The Swiss National Bank has once again held its benchmark interest rate steady, as expected, amid inflation and growth outlooks pointing to an economy on more solid ground, a situation that makes further cuts even less likely.

The country’s central bank said Thursday that it would keep its policy rate at zero percent, a level set in June. Virtually all economists polled had predicted the decision – the third hold in a row – with the vast majority anticipating the rate to remain the same throughout 2026. Unchanged rates in June and September followed six straight cuts that began in March of last year.

EUR/CHF edged lower following the decision. USD/CHF pushed above 1.25 late Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve cut its interest rate range by 25 basis points as expected.

Economists predict officials at the European Central Bank will leave their key interest rates at current levels following the final meeting of the year next Thursday. (LiveSquawk – Continue Reading)

The Senate is poised to vote on Thursday on two separate plans aimed at addressing a spike in health care costs that are expected for tens of millions of Americans who receive enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits unless Congress acts.

Both plans, one put forward by Democrats and the other championed by Republicans, are almost certain to fail.

After they do, lawmakers will have only a matter of days remaining to address the expiration of the enhanced tax credits, and there's little indication that any sort of breakthrough is on the horizon. (ABC – Continue Reading)

China’s economic policymakers signalled they will continue to adopt supportive monetary and fiscal policies, hinting at interest rate cuts and a sizable budget deficit as the economy’s momentum weakened toward the end of 2025.

The leadership will “flexibly and efficiently” use interest rate and reserve requirement cuts to ensure sufficient liquidity, and maintain a “necessary” level of budget deficit and government spending, according to an official readout released Thursday following the conclusion of the Central Economic Work Conference. (Bloomberg – Continue Reading)

The International Energy Agency lifted its forecast for global oil demand next year, while also trimming its expectations for supply growth, signalling a narrower surplus than previously forecast in 2026.

The Paris-based group expects world oil demand to rise by 830,000 barrels a day in 2025, citing an improving macroeconomic and trade outlook, and has also lifted its 2026 forecast by 90,000 b/d, to 860,000 b/d year-on-year.

“Recent strength in U.S. gas liquids demand has been largely offset by persistent weakness in Europe and accelerated substitution away from oil in power generation in the Middle East. (Investing – Continue Reading)