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Indonesia Central Bank Raises Key Interest Rate to 5.25%

Bank Indonesia raised the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 5.25%, the central bank said Wednesday.The deposit and lending facility rates were also raised to 4.25% and 6%, respectively.The rate hike was faster than the 4.75% forecast by Trading Economics.The central bank said the move is aimed at supporting rupiah stability and keeping inflation within the 2.5±1% target for 2026-2027.The decision follows higher global volatility from the Middle East conflict, which has lifted oil prices and disrupted supply chains.It said rate increases will be backed by liquidity management and foreign exchange intervention to draw in capital and maintain financial stability. Even so, Indonesia's economy is expected to grow 4.9% to 5.7% in 2026, supported by strong domestic demand and coordinated policy support.

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International126d ago

Italy's Annual Construction Output Down 0.2% in March

Italy's calendar-adjusted construction output index declined 0.2% year over year in March, following the revised 0.8% rise in February, statistics agency Istat said Wednesday.On a monthly basis, the country's seasonally adjusted construction output dropped 0.7%, against the revised 0.1% decrease earlier.

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International126d ago

Chinese Humanoid Robot Production Should Offset Population Decline by 2035, Barclays Says

Humanoid robot deployment in China could help offset about 60% of the country's population decline by 2035, according to a report by Barclays released Tuesday.The British lender expects up to 24 million humanoids by 2035, equivalent to 4% of the labor force in China.Humanoid production in China could help the country cope with a shortfall of about 37 million people in the labor force, it said.

Shanghai Composite^SZSE

International126d ago

Fitch Sees Manageable Risk in APAC Insurer Private Credit Exposure

Fitch Ratings says private credit exposure among major rated Asia-Pacific insurers remains broadly contained, with allocations still below 5% of total assets or around 10% of equity capital, including contractual service margin, in 2025.While positions have climbed over the past two to three years, Fitch said the shift has not materially altered overall portfolio risk profiles.The agency noted insurers are relying on tighter safeguards, including diversification across managers, borrowers, sectors and regions, alongside conservative sector choices and limits on leverage. Portfolios are mainly focused on senior secured and asset-backed loans, with regular checks on valuations, credit changes and recoveries due to the illiquid nature of the asset class.Fitch added that regulatory reforms and accounting changes, including risk-based capital frameworks and IFRS 17 and IFRS 9, have supported the allocation trend by improving capital efficiency.

^BSE^HNX^HOSEI^JKSEFTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCINifty 50^PSEI^SETShanghai Composite^STI^SZSETaiwan Weighted

International126d ago

German Annual Producer Prices Up 1.7% in April

The producer prices of industrial products in Germany increased 1.7% year over year in April, following a 0.2% decline in the previous month, the country's Federal Statistical Office said Wednesday.The consensus estimate for the month was a 1.5% rise.On a monthly basis, producer prices were 1.2% higher, against the expected 1% growth.

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International126d ago

Saudi Arabia Logs 0.7% Decrease in March Issued Building Permits

Issued building permits in Saudi Arabia fell 0.7% annually in March, following an 18.8% drop in the previous month, according to preliminary data from the General Authority for Statistics released Wednesday.On a monthly basis, the short-term business indicators statistics showed an 11.3% decline in issued building permits.

^TASI

International126d ago

Saudi Arabia's Annual Employee Compensation Up 10% in March

Saudi Arabia's employee compensation index climbed 10% annually in March, compared with a 9.8% rise the previous month.The monthly growth stood at 0.4%, according to preliminary data from the General Authority for Statistics released Wednesday.

^TASI

International126d ago

Saudi Annual Business Operating Revenue Up 10.2% in March

Saudi Arabia's operating revenue index climbed 10.2% year over year in March, after a 5.9% growth in February, according to preliminary data from the General Authority for Statistics released Wednesday.On a monthly basis, the short-term business indicators statistics report showed that operating revenue was up 8.1%.

^TASI

International126d ago

UK's Annual Retail Prices Up 3% in April

The UK's retail prices rose 3% year over year in April, following a 4.1% increase in March, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday.The reading is below market expectations of a 3.6% increase.On a monthly basis, the index was 0.7% higher, against the prior 0.8% gain and the expected 1.4% jump.

