South Africa Manufacturing: Production and sales - April 2026

Japan's PM Takaichi: Will attend G7 as representative of Asia Japan's PM Takaichi: Japan has secured alternative crude equal to 100% of expected monthly consumption for July, without passing Hormuz

The Governing Council is committed to setting monetary policy to ensure that inflation stabilises at its 2% target in the medium term. In line with this commitment, it today decided to raise the three key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points. The war in the Middle East is generating inflation pressures, and the decision to raise rates is robust across a range of scenarios mapping out how the shock might evolve and affect the medium-term outlook for the euro area. In the baseline of the new Eurosystem staff projections, headline inflation is expected to average 3.0% in 2026, 2.3% in 2027 and 2.0% in 2028. For inflation excluding energy and food, the baseline foresees an average of 2.5% in 2026 and 2027 and 2.2% in 2028. Compared with March, staff have revised up their baseline projection for inflation in 2026 and 2027 owing to a higher path for energy prices, which, to some extent, is expected to feed into food, goods and services inflation. The baseline sees economic growth at an average of 0.8% in 2026, 1.2% in 2027 and 1.5% in 2028. This is a downward revision for 2026 and 2027, reflecting a more pronounced impact of the war on commodity markets, real incomes and confidence. ECB RAISES DEPOSIT RATE TO 2.25% FROM 2.0% ECB RAISES REFI RATE TO 2.4% FROM 2.15% ECB: Outlook remains uncertain, with upside risks for inflation and downside risks for economic growth. ECB raises interest rates for the first time in three years as Iran war fuels inflation The European Central Bank has lifted its deposit facility rate by 0.25% to 2.25%, marking a decisive pivot back to tightening as the Iran war pushes eurozone inflation to its highest level in nearly three years. The European Central Bank has raised interest rates for the first time in nearly three years, lifting its deposit facility rate from 2% to 2.25% following its governing council meeting on Thursday. The ECB sets monetary policy for the eurozone through three key interest rates, with the deposit facility rate serving as its main policy benchmark. The ECB’s deposit facility rate was last raised in September 2023, when it reached its peak of 4.0% after a tightening cycle meant to stabilise the post-pandemic inflation crisis. The ECB also raised its main refinancing operations rate to 2.4% and its marginal lending facility rate to 2.65%.