#doodle #consumer #sentiment in #Germany is significantly below the level of 2019 and is reaching near record lows in some indicators. Yet, president of the #ECB claims that “domestic #demand remains the main driver of growth”, “supported by a resilient #labor market” –

The physical movement of #manufacturing operations has been most pronounced in sectors deemed critical for supply chain, resource, and national security, such as #semiconductors, batteries, and critical minerals, chart #GoldmanSachs

#Germany continues to strengthen domestic defense production. Europe’s #defense and electrification goals are currently constrained by limited access to critical #raw materials, a challenge the #EU Critical Raw Materials Act aims to resolve, chart #GoldmanSachs

The Trade Policy Uncertainty (TPU) index—which measures media attention to trade-related risks—has remained persistently elevated, chart #GoldmanSachs

As part of the broader deglobalization trend, the clearest example of the shift in technology is the increased imports of advanced technology products from #Mexico, at the expense of #China ’s share, chart #JPMorganAM

At the helm of the #AI wave, #tech companies are driving a surge in capital expenditure - on data centers, chips and energy infrastructure - at a historic scale, chart #JPMorganAM

#cash holdings in the Magnificent7 stocks—which now make up ~35% of the S&P 500, grew over 300% b/w 2011 and 2025, chart #JPMorganAM

Spending on #AI is currently the primary driver of incremental enterprise tech spend growth, with outlays rising rapidly to account for a growing share of total spend, which is expected to continue over the next decade, #OxfordEconomics

“Money Beyond Borders” #Book Review Prof. Barry Eichengreen: Money Beyond Borders – Global Currencies from Croesus to Crypto, @princetonupress.bsky.social March 2026, London. acemaxxanalytics.substack.com/p/money-beyo...

#ECB kept rates unch, but a #hike had been debated and unless there is a clear easing in high energy prices or a notable deterioration in the growth outlook, a rate hike in June looks likely, chart #NordeaMarkets

(awesome) My sister gave me two new #books – #novels - as a gift.

#FX US #dollar vs #euro and #gold As a result of the obvious shifts in #geopolitical alliances and rivalries, chart @katie0martin.ft.com @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/5f02...

#FX SNB and #Swiss franc Currency intervention can help mitigate #energy shocks by stabilizing exchange rates and reducing imported #inflation caused by rising energy prices, chart @reuters.com www.breakingviews.com/columns/brea...

#FX market intervention can help fight energy shocks #Japan JPY - chart @reuters.com www.breakingviews.com/columns/brea...

Why do some countries provide more #Ukraine aid than others? While the U.S. provided the largest amount in dollar value from 2022 to 2025, #Denmark made the biggest contribution relative to the size of its economy, chart @stlouisfed.bsky.social www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-econo...

During the press conference, #Powell was forthcoming about his future at the #FOMC and confirmed he will remain on the Board after his Chair term ends on May 15th for a period “to be determined” chart #JPMorganAM

#KevinWarsh has signaled sweeping changes to how the #Fed operates that would not require congressional approval, which could change how markets price the #Fed - chart #JPMorganAM

#book #interview @martynalinartas.bsky.social @taz.de So while there is a clear definition of #poverty, there is none for wealth. That is why it is difficult to examine #wealth, let alone address it as a problem. Furthermore, the figures on wealth in #Germany are estimates. taz.de/Politologin-...

#stock performance is shaping up to be eerily similar to 2025: each year began with #AI anxieties – this year it was AI labor displacement; last year it was #DeepSeek - chart #JPMorganAM

Heiner Flassbeck talks about the interest the Govt pays on its debt – and highlights the role of foreign countries given #Germany ’s humongous current account (CA) surplus (video) www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGJt...

This initiative treats #immigration as the problem, when it is actually a key input into #Switzerland ’s economic success. It risks damaging relations with the EU, chart @fuwnews.bsky.social www.fuw.ch/nachhaltigke...

CHF 721.2 billion #Swiss National Bank's FX reserves of the SNB - chart #SNB data.snb.ch/en/topics/cr...

#doodle #LaborDay May 1st in the shadow of #AffordabilityCrisis #MayDay - #MayDay - #MayDay The economy is strong, they say. Yes - especially the part that isn’t my income.

(Oh boy!) #ECB Monetary Policy Statement – Press Conference Apr 30, 2026 – chart @bloomberg.com TV live from the #snoozefest in Frankfurt www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_...

