Central banks had a big week. Here’s what happened — and what’s next

U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2024. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters Central banks around the world reached a pivotal point this week, with Switzerland becoming the first major economy to cut interest … Read more

U.S. consumer sentiment stays steady

Shoppers are seen at Whole Foods Market on October 14, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. Elijah Nouvelage | Afp | Getty Images This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you … Read more

Wall Street focus turns to the Fed

A trader works, as a screen displays a news conference by Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell following the Fed rate announcement, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Dec. 13, 2023. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings … Read more

Europe is having its worst earnings season since the onset of Covid

Arc of Triomphe Paris, Champs-Elysees France at night vichie81 / iStock / Getty Images Plus LONDON — Around a half of European companies missed earnings expectations in the latest reporting season despite already low expectations, analysts told CNBC, who predicted that the region will continue to struggle amid high interest rates. As of Feb. 29 … Read more

Magnificent 7 profits now exceed almost every country in the world. Should we be worried?

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on January 31, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images The so-called “Magnificent 7” now wields greater financial might than almost every other major country in the world, according to new Deutsche Bank research. The meteoric rise … Read more

High rates help Germany’s Commerzbank post best results in 15 years

Commerzbank on Thursday reported a 55% hike in net profit for 2023, as high interest rates helped the German banking giant report its best results in 15 years. Net profit for the year beat expectations to come in at 2.2 billion euros ($2.36 billion), up from 1.4 billion euros a year earlier. For the fourth … Read more

A change to this one clause could be the most important part of the Fed meeting

U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell attends a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, 2023. Liu Jie | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images Immediately after the Federal Reserve wraps up its meeting this week, all eyes are likely to gravitate to one small piece of wording that could unlock the future of … Read more

Investors are cautiously optimistic on Europe in 2024. Here’s what to watch

A bull and a bear statue stand outside the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Frankfurt. Ralph Orlowski | Bloomberg | Getty Images After a choppy 2023, economists believe that the European economy is set for a transitional year, as major headwinds — high inflation and rising interest rates — fade into the rearview mirror. Despite the … Read more

Big Tech lags in this rally

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during morning trading on December 14, 2023, in New York City.  Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Images This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need … Read more

The rally continues but the pace slows

A trader works, as a screen displays a news conference by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell following the Fed rate announcement, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., December 13, 2023.  Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our new, international … Read more