Reports
German business is confident about Merz debt bazooka; consumers, not so much
German business has high hopes for incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his plan to unleash government spending on defense and infrastructure. Loosening the historically borrowing-averse nation's "debt brake" to enable massive government bond issuance is seen as reviving the eurozone's largest economy after years of stagnation.
Reports
China's energy landscape: domestically-produced coal vs. increasing role of imported gas
China's rise to become Asia's biggest economy was fueled by coal. But over the past two decades, natural gas has taken on a more prominent role. Coal is particularly important in electricity generation and steel; gas is important for residential heating, and the government has also encouraged a switch from coal to gas for industries to improve urban air quality. ("Dual carbon" goals proposed by President Xi Jinping also call for an urgent shift toward a lower-carbon energy structure.)
Reports
Trump auto tariffs Japan, South Korea, Germany exposed amid USMCA exemption for Canada and Mexico
Donald Trump's so-called Liberation Day coincided with previously announced 25% tariffs on imported cars taking effect. His latest tariff salvo delivered worse-than-expected news (especially for Asian economies) and unnerved global markets.
Reports
Visualizing the quirks of US Liberation Day tariff methodology
Donald Trump announced his "Liberation Day" schedule of tariffs on 180 countries and territories on April 2 to some confusion -- especially a table he presented titled "Tariffs Charged to the U.S.A. including Currency Manipulation and Trade Barriers."