Economic Report

In late March and early April 2026, amid the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, airstrikes targeted two of Iran’s largest steel production complexes. The attacks hit Mobarakeh Steel near Isfahan — the biggest steel producer in the Middle East — and Khuzestan Steel in Ahvaz. These …

U.S. consumer spending showed renewed strength in February, as retail sales rebounded following a contraction in the previous month and came in slightly ahead of market expectations. According to the US Census Bureau, retail sales rose 0.6% month-on-month to $738.4 billion. The increase follows a 0.1% decline in January and …

U.S. private-sector hiring showed modest resilience in March, with job gains exceeding expectations despite a slight slowdown from the previous month. According to Automatic Data Processing, private employers added 62,000 jobs in March, following a revised increase of 66,000 in February. The latest reading came in above market forecasts of …

Bitcoin rose on Wednesday, leading gains across the cryptocurrency market as improving risk sentiment followed signals that the U.S.-Iran conflict could be nearing an end. The world’s largest cryptocurrency climbed nearly 2% to $68,807.8 as of 02:24 ET (06:24 GMT), extending a recovery after a largely subdued performance in March. …

European equities rallied sharply on Wednesday, while oil prices fell below the $100-per-barrel mark, after Donald Trump signaled that the United States could soon exit the ongoing conflict with Iran. By 03:17 ET (07:17 GMT), the pan-European STOXX 600 jumped 2.3%, with Germany’s DAX surging 2.8%. France’s CAC 40 gained …

Canada’s economy began the year on a steady footing, with modest growth supported by strength in energy and construction, even as manufacturing activity declined. According to Statistics Canada, real gross domestic product rose 0.1% in January, following a revised 0.2% increase in December. The reading came slightly above expectations, indicating …

Gold prices climbed for a fourth consecutive session in Asian trading on Wednesday, supported by a softer U.S. dollar and cautious optimism that the United States and Iran may move toward ending the ongoing conflict. Spot gold rose 0.6% to $4,694.16 per ounce as of 21:35 ET (01:35 GMT), while …

Oil prices remained elevated in Asian trading on Wednesday, as investors balanced tentative diplomatic signals on Iran against ongoing supply disruptions stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As of 20:18 ET (00:18 GMT), Brent crude futures for June delivery rose 0.5% to $104.47 per barrel, while U.S. …

Financial markets found renewed momentum as signs of potential de-escalation in the Iran war reshaped investor sentiment. Hopes that the conflict could move toward a diplomatic resolution reduced demand for traditional safe-haven assets, sending the US dollar lower while boosting equities across major markets. The change in tone comes as …

Amid intensifying conflict in the Middle East, China and Pakistan have launched a joint diplomatic initiative aimed at easing tensions and restoring stability. The move comes as the war continues to strain the region, raising global concerns over security, energy flows, and economic fallout.The announcement followed high-level talks between both …