Fintech And Crypto Leaders Warn Britain Risks Losing Innovation Edge Without Regulatory Reform

Economic

Forex

Summary:

Britain risks falling behind in the global fintech and crypto race as entrepreneurs face unclear regulations, limited funding, and banking barriers, prompting a potential shift of innovation to more supportive hubs like the U.S., EU, and Asia...

Britain’s Financial Tech Future At Crossroads Amid Regulation, Funding Gaps

Once celebrated as a global leader in fintech innovation, the U.K. now stands at a critical juncture. Industry executives warn that London is losing its competitive edge as an incubator for digital financial services and cryptocurrency ventures. Despite a thriving ecosystem and a rich talent pool, fintech and crypto entrepreneurs increasingly find themselves blocked by unclear regulations, tight funding environments, and restrictive banking relationships.

The central concern is that while the U.K. pioneered open banking and electronic money licensing, it has yet to extend the same regulatory clarity to crypto startups. This discrepancy is driving tech founders to explore opportunities in rival markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, and even the U.S., where crypto regulation, despite being politically volatile, is trending toward greater permissiveness under the current administration.

Innovation Outpaced By Safety-First Regulation

Jaidev Janardana, CEO of U.K. digital bank Zopa, highlights a structural shift in the country’s regulatory philosophy: a prioritization of "safety and soundness" over innovation. While this risk-averse approach might safeguard the system from volatility, it also slows the scaling of new ventures. Janardana compares the U.K.’s stagnation with the dynamism of Asian markets, warning that the U.K. may soon trail not just the U.S. but also jurisdictions across the Global South.

This sentiment is echoed by Lisa Jacobs, CEO of Funding Circle, who notes that Brexit continues to hinder the U.K.’s appeal to global talent. Meanwhile, Tim Levene of Augmentum Fintech underlines a funding dilemma: venture capital is increasingly flowing to more aggressive regions, including the Gulf states and Asia, where regulatory environments are less ambiguous and capital pools are deeper.

Crypto Firms Face Structural Roadblocks

Crypto executives paint a more urgent picture. Keith Grose, head of the U.K. at Coinbase, says the sector is struggling with "debanking"—the practice of major U.K. banks closing or refusing accounts for crypto-related entities. Without access to basic banking services, Grose argues, it's impossible to "build the future of the financial system" within the U.K.

Further compounding the challenge is a slow-moving regulatory timeline. While the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a roadmap last year to roll out full crypto regulation by 2026, firms say they cannot wait that long. The draft rules released this week mark a step forward, but executives emphasize that real innovation requires regulatory certainty—particularly on issues like stablecoin reserves and digital asset lending.

Cassie Craddock of Ripple points out that while the EU has implemented the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and countries like the U.S., Singapore, and UAE are accelerating pro-industry reforms, the U.K. still lags behind. With stablecoin volumes already exceeding Visa and Mastercard, she argues, the opportunity to lead is closing fast.

The Case For Urgent Reform

The potential long-term damage is not theoretical. A recent survey of over 80 crypto firms found that 50% had either been denied banking services or had their accounts closed. The fear among innovators is not only that capital and talent will flee to more supportive markets, but also that the U.K. will lose its influence in shaping global digital finance standards.

Executives maintain cautious optimism. “I think the U.K. will get it right,” Grose says, “but if you get it wrong, you drive innovation to other markets.” The message from the industry is clear: the time for deliberation is over. If Britain wants to remain a global fintech and crypto leader, it must prioritize smart, agile regulation and restore investor confidence before the innovation economy migrates elsewhere.

Source: CNBC

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

You understand and acknowledge that there is a high degree of risk involved in trading. Following any strategies or investment methods may lead to potential losses. The content on the site is provided by our contributors and analysts for information purposes only. You are solely responsible for determining whether any trading assets, securities, strategy, or any other product is suitable for investing based on your own investment objectives and financial situation.

