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"Further progress is likely to become more difficult as base effects fade, and supply-constraints could drive global energy and food prices higher again." Brent crude prices have risen 27% since mid-year and U.S. crude is up 30%, with U.S. retail pump prices already up almost 10% so far since June. Oil and inflation expectationsReuters GraphicsSLOWING DESCENTAnd alongside creeping worries about rising debt supply, the long end of bond markets has been rattled again by the oil price jump. And this has been a far bigger influence on the inflation trajectory than oil prices per se. Yet, restive crude prices will still cloud a messy and tricky battle with inflation expectations just as policy tightening cycles near an end.

Persons: Brent that's, Christian Keller, Akash Utsav, Andrew Goodwin, there's, George H.W, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brent, UBS, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Barclays, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, U.S, Treasury, Oxford, Monetary Fund, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, tailwind, U.S, Europe, Britain, West, George H.W . Bush

☆ How China became the king of new nuclear power, and how the U.S. is trying to stage a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

That is two and a half times more nuclear reactors under construction than any other country. China was just getting started as the United States nuclear industry began to take a back seat. Power follows demand, so the new nuclear reactors tend to be built where fast-developing economies need power to fuel their growth. For the United States to win the export business, it must prove it can put steel in the ground in the United States. "We and our close nuclear energy allies are at what I think is just the start of a fierce competition for supremacy in global nuclear energy export markets," Kotek said.

Persons: Jacopo Buongiorno, Kenneth Luongo, Luongo, John F, Kotek, they've, Buongiorno, Westinghouse, Trump, Biden Organizations: Plant, China National Nuclear Corporation, China Huaneng, Changjiang, China News Service, Getty, International Atomic Energy Agency, United, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CNBC, Partnership for Global Security, World Nuclear Association, Chicago Tribune, Tribune, Service, IAEA, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Nuclear Energy Institute, International Energy Agency, France, Visual China, Georgia Power, Westinghouse Locations: China, Changjiang Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province, India, Turkey, United States, Georgia, Byron , Illinois, France, Russia, HUIZHOU, CHINA, Huizhou, Guangdong Province of China, Europe, Eastern Europe, U.S

☆ New Zealand plans digital services tax for multinationals from 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand said on Tuesday it would introduce legislation for a digital services tax on large multinational companies from 2025 after talks for a global rollout did not reach consensus at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). But the proposal was pushed back last month after countries with digital services taxes, with the exception of Canada, agreed to hold off applying them for at least another year. The proposed digital services tax will target multinational businesses that earn income from New Zealand users of social media platforms, search engines, and online marketplaces. The tax would be payable by businesses that make over 750 million euros ($812 million) a year from global digital services and over NZ$3.5 million a year from digital services provided to New Zealand users. The tax would be applied at 3% on gross taxable New Zealand digital services revenue, a similar rate adopted by comparable countries like France and the United Kingdom.

Persons: David Gray, Grant Robertson, Renju Jose, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Apple, Finance, Kiwis, NZ, Thomson Locations: Wellington, New Zealand, Canada, Zealand, France, United Kingdom, Sydney

☆ 9 European countries where workers get more than a month of paid vacation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Nationally, the average American gets 10 vacation days — all public holidays like Memorial Day and Thanksgiving — after a year of service. Several countries offer even more by law, giving workers more than a month of business days in vacation time per year. Here are nine European countries that give workers more than a month of paid vacations a year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development:France: 30 days of paid vacation per yearUnited Kingdom: 28 days of paid vacation per yearAustria: 25 days of paid vacation per yearDenmark: 25 days of paid vacation per yearFinland: 25 days of paid vacation per yearNorway: 25 days of paid vacation per yearSpain: 25 days of paid vacation per yearSweden: 25 days of paid vacation per yearPortugal: 22 days of paid vacation per yearGiven the culture of rest prioritized around Europe, many workers get even more days off from their company. While Swedes are guaranteed 25 paid vacation days by law, her employer adds a few extra days to bring her up to 30 paid vacation days a year. In Norway, Lene Vindenes, 28, gets 25 paid vacation days per year, and her company requires her to take three weeks of vacation during the summer between June and August.

