
Christine Lagarde Reportedly Set to Exit ECB Before End of Term
Feb 18, 2026 05:39 am UTC| Economy Central Banks
Christine Lagarde is expected to step down as President of the European Central Bank (ECB) before completing her full eight-year term, according to a report published Wednesday by the Financial Times. The report cited a...

Asian Currencies Steady in Thin Lunar New Year Trade; NZ Dollar Drops After RBNZ Holds Rates
Feb 18, 2026 05:36 am UTC| Economy
Asian currencies were largely unchanged on Wednesday as subdued Lunar New Year trading kept market activity light across the region. With major financial centers such as China and Hong Kong closed for the holiday, foreign...

Japan’s Exports Surge 16.8% in January, Narrowing Trade Deficit Amid Import Decline
Feb 18, 2026 00:22 am UTC| Economy
Japans exports rose sharply in January, marking a fifth consecutive month of growth and signaling continued resilience in the countrys external sector. According to data released Wednesday by Japans Ministry of Finance,...

Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Strong Dollar Weighs; Investors Eye Key U.S. Data
Feb 18, 2026 00:21 am UTC| Economy
Gold and silver prices extended their losses on Tuesday as a stronger U.S. dollar pressured precious metals and investors turned cautious ahead of major U.S. economic data releases. Reduced trading activity during Chinas...

IMF Urges Japan to Continue Interest Rate Hikes and Avoid Consumption Tax Cuts
Feb 18, 2026 00:15 am UTC| Economy
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Japan to continue raising interest rates and avoid further fiscal stimulus, warning that cutting the consumption tax could weaken the countrys ability to withstand future...

Japan Bond Issuance Set to Surge 28% by 2029 Amid Rising Debt Costs
Feb 17, 2026 07:03 am UTC| Economy
Japan is projected to face a sharp increase in government bond issuance over the next three years as rising debt-financing costs strain public finances, according to a finance ministry estimate reviewed by Reuters. The...

Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens Ahead of Key U.S. Economic Data
Feb 17, 2026 07:01 am UTC| Economy
Most Asian currencies weakened on Tuesday as Lunar New Year holidays across major regional markets led to thin trading volumes, while the U.S. dollar edged higher ahead of crucial economic data releases. With China, Hong...
India’s Investment Upgrade: A Historic Milestone for the "High-Quality EM" Narrative