS serves as a bank and forum for national central banks, and as such has close understanding of their monetary policies. During its March meeting, the ECB held interest rates steady, but hinted at a June rate cut as it trimmed its annual inflation forecast. The Fed and the Bank of England are expected to shine future light on their plans for interest rates during their monetary policy meetings this week. The Bank of Japan is meanwhile predicted to lift interest rates on Tuesday, according to a Reuters poll, marking a major turn in its nearly two-decade-long cycle of negative interest rates.

Persons: Carstens, Annette Weisbach, disinflation, Philip Lane, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, BoE Organizations: Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank for International, CNBC, BIS, ECB, Bank of England, Goldman, Bank of Japan

☆ What is a wealth tax and can it work in reality?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The so-called wealth tax is a politically divisive economic policy, but one that is regaining attention amid rising inequality and shifting demographics. It follows an earlier G20 meeting, in which finance leaders explored plans for a global minimum tax on the world's 3,000 billionaires. Colombia, Scotland and the U.S. have all proposed wealth taxes in recent years, joining the likes of Switzerland, Norway and Spain in imposing taxes specifically on the super-rich. And even some of the world's wealthy are backing such calls. But can such a policy work in reality, and is it likely to take hold?

Persons: Joe Biden, Phil White Organizations: U.S, Patriotic Millionaires, CNBC Locations: Colombia, Scotland, Switzerland, Norway, Spain

British electronics chain Currys experienced more rejection Friday with Chinese online retailer JD.com walking away from a takeover race for the firm, just days after Elliott Investment Management did the same. In a brief statement Friday afternoon, JD.com said it would no longer pursue an offer for the Main Street brand, less than a month after entering the running. "JD.com today confirms that, following careful consideration, it does not intend to make an offer for Currys," it said. Currys shares plunged more than 10% on the announcement, before paring losses slightly. The electronics retailer, which operates more than 820 stores across eight countries, has become the subject of a possible takeover as it has struggled in the face of increased competition and depressed consumer spending.

Persons: JD.com, Currys Organizations: Elliott Investment Management Locations: London

☆ Biden’s 'billionaire tax' takes aim at the super-rich — but can a wealth tax work in reality?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

This is about the wealthy contributing more ... the extremely wealthy contributing more and being proud to do that. "This is about the wealthy contributing more to the society, the extremely wealthy contributing more and being proud to do that," Phil White, retired business owner and Patriotic Millionaires co-signatory, told CNBC. But experts are divided over the effectiveness of a wealth tax, and its how achievable it is in reality. Data suggests that wealth tax accounts for only a very small proportion of total tax revenues in the countries where it has been applied. Data suggests that a wealth tax accounts for only a very small proportion of total tax revenues in the countries where it has been applied.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Phil White, Abigail Disney, Brian Cox, Arun Advani, Advani, Christine Cairns, PwC, Tord Kolstad, Kolstad, Kolstad Eiendom Organizations: Patriotic, Patriotic Millionaires, CNBC, Scottish, University of Warwick Locations: Brazil, Europe, Switzerland, Norway, Spain, Colombia

☆ Budweiser owner AB InBev slides 4% after trading suspension as Altria sells stake
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

AB InBev Budweiser and Bud Light brand beer cans at a store in the Queens borough of New York on Feb. 28, 2024. Shares of AB InBev, the world's biggest brewer, slipped more than 4% Thursday as trading resumed following a brief suspension amid emerging details of a sale by one of its major stakeholders. Trading of AB InBev resumed at 2 p.m. local time after details were released on the pricing of the share sale. AB InBev said it plans to buy back $200 million worth of shares. Altria said it planned to use the proceeds from the sale to fund additional share buybacks of its own stock.

Persons: Altria Organizations: InBev Budweiser, Bud Light, InBev, Trading, Belgium's Financial Services, Markets Authority, AB InBev Locations: Queens, New York, Belgian

Just_super | E+ | Getty ImagesThe European Union's parliament on Wednesday endorsed the world's first major set of regulatory ground rules to govern the mediatized artificial intelligence at the forefront of tech investment. President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, described the act as trail-blazing, saying it would enable innovation, while safeguarding fundamental rights. "Artificial intelligence is already very much part of our daily lives. Born in 2021, the EU AI Act divides the technology into categories of risk, ranging from "unacceptable" — which would see the technology banned — to high, medium and low hazard. "The AI Act is not the end of the journey, but, rather, the starting point for a new model of governance built around technology.

Persons: Thierry Breton, Roberta Metsola, Dragos, Tudorache Organizations: Intelligence, Wednesday, EU, European, Union, Digital Markets, — U.S, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Google, Nvidia Locations: Europe, Germany, France, U.S, India

☆ European stocks close mixed as investors assess U.S. jobs data, ECB signals
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European markets closed mixed Friday, with investors digesting the European Central Bank's updated inflation forecast and new U.S. jobs data. The Stoxx 600 index provisionally closed 0.03% higher, with sectors and major bourses trading in mixed territory. German industrial output rose 1% in January, more than the 0.5% expected, new data showed Friday. Construction and manufacturing output also rose 2.7% and 1.1%, respectively. Revised euro zone statistics showed gross domestic product remained steady in the fourth quarter on 2024.

Persons: Europai Organizations: Royal London Group

☆ Novo Nordisk market cap surpasses Tesla on new obesity pill trial data
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Liselotte Sabroe | AFP | Getty ImagesWegovy obesity drug maker Novo Nordisk surpassed Tesla in market value, after fresh early trial data showed positive results for its new experimental weight loss pill. Novo Nordisk is now the 12th most valuable company in the world, with a market cap of $604 billion — ahead of Tesla's $569 billion, according to FactSet data. 8The uptick of Thursday extends a months-long rally for Novo Nordisk, as excitement grows around weight loss drugs and their potential wider applications. The early amycretin data marks a fresh milestone for Novo Nordisk, potentially offering a more effective and less intrusive alternative to its already widely successful injection-based Wegovy and Ozempic drugs. Wegovy showed weight loss of 6% in a 12-week trial, while Ozempic is a diabetes treatment.

Persons: Liselotte Sabroe, Eli Lilly, amycretin, Martin Holst Lange, Lange Organizations: AFP, Getty, Novo Nordisk, Tesla, Microsoft Corp MSFT, Apple Inc, AAPL, NVIDIA Corp NVDA Technology, Saudi Aramco, SA Energy, Inc, AMZN Consumer, GOOGL, Berkshire Hathaway BRK.B, Company LLY Healthcare, Broadcom Inc, AVGO Technology, Taiwan Semiconductor TSM, Novo Nordisk NVO, Finance, JPMorgan Chase JPM, Reuters Locations: Bagsvaerd, Copenhagen, Denmark, Danish, London, Saudi, Mar, Europe

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