Any loss of U.S. Federal Reserve independence would push up inflation and might even ?endanger financial stability, Finnish central bank ?Governor Olli Rehn said on ?Wednesday as he expressed "full ?solidarity" with ?Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
* Stocks up 0.6%, forex up 0.1% * South African rand gains on robust precious metal prices. * Poland's central bank widely expected to keep rates on hold. By Ragini Mathur and Twesha Dikshit. Most Emerging Markets equities rose on Wednesday, with the broader stock index hitting a record high, as investors monitored domestic updates and U.S. inflation data drove their expectations ?of rate cuts.
The Bank of Japan's absence from a list of central banks lining up to support Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reflects its aversion to politics and the government's reluctance to cross the U.S., with an early election on the horizon.
Euro zone government bond yields edged down on Wednesday, with investors focused more on economic fundamentals than concerns about Federal Reserve independence and geopolitics. A reading on U.S. inflation for December ?came in as expected on Tuesday, after euro zone borrowing costs recorded their steepest ?decline since March last week on weak economic data.
If housing affordability is a priority for U.S. President Donald Trump in an election year, the contradictions in his administration's frenetic new year policy push seem a strange way of getting results. Last week's plan to get federal housing agencies on a $200 billion buying spree of mortgage bonds looks unlikely to get mortgage rates down further by itself, according to many banks.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Wednesday publicly rebuked the country's new central bank governor for signing a statement alongside other global central bank chiefs in support of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Wednesday publicly rebuked the country's new central bank governor for signing a statement ?in support of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. * Top ?central bankers in Europe, England, Canada, Australia and elsewhere ?signed a statement "in full solidarity ?with the Federal ?Reserve System and its Chair Jerome H. Powell."
China on Wednesday reported a record trade surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion in 2025, led by booming exports to non-U.S. markets as producers looked to build global scale to fend off sustained pressure from the Trump administration.
Japan declined on Wednesday to comment on the Bank of Japan's absence from a statement by ?other central banks supporting U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, following ?the Trump administration's threat of criminal indictment.
* China posts record $1.189 trillion trade surplus in 2025. * China's December dollar exports up 6.6% Y/Y, imports up 5.7%; beat forecasts. * Strong exports come despite Trump's tariffs as China scales up new markets. * China's ability to weather risks has been 'significantly enhanced', says official. By Joe Cash and Xiuhao Chen.
China posted a record $1.189 trillion trade surplus in 2025, as ?producers brace for three more ?years of a Trump ?administration set ?on slowing ?the production powerhouse by shifting ?U.S. orders ?to other markets. Full-year outbound shipments were ?up 5.5%, ?while ?imports were flat, customs data showed on Wednesday.
Japan's government declined to comment on the Bank of ?Japan's absence in a ?statement from other central banks ?supporting U.S. ?Federal ?Reserve chair Jerome Powell, saying it ?concerns the ?BOJ's own judgment.
* Central bankers and Wall Street CEOs line up in support of independent Fed. * Yen at 18-month low on reports Takaichi may call snap election on February 8. * Bitcoin hits two-month high. By Gregor Stuart Hunter.
Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin on Tuesday called December's inflation data "encouraging," though he?noted inflation often spikes at the start of the year and said he hopes it will come in at modest levels for the next couple of ?months.
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced ?on Tuesday ?it had ?approved the ?acquisition ?of regional lender ?Comerica ?by Fifth Third, an ?all-stock deal ?valued ?at $10.9 billion that would create ?the nation's ninth-largest lender. The deal was originally ?announced ?in October, and ?would mark the largest bank deal of the year.
* JPMorgan Chase (JPM) beats estimates for Q4 profit. * Delta Air profit forecast disappoints. * December CPI rises 2.7% YoY. By Caroline Valetkevitch. U.S. stocks ended lower on Tuesday, led by a drop in financial shares as comments from JPMorgan (JPM) executives added to ?worries about U.S. President Donald Trump's recent proposal for a cap on credit-card rates.
The criminal investigation into the Fed chair has reinforced the case for diversifying holdings beyond the United States for some investors as they worry about the ongoing independence of the central bank, even though many saw the move against Jerome Powell as an opening shot that could end up being more bark than bite.
* Financials drag stocks lower on credit card warning. * Gold hits fresh record on rate cut bets, safe haven demand. * Oil surges on Iran troubles. * JPMorgan (JPM) starts a week of bank earnings. By Isla Binnie and Amanda Cooper.
* CPI rose 0.3% in December, matching expectations. * Fed rate cut expectations remain largely unchanged. * Musalem says no reason near-term for further rate cuts. By Chuck Mikolajczak. U.S. Treasury yields declined on Tuesday, after a reading on inflation for December came in as expected and kept intact market expectations for the path of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve this ?year.
U.S. natural gas output will rise to a record high in 2026, while demand will decline, the U.S. Energy Information Administration ?said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook on Tuesday. EIA projected dry gas production will ?rise from a record 107.4 billion cubic feet per ?day in 2025 to 108.8 bcfd in ?2026 and 109.7 ?bcfd in 2027.
Even as President Donald Trump has laid out clear markers as to what he expects for his upcoming selection as Federal Reserve chair, some current central bankers remain confident that whoever gets the job will stick to the Fed's mission in part as the weight of responsibility becomes clear to the new leader.
* Fed officials confident new chair will uphold mission despite Trump's pressure. * Williams and Musalem emphasize importance of Fed's independence and mission. * Trump's attacks on Fed include threats and legal actions against Powell. By Michael S. Derby and Howard Schneider.