FTSE 100

International126d ago

UK's Annual Inflation Eases to 2.8% in April

Britain's annual inflation rate fell to 2.8% in April from 3.3% in March, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Wednesday.Analysts expected a 3% rate for the month.On a monthly basis, consumer prices were 0.7% higher, unchanged from the previous month and compared with the market forecast of 0.9% growth.Meanwhile, the UK's annual core inflation rate was 2.5%, compared with the prior 3.1% and expected 2.6%. Month over month, core consumer prices gained 0.7%, against the previous reading of a 0.4% uptick and the consensus estimate of a 0.8% increase.

FTSE 100

International126d ago

UK's Annual Producer Input, Output Prices Jump in April

Producer input prices in the UK increased 7.7% year over year in April, following a revised 5.3% gain in March, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday.The consensus estimate for the month was a 5.9% growth.Meanwhile, producer output or factory gate prices climbed 4% annually, against the revised 3% rise earlier and the expected 2.8% jump.On a monthly basis, producer input prices grew 2.4% in April, compared with the revised 4.3% increase previously and the forecast of a 1% rise. Monthly factory gate prices edged up 1.4%, consistent with a revised 1.4% rise earlier, and above the projected 1% growth.

FTSE 100

International126d ago

New Zealand's Housing Market Softening Amid Deterioration in Wider Economic Backdrop, ANZ Says

New Zealand's housing market is softening, in line with the deterioration in the wider economic backdrop since the sharp rise in fuel prices, ANZ said in a report on Wednesday.House prices fell in April across regions, while sales volumes also declined. Though the slowdown remains modest to date, the wider suite of indicators points to only slightly falling prices.House prices in New Zealand have increased at an average pace of 6% per year since 1992. Higher fuel costs, rising interest rates, and elevated uncertainty are all set to keep the housing market subdued this year. The prices might increase more slowly in the coming decades than they have in the past, potentially at an average pace of around 4% per year.The earlier high rate of house price growth was driven primarily by a long-running downward trend in interest rates, decent per capita income growth, and slow growth in housing supply. An average rate of 4% increase per year has been more typical internationally, and would broadly match income growth.Sustained increases in wholesale interest rates could put upward pressure on mortgage rates.

^NZ50

International126d ago

New Zealand's Central Bank Expected to Keep Official Cash Rate Steady in May, ANZ Says

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is expected to make no change to the official cash rate on May 27, leaving it steady at 2.25%, with a 50/50 chance of a rate hike in July, ANZ said in a note on Wednesday.The data since April has been a mix of a stronger starting point, as well as the early signs of the impact on confidence and spending.Fourth quarter gross domestic product was weaker than the February forecast. It showed the economy grew 0.2% quarter-over-quarter, versus the central bank's forecast of an 0.5% increase. Meanwhile, first-quarter consumer price index inflation was stronger than the central bank's expectations, with headline inflation of 3.1% rather than 3%.House prices may have capitulated in April, consistent with anecdotes of a sudden market stop. The performance of manufacturing index and performance of services index are both in contraction territory. ANZ card spending data shows a decline in discretionary spending as customers deal with a sharp increase in necessities and face more economic uncertainty.It won't be obvious what the right thing to do is in the wake of the oil shock. The best the monetary policy committee can do is try to keep in balance the risk of causing unnecessary pain now or risking unnecessary pain later.The analysts added that the market will be sensitive to any messaging, implying only limited tightening, the bank said.

^NZ50

International126d ago

Malaysia's Exports Jump 36.9% in April

Malaysia's total trade rose 28.6% year-on-year to 336.7 billion ringgit in April, driven by strong growth in both exports and imports, according to data released by the Department of Statistics.Exports surged 36.9% to 182.7 billion ringgit, while imports climbed 20% to 154 billion ringgit.As a result, the trade surplus widened to 28.8 billion ringgit from 23.6 billion ringgit a year earlier.On a month-over-month basis, total trade, exports, imports and the trade surplus increased by 23.3%, 22.8%, 23.9% and 17.4%, respectively.For the January-April period, Malaysia's total trade reached 1.1 trillion ringgit, up 15.3% from 977.5 billion ringgit in the corresponding period of 2025, the data showed.

FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI

International126d ago

Australia's Heavy Dependence on Refined Fuels Creates Some Risk of Rationing, ANZ Says

Australia's heavy reliance on refined fuels creates some risk of rationing being required if the supply of refined products narrows significantly, ANZ said in a Wednesday report.However, the bank added that fuel rationing is not part of its base case and it does not expect rationing to be needed.Australia imports over 90% of its diesel, petrol, and jet fuel, which the transport, mining, and agriculture industries are heavily dependent on. Around 12% of inputs for the transport sector come from petroleum products, followed by the mining industry at around 7% and agriculture at 6%, according to the report."The likely fuel demand inelasticity of these industries, the impact on GDP that a shortage of fuel might have and the limited availability of short-run substitutes suggest that the household sector would likely bear the brunt of any possible rationing," ANZ said.It noted that fuel rationing is not currently not part of the Reserve Bank of Australia's central expectations.

