Headline consumer price growth in the Eurozone has likely slowed from its highest mark since September 2023, according to economists’ expectations for the first data on inflation to be released since the European Central Bank raised interest rates earlier this month.

An economists’ poll predicted that the annual Eurozone headline inflation rate in June slid to 3.0% from 3.2% in May. This would still leave it well above the ECB’s target of 2.0% over the medium term and in territory last seen at the end of the post-pandemic price surge.

June’s less-volatile core rate was set to hold at 2.6% y/y, its highest in over a year thanks to initial pass-through effects from rising energy costs due to the Iran war. (LS – Continue Reading)

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi set a target for raising Japan’s nominal gross domestic product to ¥1,100 trillion ($6.8 trillion) alongside annual domestic private-sector capital investment of ¥230 trillion by the fiscal year starting in April 2040, as she champions her vision for a strong economy.

“Covering the period through fiscal 2040, the plan aims to achieve ¥230 trillion in domestic private-sector capital investment and a GDP approaching ¥1,100 trillion ($6.8 trillion) by FY2040, while steadily reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio,” she said during a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting held on Tuesday. (BBG – Continue Reading)

President Trump has weighed a return to all-out war with Iran, holding multiple conversations in recent days with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on more strikes, but has decided to stick with diplomatic talks for now, according to U.S. officials familiar with the discussion.

The conversations have centered on whether the U.S. should abandon negotiations and resume full-scale attacks on Iran, the officials said, a move some of them describe as “finishing the job.” While not making a final decision, Trump has told aides he believes another round of full-scale attacks could derail diplomacy and hurt Washington’s chances of ultimately dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. (WSJ – Continue Reading)