Economics

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, will be the world’s biggest free trade agreement. It is geared toward increasing trade between the EU and the US by opening various markets currently restricted in access or closed by tariffs...

An indicator of business activity in fell to its lowest point since July 2009, with double-digit declines in production, new orders, and inventory backlogs.The Institute for Supply Management's Chicago Business Barometer fell 13.6 points in February, indicating a contraction of...

The US dollar is firmer to start the week against most of the major currencies.  The Eurozone reported less deflation than expected, and Germany and Italy reported better manufacturing PMIs.  This helped the euro recover from the initial slide in...

March is said to come in like a lion and leave like a lamb.  It does indeed appear to be coming in like a lion for investors.  There are four major central bank meetings and the US employment report.  Although...

Economic relations between India and the United States seem to be going well. Prime Minister Modi and President Obama reinforced this in New Delhi endorsing the India–US Delhi Declaration of Friendship. But beneath the friendly joint statement of a new...

The European Union is making a push to raise its profile in two trouble spots in the South Caucasus, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Brussels insists its forays in the region are nothing more than routine diplomacy. But some observers believe the...

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Such milestones offer an opportunity to reflect on the progress made and the steps needed to ensure that such tragic events are never repeated. This year marks...

New home sales fell slightly in January, which economists are blaming on cold weather in the Northeast. Approximately 481,000 new single-family home sales occurred in January on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, according to a new report released by the...

The dovish take to Fed Chair Yellen's testimony yesterday has continued to weigh on the dollar and support global bond markets.  Equities are mixed with the major markets lower while emerging markets have rallied.  The MSCI Emerging Market equity index...

The Federal Reserve plans to keep interest rates at historic lows as labor participation and price inflation data remains weak. The Federal Reserve plans to keep interest rates at historic lows as labor participation and price inflation data remains weak....

Bond yields and the dollar fell.  Emerging markets and equities performed well.  The main cause appears to be Yellen's testimony to the Senate.   Yet this seems to be an exaggerated response.  Going over Yellen's prepared remarks and answers to...

Testimony by Federal Reserve Chair Yellen is one of this week's few highlights.  Yellen's testimony is not about articulating a new policy, but explaining the existing policy to US Congress, and to some extent, the American people.  Testimony by Federal...

Amid relatively light news, the US dollar is bid.  The euro is back to the lower end of its range, straddling the $1.1300 area.  The dollar is at an eight-day best against the yen near JPY119.50.  Falling commodity prices, a...

A decline in existing home sales and a slowdown in manufacturing suggest the U.S. economic recovery may be stalling.The National Association of Realtors announced Monday that total existing home sales fell 4.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.82...

German Chancellor Merkel visited the Vatican over the weekend.  Consistent with the diplomatic practice, they exchanged gifts.  The Chancellor gave to the Pope a Bach CD and a donation for refugee children.  Pope Francis gave Merkel a medal with a...