ASX 200

International126d ago

New Zealanders Expect Inflation to Rise to 5.6% Over Next Year, RBNZ Survey Shows

The mean one-year-ahead expected inflation in New Zealand was 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.2% in the previous quarter, while the perception of current inflation came in at 7.5%, according to a survey by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) released on Wednesday.In the June quarter, the inflation rate is expected to rise to a mean of 4.9% in two years and 4% in five years, up from 3.4% and 3.3%, respectively, in the March quarter.Meanwhile, nearly 41% of New Zealanders now expect higher house prices, compared with about 48% in the March quarter. The annual inflation rate for house prices is expected to clock in at a mean of 1.5% in a year and 5.9% in five years.

^NZ50

International126d ago

United Nations Cuts 2026 Growth Forecast for Australian Economy as Energy Supply Shock Bites

The United Nations lowered its 2026 growth forecast for the Australian economy to 2% as the country's demand‐led recovery is now under pressure from the energy supply shock created by the Middle East conflict, according to the mid-year update of the body's World Economic Situation and Prospects report.A previous report in January forecast 2.2% growth for Australia, which continues to rely on imports of refined fuel products."In Australia, wage-driven inflationary pressures have led the Reserve Bank to resume monetary tightening in early 2026, adding a further drag on growth," the new report said.The UN also lowered its 2026 global economic growth forecast to 2.5% from 2.7% previously.

ASX 200

International126d ago

Market Chatter: Indian Airlines Seek Delay in Aviation Fuel Price Hike

Major Indian airlines have asked state-run oil refiners to halt jet fuel price increases for domestic flights until the Middle East conflict eases, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.The proposal was floated by domestic airlines, including Air India, IndiGo (NSE:INDIGO, BOM:539448), and SpiceJet (BOM:500285), the report said.They reportedly warned the government that raising fuel prices could lead to flight suspensions and broader business disruptions.State-owned refiners, including Indian Oil Corporation (NSE:IOC, BOM:530965), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (NSE:HINDPETRO, BOM:500104), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (NSE:BPCL, BOM:500547) are currently considering the proposal, according to the report.India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has joined the discussions and may intervene directly, as it did in Aprl and May, the report added.Aviation fuel in India is deregulated and is fixed by the country's main oil marketing companies, which revise the prices each month.However, in April, to lessen the impact of the surge in global oil prices, the Indian government capped the most recent jet fuel price hike to 25% and asked the oil companies to keep them constant in May, Bloomberg added.A decision on the airlines' proposal is expected before June 1, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

^BSENifty 50BOM:500104BOM:500285BOM:500547BOM:530965BOM:539448NSE:BPCLNSE:HINDPETRONSE:INDIGONSE:IOC

International126d ago

Market Chatter: Singapore Now Southeast Asia's Largest Stock Market

Singapore has overtaken Indonesia as Southeast Asia's largest stock market, with market capitalization jumping to $645 billion, according to a report by Bloomberg News on Wednesday.Meanwhile, Indonesia's market capitalization fell by over 30% from a peak in January to $618 billion, the report added.The Straits Times Index growth has been driven by government initiatives, with more funds flowing into the market, the report said.According to a portfolio manager at Lion Global Investors, Kenneth Ong, Singapore's market has taken advantage of geopolitical uncertainty and has become a safe haven for the financial sector, the report noted.During March, foreign deposits in the city-state's banks rose to SG$659 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

^STI

International126d ago

New Zealand Housing Market Continues Losing Momentum in April, Cotality Says

New Zealand's housing market continued losing momentum in April, with sales volumes down 9% year on year and activity across the first four months of the year around 5% below the same period last year, Cotality NZ said in a report on Wednesday.Buyers remain cautious due to uncertainty regarding the economic outlook, inflationary effects from the Middle East conflict, and the risk of higher mortgage rates, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said.Additionally, national property values remained flat, with the Cotality Home Value Index recording a 0.1% increase for the month and a 0.6% lift across the three months to April, but values nationally remained 0.8% lower over the past year and nearly 17% below peak levels.First home buyers continued to account for an elevated share of purchases, making up 28% of activity in April nationally and more than 30% in Auckland.

^NZ50

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