Business

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrQ2LfkTLaZx-DvNwS49zoYGMTifoUkDjrTw&s

US economy growth slows at year’s end

During the last quarter of 2024, the growth of the United States economy slowed down, achieving an annualized rate of 2.3%, compared to the 3.1% seen in the previous quarter. This reduction happened even with strong consumer spending, which has consistently fueled economic activity.In the final quarter of 2024, the United States economy experienced a deceleration in growth, expanding at an annualized rate of 2.3%, a decline from the 3.1% observed in the preceding quarter. This slowdown occurred despite continued robust consumer spending, which has been a significant driver of economic activity.Household spending, a vital element of the country's economic…
Read More
China signals cautious monetary policy shift as it navigates economic challenges

China signals cautious monetary policy shift as it navigates economic challenges

China's leadership surprised markets this week by signaling a change in its monetary policy stance for the first time in 14 years. The announcement highlights the depth of the country's economic challenges, even as experts warn that a large stimulus package remains unlikely. The change involves moving from a “moderately expansionary” monetary policy to a more “cautious” approach in 2024, a phrase not used since the 2008 global financial crisis. At the time, China adopted an aggressively accommodative stance to combat the global recession . This policy adjustment marks the first recognition by the current leadership that more flexible monetary…
Read More
Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve’s next move: Balancing rate cuts and economic stability

Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve’s next move: Balancing rate cuts and economic stability

Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, faces a crucial moment as the central bank prepares for its next policy meeting. The latest jobs report all but solidified expectations of an interest rate cut later this month, with market indicators assigning a nearly 90% chance to such a move. However, whether the Fed should proceed with the cut and how it will manage monetary policy afterward remain open questions, sparking heated debate among economists and politicians. November's jobs data presented a balanced picture, neither overly strong nor overly weak, giving the Fed the flexibility to justify a rate cut. Nonfarm…
Read More
China’s growth efforts show cautious progress as businesses await more impact

China’s growth efforts show cautious progress as businesses await more impact

China's recent push to spur economic growth has shown modest progress, but the broader impact remains limited. Earnings and corporate data suggest that a robust recovery in the world's second-largest economy may still be a long way off. Since September, Beijing has introduced a series of stimulus measures aimed at boosting key sectors such as real estate and manufacturing. While there have been signs of improvement, many companies have maintained a cautious outlook. This sentiment was evident during Meituan's earnings call last week, when executives noted only a slight improvement in their hotel booking business. “We are confident that these…
Read More