March 26, 2025 – Boyko Wealth

Boyko Research

BoykoWealth.com — Automated Daily Report on World Macroeconomic News for March 26, 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 is projected to be 2.1%, reflecting a slight slowdown from the previous quarter’s 2.4% growth. This deceleration is attributed to weaker consumer spending and a decline in business investments[1].

Inflation: Inflation remains a significant concern, with the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 6.2% year-over-year in February 2025. This marks a slight decrease from January’s 6.4%, but inflationary pressures persist due to high energy prices and supply chain disruptions[2].

Unemployment: The U.S. unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% in February 2025, unchanged from the previous month. Job gains in the healthcare and hospitality sectors were offset by losses in manufacturing and retail[3].

Consumer Confidence: Consumer confidence fell to 92.9 in March 2025, down from 94.5 in February. The Expectations Index, which measures consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, dropped to 65.2, its lowest level in 12 years[4].

Equity Markets: U.S. stocks ended lower on March 26, 2025. The S&P 500 Index fell 1.12% to close at $5,712.20[5]. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.04% to $17,899.02[6], and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) declined 0.31% to $42,454.79[7]. Renewed drops for major tech stocks like Nvidia and Tesla contributed to the market’s decline.

Corporate Actions and Earnings: Dollar Tree announced the sale of its Family Dollar business for $1 billion, resulting in a 3% increase in its stock price. GameStop shares surged nearly 12% after updating its corporate investment policy to include bitcoin[8].

Trending Industry Update: The technology sector saw mixed performance, with Apple Inc. gaining 1.4% while NVIDIA Corporation declined 0.6%. Tesla and other major tech companies experienced declines ahead of President Trump’s auto tariff announcement[9].

United States: The U.S. debt-limit deadline is likely to be in August or September 2025, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This has raised concerns about potential government shutdowns and economic instability[10].

Europe: The U.K. economy is expected to slow down, with the government planning to borrow more heavily. This announcement by the Treasury Chief has led to modest reactions in the gilts market.

Asia: South Korea’s International Adoption Program has come under scrutiny for violating children’s rights, according to a recent commission report. This has sparked debates about the ethical implications of international adoptions.

Fixed Income and Interest Rates: The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 4.36% from 4.31%, reflecting investor concerns about inflation and potential interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

Commodities: Gold futures were higher, trading around $3,025 per ounce, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures rose 1.4% to $70 per barrel. Natural gas futures edged up as expiration neared.

Energy: The U.S. is considering increasing pressure on Iran by keeping Brent crude oil prices in the low-$70s range. This strategy aims to limit Iran’s revenue from oil exports.

Metals: Precious metals, including gold and silver, saw gains as investors sought safe-haven assets amid market volatility and geopolitical tensions.

Currencies: The U.S. dollar gained support from positive economic data, with the Dollar Index (DXY) rising to 98.5. The euro and yen weakened against the dollar due to concerns about their respective economies.

Economic Indicators: Home prices increased 4.1% year-over-year in January 2025, according to the Case-Shiller Index. New home sales rose 1.8% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 676,000 units.

Geopolitical Developments: Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a Black Sea truce, with Russia receiving trade assistance in exchange for easing Western sanctions. This development has led to cautious optimism about the potential for de-escalation in the region.

New Technology News: Anthropic and Databricks have teamed up to accelerate AI revenue growth, marking a significant collaboration in the tech industry. Additionally, Anthropic scored a win in an AI copyright dispute with record labels, setting a precedent for future cases.

This report provides a detailed overview of the latest macroeconomic news and market developments, offering valuable insights for investors and analysts alike.

[1]: Wall Street Journal [2]: Trading Economics [3]: Yahoo Finance [4]: Zacks [5]: TradingView [6]: WTOP News [7]: Investopedia [8]: Investopedia [9]: Nasdaq [10]: Wall Street Journal