Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
Indonesia Stocks Face Fragile Sentiment After MSCI Warning and Market Rout 
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Landmark Critical Minerals Agreement to Boost Investment and Trade 
Gold Prices Hit Record High Above $5,500 as Iran Strike Fears Fuel Safe-Haven Demand 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
Dollar Struggles as Policy Uncertainty Weighs on Markets Despite Official Support 
Trump to Announce New Federal Reserve Chair Pick as Powell Replacement Looms 
Starmer’s China Visit Signals New Era in UK–China Economic Relations 
Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rate at 2.25% Amid Trade and Global Uncertainty 
MAS Holds Monetary Policy Steady as Strong Growth Raises Inflation Risks 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Lower as Tech Earnings and Fed Decision Shape Market Sentiment 
Asian Stocks Waver as Trump Signals Fed Pick, Shutdown Deal and Tech Earnings Stir Markets 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
UK Housing Market Gains Momentum in Early 2026 as Mortgage Rates Fall 
UK Vehicle Production Falls Sharply in 2025 Amid Cyberattack, Tariffs, and Industry Restructuring 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Hit Four-Month High as Geopolitical Risks and Supply Disruptions Intensify 
The U.S. economy continues to outperform expectations, showing remarkable resilience under President Donald Trump’s renewed administration. According to Neil Shearing, Group Chief Economist at Capital Economics, the U.S. expanded by an estimated 0.9% quarter on quarter—nearly 4% annualized—in Q3 2025. In stark contrast, eurozone growth lagged at a mere 0.1–0.2% over the same period.
Earlier forecasts predicted that Trump’s trade barriers, tighter immigration policies, and policy volatility would hinder U.S. growth, while Europe was expected to rebound through fiscal expansion in Germany. However, Shearing notes that optimism about Europe’s recovery was misplaced, with Berlin’s fiscal stimulus delayed until late 2026 and much of its spending offset by rising pension and healthcare costs.
Europe’s stagnation is now seen as structural rather than cyclical. Germany’s industrial base continues to contract following the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, and China’s transition from a key export market to a direct competitor has deepened challenges. France, meanwhile, faces fiscal tightening pressures, further restricting regional flexibility.
Despite ongoing trade tensions, tariffs, and even a government shutdown, the U.S. economy has maintained momentum. Headline inflation holds steady around 3%, while productivity in the non-financial corporate sector has surged roughly 3.5% year on year. This improvement is fueled by a sharp rise in investment—technology hardware spending is up nearly 20% and software investment by 10%.
Shearing attributes this productivity boom to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and digital transformation, which are giving the U.S. a unique competitive edge. Capital Economics projects business investment to grow 4.7% in 2026 and 5.2% in 2027, reinforcing America’s lead in tech-driven growth.
As Europe remains sluggish, the U.S. stands as a global outlier—its innovation, AI readiness, and productivity gains continuing to power economic expansion despite policy headwinds.
