Category: World
Global Economy Set for Weakest Run Since 2008 Outside of Recessions: World Bank
Heightened trade tensions and policy uncertainty are expected to drive global growth down this year to its slowest pace since 2008 outside of outright global recessions, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report. The turmoil has resulted in growth forecasts being cut in nearly 70% of all economies—across all regions and income groups. Global […]
‘s impeachment
An intense public feud erupted between President Donald Trump and his one-time ally, billionaire Elon Musk, with an argument about Trump’s massive tax and domestic policy bill raging across social media and in the Oval Office.
Range of Global Geopolitical Risk Scenarios is Widening: Fitch Ratings
Rapid shifts in foreign policy positions and a more bilateral and transactional US foreign policy may contribute to global geopolitical volatility in the next few years, amplifying uncertainty in geostrategic hotspots, says Fitch Ratings. Geopolitics has become an increasingly relevant risk for global credit, with rising geostrategic competition between the US and China, the Russian […]
U.S Effective Tariff Rate Declines to 13% from 23% with Lower China Duty: Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings has updated the U.S. Effective Tariff Monitor following the Joint Statement on U.S.-China Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva, May 12, 2025, that reduces reciprocal tariffs. Fitch estimates that the U.S. effective tariff rate (ETR) is now 13.1%, a notable decline from 22.8% prior to the statement. The 34% reciprocal rate imposed by the U.S. […]
Trade War Hits Emerging Market Growth, Weaker Dollar Eases Some Risks: Fitch Ratings
Emerging-market (EM) issuers are variously exposed to direct and indirect impacts from the global trade war, Fitch Ratings says in a new report. Credit pressures may become most evident in EMs where tariff effects combine with aggravating factors or add to pre-existing pressures, even if direct US tariff exposures are small. APAC’s high trade openness […]
Human Development progress slows to a 35-year low according to UN Development Programme report
Human development progress is experiencing an unprecedented slowdown according to a new report released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The report shows how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could reignite development. Instead of seeing sustained recovery following the period of exceptional crises of 2020-2021, the report reveals unexpectedly weak progress. Excluding those crisis years, […]
Foreign Minister to attend Pope Francis’s Funeral Mass
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath will represent the Government of Sri Lanka at the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis to be held on 26 April 2025 in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Colombo
Deep Cuts to Growth Forecasts as Global Trade War Escalates: Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings has sharply lowered its forecasts for world growth in response to the severe escalation in the global trade war. In a special update to its quarterly Global Economic Outlook, Fitch has cut world growth in 2025 by 0.4pp and China and US growth by 0.5pp from the March edition. US annual growth in […]
VIDEO: Trump pauses higher tariffs for 90 days because of ‘Yippy’ Reaction but slaps China with 125-pct
President Trump announced he would impose a 125% tariff on China for retaliating against the U.S., while also announcing a 90-day pause on some tariffs.
Tariffs Have Mixed Fiscal Impact, Will Not Solve Underlying Challenges in US Economy, says Fitch Ratings
Tariff revenues will help narrow the US budget deficit in 2025, but the hit to economic growth and additional tax cuts are likely to limit the size of any lasting fiscal benefit, Fitch Ratings says. Stabilizing US debt/GDP will be challenging as long as long-term spending pressures remain unaddressed. The tariffs announced on April 2 […]
IMF Warns of “Significant Risk” to Global Economy Following US Tariffs
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a stark warning regarding the potential impact of newly announced U.S. tariffs on the global economy. In a statement released today, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva expressed concern over the measures, highlighting the potential for increased economic instability. “We are still assessing the macroeconomic implications of the announced […]
‘Liberation Day’ Takes US Tariff Rate Back to Level Last Seen in 1909: Fitch Ratings
US tariffs have reached levels that are transforming the global economic outlook, significantly raising US recession risks and constraining the Federal Reserve’s ability to lower interest rates further, says Fitch Ratings. The “Liberation Day” tariff increases outlined by the US government on 2 April sharply exceeded the already steep rises assumed in our March 2025 Global […]