Canada's merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $1.3 billion in December from a revised $2.6 billion in the prior month, although once again the move was largely driven by volatility in the trade of gold, said CIBC after Thursday's data release.
Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world narrowed to $1.3 billion in December from $2.6 billion in November, as exports increased 2.6% month over month, while imports were up 0.6% month over month, said the country's statistical agency on Thursday. December's deficit was lower than the $2.10 billion consensus deficit provided by MUFG.
The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, consistent with a stabilizing labor market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 23,000 to a ?seasonally adjusted 206,0000 for the week ended February ?14, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
The US international trade deficit widened to $70.31 billion in December from a $53.04 billion gap in November, compared with a $55.5 billion gap expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET. Exports decreased in the month, led by a sharp drop in industrial supplies and the "other goods" category that was partially offset by higher exports of consumer goods, autos and capital goods.
TPG Inc. (TPG), a leading global alternative asset management firm, today announced that TPG Operating Group II, L.P., an indirect subsidiary of TPG, intends to offer senior notes due 2031 in a registered public offering, subject to market and other conditions.
The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, consistent with a stabilizing labor market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 23,000 to a ?seasonally adjusted 206,0000 for the week ended February ?14, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
US initial jobless claims decreased to a level of 206,000 in the employment survey week ended Feb. 14 from an upwardly revised 229,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a level of 225,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. Initial claims were at a level of 210,000 in the employment survey week ended Jan. 17.
Canada's trade deficit narrowed in December even as its share of exports to the United States dropped to the?lowest level on record, barring two months during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed on Thursday.
Pending home sales fell to the lowest level since 2023 and existing-home sales dropped the most since 2022 as elevated housing costs curbed homebuyer demand The median U.S. home sale price rose 1.1% year over year in January to $422,921 as the strongest buyer?s market in recent history kept a lid on price growth.
Brazil's economic activity expanded 2.5% in 2025, central bank data showed on Thursday, easing from the previous year's pace ?but once again surpassing initial forecasts with the ?help of a booming farming sector. The reading was based on the central bank's ?IBC-Br index, widely regarded as a proxy for gross domestic product.
The US dollar was mixed against its major trading partners early Thursday -- up versus the euro and pound, down versus the yen and Canadian dollar -- ahead of a full day of economic data releases and appearances by Federal Reserve officials.
* ECB selecting banks that want to take part in pilot phase. * ECB setup costs to reach around 1.3 bln euros, Cipollone says. * Banks to pocket fees, won't have to pay system costs to ECB. * Merchants will also have an ?incentive in terms of cap on fees. By Valentina Za.
* Weekly jobless claims data due at 1330 GMT. * US PCE data due on Friday. * Fed minutes show officials grappling with policy split. * US-Iran still distant on some issues, White House says. By Pablo Sinha.
* Fed minutes show no rush to cut rates, some open to hikes. * Dollar holds gains, euro stabilises after Lagarde reports. By Tom Westbrook and Amanda Cooper. The dollar held above its recent lows on Thursday after minutes from the Federal Reserve showed policymakers appear to be in no rush to cut interest rates and several were open to hikes if inflation proved ?sticky.
A March rate cut at the Bank of England isn't a "slam dunk," said Deutsche Bank. However, given the deteriorating British labor market, the bank maintains this as its base case. Stickier price momentum will certainly add some consternation to those on the fence within the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee, stated Deutsche Bank.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has told colleagues she remains focussed on her job and she would tell them first if she was about to step down, a message they took to mean she was not about to resign, four sources told Reuters.
President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that his administration's aggressive tariff policies have sparked a "staggering" 78% reduction in the U.S. trade deficit, vowing the nation will soon achieve its first trade surplus in decades.
Canada will release its international merchandise trade data for December at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, said Bank of Montreal. The merchandise trade deficit looks to clock in at $2.0 billion in December, in line with the previous month, noted the bank.
Brazil's economic activity expanded 2.5% ?in 2025, central ?bank data showed ?on Thursday, slowing from ?the previous ?year ?but once again outperforming forecasts ?made ?at the start of the ?year.