Global #oil prices jumped to a 4y high of more than $122 a barrel, on concerns that the US-Iran war could worsen and lead to a protracted #MiddleEast #oil supply disruption that could hurt global economic growth, chart @reuters.com www.reuters.com/business/ene...

UAE #oil capacity vs production – #UAE built more capacity than OPEC+ allowed, chart @bloomberg.com TV live

#FX #Japan's Finance Minister is threatening that FX intervention is imminent, chart #ING Economics

#FX #Japanese #yen surged more than 2.5% against USD in a few hours on Thursday amid reports that Tokyo had intervened to support the currency and after authorities issued a rare “final” warning to speculators to close their bets against it, chart @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/8d98...

#AI - software investment US growth driven by #tech investment in 1Q2026, chart #ING Economics

#AI - the main engine US GDP is up 2% in 1Q2026, largely due to the #technology - chart @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

#Iran #war #oil #Brent crude hits 2026 record: $123.66 – chart @bloomberg.com TV live

$25 billion and counting, Defense Sec Pete Hegseth said on Wedn that the biggest adversary the US faced was not #Iran ’s military, but the “feckless and defeatist words” of Democrats and some Republican lawmakers, chart @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/u...

#Netherlands’ plan From 2028, individual investors will have to pay a 36% charge every year on increases in the value of assets such as stocks, #bonds and #cryptocurrencies, even if they haven’t cashed in any of those bets, chart @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

In the #EU, the decline of the ESI was driven by plummeting #confidence among consumers, as well as managers in services and retail trade, chart #EuropeanCommission economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/economic-for...

#ECB hawks push hard to move towards an April rate hike, chart @reutersmiked.bsky.social www.reuters.com/markets/tran...

#Fed Funds Futures market basically sees less than a 20% chance of another cut in the 3.625% #Fed mid-rate for at least the next ⁠year, chart @reutersmiked.bsky.social www.reuters.com/markets/tran...

(preliminary) #German #inflation CPI in April 2026: 2.9%Y, 0.6%M and core inflation: 2.3% (April) by comparison 2.5% (March), chart #destatis www.destatis.de/EN/Press/202...

The monthly index of economic activity declined by 0.2% in March – The index was negatively influenced by data on credit card purchases, retail sales and IP of construction inputs, chart #BoI Bank of #Israel www.boi.org.il/en/communica...

As tensions in #Iran escalated, markets quickly focused on the risk of #energy supply disruptions and higher #oil prices -- elevated #oil prices can drive #inflation upward while simultaneously dampening economic growth, chart #MorganStanley

Any discussion of #Fed #cutting rates this year is moot. #futures markets no longer expect it, while the rate-sensitive 2y UST yield has surged with rate expectations, chart @johnauthers.bsky.social

When #gas prices go negative, it means producers literally have to pay someone to take the gas off their hands. The alternative — letting it build up — isn't safe or legal, so excess natural gas is often burned off, and so-called flaring events this season are at 5y highs.

#WestTexas #gas goes negative while prices surge in Europe, chart @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

#Iranian oil wells are on the verge of explosion – No, the Iranian #oil industry isn’t about to “explode”, @javierblas.bsky.social notes @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Rising #inequality is the root of #affordability problems, chart @joshbivens-econ.bsky.social @epi.org www.epi.org/blog/rising-...

#doodle #Fed Chair Jerome #Powell said Wednesday that he would stay on the CB’s board after his chairmanship ends next month to defend the institution from what he called unprecedented legal attacks from the #Trump administration.

Net UST inventories held by primary dealers, big banks that underwrite US Govt debt, have risen to about $550bn on average this year, from less than $400bn in 2025, chart @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/bdbf...

Wall Street dealers’ UST holdings have jumped to the highest level since the global financial crisis as the Trump administration’s cut to regulation nudges #banks back into the $31tn debt market, chart @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/bdbf...

#Iran war and energy #commodities #crude oil stuck in the #MiddleEast #MiddleEast crude #oil floating storage: 57.6mio. – chart @bloomberg.com TV live

All that state backing has compelled #Chinese #AI companies to align with national imperatives, so wide-scale deployment of the technology is set to take precedence over profits, chart @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

#Chinese #AI companies can’t match the financial firepower of their American rivals, and the US Govt has deprived them of the most cutting-edge #chips to train their AI models, chart @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...