Persons: Kimberly Sorce, Lene Vindenes, Warren Buffett Organizations: European, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development Locations: U.S, Europe, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, New Jersey

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russian strike on hotel kills 1; no injuries reported after debris hits Kyiv children’s hospital
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Foreign companies that have remained in Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine will be supported by authorities in the country, a top official said in an interview with state news agency RIA published Friday. "I would like to emphasize that companies that are still interested in conscientiously continuing their work in our country and comply with Russian legislation are not in danger. Moreover, they can count on the support of the Russian authorities and the creation of favorable conditions for business development in our market," Birichevsky said. The company also confirmed it would comply with legislation that could see its employees in Russia conscripted into the war. Groups including the B4Ukraine Coalition as well as Ukrainian authorities have heavily criticized companies that have chosen to remain in Russia.

Persons: Dmitry Birichevsky, conscientiously, Birichevsky, — Jenni Reid Organizations: CNBC, EU, Unilever, B4Ukraine Coalition Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Will AI be an economic blessing or curse? History offers clues
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Mark John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Backers of AI predict a productivity leap that will generate wealth and improve living standards. The productivity gains it was once lauded for have slowed across many economies. In a globalised economy, there are other reasons to doubt whether the potential gains of AI will be felt evenly. That is just one of several factors that will help determine how AI shapes our economic lives - from antitrust policies that ensure healthy competition among AI suppliers through to re-training of workforces. "The question is: will AI exacerbate existing inequalities or could it actually help us get back to something much fairer?"

Persons: Richard Erkhov, Yiannis, Simon Johnson, Johnson, Daron Acemoglu, jenny, Natixis, Stefano Scarpetta, MIT's Johnson, Mary Towers, Eva Mathews, Mark John, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, MIT Sloan School of Management, McKinsey, Hollywood, Reuters, Labour, Social Affairs, Economic Cooperation, Development, UN, POWER, Britain's Trades Union, OECD, Thomson Locations: Pascal, Nicosia, Cyprus, U.S, American, Paris, Bengaluru

☆ China has a case of 'economic long COVID' - and won't use the only cure for growth, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China is suffering from "economic long COVID," Adam Posen wrote in Foreign Affairs. Like other authoritarian regimes, China's economic development is following a predictable pattern, he noted. "Low appetite for illiquid investment and low responsiveness to supportive macroeconomic policies: that, in a nutshell, is economic long COVID," he wrote. Despite the West's growing tensions with Beijing, China's economic woes aren't necessarily good news for its rivals either, Posen said. "When another global recession hits, China's growth will not help revive demand abroad as it did last time.

Persons: Adam Posen, Peterson, —, Goldman Sachs, It's, Xi, COVID, Posen, there's Organizations: Foreign Affairs, Service, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Bank of America, Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, China's Communist Party Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, Posen

STOCKHOLM/FRANKFURT, July 27 (Reuters) - Sweden has the financial muscle to intervene to stem any fire sale of property from companies rushing to sell out, the head of the country's debt agency told Reuters on Thursday. Karolina Ekholm, Director General at the Debt Office, said the government had a light debt load and could afford to borrow more to intervene to buoy the property sector should a threat emerge to wider financial stability. High debts, rising interest rates and a wilting economy has produced a toxic cocktail for Sweden's commercial property companies, with several cut to junk by rating agencies. The former central bank official pointed to the government's financial clout and that it could issue debt in either euros or U.S. dollars. "It would have to be something that threatens financial stability in Sweden and so far we haven't seen any of that."

Persons: Karolina Ekholm, Ekholm, Conor Humphries Organizations: Reuters, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, AAA, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, FRANKFURT, Sweden

☆ Global tax loss: Countries could lose trillions in revenue to tax havens in next decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The estimated $4.7 trillion shortfall is based on an analysis of aggregated data for 47 countries from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. All in, the report’s authors estimate that $4.7 trillion is roughly equivalent to a year’s worth of public health spending worldwide. The outlook for systemic global tax reformWhile the Tax Justice Network was initially hopeful that OECD tax reform efforts that started a decade ago might reduce global tax abuse, those efforts have hit multiple roadblocks and implementation delays. Now, TJN backs proposals to move authority for global tax rulemaking from the OECD to the United Nations. “The key to ending cross-border tax abuse is to deliver on a UN tax convention and to create a global tax body under UN auspices,” the report’s authors contend.

