Lithium is vital to the global clean-energy transition and is generating millions of dollars in investment and export earnings for countries including Argentina. Abundant deposits high in the Andes help power phones, computers and vehicles.
C
CGTNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-16 15:27
The White House reportedly used Iraqi Kurdistan leader Nechirvan Barzani as an intermediary with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Washington wanted him to arrange closed-door bilateral talks in Erbil, but Tehran raised security concerns linked to Israeli intelligence and the meeting never took place.
T
TASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-16 14:50
Millions of Iranians are struggling to survive as the months-long war with the United States and its naval blockade of Iranian ports drive up prices and reduce job opportunities. Food inflation has exceeded 128 percent, youth unemployment reached 23.4 percent, and many workers face low pay, long hours and no insurance.
Trump pledged Friday to impose severe economic pain on Iran. A day earlier, Treasury chief Scott Bessent had stated that Washington would introduce previously unseen measures against Tehran, starting as soon as next week.
While investors debate whether and when the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates, expectations of further tightening are growing worldwide, creating mounting trouble for bonds.
B
Bloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-16 12:30
Rhine shipping is nearing collapse after water at a key gauge fell to a record-low 6 cm. Near Kaub, levels are too low even for lightly loaded vessels. Reduced precipitation has also lowered other European rivers, and experts estimate Germany could lose 0.1-0.2% of third-quarter GDP as a result.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-15 19:08
Anton Kobyakov, an adviser to the Russian president and executive secretary of the Eastern Economic Forum’s organizing committee, says interest remains high among Asia-Pacific participants, including some countries classified as unfriendly, as well as European businesses and executives. The forum is scheduled for September 1–4 in Vladivostok.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-15 15:24
ETFs are already known for their tax efficiency, but this popular part of the market is taking those benefits further than ever through the 351 conversion ETF.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-15 15:00
US mortgage rates slipped slightly for the first time in six weeks after new data showed the labor market cooling and suggested the Iran war may have had a more muted effect on inflation last month.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-15 12:30
Fitch on Friday raised the Republic of Congo’s long-term local-currency rating to “CCC+” from “CCC” while affirming its foreign-currency rating. The agency cited better regional financing conditions and a smoother debt repayment profile, which reduced refinancing risks.
R
ReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-15 02:40
Rising prices are provoking a backlash against the government, while also pointing to a new period of economic dynamism after years of deflation.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-15 01:30
Europe has endured five heat waves this summer. Persistent hot, dry conditions are fueling deadly wildfires, disrupting energy supplies, destroying crops and draining reservoirs and rivers. Triodos Bank estimates the fallout could wipe out nearly all of the EU’s expected 1.1% GDP growth this year.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-15 01:00
Home prices across the US continue to soar, increasing frustration among buyers and renters. Bloomberg News is asking people with similar experiences to share their stories.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-15 00:00
Goldman Sachs, Blackstone and Apollo Global Management spent months working on debt deals intended to help artificial-intelligence system developers pay for Nvidia chips.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-14 22:00
US retail sales dropped in July by the largest amount in more than a year as consumers cut back on purchases from online stores and auto dealers.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 21:00
U.S. retail sales fell in July for the first time in nine months as the boost from large tax refunds faded, pointing to a marked slowdown in consumer spending at the start of the third quarter.
The Commerce Department said Friday that US retail sales dropped 0.6% in July from the previous month, marking the sharpest decline since May 2025.
US shoppers unexpectedly reduced spending in July as the lift from government tax refunds weakened. Commerce Department data showed retail sales fell 0.6% last month, the largest decline since May 2025, after a revised 0.2% gain.
Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said recent easing in inflation is encouraging, but he wants to see the trend continue in the coming months before concluding that price growth is returning to the central bank’s 2% target.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 20:30
U.S. business inventories were flat in June, as higher wholesale stocks were offset by a decline at retailers, pointing to strong domestic demand in the second quarter.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 19:35
The AFL-CIO says the average S&P 500 CEO earned 312 times the median worker’s pay in 2025, up from 285 times in 2024. Elon Musk received $158bn from Tesla—2.5 million times the company’s average employee pay—even as Tesla’s revenue fell 3 percent and sales declined about 9 percent.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 18:28
Russia’s current account surplus climbed to $21 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up from $2 billion a year earlier and $13 billion in the first quarter, Central Bank documents show. The increase was driven mainly by higher goods exports, lifting the foreign trade surplus to $38 billion. Service-export growth reflected transport services for non-residents and spending by foreign visitors.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 16:22
Russia’s external debt stood at $313.3 billion on July 1, 2026, up $6.5 billion, or 2.1%, from the start of the year, according to the Bank of Russia. External liabilities in other sectors and the banking system grew most significantly. The figure was $324.05 billion a year earlier.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 16:06
The ruble’s inflation-adjusted real effective exchange rate against the currencies of Russia’s main trading partners fell 4.7% month-on-month in July 2026, Central Bank data showed. It was up 2.2% from the start of the year; the rate declined 4.7% against the dollar and 3.8% against the euro in July.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 15:55
The Bank of Russia set the official dollar rate at 84.5449 rubles for August 15-17, up 73.91 kopecks from the previous figure. The dollar exceeded 84 rubles for the first time since March 20, 2026, while the euro rose to 97.5141 rubles and the yuan to 12.4789 rubles.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 15:49
The dollar-denominated RTS Index dropped below 800 points for the first time since July 20 after the Bank of Russia published exchange rates for August 15-17. At 5:29 p.m. Moscow time, the index was down 4.8% at 798.75 points, while the regulator set the dollar at 84.54 rubles and the euro at 97.51 rubles.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 15:45
Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said inflation was stabilizing as the Bank of Russia steadily cut its key rate. He said uncertainty remained partly because of fuel-market developments and recent terrorist attacks, while businesses and the wider economy were responding adequately. Annual inflation stood at 6.06% on August 10.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 15:16
Russian Railways and a Vietnamese delegation led by Hanoi Party Committee Secretary Tran Duc Thang agreed to keep exploring cooperation on urban transport projects, consulting services and railway personnel training. Vietnam plans to expand its rail network and develop convenient intra-city infrastructure in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 15:09
Pastime categories now account for a record share of US goods consumption, surpassing the highs reached during the pandemic.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 15:00
President Trump is going into sales mode to pitch the economy to wary midterm voters.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 14:30
The Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo plan to build a 645-metre bridge across the Congo River between Bangui and Zongo. The World Bank will fund the $60 million project, which aims to improve trade and transport links between the two countries.
FFrance 24Original★★★☆☆2026-08-14 13:52
After more than a decade running her business in Tehran, Nazanine has endured US sanctions, repeated currency collapses and two wars. She says this is the first time she has had to buy groceries on credit.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 13:00
Global equity funds recorded inflows for a 12th straight week through Aug. 12. Optimism about a strong earnings season, alongside weaker-than-expected U.S. payroll growth and cooling inflation, reduced expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike and supported sentiment.
RReutersOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 12:15
India’s wholesale prices rose 9.78% year on year in July, government data released on Friday showed. The increase was slightly slower than in June, helped by lower energy inflation.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 11:45
Softer inflation data could pressure the Federal Reserve to keep rates where they are. Since taking over as chair in May, Kevin Warsh has faced a policy crossroads, with officials split over whether hikes are needed to curb inflation while President Donald Trump calls for cuts to boost the economy.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 11:40
Three people familiar with the Bank of Japan’s thinking say it could lift interest rates as early as September and may consider raising them more frequently afterward than its current pace of roughly twice a year.
RReutersOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-14 09:40
Russia’s VK holding company reported a net profit of 328 million rubles for the second quarter of 2026, its first profitable quarter since late 2022. Analysts attributed the result to VK’s sale of a 25% stake in Tochka bank, while VK said the deal had an insignificant effect and pointed to improved efficiency and lower costs behind revenue growth.
MMeduzaOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 08:59
Three generations’ summer memories trace China’s economic progress and rising living standards, from free outdoor activities to sightseeing and today’s focus on experiences and emotional value. The country’s consumption upgrade is about more than buying more; it also reflects broader choices and growing demand for quality, experiences and emotional fulfillment.
CCGTNOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 06:16
A weaker economic outlook is expected to curb Chinese outbound tourism in the latter half of the year, with trip numbers now projected below earlier estimates as consumer confidence softens.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 05:26
An interim Productivity Commission report says the GST deal struck with Western Australia under the Morrison government achieved almost none of its objectives and made the distribution system less equitable. Taxpayer costs have reached nearly A$23bn, are forecast to hit A$60bn by 2029-30, and the commission says only WA has benefited.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 04:00
China is expected to have a record 12.7 million university graduates in 2026, with the number seeking work exceeding 15 million when previous unemployed graduates and returning overseas students are included. Youth unemployment among 16- to 24-year-olds stood at 14.9%. Hong Kong graduates also face fewer vacancies, particularly in entry-level administrative, IT and programming roles. Scholars say AI is deeply affecting early-career jobs and highly educated cognitive work.
B
BBC ChineseOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 03:41
More than 200,000 metric tons of Southeast Asian fruit had reached China via the China-Laos Railway by Wednesday, up 11.16% year on year, China Railway Kunming Group said. Durian shipments accounted for over 186,200 metric tons, rising 22.53%. China, Laos and Thailand now have regular all-rail cold-chain freight services, with some shipments reaching China in as little as three days.
C
China News ServiceOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-14 03:02
Japan could carry out joint intervention in the yen market at any time and signal faster-than-expected interest-rate increases to curb the currency’s decline, former top currency diplomat Mitsuhiro Furusawa said.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 03:01
Asian stocks rose on Friday and were on track for their strongest week in two months after benign inflation data weakened expectations of an imminent U.S. rate hike. Stalled talks to end the war in the Middle East could nevertheless keep risk sentiment subdued.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-14 02:40
Fitch affirmed the United States’ sovereign credit rating at “AA+” with a stable outlook on Thursday, citing the country’s large economy, high per-capita income and the dollar’s position as the world’s leading reserve currency.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 21:10
The US government sold 30-year bonds at the highest interest rate seen in 25 years, underscoring investors’ demand for greater compensation to fund the country’s widening deficit.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 19:30
Armenia and Russia agreed in Almaty to intensify food safety cooperation, including discussions on lifting restrictions affecting Armenian shipments to Russia and transit through Russian territory. The countries will strengthen coordination between Armenia’s Food Safety Inspection Body and Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor. Russia had previously restricted imports of various Armenian goods over safety violations.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 18:52
Wholesale inflation fell last month as gas prices gave back part of their Iran war-driven surge and other costs cooled as well, suggesting consumer inflation may gradually ease in the months ahead.
T
The Associated PressOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 14:16
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose moderately last week, indicating that the labor market remains stable despite an unexpected drop in jobs in July.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 12:45
US applications for unemployment benefits increased last week, while layoffs remained at historically healthy levels.
Britain’s economy is showing its clearest signs yet of benefiting from the global artificial intelligence boom, as data released Thursday pointed to rapid growth in related industries and a surge in computer hardware investment.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 12:10
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is touring the UK to hear people’s financial concerns as living costs rise. Inflation stood at 2.8 percent in June, while energy and fuel prices pushed up household bills. Lower-income households are bearing the brunt, with 7.4 million unable to afford essentials this year.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 11:57
Employees at SK Hynix’s South Korean operations formed a union on Thursday, aiming to connect workers across roles and sites and gain leverage in wage negotiations at the leading memory-chip maker, where talks have stalled.
RReutersOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-13 11:45
Thailand’s economic growth is expected to have slowed sharply in the second quarter, with the economy contracting from the previous quarter, a Reuters poll of economists found. Weak household consumption outweighed support from exports and private investment.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 11:05
Russia and Malaysia have agreed to expand cooperation between special economic zones, including joint participation in international advanced development territories in Russia’s Far East. The countries are also focusing on trade and investment, agriculture, energy, tourism, cultural exchanges, science and education.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-13 10:16
Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev and Wu Jianghao said the two countries’ partnership is neither bloc-based nor confrontational and is not aimed at third countries. They said it differs from Cold War military-political alliances and supports a fair, orderly multipolar world based on balanced interests.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-13 09:24
The Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Japan said the two countries share aligned positions on key issues shaping the global order. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, they uphold the UN Charter’s purposes and principles, while cooperation between Moscow and Beijing provides major stability amid geopolitical rivalry and tensions driven by hegemonic and neocolonial policies, they said.
Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev and Wu Jianghao say bilateral cooperation has reached its highest level and continues to advance steadily through the efforts of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. They say the relationship has withstood time and external pressure, while Moscow and Beijing move to deepen cooperation and shape a fairer, more multipolar world order.
Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev and Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao to Japan said in a joint article that trade and economic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing remains resilient despite adverse external factors. Bilateral trade has grown more than thirtyfold in 25 years, exceeding $200 billion for several consecutive years, while the countries plan further joint projects and cooperation in digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
Britain’s food industry warned in February that soaring energy costs after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran could drive food-price inflation close to 10% by Christmas.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 08:40
Bilateral trade between Russia and Malaysia increased 13% in 2025 to more than $3.6 billion, Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov said. He added that businesses in both countries are showing greater interest in expanding trade ties and called for efforts to secure sustainable growth. The countries’ joint commission is also discussing investment, energy, tourism, culture, science and education.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 07:42
Tycoons are battling over a tropical retreat aimed at wealthy people. Bond investors are also pulling back from data centers, while New York City’s pied-à-terre tax has hit another obstacle.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-13 07:30
Nicaragua’s national pavilion opened Wednesday in Wuhan, Hubei Province, as the first specialty venue in China authorized by its embassy to display Nicaraguan products and culture. The China (Hubei)-Nicaragua Economic and Trade Cooperation Center was also established to advance cooperation in areas including agricultural products and new energy.
CChina News ServiceOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-13 05:53
Satoshi Sugiyama looks ahead at European and global markets as bets on the Federal Reserve cool while wagers on a Bank of Japan move heat up.
RReutersOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-13 04:40
US data showed that inflation slowed in July.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 04:00
Japan’s annual wholesale inflation remained elevated in July, data showed, pointing to widening price pressures and strengthening market expectations that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates in September.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 03:40
The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway recorded a 99.4% on-time departure rate in the first half of the year, with 10,574 of 10,640 services leaving on schedule, operator KCIC said. Average customer satisfaction was 95.79%, while punctuality satisfaction reached 98.27%.
CChina News ServiceOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-13 03:33
Venezuelan authorities plan to prioritize reconstruction and recover gold reserves estimated at $4 billion that are held in underground Bank of England vaults, National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez said on Wednesday. Monthly inflation has surged to 20%.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 02:01
China’s green transition is accelerating as renewable energy expands and ecological resources gain new routes to economic value. The Ecological and Environmental Code, due to take effect on August 15, will provide stronger legal backing. Wind and solar capacity reached 1.84 billion kilowatts by the end of 2025, while Inner Mongolia’s renewable bases are also supporting equipment manufacturing and related industries.
CCGTNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 01:40
Asian stocks climbed on Thursday after U.S. inflation matched expectations, reducing bets on another Federal Reserve rate hike in the near term. Oil stayed near $80 a barrel as Washington and Tehran remained deadlocked over efforts to end the Gulf war.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-13 01:10
A $42 billion sale of 10-year US Treasury notes produced the benchmark securities’ highest yield since 2007. Investors still showed decent demand at the auction, even as they sought greater compensation for financing the US government. After the consumer-price data, bond traders continued to treat a September Federal Reserve rate increase as roughly a coin toss. The auction highlighted pressure for higher returns in government debt markets.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 21:30
Young Americans with college degrees have traditionally faced lower unemployment than people their age without degrees. Graduates can compete for positions that require higher education as well as jobs open to anyone. Those without degrees have access only to the latter group of jobs. The contrast highlights a difficult employment search for recent college graduates and growing discouragement among people who did not attend college.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 20:03
The Bank of Russia says the decline in investment levels at the beginning of 2026 should not be characterized as dramatic. Adviser to the Central Bank governor Kirill Tremasov said overall investment activity remains high. His assessment presents the early-year drop as limited against continued strong activity.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 19:53
Viktor Yemelyanenko, chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Zaporozhye Region, says shutting the Zaporozhstal steel plant would be devastating for Ukraine. He says the local economy has depended on the enterprise. The statement frames the plant as central to the area’s economic life and emphasizes the damage its closure could cause.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 19:24
Brazil’s finance and planning ministries are seeking to include mechanisms to control spending in a bill before Congress, according to three sources familiar with the proposal. The bill concerns an unrelated matter. The move comes as concerns over Brazil’s debt mount, with the ministries using the legislation to advance spending restraints.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 18:31
The US federal budget deficit surged to $432 billion in July, setting a record for the month, according to the Treasury Department. Higher government outlays and increasingly negative tariff receipts contributed to the widening gap. The budget shortfall for the 2026 fiscal year has reached $1.799 trillion so far. With two months remaining in the fiscal year, it has already exceeded the entire deficit recorded in fiscal 2025.
RReutersOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 18:25
Russia’s gross domestic product expanded by 1.3% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Preliminary figures released on August 12 by the country’s official statistics agency, Rosstat, put growth above forecasts from both the Central Bank and the government. The reading describes stronger-than-expected quarterly performance, while remaining subject to revision as preliminary data.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 18:11
Russia’s Economic Development Ministry says the country’s GDP increased at an annualized rate of 0.6% in the first half of the year. It attributes second-quarter growth to robust domestic demand. The ministry also points to positive results across several sectors of the real economy as a factor behind the expansion.
Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service has made a preliminary estimate that the country’s gross domestic product grew by 1.3% in the second quarter of 2026. The expansion was driven mainly by higher retail trade turnover, food-service turnover and freight turnover. The figure remains preliminary.
Russia’s ministry says easing monetary policy has been a key factor behind the recovery in economic activity. Existing government measures have also supported that activity. The statement presents both monetary policy and government action as contributors to the recovery.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:01
Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov says Russia’s growth rates are recovering. He said the improvement was first seen in March. According to the minister, the recovery has continued despite persistent external pressure. His remarks present the trend as ongoing rather than a temporary change.
Russia recorded annual inflation of 5.98% in July, according to Rosstat. Food prices increased by 0.29% compared with the previous month.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:39
Russia recorded deflation of 0.06% between August 4 and 10, according to Rosstat. Consumer prices in the country have risen 4.69% since the start of the year.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:24
Wall Street’s main indexes advanced on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq leading the gains. Strong earnings from companies involved in artificial intelligence infrastructure lifted technology shares. Inflation figures that were broadly in line with expectations also strengthened market bets that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged. The move combined enthusiasm over AI-related results with support from the latest price data.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:10
An internal document indicates that the European Central Bank is leaning toward approving UniCredit’s proposed takeover of Germany’s Commerzbank. The document lays out the ECB’s preliminary view of the Italian bank’s attempt. UniCredit’s plan would seek to create one of Europe’s largest lenders. The position described is preliminary rather than a final decision.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:02
The Minutes Reader extension turns the original page into a focused reading view and translates articles and video subtitles on demand. It is in limited beta.
