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Economic Policy News 16 September 2025 - 17 October 2025

Wall Street Whiplash: Trade War “Tariff Tantrum” and Liquidity Fears Jolt Markets

Wall Street Whiplash: Trade War “Tariff Tantrum” and Liquidity Fears Jolt Markets

Trump’s Trade War Tantrum Shakes Markets After months of climbing to record highs, markets were blindsided in mid-October by an abrupt escalation in the U.S.–China trade conflict. On October 10, former President Donald Trump unleashed a “shock tariff ultimatum” via social media, vowing to slap 100% tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports and scrapping an upcoming peace summit with China’s President Xi reuters.com reuters.com. Beijing had moved to tighten exports of critical rare-earth minerals days prior, and Trump’s furious response signaled “Trade War 2.0” was on. The aggressive rhetoric stunned investors and “rattled markets”, erasing optimism that had driven stocks
17 October 2025
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Bond Bombshell: Powell’s Dovish Tone Sends Treasury Yields Plunging – 2-Year Notes at 2022 Lows

Bond Bombshell: Powell’s Dovish Tone Sends Treasury Yields Plunging – 2-Year Notes at 2022 Lows

Fed’s Dovish Signal Drives Rally After Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Oct 14 speech to business economists in Philadelphia, U.S. bond markets surged. Powell confirmed the Fed’s intent to proceed “meeting-by-meeting” with policy cuts and suggested the central bank may halt its $40 billion/month balance-sheet runoff soon reuters.com swissinfo.ch. His message – a familiar but balanced tone – calmed traders. 10-year Treasury yields plunged from about 4.1% into the low 4.0% range reuters.com swissinfo.ch, while 2-year yields dropped even more on expectations of aggressive rate easing. Economists note that Powell emphasized weak hiring, not inflation, as a growing risk. He said layoffs
15 October 2025
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Powell’s High-Stakes Speech Spurs Markets – Fed Signals More Rate Cuts in 2025

Powell’s High-Stakes Speech Spurs Markets – Fed Signals More Rate Cuts in 2025

Sources: Fed Chair Powell NABE speech coverage (CNBC/WSJ/AP)apnews.comreuters.com; Reuters analysis of Fed outlook and expert quotesreuters.comreuters.com; Associated Press report on Powell’s remarks and Fed policy shiftapnews.comapnews.com; Dow Jones Market summary and global market reactionfastbull.comreuters.com; TS² TechStock news digest on Fed and market trendsts2.techts2.tech.
14 October 2025
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Stimulus Check October 2025: Rumors Debunked – What to Know as Shutdown Continues

Stimulus Check October 2025: Rumors Debunked – What to Know as Shutdown Continues

No New Federal Stimulus – Confirmed by IRS and Congress Despite hopeful chatter online, federal authorities have made clear that there is no new stimulus check approved for October 2025. Any nationwide payment to taxpayers would require a law passed by Congress and signed by the President – and that hasn’t happened. “Congress has not passed any 2025 stimulus package,” and the IRS has flatly stated that Americans will not receive any new stimulus money this month ts2.tech. All official announcements (whether from the IRS, Treasury, or White House) consistently show no plans for a fourth stimulus round ts2.tech. Multiple
9 October 2025
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No, You Won’t Get a Surprise $2,000 Stimulus Check in Late 2025 – Experts Debunk Viral Rumors

No, You Won’t Get a Surprise $2,000 Stimulus Check in Late 2025 – Experts Debunk Viral Rumors

Viral Rumors vs. Reality In September 2025, a flurry of social-media posts claimed that American taxpayers were about to receive another round of cash payments – sometimes called a “fourth stimulus check”. Many versions of these rumors named specific amounts (commonly $1,390, $1,702 or $2,000 per person) and linked them to President Trump’s talk of tariffs or a proposed “DOGE dividend.” But none of these claims are true. News fact-checkers emphasize that “all such claims are false” hindustantimes.com. The IRS has not announced any new payments, and Congress has approved no new stimulus legislation for 2025. Multiple outlets quote IRS
27 September 2025
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Commodity Shockwaves: Oil Soars, Gold Shines, Crops Sway as War, Weather & Policy Roil Markets

Commodity Shockwaves: Oil Soars, Gold Shines, Crops Sway as War, Weather & Policy Roil Markets

Key Facts: Energy: War Drives Oil Higher, Gas Steadies, Renewables Reshuffled Oil – War and Output Cuts: Crude markets rallied sharply to close the week, propelled by geopolitics. Brent oil settled at $70.13/bbl (▲1.0%) while WTI ended at $65.72 (▲1.14%), with both benchmarks posting their biggest weekly gain since June reuters.com. Traders pinned the surge on escalating war disruptions: Ukraine’s stepped-up drone strikes have knocked out portions of Russia’s refining capacity, forcing Moscow to halt diesel exports through year-end and extend a gasoline ban reuters.com. “Markets continued to be focused on the situation between Russia and Ukraine,” said John Kilduff
27 September 2025
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August PCE Inflation Rises Again – Is the Fed’s Rate Cut Plan in Jeopardy?