Persons: TJN, ”, Alex Cobham, Cobham, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Tax Justice Network, of Tax, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD, Apple, Senate Finance, Democratic, Tax, Network, United Nations, UN Locations: New York, United Kingdom, Singapore, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Ireland, United States

☆ Why waiting for A.I. laws, regulations from government could be a catastrophic mistake
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Mikaela Cohen | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI, parent company of ChatGPT, warns AI poses risk of human extinction, and Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "godfather of AI," cautions that AI can bring a dangerous future. These AI leaders and others support intervention from the federal government and other industry leaders before AI proliferates throughout society. With rapid growth, Palmer said companies of all sizes need to track AI efforts and disclose the information publicly. After a company has established metrics for tracking AI, or even while it's figuring that out, companies need to do a risk assessment for AI, Palmer said. "Within most companies, AI doesn't have an owner," Palmer said.

Persons: Sam Altman, Geoffrey Hinton, Altman, Asha Palmer, Palmer, Genies, Akash Nigam, Nigam, we've, ChatGPT, François, Candelon, Let's Organizations: OpenAI, CNBC, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Organization for Economic Cooperation, IT, Boston Consulting Group's Henderson Institute Locations: Washington , DC, OpenAI, Japan

REUTERS/Jorge SilvaBANGKOK/NEW DELHI, July 17 (Reuters) - Indian tourists are streaming into Southeast Asia, cementing the world most populous country's position as a key growth market for a travel and tourism sector that is feeling the pinch of China's slower-than-expected re-opening. "Southeast Asia is obviously very well positioned for a lot of the growth that is inevitably going to come from India," aviation analyst Brendan Sobie told an industry conference last month. Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said 1.6 million Indians were expected to visit the kingdom this year. Indians are helping to sustain a post-pandemic rebound for hospitality chains, including Minor Hotels, which has 45 properties in Southeast Asia with more than 6,000 rooms. Thailand's central bank expects 29 million visitors this year and 35.5 million in 2024.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Brendan Sobie, Tanes Petsuwan, Chai Eamsiri, Chai, Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo's, Sobie, Dillip, Pratyush Tripathy, That's, Somsong Sachaphimukh, Somsong, Pasit, Stefanno Sulaiman, Neil Jerome Morales, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Jorge Silva BANGKOK, Thai Airways, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Reuters, Asian Development Bank, Tourism Authority, IndiGo, Airbus, Minor, Bank of, Tourism Council of, Thomson Locations: India, Thailand, Patong, Phuket, DELHI, Asia, China, Thai, Singapore, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kolkata, Pattaya, Europe, United States, Thailand's, Bank of Thailand, Tourism Council of Thailand, BANGKOK, JAKARTA, MANILA

☆ Exclusive: India to push G20 to raise share of taxes on firms where they earn 'excess profit'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Shivangi Acharya Sarita Chaganti Singh Nikunj Ohri | Shivangi Acharya | Sarita Chaganti Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"India has made suggestions to get its due share of taxing rights on excess profits of multinational companies," one official said. The suggestions have been made to the OECD and will be discussed "extensively" during the G20 meeting on Monday and Tuesday, the official said. Under the agreement, global corporations with annual revenues over 20 billion euros ($22 billion) are considered to be making excess profits if the profits exceed 10% annual growth. The 25% surcharge on these excess profits is to be divided among countries. The G20 host nation will also propose that withholding taxation be de-linked from the excess profit tax principle.