The Trump administration's decision to open a criminal investigation into the head of the Federal Reserve has intensified fears about the independence of the U.S. central bank, the top policymaking body for the world's biggest economy. President Donald Trump has criticised the Fed and its chair, Jerome Powell, for not lowering interest rates fast enough.
* Stocks mixed after inflation data. * Dollar pares gains. * Oil surges on Iran troubles. * Earnings season kicks off with big US banks. By Isla Binnie and Amanda Cooper.
* Powell threatened with indictment over Fed renovation testimony. * Statement in support of Fed chief signed by 11 central bank peers. * Trump again demands big Fed rate cut, says he'll name Powell's successor in weeks. * Latest move could have 'reverse consequences,' JPMorgan's Dimon warns. * Top Senate Republican says probe of Fed 'had better be legit' By Balazs Koranyi and Manya Saini.
Euro zone bond yields edged up on Tuesday, after reversing Monday's drop, as central bank chiefs lined up in support of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after the Trump administration threatened him with a criminal prosecution. Easing some concerns around the Fed's independence, ?the Trump administration's move was also criticised by key members of the president's Republican Party.
President Donald Trump welcomed December inflation figures released on Tuesday, saying they supported his push for Federal Reserve ?chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates. The closely ?watched core CPI year-on-year figure came ?in at 2.6%, less than the ?2.7% ?markets had expected. "We have very low inflation.
Federal Reserve officials are hedging about how much rising productivity will help return inflation to the U.S. central bank's 2% target, reiterating this week they need to keep interest rates at current levels until it becomes clearer that price pressures will ease.
* Yen tumbles on Japan's fiscal spending concerns. * Fed has more room to cut rates amid inflation data. * Traders watch for possible yen intervention by Japan. By Karen Brettell.
U.S. consumer prices increased in December, lifted by higher costs for rents and food as some of the distortions related to the government shutdown that had artificially lowered inflation in November unwound, cementing expectations the Federal Reserve would leave interest rates unchanged this month.
* World Bank sees global GDP growth at 2.6% versus 2.7% in 2025. * Growth forecasts slightly above global lender's June 2025 predictions. * World Bank says gains concentrated in wealthy countries, growth too slow to reduce extreme poverty. By David Lawder.
Brazil's central government ended 2025 with a primary deficit equivalent to ?0.48% of gross domestic product, ?Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said ?on Tuesday, citing a ?figure ?that includes court-ordered payments.
President Donald Trump welcomed December inflation figures released on Tuesday, saying they supported his push for Federal Reserve chair ?Jerome Powell to cut interest rates. The closely watched ?core CPI year-on-year figure came in at ?2.6%, less than the 2.7% ?markets ?had expected. "We ?have very low inflation.
President Donald Trump welcomed inflation figures released ?on Tuesday, ?using the U.S. consumer ?price data ?to ?reiterate his push ?for Federal ?Reserve chair Jerome Powell to ?cut ?interest ?rates "meaningfully."
The global economy is proving more resilient than expected, with 2026 GDP growth expected to improve slightly over forecasts from last June, the World Bank said on Tuesday while warning that growth is too concentrated in advanced countries and overall too weak to reduce extreme poverty.
The global economy is proving more resilient than expected, with 2026 GDP growth expected to improve slightly over forecasts from last June, the World Bank said on Tuesday while warning that growth is too concentrated in advanced countries and overall too weak ?to reduce extreme poverty.
Inflation may not subside quickly enough for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell ?to deliver another interest-rate cut before his term ends in May, with the Bureau ?of Labor Statistics reporting consumer prices rose 2.7% in December ?from a year earlier, in line ?with economists' expectations and ?well above the Fed's target.
Euro zone government bond yields edged higher on Tuesday, reversing Monday's drop, as central bank chiefs lined up in support of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after the Trump administration threatened him with a criminal prosecution. Easing some concerns around the Fed's independence, the Trump ?administration's move was also criticised by key members of the president's Republican Party.
Brazil ran a $2.9 billion trade surplus with Iran last year, government data shows, making the South American nation a ?potential candidate for new U.S. tariffs.
Lebanese prosecutors have indicted former central bank governor Riad Salameh and two lawyers on charges including embezzlement of public funds, forgery and illicit enrichment, judicial authorities said on Tuesday.
U.S. consumer prices increased in December, data showed on Tuesday, as the distortions related to the government shutdown that had artificially lowered inflation in the November unwound, cementing expectations the Federal Reserve would leave interest rates unchanged this month. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% last month, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Tuesday.
Jerome Powell, head of the U.S. Federal Reserve, said on Sunday the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation against him for allegedly misleading Congress about a building renovation project at the central bank's headquarters.
Inflation may not subside quickly enough for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to deliver another interest-rate cut before his term ends in May, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics ?reporting consumer prices rose 2.7% in December from a year earlier, in ?line with economists' expectations and well above the Fed's ?target.
Traders on Tuesday boosted bets the Federal Reserve may ?not wait until Fed ?Chair Jerome Powell's term ?ends in ?May before ?cutting interest rates again, ?after ?the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported underlying ?consumer ?prices rose ?a bit less than expected last month.
U.S. stock index futures pared declines on Tuesday after core consumer prices for December came ?in cooler than expected. A Labor Department ?report showed that the Consumer ?Price Index rose 0.3% ?on a ?monthly basis in December versus a ?0.3% increase forecast ?by economists polled by Reuters.
U.S. consumer prices increased in December, lifted by higher costs for rents and food as some of the distortions related to the government shutdown that had artificially lowered inflation in November unwound, cementing expectations the Federal Reserve would leave interest rates unchanged this month.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
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