ECONOMY & MARKETS

By Julie GordonCanada's budget deficit in fiscal 2021/22 shrank to C$95.57 billion ($75.02 billion) from C$314.00 billion in the previous year, as emergency spending on the COVID-19 pandemic eased, preliminary data from the finance ministry showed on Friday.

Worsening economic data may force central banks to blink and take a less aggressive rate-rise stance, money markets are betting, having steadily dialled back expectations of where U.S.

U.S. consumer spending rose more than expected in April as households boosted purchases of goods and services, and the increase in inflation slowed, which could underpin economic growth in the second quarter amid rising fears of a recession.

Wall Street extended its rally on Friday as signs of peaking inflation and consumer resiliency sent investors into the long holiday weekend with growing optimism that the Federal Reserve's policy tightening can avoid tipping the economy into recession.

Wall Street closed sharply higher on Friday as signs of peaking inflation and consumer resiliency sent investors into the long holiday weekend with growing optimism that the Federal Reserve will be able to tighten monetary policy without tipping the economy into recession.

The S&P 500 index on Friday was set for its best weekly gain since mid-March as upbeat earnings, strength in consumer spending and signs of inflation peaking eased worries about a sharp slowdown in economic growth.

U.S. stocks rallied on Friday, boosted by upbeat earnings, strength in consumer spending and signs that inflation was peaking, easing worries about a sharp slowdown in economic growth.

Wall Street closed sharply higher on Friday as signs of peaking inflation and consumer resiliency sent investors into the long holiday weekend with growing optimism that the Federal Reserve will be able to tighten monetary policy without tipping the economy into recession.

Canadian banks wrapped up second-quarter earnings season last week, with most reporting better-than-expected profits, in large part by reducing the amounts of funds they set aside for future loan losses, raising questions among investors and analysts about whether they are too sanguine about looming risks.

Russia is on the cusp of a unique kind of debt crisis which investors say would be a first time a major emerging market economy is pushed into a bond default by geopolitics, rather than empty coffers.

One of the worst starts to a year in decades might lead you to think investors are already braced for an economic storm ahead, but it's far from clear recession risks have been taken on board or are fully priced.

Thailand's exports in April rose at a much slower pace than the previous month and less than expected, commerce ministry data showed on Friday, coming under the pressure of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's lockdown measures.

The dollar edged higher on Friday but was on track for its biggest weekly drop in nearly four months as traders lowered Federal Reserve rate hike expectations amid signs the U.S.

The dollar was set for its biggest weekly drop in nearly four months as traders lowered Federal Reserve rate hike expectations amid signs the U.S.

The U.S. dollar sank to a one-month low versus major peers on Friday as traders lowered Federal Reserve rate hike expectations amid signs the central bank might slow or even pause its tightening cycle in the second half of the year.

U.S. stocks were indicating a higher open on Wall Street and world stocks eyed their first weekly gain in eight on Friday on a more upbeat earnings view and after this week's Federal Reserve minutes dampened fears of mega-high interest rates.

World stocks were heading for their first weekly gain in eight weeks on Friday on a more upbeat earnings view while the dollar hit one-month lows after the Federal Reserve's minutes suggested it could put the brakes on rapid rate hikes later this year.

World shares rose and the dollar weakened on Friday after data showed that U.S.

Asian shares on Friday extended overnight global gains thanks to strong results from regional tech firms and U.S.

Asian shares extended overnight global gains thanks to strong results from regional tech firms and U.S.

Japan's net external assets hit a record 411 trillion yen ($3.24 trillion) in 2021, to retain its position as the top creditor for 31 years in a row, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Friday.

Britain will sign its first state-level trade agreement with the U.S.

New Zealand's house prices are forecast to sink 9.0% this year as aggressive interest rate hikes take some heat out of the blazing housing market amid a worsening cost of living crisis, keeping potential buyers on the sidelines, a Reuters poll found.

The world is moving rapidly toward increasing use of digital payments and an official digital version of the U.S.

The British government's 5 billion pound ($6.29 billion) windfall tax plan for oil and gas producers includes an incentive for those producers to pump more fossil fuels, riling climate activists who had called for the tax.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week as the labor market remains tight amid strong demand for workers despite rising interest rates and tightening financial conditions.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week as the labor market remains tight amid strong demand for workers despite rising interest rates and tightening financial conditions.

Norwegian fertiliser giant Yara says donors urgently need to close the U.N.'s $10 billion food programme funding gap to avoid a catastrophe as sanctions on Russian fertilisers and Ukraine's grain export problems have created an extreme global shock.

Wall Street closed sharply higher on Thursday after optimistic retail earnings outlooks and waning concerns about overly aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve put investors in a buying mood.