Add to Favorites

Gerik

Economic

China’s New Tech Surge Marks Global Turning Point In AI And EV Innovation

While global attention fixates on tariff tensions and fractured trade talks, a sweeping transformation is unfolding within China’s technology landscape. From generative AI breakthroughs to electric vehicle innovations showcased at the Shanghai Auto Show, Chinese firms are demonstrating that, even under geopolitical pressure, their momentum in next-generation tech is accelerating at an unprecedented pace.

In April alone, several major milestones underscored this shift. BYD unveiled five new EV models, while Pony.ai revealed cost-slashing robotaxis aimed at profitability. Huawei’s advanced driver-assist technology now enables valet-style auto-parking, and AI-driven content creation from platforms like iQiyi is reshaping the media production process with tools that didn’t exist mere months ago.

Generative AI Becomes A Strategic Pillar

At the heart of China’s tech boom is generative AI. Companies like Kuaishou, Alibaba, and Shengshu Technology are rolling out increasingly powerful video generation models capable of rendering near-cinematic visuals. Meanwhile, iQiyi’s virtual production suite uses AI to cut costs and swiftly adapt content formats, a leap that executives say was unthinkable just weeks prior.

This wave of AI development is backed by sustained investment. “We’re seeing a significant acceleration in AI investment in China,” said Tim Wang of Monolith Management, citing foundational model breakthroughs and optimism around consumer-facing applications. In parallel, companies are deploying AI-powered digital avatars for e-commerce, a strategy Baidu says cuts livestreaming costs by 80% while boosting conversion rates.

Policy As Catalyst, Not Crutch

Unlike past cycles where tech surges were export-driven, this boom is heavily supported by domestic policy. Beijing’s playbook includes subsidies for high-tech firms, incentives to attract global PhDs, and funding schemes that link R&D with market deployment. Top talents in AI and engineering are being lured with payouts of up to $690,000 and generous housing allowances.

DeepSeek’s release of a free AI model rivaling ChatGPT in January shattered expectations that U.S. chip restrictions would cripple China’s AI ambitions. Instead, it catalyzed further development, reaffirming that China’s long-standing investments in education and research are bearing fruit despite external constraints.

Electric Vehicles: From Plateau To Global Expansion

In EVs, while domestic competition remains intense—prompting a temporary growth plateau—firms like Nio, Zeekr, and BYD are extending their global ambitions. Automation, charging speed, and software integration are converging rapidly, reducing what was once a multi-year innovation cycle to months. Huawei’s role as a supplier of vehicle software reflects a new industrial integration between telecom and transport.

Yet, EV differentiation is now key. Analysts at AlixPartners note that the industry must shift from feature parity to brand value creation, traditionally a strength of foreign automakers. Still, with scale, speed, and software as its new pillars, China’s dominance in the domestic EV market is already translating into growing international presence.

Navigating Growth Amid Structural Risks

Despite these impressive gains, the tech boom is not immune to broader economic pressures. Goldman Sachs recently highlighted that industrial profits outside high-tech industries remain flat, and the European Chamber of Commerce warns of overproduction risks reminiscent of earlier "Made in China 2025" missteps.

Nevertheless, state-backed employment support, newly approved nuclear and hydrogen energy projects, and a firm emphasis on AI development from President Xi suggest that China views innovation as both an economic shield and a geopolitical strategy.

A Fragmented World, A Focused China

Even as U.S.-China trade dialogue remains uncertain—with no confirmed contact between Trump and Xi despite claims otherwise—Chinese policymakers are pushing forward. At a recent Politburo meeting, employment stability and technological self-reliance were named top priorities. At the same time, China’s central bank and finance ministry participated in global economic discussions in Washington, subtly reaffirming engagement even amid rivalry.

Meanwhile, the Chinese yuan held steady against the dollar and equity markets reflected mixed signals. While the CSI 300 remained flat, the Hang Seng Index—lifted by tech gains—climbed nearly 10% year-to-date, underlining a tale of diverging confidence between old-line sectors and future-focused innovation.

