International Economic
Chicago PMI beats expectations in January
Economic activity in the Chicago area picked up in January, according to data released on Monday.
Eurozone Q4 GDP growth in line as Omicron slows recovery
Economic growth across the eurozone slowed at the end of 2021, as the Covid Omicron variant hindered the recovery from the pandemic, according to official data released on Monday.
Omicron subvariant is 1.5 times more transmissible than original
A new Omicron subvariant known is more transmissible than its forebear which first appeared in South Africa, scientists said at the weekend, although some studies have shown that vaccines are more effective against it.
Bitcoin is back in the red and fails to break $40,000 at the end of a black month for 'cryptos'
Bitcoin fell 3% during the last 24 hours, while investors are still imbued with fear and do not dare to jump into purchases and raise the most traded of digital assets to $40,000, so that the technical pattern that points to a 'pull-back' to the former support, now turned into resistance, is fulfilled. The world's largest cryptocurrency left a high over the weekend at around $38,500, to return to declines, but narrows its trading range, which is now between $37,000 and the aforementioned top.
China factory growth struggles amid Covid surge
China’s manufacturing sector stalled in January, data showed on Monday, hit by a resurgence in Covid-19 cases and the re-introduction of stringent lockdown measures.
Putin says US, Nato responses do not address key concerns
America and Nato did not address Moscow's "principal concerns" in their responses to its proposals for security guarantees, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
UK and EU planning sanctions on new Russian natural gas projects
Britain and the EU are said to be readying sanctions that on new gas projects in Russia that could be wielded should Russia attack Ukraine again.
German economy screeches to a halt in Q4 2021, but rebound anticipated
The euro area's largest economy screeched to a halt at the end of 2021 due to the hit from the Omicron variant of Covid-19, although economists expected a rebound.
US consumer sentiment falls on Omicron, inflation woes
US consumer sentiment deteriorated in January to its lowest level in more than a decade amid worries about Omicron and inflation, according to a survey from the University of Michigan.
Russian foreign affairs minister sounds less cool note on US counter proposals
Russia´s foreign affairs minister appeared to sound a less cool response to Washington's response to Moscow's "proposals" for security guarantees.
"$40,000 looks more vulnerable than $30,000" for undecided Bitcoin
The cryptocurrency market gives up its gains of the last 24 hours on Friday, despite the fact that it recovered on Thursday from the bump caused by the monetary policy decision of the Federal Reserve (Fed), which ended the accommodative era of the pandemic. The digital currency par excellence remained all day in a range between $35,500 and $37,500, with a very short-term floor at the first of these two levels. It gives ground on Friday to almost $36,000, after trading above $37,000, but it remains in this price range and seems to be eager to extend the rebound from the six-month low of January 24th at $33,000.
Russia reacts coolly to US, NATO responses, talks appear set to continue
Russia gave a cool response to Washington's answer overnight to its demands for security guarantees, but according to reports kept the door open to dialogue.
US GDP jumps past forecasts, but only on account of inventory building
America's economy grew much more quickly than expected towards the end of last year, albeit only due to inventory building.
US initial jobless claims fall for first time in 2022
Initial jobless claims fell for the first time in four weeks in the seven days ended 22 January, slipping 260,000 from the prior week's upwardly revised print of 290,000, according to the Labor Department.
Fed halts Bitcoin rebound but cryptocurrencies avoid another bloodbath
The cryptocurrency market is in the red yet again, as it turned lower on Wednesday and put the brakes on a promising three-day bullish rally following its rebound from the January 24th lows of $33,000 after the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy decision and comments from its chairman, Jerome Powell. As expected, the world's largest central bank pointed to a rate hike in March and Powell gave a glimpse of his hawkish side by pointing to a rapid reduction of the Fed's balance sheet.
Russian forces in Belarus will not remain in country after February drills
The Russian rouble strengthened slightly, recouping some of the prior session's losses, after Belarus indicated that Russian troops in the country would not remain in the country following military drills planned for February.
Fed keeps policy unchanged, Powell says risks two-sided and avoids specifics
The US central bank didn't spring any immediate surprises on investors following its two-day policy meeting.
Washington offers Moscow 'serious diplomatic path forward' but says will defend 'core principles'
Washington responded to Moscow's demands for written security guarantees and said that it was offering Russia a "serious diplomatic path forward, should Russia choose it".
Normandy Four agree that truce in Donbass must be unconditionally observed, despite differences
A top Russian government advisor described meetings with his Ukrainian, German and French counterparts to try and resolve the situation in the Donbass region as "not easy, but frank".
German ministry trims growth forecasts
The German government cut its economic growth forecast on Wednesday, after restrictions introduced to curb the spread of Omicron weighed heavily.