Americas
Trump’s Midterm Machine Builds One Economic Script While the President Writes Another
White House runs two parallel midterm campaigns as Trump's Georgia speech veers off-script, with approval at 36–37% and economy dominating voter concerns.
Asia Pacific
Forty Companies, Two Targets, One Message: Beijing Is Done Waiting
China blacklists 40 Japanese firms over Taiwan as Trump's 15% tariff takes effect. Section 301 probes and a suspended rare earth truce raise the stakes.
Economy
Britain’s Trade Deal With Trump Just Got a Lot More Expensive
Britain's trade deal with Trump faces its toughest test as a 15% global tariff takes effect after the Supreme Court struck down IEEPA duties 6-3.
Economy
Argentina’s Steel Towns Brace for What Milei’s Labor Reform Won’t Fix
Milei's labor reform cleared the lower house 135-115 amid a general strike, but in Villa Constitución, Acindar's rotating suspensions show the limits of legislative fixes.
Economy
US Mortgage Rates Hit Three-Year Low at 6.01% — but Fed Minutes Reveal Deep Policy Rift
US 30-year mortgage rate hits 6.01%, lowest since September 2022, as Fed minutes reveal policy rift and January home sales plunge 8.4% to two-year low.
Economy
US-Saudi Nuclear Deal Opens Door to Uranium Enrichment, Breaking Gulf Precedent
Proposed US-Saudi nuclear deal would grant Riyadh uranium enrichment rights, breaking Gulf gold standard and raising proliferation fears amid Iran talks.
Economy
China’s Semiconductor Output Surges 85% to Record 484 Billion Units
China produced a record 484.3 billion semiconductor units in 2024 — an 85% surge from 2020. Surging output masks collapsing foundry profits, a secret EUV prototype in Shenzhen, and a $47.5 billion state fund betting on self-sufficiency.
Economy
The Supreme Court Just Killed Trump’s Tariffs – $175 Billion May Have to Come Back
The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump's IEEPA tariffs are illegal. Over $175 billion in collections face refund as Europe's markets rally on the news.
Economy
UK Retail Sales Beat Forecasts Ninefold — But Is It a Gold Rush or a Genuine Recovery?
UK retail sales surged 1.8% in January, beating forecasts ninefold. But record gold prices and deep discounting — not renewed confidence — drove the headline number.
Economy
Berlin and Rome Line Up Against Europe’s Carbon Market — and the Price Already Crashed
Merz and Meloni push to weaken the EU's carbon market at Antwerp, crashing ETS prices 23% from January highs, while Greece's Chevron deal reignites a Mediterranean energy dispute with Turkey.
Economy
Saudi Awwal Bank Turns 100 With Record SR8.5 Billion Profit — But the Kingdom’s Credit Boom Has a Funding Problem
SAB's record SR8.5bn profit and 15% loan growth mask a sector-wide funding squeeze, with Saudi bank loan-to-deposit ratios now above 100% amid Vision 2030's credit boom.