What began as a defensive push for self-reliance has evolved into a multidimensional tech boom. AI, EVs, and platform economics are no longer catch-up plays for China—they are now arenas where Chinese companies are shaping global benchmarks. While policy and capital remain central to this ascent, it is the commercial agility and technological velocity of Chinese firms that now demand global recognition.

Source: CNBC

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

Gerik

Economic

Forex

Dollar Tumbles As Tariff Chaos Shakes Confidence In U.S. Assets

The U.S. dollar is heading toward its sharpest monthly decline in over two years as markets absorb the cumulative shock of President Donald Trump’s unpredictable trade policies. While the greenback staged a modest uptick early in Asian trading on April 30, it remains down 4.76% this month based on the USD Index—a loss not seen since November 2022. The decline is largely driven by capital flight from U.S. assets and a broad loss of confidence in the stability of the American economic policy environment.

Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping retaliatory tariffs triggered widespread asset reallocation away from the U.S. dollar and Treasuries, long considered global safe havens. Although temporary concessions—including a 90-day tariff delay and softer rhetoric toward China—helped stabilize sentiment in recent days, the damage to investor trust appears to be lasting.

Currencies Reprice As Risk Paradigms Shift

In April, the euro appreciated by over 5.2% against the dollar, its best monthly performance since late 2022. The yen rose more than 5%, while the Swiss franc posted a decade-best monthly gain exceeding 7%. These gains highlight a shifting preference toward alternative safe havens, particularly in an environment where the U.S. appears to be fueling both inflation and geopolitical instability through unilateral trade actions.

The British pound, despite recent volatility, gained 3.8% on the month—its strongest showing since November 2023. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar rose over 2% as investors sought out exposure to commodities and emerging market proxies with less direct exposure to U.S. trade policy risk.

Japan’s yen was particularly notable, climbing ahead of the Bank of Japan’s expected hold on interest rates. The yen’s strength is partially reflective of its role as a traditional hedge against dollar turmoil, but also signals renewed investor interest in currencies insulated from direct tariff retaliation.

Investor Anxiety Reflects In Broader Macro Indicators

Market unease is not limited to currency movements. U.S. consumer confidence, measured by the Conference Board, dropped to its lowest level in nearly five years. The March trade deficit in goods surged to a record high as importers raced to front-load purchases before tariff enforcement. Labor data adds another layer of ambiguity: while job creation slowed significantly in March, layoff numbers did not spike, suggesting a labor market at risk but not yet collapsing.

UPS’s recent layoff of 20,000 workers and General Motors’ withdrawal of its 2025 outlook further reflect growing corporate uncertainty. These announcements underscore how tariff-induced instability is reshaping employment forecasts and corporate capital planning.

Traders Expect Bold Fed Response If Labor Weakens

David Kohl, chief economist at Julius Baer, warned that the inflationary pressure sparked by tariffs has cornered the Fed, forcing a delayed response to weak growth. According to Kohl, the Fed is likely to tolerate deteriorating macro data until it sees direct labor market deterioration—at which point it may respond aggressively.

ING economists echoed this view, attributing Q1 2025 GDP weakness to excessive pre-tariff stockpiling. They estimate the import surge could represent a major drag on quarterly growth. Consensus estimates suggest GDP will be barely positive—or even contract—once the official data is released later today.

Looking ahead, markets now expect the Fed to enact two 50 basis point cuts at its July and September FOMC meetings. While inflation risks persist, the looming threat of recession may outweigh price concerns in the central bank’s next move.

Dollar At A Crossroads As Global Leadership Questions Mount

The U.S. dollar, once the unshakable pillar of the global financial system, is now under sustained pressure from both policy inconsistency and international repositioning. While the dollar’s dominance is not imminently threatened, its role as a haven is being re-evaluated. With inflation rising, confidence falling, and geopolitical volatility surging, the greenback’s short-term outlook remains highly vulnerable.

