BoykoWealth.com — Automated Daily Report on World Macroeconomic News for March 18, 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 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has revised its global economic growth estimates downward due to heightened trade tensions among G20 countries and increased uncertainty[1]. The U.S. GDP growth forecast for 2025 has been revised to 1.7% from 2.4%, with tariffs seen as the top threat to the U.S. economy[1]. Mexico’s GDP is projected to contract by 1.3% in 2025[2].
Inflation: Nigeria’s inflation rate fell to 23.18% in February 2025, down from 24.1% in January[3]. In the U.S., import prices rose by 0.4% in February, exceeding market expectations[2]. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for February showed 0.2% monthly headline inflation and the same rate for core inflation[4]. The Federal Reserve is closely monitoring the impact of tariffs on inflation[4].
Unemployment: Initial unemployment claims in Virginia surged from 2,881 the week ending March 1 to 4,036 the week ending March 8, marking a 40% increase. Maryland and Virginia both recorded a statewide jobless rate of 3.0% in January. Federal cutbacks have made real-time unemployment data elusive.
Consumer Confidence: Consumer confidence fell in March due to inflation and stock market concerns[5]. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index dropped 7 points to 98.3 in February[6]. Spending on home improvements and family planning saw an uptick despite the decline in overall confidence[6].
Equity Markets: Wall Street closed higher on Monday as investors processed economic data and expected the Fed to maintain interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.3%, and the S&P 500 advanced 0.6%. Retail sales in February were up 0.2%, missing forecasts.
Updated equity prices are as follows:
- S&P 500 Index: $5,614.66, down 1.07%[5].
- NASDAQ Composite Index: $17,504.12, down 1.71%[1].
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: $41,581.31, down 0.62%[3].
Corporate Actions and Earnings: Intel Corporation shares rose 6.8% after incoming CEO Lip-Bu Tan announced plans to purchase $25 million worth of company shares. Robinhood shares increased by 7.1% following the launch of a prediction markets hub. Science Applications International Corporation reported fourth-quarter earnings of $2.57 per share, beating estimates. Tesla shares fell 4.8% after Mizuho lowered its price target.
Trending Industry Update: Nvidia’s flagship AI conference is in the spotlight, with CEO Jensen Huang expected to showcase the latest version of Nvidia’s Blackwell AI chips. Tesla’s market value has been significantly impacted by recent selloffs.
United States: Industrial production in the U.S. increased by 0.7% in February, driven by a rebound in the automotive sector[2]. The Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting commenced with expectations that interest rates will remain unchanged[1].
Europe: Germany’s parliament is set to vote on a substantial increase in borrowing to bolster Europe’s largest economy[1]. Investor morale in Germany surged to its highest level in more than two years.
Asia: Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose by 1.3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged over 2%[1]. Consumer confidence in New Zealand softened in the first quarter due to global trade war risks[7].
Fixed Income and Interest Rates: Mortgage rates ticked higher as the Federal Reserve began its two-day policy meeting. The current average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.74% for purchase and 6.69% for refinance. Treasury yields logged mixed movements, with the 2-year yield at 4.04% and the 10-year yield at 4.31%[2].
Commodities: Gold prices hit fresh highs on Tuesday amid mounting geopolitical tensions. Brent crude prices rose following U.S. strikes on Yemen’s Houthi and Israeli attacks on Gaza. Oil prices rebounded by more than 1% on Tuesday, reaching their highest level in March[2].
Energy: Xcel Energy announced a temporary power shutoff for over 1,100 customers in Texas and New Mexico to reduce wildfire risk. The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board provided observations on managing spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
Metals: Gold prices continued to rise, trading above $3,000 a troy ounce. The impact of tariffs on North American crude market remains a concern.
Currencies: Bitcoin prices stood at around $83,000. The U.S. dollar showed mixed performance against major currencies.
Economic Indicators: The Empire State Manufacturing Index fell to 20 for March. Business inventories in the U.S. increased by 0.3% in January.
Geopolitical Developments: President Trump’s push for a rapid end to the war in Ukraine continues, with a call to Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Germany’s parliament approved a defense spending package to counter Russia’s threat.
New Technology News: Nvidia’s AI conference is expected to highlight advancements in AI technology. Intel’s new CEO Lip-Bu Tan is set to start his role, boosting investor confidence.
This report provides a detailed overview of the latest macroeconomic news, ensuring you stay informed about global developments.
References
[1] NASDAQ Composite Index (COMP) Latest Quotes, Charts, Data & News | Nasdaq
[2] Nasdaq Composite Price, Real-time Quote & News – Google
[3] DJIA | Dow Jones Industrial Average Stock Prices and Charts – WSJ
[4] Dow Jones INDEX TODAY | DJIA LIVE TICKER – Markets Insider
[5] S&P 500 Price, Real-time Quote & News – Google Finance
[6] S&P 500 INDEX TODAY | INX LIVE TICKER – Markets Insider
[7] S&P 500 INDEX (^SPX) Stock Price, News, Quote & History – Yahoo Finance