August PCE Inflation Rises Again – Is the Fed’s Rate Cut Plan in Jeopardy?

PCE Inflation Report and Market Impact on September 26, 2025 PCE Inflation Climbs in August 2025 – Key Numbers The latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation report shows that price pressures picked up slightly in August. According to the Commerce Department data released on September 26, the overall PCE price index was up 2.7% in August 2025 compared to a year earlier wtop.com. That marks a gentle increase from the 2.6% annual inflation rate in July, and is the fastest year-over-year PCE inflation reading since February. In practical terms, American consumers in August paid on average 2.7% more for the
26 September 2025
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Asian Markets on an AI High then Jolt as Powell Strikes Caution (Sept 23–24, 2025)

Asian Markets on an AI High then Jolt as Powell Strikes Caution (Sept 23–24, 2025)

Asian Markets Rally on Tech Frenzy (Sept 23) Asian equities extended their stunning September run on Sept 23, riding a wave of AI optimism and Wall Street’s record highs. Tech euphoria swept the region after Nvidia’s blockbuster plan to invest $100 billion in OpenAI, which turbocharged chip stocks globally business-standard.com business-standard.com. Momentum funds poured into Asian tech plays, fueling almost self-fulfilling gains. South Korea’s KOSPI, heavy with chipmakers, rose about 0.2% on Tuesday and was up nearly 9% for September business-standard.com business-standard.com. Taiwan’s TAIEX soared to an unprecedented peak, closing 1.4% higher at 26,247 points b2bnews.co.nz. Investors cheered advances in AI
24 September 2025
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Global Markets on Edge as Fed Rate Decision Nears: Asia Optimistic, West Cautious

Global Markets on Edge as Fed Rate Decision Nears: Asia Optimistic, West Cautious

The world’s financial markets are fixated on the Federal Reserve’s upcoming rate decision, which is shaping up to be one of the most consequential of the year. Investors across Asia, Europe, and the Americas are bracing for the Fed’s policy announcement on Wednesday, widely expected to deliver the first U.S. rate cut of 2025 reuters.com. This anticipated shift in U.S. monetary policy comes amid a complex global economic backdrop – one marked by moderating inflation, signs of slowing growth, and pockets of geopolitical tension. With stock indices recently at or near record highs and bond yields retreating, markets have been
16 September 2025
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Stock Market Today

Meta stock faces an AI split: ad gains vs a $135 billion bill

Meta stock faces an AI split: ad gains vs a $135 billion bill

7 February 2026
Meta shares dropped 1.3% to $661.46 on Friday after the company projected 2026 capital spending of up to $135 billion, raising investor concerns over cash flow. Meta reported Q4 revenue of $59.89 billion, up 24% year-over-year, with ad impressions rising 18%. Analysts remain divided on whether AI-driven ad gains can offset the steep spending ramp.
IAG share price jumps toward a 52-week peak — what to watch before London reopens

IAG share price jumps toward a 52-week peak — what to watch before London reopens

7 February 2026
IAG shares rose 4.33% to 438.50 pence Friday, near their 52-week high, ahead of full-year results due later this month. The company reported 162,073,135 treasury shares and total voting rights of 4,565,128,012. Brent crude fell 2.2% Thursday to $67.93 a barrel. South Europe Ground Services logged 712,340 operations in 2025 and seeks approval to operate in Portugal.
Binance scoops up 3,600 more Bitcoin for SAFU as BTC whipsaws after brutal selloff

Binance scoops up 3,600 more Bitcoin for SAFU as BTC whipsaws after brutal selloff

7 February 2026
Binance bought 3,600 bitcoin for its Secure Asset Fund, bringing its holdings to 6,230 BTC after bitcoin rebounded above $70,000 following a sharp drop. The broader crypto market lost about $2 trillion since October, with $1 billion in leveraged bitcoin positions liquidated in 24 hours. Strategy reported a wider Q4 loss as bitcoin fell. Gemini will cut up to 200 jobs and exit the UK, EU, and Australia.
Halma share price: Friday’s lift sets up what investors watch next week

Halma share price: Friday’s lift sets up what investors watch next week

7 February 2026
Halma shares closed up 0.7% at 3,548 pence on Friday, valuing the group at about £13.4 billion. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% in a split vote, keeping rate-cut speculation in focus. Halma’s next trading update is set for March 12. The FTSE 100 ended the week up 0.6%, lifted by bank stocks.
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