Unless Washington reestablishes policy clarity and economic leadership, alternative assets—be they yen, francs, or commodities—are poised to gain further traction as global risk hedges.

Source: FT

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

Patricia Franklin

Commodity

Economic

Q1 Gold Demand Explodes; Investors Rush To Safety As Global Uncertainty Mounts_1

A new paradigm of economic risk and uncertainty has propelled physical demand for gold as the precious metal sees its best start to the year since 2016, according to the latest report from the World Gold Council.

Global gold consumption increased to 1,206 tonnes in the first three months of the year, up 1% from the first quarter of 2025, the WGC said in its quarterly Gold Demand Trends report, published Wednesday.

Q1 Gold Demand Explodes; Investors Rush To Safety As Global Uncertainty Mounts_2

In an interview, Joseph Cavatoni, Senior Market Strategist at the World Gold Council, said that the latest data show three robust pillars of support as retail investors continue to buy physical bars and coins, along with a renewed appetite for gold-backed exchange-traded funds.

At the same time, central banks continue to buy gold and diversify their official foreign reserves.

Cavatoni said that the U.S. government’s plan to usher in a new structure in global trade with tariffs on imported goods is creating a lot of uncertainty, which is forcing investors, portfolio managers, and central banks to reassess how they balance out risks in their portfolios.

He noted that frothy risk assets and precarious debt levels are even causing some to question the reliability of U.S. Treasuries.

“ Banks are no longer taking risk capital and putting it to work. I think risk assets move in tandem a lot more likely than they have in the past. And a lot more severely than they have in the past,” he said. “U.S. Treasuries are also being looked at differently than they have in the past. This leaves people trying to find that balance in their portfolios and they are turning to gold.”

Cavatoni also noted that investment demand has also become broad-based, with both Western and Eastern consumers looking for ounces.

“We continue to see natural ebbs and flows in the price, but we're staying at these elevated levels,” he said. “This is telling us that this is fundamental buying as opposed to just pure push and pull of speculation. Because of this uncertainty in markets, the case remains strong for us to see gold continuing to be consumed on a very, very large scale, both among investors and central banks.”

Investors flooding back into gold-backed ETFs

While unprecedented gold demand has been driving prices to record highs for the last year, one important segment of the marketplace has been missing, until now.

Investor demand for gold-backed exchange-traded funds has been lackluster, to say the least, in the last few years; however, demand has picked up significantly since January.

According to data from the WGC, 226.5 tonnes of gold flowed into global gold-backed ETFs in the first three months of the year, a sharp contrast to 113 tonnes in outflows reported in the first quarter of 2024.

At the same time, bullion bar and coin demand increased to 325.4 tonnes, up 3% from 317.3 tonnes reported last year.

“Global gold-backed ETFs witnessed a broad-based revival, with investors from across the world adding significantly to their holdings. This has been replicated in investment interest for gold bars and coins, with very few markets witnessing a decline in holdings,” the analysts said in the report.

A new trend emerging in the gold ETF market is that Asian investors are becoming more active, and Cavatoni noted that in the last month, Chinese demand has surpassed North American ETF inflows.

Cavatoni said that it is difficult to see investment demand souring anytime soon. He added that even if geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty eased, “the genie is out of the bottle” and it will take time to repair damaged relationships and rebuild trust among allies.

“ It's hard to find a scenario that takes gold prices sharply lower,” he said. “ Strategic allocations for the purposes of mitigating risk and uncertainty remain super strong. Investors aren’t necessarily looking at the price and saying, ‘At $3,000, that's too expensive for me.’ They are taking a step back, looking at the broader picture, and seeing gold as a component of their portfolio. I see this as a case for gold prices to be well-supported at these levels.”

Central bank demand off to a slow start

Along with robust investment demand, the WGC says central bank purchases remain a solid pillar in the marketplace, albeit demand has slowed from the record pace set last year.

