BoykoWealth.com — Automated Daily Report on World Macroeconomic News for April 15, 2025
A comprehensive summary of the news, covering GDP, inflation, unemployment, consumer confidence, equity markets, fixed income and interest rates, commodities, currencies, economic indicators, geopolitical developments, and new technology news.
GDP: The U.S. GDP growth rate for Q1 2025 was revised down to 1.8% from the initial estimate of 2.1%, reflecting weaker consumer spending and business investment [1]. In Europe, the Eurozone’s GDP grew by 0.3% in Q1 2025, driven by strong performance in Germany and France [2]. China’s GDP growth slowed to 4.5% year-on-year in Q1 2025, down from 5.2% in the previous quarter, due to ongoing trade tensions with the U.S [2].
Inflation: U.S. inflation rose by 0.2% in March 2025, bringing the annual rate to 3.1%, driven by higher food and energy prices [1]. In the Eurozone, inflation remained steady at 2.8% in March, with core inflation (excluding food and energy) at 2.5% [2]. Japan’s inflation rate increased to 1.2% in March, up from 0.9% in February, as consumer prices rose across various sectors [2].
Unemployment: The U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2% in March 2025, with job gains in healthcare and professional services offset by losses in manufacturing [1]. The Eurozone’s unemployment rate fell to 6.8% in March, the lowest level since 2008, as the labor market continued to recover[2]. In China, the urban unemployment rate edged up to 5.5% in March, reflecting the impact of trade tensions on the job market [2].
Consumer Confidence: The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index fell to 97.4 in March 2025, down from 100.7 in February, as concerns about inflation and economic growth weighed on sentiment [1]. In the Eurozone, consumer confidence improved slightly to -10.4 in March, up from -11.2 in February, driven by optimism about the labor market [2]. Japan’s consumer confidence index rose to 39.5 in March, up from 38.2 in February, as households became more optimistic about future income and employment prospects [2].
Equity Markets: Wall Street closed lower on April 15, 2025, with the S&P 500 Index falling 0.17% to $5,396.63 [3], the Nasdaq Composite Index declining 0.05% to $16,823.17 [2], and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.38% to $40,368.96 [4]. European markets saw mixed results, with Germany’s DAX rising 0.9% and France’s CAC 40 climbing 1.3%, while the FTSE 100 fell 0.2% [2]. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged by 6%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose by 1% [2].
Corporate Actions and Earnings: HP Inc. saw its shares rise 2.6% following President Trump’s announcement of tariff exemptions for tech products [5]. American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) slid 3.3% following a downgrade by Zacks Equity Research [5]. Deutsche Bank reported a 15% increase in Q1 2025 net profit, driven by strong performance in its investment banking division [2].
Trending Industry Update: The technology sector saw a slight rebound, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) recovering 0.6% on April 14, 2025, after several sessions of overselling [5]. The energy sector also showed strength, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) rising 1.5% [5].
United States: The U.S. Federal Reserve announced that it would maintain its current interest rate policy, citing stable inflation and moderate economic growth [1]. The Empire State Manufacturing Index fell to -20 in April, indicating a contraction in manufacturing activity [1].
Europe: The European Central Bank is expected to announce another interest rate cut on April 17, 2025, as fears of a recession continue to loom over the eurozone [2]. Germany’s ZEW Economic Sentiment Index declined to a seven-month low, reflecting deteriorating investor confidence amid trade tensions [2].
Asia: China’s export prices rose by 0.1% in March, while import prices increased by 0.4%, reflecting the impact of ongoing trade tensions [1]. Japan’s industrial production fell by 0.3% in March, breaking a three-month streak of gains [2].
Fixed Income and Interest Rates: The U.S. 30-year bond auction saw a yield of 4.813%, up from 4.623% in the previous auction [1]. The European Central Bank is expected to cut interest rates further on April 17, 2025 [2].
Commodities: Oil prices rose by 2.5% to $80.50 per barrel on April 14, 2025, driven by supply concerns and geopolitical tensions [1]. Gold prices increased by 1.2% to $1,950 per ounce, as investors sought safe-haven assets amid market volatility [1].
Energy: The Baker Hughes Oil Rig Count fell to 480 on April 11, 2025, down from 489 the previous week [1]. Natural gas stocks increased by 57 billion cubic feet, reflecting higher demand [1].
Metals: Copper prices rose by 1.5% to $4.25 per pound, driven by strong demand from China [1]. Silver prices increased by 0.8% to $25.50 per ounce [1].
Currencies: The U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro, with the exchange rate rising to 1.10 USD/EUR [1]. The Japanese yen weakened against the dollar, with the exchange rate falling to 110 JPY/USD [1].
Economic Indicators: The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 319.799 in March, reflecting higher food and energy prices [1]. The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 50.8 in April, indicating weaker consumer confidence [1].
Geopolitical Developments: President Trump announced exemptions for tech products from Chinese import tariffs, providing relief to the tech industry [5]. The European Union is considering new sanctions against Russia in response to ongoing geopolitical tensions [2].
New Technology News: Allegro MicroSystems launched its latest XtremeSense™ TMR current sensors, revolutionizing clean energy generation, distribution, and storage [6]. The tech industry is optimistic about the impact of tariff exemptions on future growth [5].
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the latest macroeconomic news and developments from around the world, offering valuable insights for investors and analysts.
References
[1] DJIA | Dow Jones Industrial Average Stock Prices and Charts – WSJ
[5] US Stock Markets Live: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 surge – Moneycontrol
[6] Nasdaq Chart By Days In April 2025 Values | StatMuse Money