Persons: Sarita Chaganti Singh, Shivangi Acharya, Nikunj, Aftab Ahmed, William Mallard Organizations: Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD, People's, India's Consumer, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Australia, Japan, Gujarat, U.S, New Delhi

☆ Exclusive: India to push G20 to raise share of taxes on firms where they earn 'excess profit,' officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Shivangi Acharya Sarita Chaganti Singh Nikunj Ohri | Shivangi Acharya | Sarita Chaganti Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"India has made suggestions to get its due share of taxing rights on excess profits of multinational companies," one official said. The suggestions have been made to the OECD and will be discussed "extensively" during the G20 meeting on Monday and Tuesday, the official said. Under the agreement, global corporations with annual revenues over 20 billion euros ($22 billion) are considered to be making excess profits if the profits exceed 10% annual growth. The 25% surcharge on these excess profits is to be divided among countries. The rules now say countries offset their share of taxes with the withholding tax they collect.

Now it is at the epicentre of a property crash that threatens to engulf the Nordic state's economy. It has said it plans on selling roughly 6 billion Swedish crowns worth of assets this year. Speculators are betting that the stock price has further to fall. SBB shares are subject to more short-selling - a bet that the stock price will drop - than any other Swedish company, according to data from the financial regulator. "If, on the other hand, the SBB will be bought up, then the small shareholders will probably lose everything."

Persons: Maria De Geer, who've, Ilija Batljan, Batljan, Robert Bergqvist, SEB, Leiv Synnes, pare, De Geer, Pablo Mayo, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: SBB, Swedish Shareholders Association, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, Asset Management, SBB Treasury Oyj, Reuters, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, FRANKFURT, Sweden, Swedish, Cerqueiro, London

☆ Countries agree to extend digital services tax freeze through 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, July 12 (Reuters) - With the exception of Canada, countries with digital services taxes have agreed to hold off applying them for at least another year as a global multinationals tax deal to replace them was pushed back, the OECD said on Wednesday. More than 140 countries were supposed to start implementing next year a 2021 deal overhauling decades-old rules on how governments tax multinationals that are widely considered to be outdated as digital giants like Apple or Amazon can book profits in low-tax countries. If at least 30 countries sign, then the freeze on national digital taxing rights will be extended through 2024 with an option to further extend through 2025 if needed, the OECD said. "Canada was not in agreement with the standstill," Corwin told journalists, citing the only country among the five holdouts with a digital services tax. But even once governments sign the treaty, ratification will be no easy task, especially in the United States where a two-thirds majority in the Senate is needed.

Persons: Corwin, Leigh Thomas, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD, Thomson Locations: Canada, Paris, Belarus, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, United States

☆ How AI’s astonishing productivity gains could help curb inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Experts say the technology will help address a steep and prolonged slowdown in productivity growth in many Western economies, which has kept businesses’ costs higher than they would otherwise be and made inflation harder to tame. “AI has huge potential to increase productivity,” BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said at the company’s Investor Day last month. Productivity gains in Europe could be similar, albeit slightly smaller, Brynjolfsson told CNN. In some cases, productivity gains could be achieved sooner. That’s because most generative AI tools live on the internet — “the technology we already have on our desks” — making them widely accessible, Brynjolfsson said.

Persons: chatbot, —, Smart, Hannes P Albert, Bill Gates, Larry Fink, Erik Brynjolfsson, ” David McMillan, ” McMillan, Hollie Adams, Neil Shearing, Martin Neil Baily, Anton Korinek, Brynjolfsson, Goldman Sachs, ” Organizations: London CNN, Microsoft, BlackRock, CNN, Stanford University, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD, University of Stirling, Bloomberg, Getty, “, National Statistics, IBM, Capital, Brookings Institute, University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, America, Productivity, Google, SAP, Goldman Locations: East, Scotland, London, United Kingdom, United States, Europe, Wimbledon

☆ Indian CEO of Dukaan replaced 90% of staff with an AI chatbot
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The average time taken to resolve a customer’s issue also dropped by almost 98% when they interacted with the chatbot, he tweeted. Shah said the job cuts were “tough” but “necessary.”Shah told CNN Wednesday that the 23 layoffs were made in September. By introducing the technology, the company has cut the cost of its customer support function by about 85%, Shah said. Shah told CNN that he believed “in a future where AI and humans work together, each doing what they do best,” and that he was exploring opportunities to use AI in work involving graphic design, illustration and data science. AI fearsThe news of the layoffs comes as fears that AI will result in mass job losses have escalated eight months after Open AI released its AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT to the public.