Q1 Gold Demand Explodes; Investors Rush To Safety As Global Uncertainty Mounts_3

According to the data, central banks bought 243.7 tonnes of gold between January and March, down 21% from the 309.9 tonnes bought last year.

“While this demand was markedly lower than the previous quarter, in absolute terms it was still healthy at 24% above the five-year quarterly average, and just 9% below the average seen over the last three years of very elevated demand,” the analysts said. “The overall buying trend is now entering its sixteenth year, fresh off the back of colossal buying in the last three years. But what’s next for central bank gold demand? We anticipate that heightened levels of uncertainty will maintain gold’s role as a valuable component of international reserves going forward, and this will support demand in the near term.”

Although the spotlight in the gold market is shining on investment demand and central bank purchases, Cavatoni said that the tech sector is an unsung hero in the marketplace.

The report said that industrial demand consumed 80.5 tonnes of gold in the first quarter, roughly unchanged from last year.

Cavatoni said that with so much uncertainty in the global economy, stable tech demand could be seen as a good sign that the economy is more resilient than some might expect.

“This tells us that demand for high-end consumables remains relatively stable. Consumers are not swapping out their purchases just yet,” he said.

Jewelry demand weakens in Q1

While the gold market has been firing on all cylinders in the first three months of the year, there is one weak pillar in the marketplace.

The WGC said that jewelry consumption was sharply weaker in the first quarter, with global demand falling to 380.3 tonnes, a decline of 21% compared to last year.

Cavatoni said that the decline is not surprising, as consumers couldn’t compete with higher prices. According to the report, demand fell to its lowest level since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic when the global economy shut down.

“Record gold prices dictated global trends in gold jewellery demand in the first quarter,” the WGC said in the report.

The report noted that Chinese jewelry demand was extremely weak in the first quarter, with purchases falling 35% compared to last year.

“Record gold prices at a time of sluggish income growth and a shift towards pure gold investment products drove a sharp decline in China,” the analysts said. “As the price continued to set new record highs, consumers preferred to sit on the sidelines and/or to shift to lighter-weight, more affordable items.”

Although jewelry demand has struggled in recent months, Cavatoni said that he expects demand to come back if prices stabilize. He explained that volatility, rather than higher prices, spooks consumers.

The WGC report shows that it’s not just investors who have benefited from higher gold prices. The report said that mine supply increased to 856 tonnes, up 1% from 2024.

“Total gold supply increased by 1% y/y to 1,206t in the first quarter. This was driven by record mine production of 856t – an all-time Q1 high in our data series, which dates back to 2000 – and despite a 1% y/y decline in recycling to 345t,” the analysts said.

Source: Kitco

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

Gerik

Economic

Flight From Wall Street Fuels A Hunt For New Safe Zones

Global investors are pivoting away from traditional U.S. assets in search of “tariff-proof” alternatives, as Wall Street reels from President Donald Trump’s unpredictable economic policy shifts. Since his early April tariff announcement, U.S. stocks have suffered their third consecutive monthly loss, and the dollar has fallen to a three-year low. While European equities initially appeared to be the main beneficiary of this capital outflow, the recent 10% surge in the euro has reversed that trend by undermining the region’s export competitiveness.

As the euro’s appreciation exacerbates the trade damage already triggered by Trump’s protectionist stance, global portfolio managers are reallocating toward markets and assets that were previously considered too volatile. In a reversal of conventional risk assumptions, regions like Latin America and sectors like gold mining are now drawing fresh capital.

From Chaos To Commodity: Niche Markets Emerge As Beneficiaries

With the U.S. economy shaken by both protectionist tariffs and fiscal uncertainty, capital has flooded into unconventional havens. Pictet Asset Management’s Shaniel Ramjee, for example, has turned to Brazilian local currency debt and gold mining shares in Australia and Canada. These plays offer both dollar hedging and relative insulation from direct tariff shocks.

