News Highlights: Top Global Markets News of the Day - Thursday at 5 AM ET

Fed Chair Jerome Powell Projects Optimism, But Inflation Data Are in the Driver's Seat 
 

Some analysts warn of limits as to how long the central bank can keep interest rate increases off the table.

 
OECD Sees Room for Rate Cuts But Warns of Oil-Price Threat 
 

The global economy is likely to avoid an anticipated slowdown this year, but could yet suffer a significant setback if an escalation of conflict in the Middle East were to push oil prices sharply higher, the OECD said.

 
Europe Takes Radical Steps to Boost Production 
 

EU official Thierry Breton wants state spending to support domestic manufacturing to compete with China and the U.S.-a reversal of longtime policy to clamp down on national subsidies.

 
Asia's Manufacturing Recovery Remains Patchy 
 

Asia's factory activity weakened slightly in April, with output growth cooling and employment dropping in a sign of fragile confidence among manufacturers.

 
RBA May Have Been Too Timid in Fight Against Inflation, Economist Says 
 

The Reserve Bank of Australia has likely been far too timid in raising interest rates given that swaths of the economy are still going strong, according to a former senior manager at the central bank.

 
Pension Fund UniSuper Expects Bond Yields to Keep Climbing 
 

UniSuper, one of Australia's largest pension funds, said it expects bond yields to keep increasing as inflation lingers.

 
Bank of Canada 'Getting Closer' to Rate Cuts, Macklem Says 
 

Central bank officials are confident inflation will continue to decelerate, Gov. Tiff Macklem said, adding that higher rates in Canada are having 'more traction' than in the U.S.

 
U.S. Financial Markets Regulator Names First Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer 
 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission has promoted Ted Kaouk to the chief data and artificial intelligence officer role.

 
KKR Sees Private-Equity Pipeline Accelerating as Credit Market Loosens 
 

The buyout firm said easier bank financing is opening up dealmaking opportunities as the year unfolds.

 
Restaurant Winners Have a Common Trait: Keeping a Lid on Prices 
 

Restaurant chains outperforming their competitors seem to have one thing in common: keeping prices down.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 02, 2024 05:15 ET (09:15 GMT)

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