Persons: Shah, ” Shah, “, Dukaan, ChatGPT Organizations: London CNN, Summit Shah, Twitter, CNN, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD Locations: Bangalore

☆ CNBC Daily Open: The sun rises on Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Philip Fong | Afp | Getty ImagesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. What you need to know todayU.S. markets on holidayU.S. markets were closed yesterday for the Fourth of July holiday, while futures were little changed on Tuesday night. Inflation exceptionalismThe U.K. is the only G7 country where inflation is still rising, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The sky's the limitAround 30% of the flights operated by U.S. airlines were delayed between June 24 through July 2.

Persons: Philip Fong, Abu Dhabi's, Xi Jinping, aren't, Niño, El Niño Organizations: Tokyo, Mount, Afp, Getty, CNBC, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, U.S, aren't fazed, World Meteorological Organization Locations: Mount Fuji, Ichikawa city, Chiba prefecture, Tokyo, China, Beijing, U.S

☆ Britain is now the only major economy where inflation is still rising
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It comes as many major central banks start to consider bringing their aggressive interest rate hikes to an end as prices cool, even as inflation remains elevated. The move, which exacerbated fears of a mortgage catastrophe, marked a divergence from other major central banks that have been able to either slow or pause interest rate hikes. Year-on-year inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, slowed markedly to 6.5% in May, down from 7.4% in April. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and food prices, declined at a much slower rate across 33 OECD countries, however, continuing a recent trend. Energy inflation, meanwhile, was found to have plunged to -5.1% in May when compared to the previous year, from 0.7% in April.

Organizations: OECD, LONDON, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, U.S ., Bank of England, Energy Locations: Paris, U.S, U.S . Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Costa Rica, Greece, Denmark, Hungary, Turkey

LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) - Western central banks have been warned this week not to quit in the final lap of their monetary tightening campaign - the hard yards households and financial markets may now find exhausting. And yet, desperate for their members not to declare premature victory in getting inflation back to 2% targets or sow an assumption above-target inflation will eventually be tolerated, central bank watchdogs are cheerleading a last push. But that's not in forecasts this time around - with U.S. and UK headline inflation rates not back to target by the end of next year and the euro zone not even by then. 'Last Mile' of disinflationBIS chart on speed of disinflation'UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS'And the BIS message was echoed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday. "Monetary policy should continue to tighten and then remain in restrictive territory until core inflation is on a clear downward path," she said.

Persons: that's, Gita Gopinath, Christine Lagarde, Lagarde, Jerome Powell's, John Williams, Williams, Joseph Little, Mike Dolan, Mark Potter Organizations: Bank for International Settlements, BIS, for Economic Cooperation, International Monetary Fund, Bank's, IMF, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, New York Fed, U.S, Bank of England, Global, HSBC Asset Management, Reuters, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Portugal

HONG KONG, June 27 (Reuters) - A series of brutal attacks in Hong Kong is shining a light on mental health in a city that has suffered from particularly acute strains while lacking sufficient resources to provide proper care for all who need it, mental health groups say. A city government spokesman, asked about the state of mental health, referred Reuters to a meeting the administration organised this month aimed at exploring more ways to address mental health problems and support people who suffer from severe mental disorders. Mental health experts point to the COVID-19 pandemic as a major factor in the increase in mental health issues, as it has been in many places. 'EXHAUSTION'Judy Blaine, a researcher and consultant on mental wellbeing, says it is the compounding of stresses that takes a toll on Hong Kong's people. Carol Liang, deputy CEO of the group Mind Hong Kong, said waiting times for cases deemed non-urgent can be as long as 90 weeks in the Hospital Authority system.

