
Fed Minutes Signal Steady Interest Rates but Hint at Potential Rate Hikes if Inflation Persists
Feb 19, 2026 02:52 am UTC| Economy Central Banks
The Federal Reserves January Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes reveal that nearly all policymakers supported keeping interest rates unchanged, while leaving the door open for possible rate hikes if inflation...

Trump Says U.S. Trade Deficit Shrinking Sharply as 2026 Trade Surplus Looms
Feb 19, 2026 02:47 am UTC| Politics Economy
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Americas trade deficit has narrowed significantly due to his 2025 trade tariffs, adding that the country could post its first trade surplus in decades as early as this year....

Gold Prices Hold Near $5,000 as Fed Outlook and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Sentiment
Feb 19, 2026 02:42 am UTC| Economy
Gold prices steadied during Asian trading on Thursday after surging more than 2% in the previous session, as thin liquidity from Lunar New Year holidays limited further upside. Investors continued to weigh persistent...

Xi Jinping Highlights People-to-People Ties as U.S.-China Relations Show Signs of Stabilization
Feb 18, 2026 06:11 am UTC| Politics Economy
Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed the enduring importance of people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, emphasizing that cooperation between the two nations will continue regardless of...

Asian Stocks Rise as Japan Tech Shares Rebound Ahead of Fed Minutes and PCE Data
Feb 18, 2026 05:45 am UTC| Economy
Asian stock markets moved higher on Wednesday, led by a rebound in Japanese technology shares, even as lingering concerns over artificial intelligence continued to weigh on the broader tech sector. Trading activity across...

RBNZ Holds OCR at 2.25% as Inflation Set to Ease Toward 2% Target
Feb 18, 2026 05:43 am UTC| Central Banks Economy
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept its official cash rate (OCR) unchanged at 2.25% on Wednesday, signaling that monetary policy will remain supportive as inflation gradually moves back toward the midpoint of its...

Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks and Fed Outlook Shape Market Sentiment
Feb 18, 2026 05:41 am UTC| Economy
Oil prices were largely unchanged in Asian trading on Wednesday after posting sharp losses in the previous session, as progress in U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations eased concerns about potential supply disruptions. The...
India’s Investment Upgrade: A Historic Milestone for the "High-Quality EM" Narrative