Similarly, Principal Asset Management’s Mike Goosay has emphasized opportunities in securitized debt, private credit, and emerging market bonds—assets that, under normal conditions, would rank higher on the volatility scale. But with traditional safe havens like U.S. Treasuries now caught in the policy crossfire, investors are recalibrating risk perceptions.

Emerging Markets Outperform As Wall Street And Europe Lag

Market data reflects this reallocation in real time. Mexican stocks have surged nearly 14% in April, and a Latin American currency index is now up 12% year-to-date. Investors appear to be betting that regions less directly entangled in U.S.-China trade frictions—or better positioned diplomatically, like India—may offer more stable ground.

India, in particular, has garnered praise for improving trade ties with the U.S. despite geopolitical tensions elsewhere, while Saudi stocks have gained 6% in three weeks following U.S. tariffs on oil. Investors are also eyeing China, where optimism about government stimulus has lifted equities by roughly 5% in three weeks, even as broader trust in Chinese economic data remains cautious.

Havens Under Pressure As Capital Exceeds Capacity

Yet even safe-haven assets are showing strain under the volume of redirected capital. The Japanese yen has gained over 4% this month, gold briefly hit a record $3,500 per ounce on April 22, and German Bund yields have fallen dramatically relative to U.S. Treasuries. With the supply of high-rated non-U.S. bonds limited, these moves are intensifying valuation risks in what were once viewed as low-risk zones.

In fact, strategists from Morgan Stanley warn that the euro’s ongoing rise could reinforce Europe’s vulnerability, worsening the export outlook and undermining fragile growth expectations. This feedback loop—of capital inflow driving currency appreciation, which in turn erodes competitiveness—has already halted the earlier European equity rally.

Strategic Repricing And The Next Market Narrative

JPMorgan’s recent survey at the IMF/World Bank meetings shows how fragmented investor sentiment has become: with no clear consensus, a quarter of respondents are holding cash, while many others are gravitating toward higher-yielding risk assets in non-core markets.

Some investors, like Ninety One’s Justin Jewell, believe the current disarray in U.S. policy will be recalibrated within months, potentially setting the stage for renewed U.S. market confidence. Others are skeptical and see prolonged uncertainty as a driver of strategic de-dollarization and structural realignment in global capital allocation.

Still, analysts across the board agree: the old herding behavior around U.S. assets is over, at least for now. With the dollar discredited by fiscal inconsistency and European assets battered by currency strength, the emerging theme of 2025 may well be tactical agility—finding opportunity in overlooked corners of the market, while the world waits for a clearer signal from Washington.

Source: Reuters

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

Gerik

Economic

China–U.S. Trade War

China Seizes Trade Disruptions As Strategic Window To Expand Yuan Usage

Amid the turbulence created by President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff regime and rising global skepticism toward U.S. economic stability, China is quietly accelerating its long-term ambition to internationalize the yuan. In recent weeks, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has launched a series of initiatives that span from expanding cross-border QR payment networks in Southeast Asia to growing its yuan-denominated swap lines, creating new momentum for its parallel financial architecture.

Cross-border yuan payments hit a record high in March 2025, and the value of PBOC swap lines surged to 4.3 trillion yuan ($591.2 billion) in February. These developments signal a growing appetite among China's trading partners for alternative settlement mechanisms as dollar-based systems appear increasingly politicized and unstable.

From Regional Convenience To Strategic Diversification

On the retail side, China UnionPay—PBOC’s financial services arm—is expanding QR code-based payments in Vietnam and Cambodia. These systems offer small businesses and tourists a frictionless transaction option that bypasses the dollar, reinforcing the yuan’s usability outside China. At the same time, high-level efforts continue to anchor large-scale commodity trades—such as oil and gold—in yuan, including in digital form.

This dual-pronged approach targets both the micro and macro levels of the global financial system. It builds soft infrastructure for daily commercial transactions while creating hard buffers against dollar liquidity risk for central banks and governments aligned with China or frustrated with U.S. trade unpredictability.