Rwanda's central bank Thursday said its Monetary Policy Committee decided to raise the Central Bank Rate by 50bps to 7.25%. BNR noted that the country's economy is strong and that it expects inflation to head back to the target band by late 2026 to early next year. The central bank also pointed out that the depreciation of the Rwandan franc slowed in 2025.
Dr. Khaled Hanafy and Dr. Waiel Awwad represent the UAE at GEC 2026, strengthening Arab participation in global economic dialogue MUMBAI, India, Feb. 19, 2026 India's inaugural Global Economic Cooperation 2026 forum, convened by the Future Economic Cooperation Council opened in Mumbai this week, bringing together senior government leaders, multilateral institutions and global business voices to...
* Lunar New Year absences make price action difficult to interpret. * Federal Reserve policymakers appear in no hurry to cut rates. * LME copper stocks still rising.
* MSCI EM FX down 0.2%, stocks flat. * Ukraine bonds stabilize after declines. * US Fed minutes show policymakers split over future policy. * Philippine central banks cuts rates, Indonesia holds. By Purvi Agarwal. Feb 19 - Most emerging market currencies edged lower while stocks were treading water on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions globally kept investors ?on edge.
An expected rise in Japan's short-term interest rate to 1% may trigger a significant reallocation of cash into deposits that could complicate the Bank of Japan's ?monetary policy implementation, a leading economist told Reuters ?on Thursday.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has told colleagues she remains focussed on her job and she would tell them first if she was about to step down, a message they took to mean she was not about to resign, four sources told Reuters.
Genesis Energy said late Wednesday it priced a public offering of $750 million of 6.75% senior notes due 2034 at 100% of their principal amount, upsized from a previously planned $500 million.
* Fed minutes show no rush to cut rates, some open to hikes. * Dollar holds gains, euro stabilises after Lagarde reports. * Kiwi falls after central bank's cautious stance on rate hikes. By Tom Westbrook and Amanda Cooper.
Asian currencies slipped on Thursday,
with the Indonesian rupiah and the Philippine peso unchanged
after central bank policy decisions, while the South Korean
shares surged to ?a fresh record high.
Euro zone benchmark Bund yields edged up on Thursday, echoing moves in U.S. Treasuries, while markets indicated an about 35% chance of ?a European Central Bank rate cut in ?2026. Traders now see a higher probability of a rate cut ?by December 2026, compared with 20% last week, though expectations have ?eased from more than 40% on ?Tuesday.
If the world economy is shifting into a boom that risks overheating, the case for more hawkish central bankers will grow louder - just as the top jobs at the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank come into play. And now Europe seems set to put its own monetary policy leadership up for grabs this year too.
* Fed minutes show no rush to cut rates, some open to hikes. * Dollar gains against euro and yen, Aussie dollar steady. * Kiwi falls after central bank's cautious stance on rate hikes.
* Russians cut discretionary spending amid economic slowdown. * High interest rates and taxes impact consumer spending. * Some restaurants and cafes close in Moscow and other cities. By Ekaterina Maksimova. Restaurants and cafes are closing down in Russia at the fastest pace since the start of the war in Ukraine four years ago as consumption stalls even in affluent Moscow.
* Beijing pursues 20 free-trade agreements amid U.S. tariffs. * China aims to embed more deeply in global trade to counter U.S. pressure. * Reuters review of Chinese policy papers shows systematic bid to neutralize U.S. containment. * China's huge trade surplus complicates its global ambitions. By Joe Cash.
Asian currencies slipped on Thursday,
led by the South Korean won and Malaysian ringgit, as a mildly
hawkish interpretation of the U.S. Federal ?Reserve minutes and
upcoming rate decisions in ...
Genesis Energy, L.P. (GEL) today announced that it has priced a public offering of $750,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2034. BofA Securities and Citigroup are acting as joint global coordinators for the offering.
The dollar strengthened for a fourth straight session on Thursday after data indicated the economy was on stable footing, giving the Federal Reserve leeway to hold interest rates in check in the near-term. The Labor Department said weekly initial jobless claims fell by 23,000 to an ?adjusted 206,000, below the 225,000 estimate of economists polled by ?Reuters.
The dollar was off recent lows on Thursday and hanging on to a bounce after minutes from the Federal Reserve showed policymakers did not seem to be in a rush to cut interest rates and that several were open to hikes if inflation proved sticky.
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.
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