Mastercard (MA) beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit on Thursday, as resilient consumer spending supported sustained transaction volumes on its network. Spending has largely held up despite concerns of economic uncertainty fueled by the Iran war and U.S. tariffs, even though consumer confidence has waned in a sluggish labor market.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said his message was not that interest rates were set to rise in future, as he set out scenarios for the economic impact of the Iran war including one which could require a "forceful" increase in borrowing costs.
Freddie Mac today reported its First Quarter 2026 financial results and filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company will hold a webcast at 9 a.m. Eastern Time today, April 30, 2026, to publicly share its results with the media. Freddie Mac?s mission is to make home possible for families across the nation.
The US dollar fell against its major trading partners early Thursday ahead of a busy data of economic data releases, starting with weekly jobless claims, the first look at Q1 GDP, personal income and spending data for March and the employment cost index for Q1, all at 8:30 am ET.
US equity futures were higher pre-bell Thursday as traders absorbed the latest round of financial results, including those of big tech, amid the Federal Open Market Committee maintaining its target rate. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.6% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.5% lower.
Combining data, analytics, and clinical expertise to improve healthcare outcomes worldwide Inovalon, a leading provider of data and solutions empowering data-driven healthcare, today announced it has joined the World Economic Forum, an international organization that brings together cross-sector leaders to address global challenges and drive collaboration across healthcare, technology, and econ...
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said on Thursday there was a good deal of space available to accommodate inflation pressures arising from the Iran war without the need to raise interest rates. "I can't give you a cast iron assurance that, therefore, there will be no increase in any scenario or any of those scenarios," Bailey said.
Brazil's public sector gross debt rose to 80.1% of gross domestic product in March from 79.2% the month before, central bank data showed on Thursday. The public sector recorded a primary deficit of 80.68 billion reais for the month, while economists in a Reuters poll expected a shortfall of 66.75 billion reais.
Canada will release gross domestic product for February and preliminary March at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, said Bank of Montreal. Real GDP looks to expand for a third straight month in February, by 0.2% month over month amid stronger manufacturing shipments and retail sales, noted the bank.
European bourses tracked higher midday Thursday as traders weighed Persian Gulf tensions, the earnings season, and a Bank of England decision to hold rates steady. Food stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while bank shares lagged. Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the green, but mostly lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.
The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold at 3.75% on Thursday and set out scenarios for the economic impact of the Iran war, one of which could require a "forceful" increase in borrowing costs. Below are key comments made by Governor Andrew Bailey at the press conference on Thursday. IMPACT ON ENERGY, FOOD PRICES.
The Bank of Canada also left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, as expected, said Commerzbank. At the same time, the BoC governor emphasised that a policy rate close to the current level is likely to be appropriate for the foreseeable future, writes the bank in a note to clients.
The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold on Thursday and set out a range of possible economic impacts from the Iran war, the worst of which might entail "forceful" rate rises while less damaging outcomes may not require any increase at all.
Quarterly net revenues of $174 million, up 12% year-over-year, driven by global growth in Optune Gio?. Optune Pax? approved by the U.S. FDA and launched for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer; more than 800 prescribers certified and more than 160 prescriptions received through March 31, 2026.
Amkor Technology, Inc. (AMKR) today announced its intention to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2031 in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Canadian province of Newfoundland & Labrador is projecting a $689 million deficit for the current fiscal year, or 1.4% gross domestic product, rising to more than $1 billion, or above 2% of GDP, in fiscal 2027/28, with reductions in tax rates for small businesses and extensions of some other tax cuts negatively impacting revenue projections, said CIBC.
* German two-year yields up for ninth day as oil surges and inflation fears grow. * ECB expected to hold rates but may signal June hike. * Italy's yield spread over Germany widens. By Amanda Cooper.
Commerzbank in its "European Sunrise" note of Thursday highlighted: Markets: United States Treasuries zigzag during the Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday, weaken in late New York session and Asia. Federal Reserve votes 8-4 to hold rates. Fed: Chair Jerome Powell sees policy stance in "very good place to wait," thinks rates are close to neutral.
The Bank of Canada is potentially on a long hiatus from policy rate changes, assuming growth and inflation evolve roughly in-line with current expectations, said Bank of Montreal. Consistent with that, the BoC on Wednesday left the assumed neutral range unchanged at 2.25%-to-3.25% in its annual April refresh, noted the bank.
Investors are turning the page to a newly led U.S. Federal Reserve that has long been expected to have a more dovish bent, but instead faces a bumpier rates path ahead. The Fed meeting that concluded on Wednesday was set to be Jerome Powell's last as the chair of the central bank, with Kevin Warsh on track to take over.
London's FTSE 100 index rose on Thursday, with upbeat results from Rolls-Royce and Glencore (GLCNF) aiding the sentiment ahead of a Bank of England rate decision. The blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.9% to 10,307.19 points by 0942 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 edged 0.4% higher.
Societe Generale in its early Thursday economic news summary pointed out: -- Brent spikes to US$126.4/barrel, US dollar bid. -- Federal Reserve on hold at 3.50%-3.75%, 8-4 split, OIS pricing +10bps by March 2027. -- France Q1 gross domestic product flat quarter over quarter, below 0.2% forecast, April HICP accelerates to 2.5% year over year in April from 2.0% in March.
