Explore the world.

Assess underlying market conditions and fundamentals in the world's major economies.

World

Stay ahead.

Follow the biggest stories in markets and economics in real time.

Subscribe

Get insight into the latest trends and developments in global currency markets with breaking news updates and research reports delivered right to your inbox.

After signing up, you will receive regular newsletters from Corpay, and may unsubscribe at any time. View Corpay’s Privacy Policy

Market Brief, North America

Potential Dilution in Trump Tariff Plans Pummels Dollar

As the curtain rises on 2025, the dollar is tumbling on a report suggesting that incoming US president Donald Trump will ultimately implement tariffs on a much narrower set of products than he had threatened on the campaign trail. According to the Washington Post, advisors to the president-elect are preparing plans to impose import taxes on goods deemed critical to national or economic security—products related to defence industries, strategically-important energy inputs and commodities, and critical medical supplies—instead of the “universal” 10-to-20-percent tariffs previously proposed. This would inflict less pain on the global economy, and reduce the risk of an inflationary...

Read More Read More

Markets Retreat as Threat Environment Worsens

Markets are dressed in red for all the wrong reasons this morning. Most major currencies are down against the dollar on a month- and year-to-date basis as increasingly-hawkish policy expectations intersect with safe-haven demand ahead of a likely shutdown of the US federal government. Ten-year Treasury yields are holding near a six-month high at 5.54 percent, North American equity futures are pointing to renewed losses at the open, and many measures of expected volatility remain elevated. The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure continued its moderation in November, slightly depressing rate expectations for next year. Data released by the Bureau of...

Read More Read More

“Bad Santa” Shock Hits Markets

This year’s Santa rally came with a Fed clause. Markets are recovering, but remain in turmoil after officials at the world’s most powerful central bank turned far more hawkish on the year ahead than almost anyone had expected even as they lowered benchmark interest rates for a third consecutive time. The dollar is trading near a post-2022 peak, ten-year Treasury yields are holding at seven month highs above 4.5 percent, most major equity indices are down more than 3 percent, and the VIX volatility index—Wall Street’s “fear gauge”—is up dramatically after hitting its loftiest levels since the August 7 volatility...

Read More Read More

Markets Brace for Fed’s “Hawkish Cut”

Financial markets are treading water this morning ahead of the year’s last Federal Reserve decision. US Treasury yields and the dollar are holding in narrow trading ranges, equity markets are pushing higher, and commodity prices are moving sideways. Market participants are nearly unanimous in expecting the Fed to deliver a “hawkish cut” this afternoon. After a series of data releases showing labour markets losing momentum and inflation holding steady, policymakers are widely believed likely to lower the federal funds target range by a quarter point to 4.25-4.50 percent – but the “dot plot” summary of economic projections is seen signalling...

Read More Read More

US Retail Sales Firm, Canadian Inflation Decelerates

US retail spending climbed slightly more than expected last month, suggesting that resilient consumer demand could continue to power economic outperformance through the all-important holiday season. According to figures published by the Census Bureau this morning, total receipts at retail stores, online sellers and restaurants rose 0.7 percent on a month-over-month basis in November, beating the 0.6-percent consensus forecasts, and up from a revised 0.5 percent in October. So-called “control group” retail sales sales – with gasoline, cars, food services, and building materials excluded – rose by a softer 0.4 percent, matching estimates. The dollar is holding firm, ten-year Treasury...

Read More Read More