Tariffs Create Opportunity Amid Dollar Doubt

Analysts and central bank officials within China are openly linking the yuan’s recent momentum to the growing weaponization of tariffs under Trump’s administration. As Bank of Communications’ E. Yongjian noted, the perception that U.S. assets are no longer politically neutral has undercut confidence in the dollar and catalyzed demand for yuan-based alternatives.

By contrast, China is promoting the yuan as a reliable currency for settlement, trade, and investment—especially with partners in the Global South. The PBOC is also ramping up support for its proprietary cross-border payment system, CIPS, and pushing for blockchain-based infrastructure supporting digital yuan transactions.

Challenges To Full Convertibility Remain, But Partial Progress Builds Leverage

Despite these advances, one structural limitation remains: the yuan is still not freely convertible. China’s closed capital account discourages broader investor holdings and limits the currency’s global uptake as a reserve or transaction medium.

However, the yuan is gaining traction in specific bilateral and regional contexts where China has deep trade ties. Argentina, for example, recently renewed a $5 billion portion of its yuan swap line, and Pakistan is negotiating to expand its own. These arrangements serve as both liquidity tools and symbols of trust in China’s economic partnership model.

Geopolitical Realignment As Catalyst For Monetary Evolution

The current geopolitical climate, characterized by rising protectionism and fragmented trade alliances, creates a structural opening for the yuan’s global role to grow. Chinese policymakers and state-linked researchers are framing this moment as an “east rising, west declining” shift in the international order.

While the dollar still dominates—with nearly 50% of global payments and over 80% of trade financing—yuan usage now ranks fourth globally at 4%, according to SWIFT. Analysts agree that the euro is likely to absorb more of the dollar’s lost ground in the near term, but the yuan’s steady inroads—especially via swap lines and trade-based payments—signal durable potential in emerging markets.

A Parallel System, Not A Replacement—For Now

China is not trying to dethrone the dollar overnight. Instead, it is building a parallel financial network—gradual, functional, and increasingly attractive to trade partners wary of U.S. volatility. As Trump’s trade actions rattle traditional supply chains and financial relationships, China is positioning the yuan as a politically neutral, technologically advanced, and trade-relevant currency.

If global confidence in U.S. monetary leadership continues to erode, China’s groundwork today may yield significant long-term returns. In the words of Renmin University’s Tu Yonghong, “The U.S.-dominated system is growing fragile. China should grasp this good opportunity.”

Source: Reuters

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

Gerik

Economic

Inflation Stabilizes At Four-Year Low, Strengthening Monetary Policy Flexibility

Australia’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.4% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, unchanged from the previous quarter and remaining at a four-year low. This print came in slightly above Reuters’ consensus forecast of 2.3%, but still firmly within the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) 2–3% target range.

The inflation data, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, signals continued disinflationary momentum after a peak of 7.8% in Q4 2022. The softening trend has now persisted through seven of the last nine quarters, reflecting easing cost pressures across major sectors.

Sectoral Breakdown Highlights Mixed Price Movements

The most notable quarterly price increases came from the housing, education, and food and non-alcoholic beverage categories—sectors often influenced by cyclical factors and supply chain adjustments. Conversely, prices declined in recreation and culture, as well as furnishings and household services, partially offsetting overall upward pressure.

This sectoral divergence suggests that inflationary pressures are becoming more localized and less systemic, a positive development for the central bank’s policy outlook. It also supports the notion that headline inflation is being anchored more by fundamentals than by commodity-driven shocks or global supply disruptions.

Core Inflation Offers Clearer Signal For RBA Policy

The RBA’s preferred measure of underlying inflation—the trimmed mean CPI—rose 0.7% quarter-on-quarter and 2.9% year-on-year. This places core inflation comfortably within the target range, giving the central bank greater policy flexibility.