* Brent jumps to a four-year high. * ECB and BoE expected to hold rates but talk tough. * Hawkish Fed pushes up dollar and global bond yields. * Apple (AAPL) results due on Thursday on Wall Street. By Marc Jones.
Most emerging market stocks and currencies dipped on Thursday on concerns that the Iran war could escalate, sending oil prices soaring over 7%, while investors assessed the impact of a hawkish stance by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
By Alex Lawler. Global oil prices jumped to a four-year high of more than $122 a barrel on Thursday, on concerns that the U.S.-Iran war could worsen and lead to a protracted Middle East oil supply disruption that could hurt global economic growth.
Sterling edged up against the U.S. dollar on Thursday with investors on the sidelines ahead of a Bank of England rate decision later in the session. The greenback was slightly lower after hitting a fresh multi-week high as fears of a further escalation in the Middle East lifted oil prices, while the Federal Reserve offered no hint of an easing shift.
Copper prices were rangebound on Thursday, as a boost from upbeat factory data in top consumer China was offset by further concerns about inflation and global economic growth amid fears of a potential escalation in the Middle East war. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.5% to $13,069 per metric ton by 0752 GMT, following five straight days of losses.
* German GDP grows 0.3% in Q1, beating forecasts. * Unemployment exceeds 3 million mark in seasonally adjusted terms. * Labour office head says no sign of labour market turnaround. By Maria Martinez. Germany's economy grew by more than expected in the first quarter of 2026 despite the shock to energy prices from the war in Iran, but unemployment rose above the 3 million mark in April.
Germany's gross domestic product grew by 0.3% in the first quarter compared with the previous three-month period, preliminary data from the statistics office showed on Thursday. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a rise of 0.2%.
U.S. 30-year Treasury bond yields topped 5% for a second day on Thursday, as oil prices surged after a report Washington may be considering more strikes on Iran and after Federal Reserve officials kept rates unchanged but signalled concern about inflation. Global fixed income markets came under pressure as crude oil prices broke above $120 a barrel.
The number of unemployed people in Germany rose more than expected in April, labour office figures showed on Thursday. In seasonally adjusted terms, the jobless figure rose by 20,000, meaning that the overall number of unemployed people surpassed 3 million. The seasonally adjusted jobless rate stood at 6.4%, in line with a month earlier.
Saudi Arabia's real gross domestic product grew 2.8% in the first quarter, year-on-year, preliminary government estimates showed on Thursday, slowing from 3.7% a year ago, as the economic fallout of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran on the world's top oil exporter becomes clear.
* German two-year yields up for ninth day as oil surges and inflation fears grow. * ECB expected to hold rates but may signal June hike. * Italy's yield spread over Germany widens. By Amanda Cooper.
* Inflation hits 3% but economy barely grew. * Markets see at least three hikes starting in June or July. * Growth is tumbling on Iran war fallout. * Lagarde said hike option was discussed "at length" By Balazs Koranyi and Francesco Canepa.
The S&P 500 closed lower on Wednesday, slipping to 7,135.95 as investors balanced a pivotal day of megacap tech earnings against an escalating geopolitical standoff and the Federal Reserve?s decision on interest rates. The Polygon-based Polymarket crowd is slightly bearish heading into Thursday?s open.
Indian government bonds tumbled on Thursday, putting the benchmark 10-year note on track for its worst session in nearly a month, as surging oil prices and a hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve pushed global yields higher. The benchmark 6.48% 2035 bond yield was up 7 basis points to 7.0634% by 11:20 a.m. IST.
Known as the "Auto Grommy" of the automotive world, the OMODA Global Music Festival concluded on April 28 at the OMODA & JAECOO International Park in Wuhu, China. Image: OMODA&JAECOO Image: OMODA&JAECOO Global Trendy Sound Feast Begins, Resonating with the World through Youth PowerMusic is a universal language.
The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. - U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that he would stay on as a governor at the Federal Reserve after his term as chair ends on May 15, citing lingering legal threats against him and the central bank.
Income Statement Balance sheet 1 For illustrative purposes, if all the convertible bonds announced today were converted based on the Nicox share price at the close market on April 29, 2026 and of outstanding shares as of April 29, 2026, a shareholder holding 1.00% of Nicox's share capital prior to the transaction would see their holding reduced to 0.97% of the share capital on a non-diluted...
Global brokerages have gradually stepped back from earlier expectations of two U.S. interest rate cuts in 2026, with forecasts now split between some easing and none due to lingering inflation risks and cautious policymakers.
Kevin Warsh says he wants a vigorous family fight about monetary policy at the U.S. Federal Reserve when he takes over as chair. "Welcome to the new Fed era of dissent," Navy Federal Credit Union Chief Economist Heather Long said after four of the Fed's 12 voters dissented against the latest policy statement, the largest set of defections since 1992.
The Bank of England has raised concerns over plans by the Financial Conduct Authority to cut the capital requirements of specialist trading firms such as Citadel Securities, Jane Street and Hudson River Trading, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
U.S. economic growth likely accelerated in the first quarter on a rebound in government spending after a crippling government shutdown, but the pickup is expected to be short-lived as the war with Iran drives up gasoline prices and squeezes household budgets.
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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