Eurozone inflation expectations are surging on the fallout from the Iran war but economic growth is faltering, separate European Central Bank surveys showed, raising a policy dilemma as opposing forces tug the bloc in different directions.
US consumer confidence unexpectedly edged up in April to the highest this year as Americans grew more hopeful about the outlook for the labour market.
Global commodity prices are set to increase this year to the highest since 2022 as the war in Iran continues to disrupt key industrial supplies like oil and metals, the World Bank Group said.
China has approved an increase in refined fuel exports for May to regions other than Hong Kong, two trading sources said on Wednesday, though levels remain below last year's average.
Oil prices eased on Wednesday from a multi-day rally as investors digested the ramifications of the United Arab Emirates' surprise decision to quit Opec, though supply disruptions from the stalemated Iran war support the market.
The Beijing Auto Show that opened to the public this week is a showcase for how hypercompetition in China has driven new car prices in the world's largest car market to a fraction of the level of the next-largest market, the U.S.