March 12, 2025 – Boyko Wealth

Boyko Research

BoykoWealth.com — Automated Daily Report on World Macroeconomic News for March 12, 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 forecast for Q1 2025 has been revised downwards to 1% due to declining consumer confidence and spending[1]. This adjustment reflects growing concerns over economic stability amid ongoing trade tensions and policy uncertainties.

Inflation: Inflation in the U.S. eased more than expected in February, with the consumer price index rising 2.8% year-over-year[2]. However, the recent imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum by the Trump administration is expected to push prices higher in the coming months[3].

Unemployment: The U.S. labor market remains stable, with weekly jobless claims falling to 220,000 for the week ending March 8[4]. Despite this, there are concerns about potential job losses due to government spending cuts and trade policy uncertainties[4].

Consumer Confidence: Consumer confidence in the U.S. has taken a sharp downturn, with the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index falling to 98.3 in February from 105.3 in January[1]. This decline is attributed to growing economic uncertainties and inflationary pressures[5].

Equity Markets: U.S. equity markets closed sharply lower on March 12, 2025, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 1.1%, the Nasdaq Composite losing 0.2%, and the S&P 500 declining 0.8%[6][7]. Investor sentiment was weighed down by concerns over new tariff announcements and their potential impact on economic growth[6].

Corporate Actions and Earnings: Several companies reported earnings on March 12, 2025. Ferguson Enterprises Inc. missed earnings estimates, leading to a 5.2% drop in its stock price[8]. Oracle Corporation also reported lower-than-expected revenues, resulting in a 3.1% decline in its stock[8]. On the positive side, Legend Biotech Corporation saw its stock soar by 9.3% after reporting a narrower-than-expected loss[8].

Trending Industry Update: The financial services industry is witnessing significant technological advancements, particularly in AI and blockchain[9]. AI is enhancing investment strategies and customer service, while blockchain is improving security and transparency in financial transactions[9].

United States: The U.S. is facing increased economic uncertainty due to fluctuating trade policies and government spending cuts[4]. The recent tariffs on steel and aluminum have added to inflationary pressures and market volatility[2].

Europe: The European Union has retaliated against U.S. tariffs by imposing its own set of tariffs on American goods. This escalation in trade tensions is expected to impact economic growth and market stability in the region.

Asia: Major Japanese firms have promised significant pay raises, signaling a positive outlook for the Japanese economy[11]. However, the broader Asian market remains cautious due to ongoing trade tensions and economic uncertainties[11].

Fixed Income and Interest Rates: Interest rates across the yield curve have moved lower, with market pricing implying three cuts to the Federal Funds Rate in 2025[12]. This reflects expectations of slower economic growth and increased volatility in the fixed income market[12].

Commodities: Commodity markets have been impacted by the recent trade tensions. Soybean and grain futures dropped in overnight trading due to uncertainty over tariffs[13]. The USDA’s latest report left most forecasts for U.S. and global ending stocks unchanged[13].

Energy: U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright emphasized the administration’s commitment to expanding the production of affordable and reliable American energy at the CERAWeek 2025 conference[14]. The focus remains on increasing natural gas production and reducing reliance on renewable energy sources[14].

Metals: The U.S. has imposed 25% tariffs on aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico, causing turmoil in the domestic aluminum industry[15]. These tariffs are expected to increase costs for buyers and impact job security in the industry[15].

Currencies: The U.S. dollar strengthened slightly, with the WSJ Dollar Index settling at its lowest level since November[16]. This movement reflects ongoing trade tensions and economic uncertainties[16].

Economic Indicators: Key economic indicators, including GDP growth, inflation, and consumer confidence, have shown signs of weakening due to trade policy uncertainties and inflationary pressures[1][2][1].

Geopolitical Developments: The U.S. has resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, following talks in Jeddah[6]. This move is part of a broader strategy to support Ukraine amid ongoing tensions with Russia[6].

New Technology News: The rise of AI and blockchain technology continues to shape the financial services industry[9]. AI is being used to enhance investment strategies and customer service, while blockchain is improving security and transparency in financial transactions[9].

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the latest macroeconomic news and developments, highlighting the key factors influencing global markets and economies. Stay informed with BoykoWealth.com for daily updates on world macroeconomic news.

References

[1] Economic Uncertainty: Inflation, Tariffs, and Consumer Confidence

[2] Inflation eases more than expected in February, but Trump tariffs loom

[3] Some economists think U.S. inflation is likely to rise in 2025

[4] US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall Amid Labor Market Stability – U.S. News

[5] Consumer News & Views

[6] Stock Market News for Mar 12, 2025 – March 12, 2025 – Zacks.com

[7] Stock Market News for Mar 12, 2025 – Yahoo Finance

[8] Company News for Mar 12, 2025 – Nasdaq

[9] “Top Trends and Events Shaping March 2025: What You Need to Know”

[10] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-12/europe-retaliates-to-open-new-stage-in-trump-s-trade-war

[11] News Archive for March 12, 2025 – The Wall Street Journal