Germany’s economy contracted by 0.2% in 2024, marking its second consecutive year of decline after a 0.3% contraction in 2023, according to data released by the Federal Statistics Office. The economy also shrank by 0.1% in the final quarter of the year, showing limited signs of recovery amidst ongoing economic …

Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday, recovering some losses from the previous session as the market turned its attention to potential supply disruptions from sanctions on Russian tankers. Gains, however, were tempered by uncertainty surrounding their impact. Brent crude futures rose 51 cents, or 0.6%, to $80.43 a barrel by …

European stock markets rose on Wednesday, supported by cooling UK inflation data, while investors awaited key US inflation figures. At 03:05 ET (08:05 GMT), Germany’s DAX index climbed 0.3%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.3%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 surged 0.7%. Investors focused on upcoming US consumer price index (CPI) …

UK inflation data for December came in cooler than expected, providing some relief to policymakers at the Bank of England (BoE) ahead of their February meeting. The figures suggest a window for the central bank to consider reducing interest rates, especially as the economy continues to face challenges. Key Inflation …

Gold prices remained relatively unchanged in early Wednesday trading, as investors exercised caution ahead of key U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. A slight decline in the U.S. dollar provided modest support to the precious metal, while concerns over Federal Reserve rate policies kept gold rangebound. Key Highlights Gold Performance: …

Producer prices in the U.S. increased at a more moderate pace in December, suggesting a potential easing of inflationary pressures that could influence the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions in 2024. Key Highlights PPI Growth: The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand rose 0.2% month-on-month, below November’s 0.4% increase …

A Russian court has imposed an 8 billion rouble ($77.9 million) fine on Google, marking a substantial escalation in penalties against the tech giant for failing to comply with previous administrative orders. The decision, announced by Moscow’s Chertanovo District Court, reflects heightened tensions between Russia and foreign technology platforms. Key …

Freight rates for supertankers have soared following the latest U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s oil exports. These measures have driven traders to secure alternative shipping routes and vessels to deliver crude supplies to major buyers such as China and India, industry sources reported. Key Drivers of Freight Rate Increases Sanctions on …

European markets regained some ground on Tuesday following two consecutive sessions of losses, with easing bond yields and strong performance in the automobile and mining sectors driving early-session gains. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.6% by 0823 GMT after declining by 1.4% over the previous two sessions. Key Sector Performance …

Bitcoin prices saw a modest rise on Tuesday, reversing recent muted performance as traders prepared for a pivotal U.S. inflation report that could shape the Federal Reserve’s interest rate strategy. Bitcoin climbed 1% to $95,374.2 by 00:19 ET (05:19 GMT), recovering from a session low of $89,664.8 on Monday as …