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October 1, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Japan's $550 billion US investment to have no FX impact, top trade negotiator says

By Makiko YamazakiTOKYO (Reuters) -Japan will run a $550 billion U.S.-bound investment package agreed in Tokyo's tariff deal with Washington without any impact on the foreign exchange market, its top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on Wednesday."Based on our calculation, $550 billion is within the range where there will be no foreign exchange impact," Akazawa said, speaking to reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.Japan and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on the details of the package last month, which covers Japanese investments in sectors such as …

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October 1, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Why do chocolate prices matter to the European Central Bank?

Rising food prices can be a headache not only for households in the eurozone but also for the European Central Bank. While overall inflation has normalised and sits close to the ECB’s 2% medium-term target, food inflation "since 2022 is clearly exceptional and persistent", said the central bank in a recent blog post.According to the report, consumers pay roughly a third more than before the COVID-19 pandemic to put a meal on the table. The bank added that food prices have increased by more than 40% since 2015, influencing the ECB's rate decisions.Inflation has settled considerably in the euroz…

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October 1, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Gold Climbs to Record as US Government Shutdown Boosts Havens

(Bloomberg) -- Gold reached a new all-time high as the US began a government shutdown, threatening upheaval including delays to key economic data releases.Bullion rose to touch $3,875.53 an ounce, rallying for a fifth day. That came as a stop-gap funding package failed to avoid a closure in Washington and the White House instructed government agencies to “execute their plans for an orderly shutdown” — the first in seven years.Most Read from BloombergNYC’s Transit System Raises Fares, Tolls as MetroCard Nears EndWhy US Cities Pay Too Much for Transit BusesFor Lovers of Brick, Chicago Is a Wonde…

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October 1, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Shoppers warned of £1.6bn in price rises

Shoppers have been told to brace for £1.6bn of price rises this year as supermarkets grapple with a new net zero tax .High street bosses said they would have to pass on to consumers more than 80pc of the cost from a recycling tax, which is coming into force this week.It means shoppers will see prices rising by as much as £1.6bn from the new tax alone, with the scheme expected to cost retailers and manufacturers around £2bn a year.Andrew Opie, from industry group the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said this would be a “multibillion-pound levy being paid by consumers during a cost of living cr…

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October 1, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

Tariff Wars Are Back -- Here's How Savvy Investors Can Position Their Portfolios

The threat of tariffs could cause many stocks on the market to sink, but some are well-equipped to handle it.Netflix's core business is mostly insulated from tariffs, and the stock has excellent long-term prospects.Coca-Cola's local manufacturing and consistent dividends make it a top tariff play.10 stocks we like better than Netflix ›U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies have been the talk of the town this year on Wall Street, perhaps even more so than exciting investing opportunities like artificial intelligence. The administration has sought to impose tariffs on imported goods coming…

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October 1, 2025 Economy by ORANEC

We're Only 15 Days Away From the Biggest Social Security Announcement of the Year

On Oct. 15, the Social Security Administration is expected to announce some key program changes.In addition to 2026's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), other rule changes will be unveiled.You'll want to tune into that news whether you're currently collecting Social Security or not.The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook ›When you see the name Social Security in the news, there's often a negative context. For example, earlier this year, Social Security was in the news a lot when the program's Trustees released an update about the program's finances.That update wasn't…

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