UK Grocery Inflation Slows to 3.1% as Supermarket Price Pressures Ease in May 2026 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Jump After New U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Supply Concerns 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
Oil Prices Set for Sharp Weekly Losses as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
European Stocks Rise as AI Optimism Offsets U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
Asian Markets Slide as New U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Investor Caution 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
Wall Street Reaches New Record Highs as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Markets 
Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points
Ongoing Inflation Progress and Labor Market Slowdown Drive Fed’s Decision
The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4.50%-4.75% on Thursday. This adjustment, following September’s larger 50-basis-point cut, reflects ongoing improvements in inflation control and indications of a softening labor market.
According to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, “The labor market is not a significant source of inflationary pressures,” citing indicators suggesting the labor market is less tight than it was before the pandemic. The latest measure of the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, remained steady at 2.7% in September, slightly above economist expectations of 2.6%.
Impact of Political Shift: Potential Policy Adjustments Under New Leadership
This rate cut arrives amid political changes, with President-elect Donald Trump’s victory signaling potential economic policy shifts. Powell noted that while immediate policy changes aren’t anticipated, potential measures from the new administration—like tariffs, tax adjustments, and immigration policy revisions—could impact inflation and the Fed’s rate-cut timeline.
Market expectations suggest the Fed will conclude its rate-cutting cycle after two more 25-basis-point reductions in 2025, bringing rates to the 3.75%-4% range.
