The IMF advised central banks to continue enforcing strict monetary policy and increased its estimate of global inflation to 5.8% for 2024. The fund's researchers reduced their forecast for global GDP growth to 2.9% for the upcoming year after realizing that the world economy is "not gaining momentum". The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its estimate of global inflation for 2024 and...

According to the Financial Times, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which could spark a new round of hostilities in the Middle East, prompted a strong increase in shares of defense industry businesses in Europe and the United States. Securities of the Swedish aircraft company Saab, which increased by 8.6%, were the leaders in growth in Europe. Papers of German Rheinmetall, which makes tanks,...

According to the OPEC's annual review, the global energy consumption would rise to 359.2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2045. The organization's analysts forecasted this number would reach 351 million bpd a year earlier. As a result, the estimated oil demand rose by 6 million bpd to 106.6 million bpd from the projected from the previous year's expectation of 100.6 million bpd. The...

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said that global semiconductor sales in August fell 6.8% to $44 billion from $47.2 billion in the corresponding month previous year. Shipments were up 1.9% in comparison to July. "Global semiconductor sales in August grew for the sixth consecutive month on a month-over-month basis, demonstrating a slow but steady increase in market demand," John...

According to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. experts, the total amount of ESG-bonds issued by US firms will be half as low in 2023 as it was in the past. The analysis conducted by a group of Goldman analysts states that the situation in the U.S. differs from developments in Europe, where the issue of corporate securities linked to the execution of environmental, social policy, and corporate governance...

According to a Rystad Energy analysis, the world's currently producing gas fields won't be able to keep up with rising demand. This will necessitate a quick ramp-up of unconventional gas supplies like shale gas. The current rapid growth of unconventional gas production is a result of technology advancements and shorter project start-up and commissioning times.  The proportion of...

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) declared that average 30-year mortgage rates in the United States reached their highest level since November 2000 during the week ending September 29, after increasing by 12 basis points from the week before. Last week, the average interest rate for 30-year home equity loans with maximum loan amounts of $726,200 was 7.53%. The rate has been growing four...

The International Aviation Transport Association (IATA) reports that global demand for aviation freight transportation climbed in August for the first time since February 2022. When compared to August of last year, the indicator in tonne-kilometers climbed by 1.5%. "The first year-over-year growth in 19 months is unquestionably welcome news," said IATA Director General Willie Walsh. "However,...

According to information from the worldwide interbank system SWIFT, the percentage of US dollar used in international settlements grew to 48.03% in August 2023 from 46.5% in July. This is the highest percentage in the five years that statistics have been kept. The percentage of the euro decreased from 24.42% in July to 23.2% in August. For the period that statistics for the global system were...