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NZ central bank holds rates steady in tight vote, warns hikes to come sooner

NZ central bank holds rates steady in tight vote, warns hikes to come sooner

By Stella Qiu and Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, May 27 (Reuters) - New Zealand's central bank held rates steady on Wednesday, but a split vote underscored a knife-edge decision, as policymakers warned rates will need to rise sooner and by more than expected to counter an energy shock rippling through the

Asian shares climb, oil holds gains as markets eye Iran talks, central bank moves

Asian shares climb, oil holds gains as markets eye Iran talks, central bank moves

By Rocky Swift Asian shares rose while oil prices remained elevated on Wednesday as markets looked for signals that a shaky truce between the United States and Iran will be extended.

Fed's Logan: world may need to cut use of oil and natural gas

Fed's Logan: world may need to cut use of oil and natural gas

May 27 (Reuters) - The world may need to find a way to get by on less oil and gas if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed much longer due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Dallas Federal Reserve President Lorie Logan said on Wednesday.

Analysis-Sri Lanka's surprise rate hike risks choking off IMF-backed recovery

Analysis-Sri Lanka's surprise rate hike risks choking off IMF-backed recovery

By Uditha Jayasinghe COLOMBO, May 27 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's surprise 100 basis-point interest rate hike risks tipping into over-tightening just as a fragile, IMF-backed recovery takes hold, signalling a shift by policymakers back to crisis-prevention mode as external pressures mount, analysts said.

Fed's Kashkari calls for focus on inflation risk, mum on timing of next rate move

Fed's Kashkari calls for focus on inflation risk, mum on timing of next rate move

By Leika Kihara TOKYO, May 27 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve must focus on containing inflationary risks that appear to be building, though it was "far too soon" to predict when it could next change interest rates even as markets price in an October increase, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari

Australia consumer inflation slows in April, core creeps higher

Australia consumer inflation slows in April, core creeps higher

SYDNEY, May 27 (Reuters) - Australian consumer prices increased by less than expected in April thanks to a government tax cut on fuel, data showed on Wednesday, while core inflation ticked up as higher oil prices fed through to the broader economy.

Brazilian inflation tops target band in early May, clouds easing path

Brazilian inflation tops target band in early May, clouds easing path

SAO PAULO, May 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's 12-month inflation in early May exceeded the upper end of the central bank's target range for the first time since October 2025, official data showed on Wednesday, raising questions over how far its monetary easing cycle can continue.

Top analyst hurls new warning on Fed rate-hike odds

Top analyst hurls new warning on Fed rate-hike odds

It ain’t pretty. Kevin Warsh’s first week as Federal Reserve Chair comes packed withhawkish expectations both inside and outside the central bank that geopolitical and economic factors may cause the Fed to raise the benchmark Federal Funds Rate sooner than later instead of a long-expected cut to ...

Morning Bid: Markets cheer, central banks warn

Morning Bid: Markets cheer, central banks warn

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Rocky Swift While markets appear to be looking past the Middle East crisis and the havoc it has wreaked on energy supplies, central bankers are signalling that the inflationary damage is already done.

Trading Day: The AI train rolls on

Trading Day: The AI train rolls on

By Jamie McGeever ORLANDO, Florida, May 26 (Reuters) - World stocks, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose to new highs on Tuesday, driven again by an unyielding optimism around artificial intelligence that lifted U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology into the $1 trillion club and offset uncertainty around a U.S.-

Brent crude jumps 4%, as US strikes in Iran set back hopes for Hormuz re-opening

Brent crude jumps 4%, as US strikes in Iran set back hopes for Hormuz re-opening

By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK, May 26 (Reuters) - Brent crude futures climbed about 4% on Tuesday after the U.S. military carried out strikes in Iran, a setback to hopes over the weekend that the United States and Iran would reach an agreement to end the three-month war that would also re-open shipping

Singapore economy grows 6% y/y in Q1, above advance estimate

Singapore economy grows 6% y/y in Q1, above advance estimate

SINGAPORE, May 25 (Reuters) - Singapore's economy grew 6.0% in the first quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, government data showed on Monday, higher than an official advance estimate of 4.6%.