Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Markets Surge as Japan Election, Fed Rate Cut Bets, and Tech Rally Lift Global Sentiment 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Tensions 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Strong Economic Growth Anticipated
The U.S. economy is expected to sustain a solid growth pace in the third quarter of 2024, bolstered by decreasing inflation and robust wage increases fueling consumer spending. This advance comes just before the critical presidential election on November 5, where Vice President Kamala Harris faces former President Donald Trump in a highly competitive race.
Consumer Concerns Amid Growth
Despite economic growth, many Americans are grappling with high food and housing costs. Polls indicate that voters are increasingly favoring Trump as the better steward of the economy. The economy has remained resilient, defying recession predictions and outperforming many global counterparts, despite the Federal Reserve's substantial interest rate hikes totaling 5.25 percentage points in 2022 and 2023.
Projected GDP Growth
According to a Reuters survey, the GDP is likely to have increased at an annualized rate of 3.0% in Q3, maintaining the same growth rate as Q2. While recent data showed a rise in the goods trade deficit, which led the Atlanta Fed to revise its GDP estimate down to 2.8%, growth remains well above the Fed's non-inflationary benchmark of approximately 1.8%.
Positive Economic Indicators
With inflation nearing the Fed's target of 2%, the central bank is easing its policies, evidenced by last month's significant half-percentage-point rate cut. Additionally, consumer spending, a critical driver of economic activity, is projected to grow at a rate exceeding 3.5%, up from 2.8% in the previous quarter. While concerns persist regarding the distribution of growth, particularly benefiting middle- and upper-income households, business investment and government spending are also contributing to this economic expansion.
