Weekly Economic Reports

Geopolitical developments continued to dominate headlines throughout the past week, yet global financial markets gradually shifted their focus back toward economic data and corporate earnings — a dynamic explored in this week’s summary. This shift helped propel U.S. equity indices to new record highs, at a time when economic indicators …

Key Takeaways Yen edges up: USD/JPY slipped 0.1% to 156.92, retreating slightly from an earlier climb to 155.69 amid thin holiday trading. Biggest weekly jump since February: The yen spiked roughly 1.5% against the dollar last week. $35 billion strike: Reuters reported Tokyo may have spent as much as 5.48 …

While some weeks pass in silence, others redraw the global economic map. The trading week of April 27 – May 1, 2026, falls firmly into the latter. Between five major central bank decisions, a historic Fed dissent, aggressive Japanese intervention to bolster the Yen, and blockbuster tech earnings, market expectations …

Key Takeaways Yen reverses gains: USD/JPY rose 0.4% on Friday after plunging more than 2% in the prior session on reported Tokyo intervention. Tokyo defends 160 line: The Japanese government stepped in after USD/JPY breached the historically sensitive 160 yen level. Tokyo CPI disappoints: Softer-than-expected April inflation added pressure on …

Global financial markets closed the week with cautious optimism. U.S. equities extended their gains, supported by solid economic fundamentals, even as geopolitical risks in the Middle East continued to cast a shadow. The ceasefire between the United States and Iran largely held, yet the ongoing closure of the Strait of …

The USD/JPY pair remained steady near recent highs on Thursday, holding around the 159.45 level after three consecutive days of gains. The pair continues to benefit from a stronger US dollar, supported by persistent geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz that are keeping energy prices elevated and markets on …

This was by no means an ordinary week. Five consecutive days condensed months of geopolitical tensions into fleeting moments when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suddenly announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was “fully open” to commercial vessels for the duration of the temporary truce. Those few words …

The past week in global financial markets was packed with major economic and monetary developments, alongside high‑impact geopolitical events related to the conflict in the Middle East. Sharp volatility dominated trading across global assets, driven primarily by the ongoing war between the United States and Israel on one side and …

U.S. Jobless Claims Tick Higher, Labor Market Holds Steady Amid Rising Uncertainty New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose moderately last week, but the labor market continues to show resilience despite growing economic uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict. Initial jobless claims increased by 16,000 to 219,000 for the …

Global markets staged a notable recovery last week after a period of sharp volatility, as investors responded to signals suggesting a potential easing of tensions in the Iran crisis. Equities rose and investor sentiment improved temporarily, yet uncertainty persisted due to the lack of a clear exit strategy and ongoing …