BoykoWealth.com — Automated Daily Report on World Macroeconomic News for April 8, 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.[3].
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[4]. In the Eurozone, inflation remained steady at 2.8% in March, with core inflation (excluding food and energy) at 2.5%[5]. Japan’s inflation rate increased to 1.2% in March, up from 0.9% in February, as consumer prices rose across various sectors[6].
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[7]. The Eurozone’s unemployment rate fell to 6.8% in March, the lowest level since 2008, as the labor market continued to recover[8]. In China, the urban unemployment rate edged up to 5.5% in March, reflecting the impact of trade tensions on the job market[9].
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[10]. 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[11]. 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[12].
Equity Markets: Wall Street closed mixed on April 7, 2025, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.9% to 37,965.60, the S&P 500 losing 0.2% to 5,062.25, and the Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.1% to 15,603.26[13]. European markets rebounded, with Germany’s DAX rising 0.9% and France’s CAC 40 climbing 1.3%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged by 6%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose by 1%.
Corporate Actions and Earnings: American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) slid 3.3% on April 7, 2025, following a downgrade by Zacks Equity Research. Ferrovial SE (FER) also saw a decline of 4.7% amid concerns about its exposure to the U.S. market. In Europe, Deutsche Bank reported a 15% increase in Q1 2025 net profit, driven by strong performance in its investment banking division.
Trending Industry Update: The technology sector saw a slight rebound, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) recovering 0.6% on April 7, 2025, after several sessions of overselling. The real estate and utilities sectors continued to struggle, with the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (XLRE) and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) losing 2.4% and 1.5%, respectively.
United States: The Federal Reserve reported a decrease in consumer credit for February 2025, with a decline of $800 million against the consensus of a $15.5 billion increase. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell to 97.4 in March, marking its steepest drop since December 2020.
Europe: The European Central Bank (ECB) maintained its key interest rates and asset purchase program, citing ongoing economic uncertainties and the need for continued monetary support. The UK reported a 0.5% increase in industrial production for February 2025, driven by gains in manufacturing and mining.
Asia: China’s trade surplus narrowed to $45.3 billion in March 2025, down from $58.2 billion in February, as exports slowed amid ongoing trade tensions with the U.S.. Japan’s current account surplus widened to ¥2.9 trillion in February, supported by strong exports and income from overseas investments.
Fixed Income and Interest Rates: U.S. Treasury yields rose on April 7, 2025, with the 10-year yield increasing by 5 basis points to 2.15%, as investors weighed the impact of trade tensions and economic data. In Europe, German bund yields remained stable at 0.25%, while UK gilt yields edged up to 1.35%.
Commodities: Oil prices continued to fall, with Brent crude down 2.1% to $64.21 per barrel and WTI crude down 2.1% to $60.70 per barrel, amid concerns about global demand and trade tensions. Gold prices surged to $3,160 per ounce as investors sought safe-haven assets.
Energy: The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a 2.5% increase in natural gas production for March 2025, driven by gains in the Permian Basin and Appalachian regions. In Europe, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project faced further delays due to regulatory hurdles and geopolitical tensions.
Metals: Copper prices fell by 1.8% to $8,900 per metric ton on April 7, 2025, as concerns about global economic growth weighed on demand. Aluminum prices also declined by 1.2% to $2,450 per metric ton.
Currencies: The U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies on April 7, 2025, with the dollar index rising 0.4% to 98.75, as investors sought safe-haven assets amid trade tensions. The euro weakened to $1.08, while the Japanese yen fell to ¥110.50 per dollar.
Economic Indicators: The U.S. trade deficit widened to $70.5 billion in February 2025, up from $68.7 billion in January, as imports outpaced exports. The Eurozone’s industrial production rose by 0.6% in February, driven by gains in Germany and France.
Geopolitical Developments: President Trump announced an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods, escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China. China responded with reciprocal tariffs of up to 34% on U.S. goods. In Europe, the UK and EU continued to negotiate post-Brexit trade agreements, with progress reported in areas such as fisheries and financial services.
New Technology News: Apple announced the launch of its new augmented reality (AR) glasses, set to hit the market in Q3 2025. Tesla unveiled its latest electric vehicle (EV) model, featuring advanced autonomous driving capabilities and a longer battery range.
References
[1] Stock Market News for Apr 8, 2025 – Nasdaq
[2] April 8, 2025 Headlines – ALM First
[3] Global markets rebound as tariff tensions ease – My NBC5
[4] Stock Market News for Apr 8, 2025 – TradingView
[5] Dow Jones Chart By Days In April 2025 Values | StatMuse Money
[6] Stock Market News for Apr 8, 2025 – Yahoo Finance
[7] Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) Stock Historical Prices & Data …
[8] Stock Market News for Apr 8, 2025 – April 8, 2025 – Zacks.com
[9] Stock Market News for Apr 8, 2025 – FINVIZ.com
[10] The Pulse: Global Economic and Market News for Tuesday, April 8, 2025
[11] News Archive for April 8, 2025 – The Wall Street Journal