Persons: Abby Choi, Judy Blaine, Hong, Blaine, Carol Liang, Hong Kong, Farah Master, Anne Marie Roantree, Robert Birsel Organizations: Hong Kong Foundation, Organization, Reuters, Hospital Authority, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, Hong

☆ UK inflation exceeds expectations in May, piling pressure on the government and Bank of England
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The OECD recently predicted that the UK will experience the highest inflation among all advanced economies this year. Inflation dipped below 10% in April but continues to exceed consensus forecasts and remains significantly higher than the Bank of England 's 2% target. The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH), the ONS' preferred metric, rose by 7.9% in the 12 months to May 2023, up from 7.8% in April. LONDON — U.K. inflation came in hotter than expected in May, as consumer prices rose by an annual 8.7%, unchanged from the previous month. However, he said the Bank will now "feel like it has no choice, especially with core inflation now rising again."

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, Marcus Brookes, Brookes, Thiru Organizations: OECD, Bank of England, ONS, Office, National Statistics, Reuters, LONDON, Organization, Economic Cooperation, Development, CPI, Quilter Investors, Bank Locations: Sheffield

☆ Bank of England's conundrum deepens as inflation and labor market stay hot
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A member of the public walks through heavy rain near the Bank of England in May 2023. LONDON — The Bank of England is "caught between a rock and a hard place" as it prepares for a key monetary policy decision against a backdrop of sticky inflation and a tight labor market, economists say. May's consumer price index figure will be published Wednesday morning, the day before the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announces its next move on interest rates. Data points since the last meeting have indicated persistent tightness in the labor market and strong underlying inflationary pressures, alongside mixed but surprisingly resilient growth momentum. Economists therefore now expect the Bank to prolong its tightening cycle and lift interest rates to a higher level than previously anticipated.

Organizations: Bank of England, LONDON, Organization, Economic Cooperation, Development

☆ Swiss referendum set to back global minimum corporate tax, climate goals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Noele Illien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies Swiss set to back 15% minimum business taxMinimum tax backed by business groupsClimate law, rejected in 2021, set to passExtension to COVID-19 law also set to win approvalZURICH, June 18 (Reuters) - Swiss voters looked set to approve proposals to introduce a global minimum tax on businesses and a climate law that aims to cut fossil fuel use and reach zero emissions by 2050, projections by public broadcaster SRF showed on Sunday. The projections, based on counted votes, showed 88% of those who voted in Sunday's national referendum backed raising the country's business tax to the 15% global minimum rate from current average minimum of 11%, while 55% supported the climate law. In 2021, Switzerland joined almost 140 countries that signed up to an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) deal to set a minimum tax rate for big companies, a move aimed at limiting the practice of shifting profits to low tax countries. The climate law, brought back in a modified form after it was rejected in 2021 as too costly, has stirred up more debate with those campaigning against it gaining traction in recent weeks. We want the additional tax revenue to stay in the country, and be used to improve its attractiveness for businesses," said Christian Frey, from Economiesuisse, a lobby group.

Persons: SRF, Christian Frey, Noele Illien, John Revill, Emma Farge, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry, Hugh Lawson Organizations: ZURICH, Economic Cooperation, Development, Google, Nestle, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: COVID, Switzerland, Economiesuisse

☆ Analysis: Global tax deal at risk as first pillar teeters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Leigh Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Reuters GraphicsDIGITAL SERVICE TAXWhile the global minimum tax was always expected to bring in far more revenue, the collapse of plans to redistribute taxing rights would not come without consequences. The Biden administration backed the deal in 2021 in part because it requires other countries to abandon existing or planned digital services taxes targeting big U.S. tech groups. France, which the Trump administration hit with tariff action over its digital services tax before the Biden administration suspended it, has said that it will keep the tax in place as long as Pillar I of the deal is not resolved. Against that background, U.S. companies are eager to see progress on a multilateral solution that would get rid of unilateral digital services taxes. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNBC last week that the bill had little chance of passing and that the United States would get on board with the global minimum.

Persons: Peter Barnes, Biden, Trump, Megan Funkhouser, Janet Yellen, Barnes, Leigh Thomas, Christian Kraemer, David Lawder, Catherine Evans Organizations: PARIS, Google, Fiscal Association, Republican, U.S . Congress, Economic Cooperation, Development, Reuters, OECD, Information Technology Industry Council, Republicans, Treasury, CNBC, Trump, Thomson Locations: United States, Paris, France, Washington, U.S, United, Berlin

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