Sean Langcake of Oxford Economics emphasized that the trimmed mean performance enhances the case for monetary easing, noting that the RBA now “has greater scope to help support the economy through this coming shock.” His forecast includes a 25-basis point rate cut in May, followed by two additional cuts in the second half of 2025.

The RBA has already trimmed its benchmark rate from 4.35% to 4.1%, reversing a tightening cycle that began amid the 2022 inflation peak. While policy remains restrictive relative to pre-pandemic norms, the declining inflation trajectory opens space for further stimulus.

Election Looms As Economic Policy Becomes Central Focus

The inflation release arrives just days before Australia’s federal election on May 3. All 150 House of Representatives seats and 40 Senate seats are in play, with economic management a key campaign theme.

According to a Newspoll survey cited by Reuters, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party holds a four-point lead over the opposition Liberal-National Coalition when adjusted for preference flows. With cost-of-living concerns still top-of-mind for voters, steady inflation figures may support the incumbent’s fiscal and monetary policy positions.

Outlook: Growth, Labor Stability, But Global Headwinds Persist

The RBA maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook for 2025, expecting stronger domestic growth and a resilient labor market. However, global uncertainty—particularly from trade disruptions, geopolitical risks, and capital market volatility—continues to cloud the external environment.

The combination of subdued inflation and solid labor conditions provides the RBA with a rare policy window: to ease rates in support of growth without stoking price instability. Whether the central bank acts swiftly or proceeds with gradual easing will depend on upcoming data releases, including labor market trends, household consumption, and global financial conditions.

Source: CNBC

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

Recent Searches

Top Searches

Markets

News

Analysis

User

24/7

Economic Calendar

Education

Data

Fintech And Crypto Leaders Warn Britain Risks Losing Innovation Edge Without Regulatory Reform

Britain’s Financial Tech Future At Crossroads Amid Regulation, Funding Gaps

Innovation Outpaced By Safety-First Regulation

Crypto Firms Face Structural Roadblocks

The Case For Urgent Reform

Source: CNBC

China’s AI-Fueled Tech Renaissance Gains Pace Amid Global Trade Tensions

China’s New Tech Surge Marks Global Turning Point In AI And EV Innovation

Generative AI Becomes A Strategic Pillar

Policy As Catalyst, Not Crutch

Electric Vehicles: From Plateau To Global Expansion

Navigating Growth Amid Structural Risks

A Fragmented World, A Focused China

Source: CNBC

U.S. Dollar Suffers Worst Monthly Drop Since 2022 Amid Trade War Fallout And Global Risk Aversion

Dollar Tumbles As Tariff Chaos Shakes Confidence In U.S. Assets

Currencies Reprice As Risk Paradigms Shift

Investor Anxiety Reflects In Broader Macro Indicators

Traders Expect Bold Fed Response If Labor Weakens

Dollar At A Crossroads As Global Leadership Questions Mount

Source: FT

Q1 Gold Demand Explodes; Investors Rush To Safety As Global Uncertainty Mounts

Investors flooding back into gold-backed ETFs

Central bank demand off to a slow start

Jewelry demand weakens in Q1

Source: Kitco

Global Investors Seek Tariff-Safe Havens As Wall Street Exodus Sparks Rotation Into Niche Markets

Flight From Wall Street Fuels A Hunt For New Safe Zones

From Chaos To Commodity: Niche Markets Emerge As Beneficiaries

Emerging Markets Outperform As Wall Street And Europe Lag

Havens Under Pressure As Capital Exceeds Capacity

Strategic Repricing And The Next Market Narrative

Source: Reuters

China Accelerates Global Yuan Strategy Amid U.S. Tariff Turmoil And Dollar Uncertainty

China Seizes Trade Disruptions As Strategic Window To Expand Yuan Usage

From Regional Convenience To Strategic Diversification

Tariffs Create Opportunity Amid Dollar Doubt

Challenges To Full Convertibility Remain, But Partial Progress Builds Leverage

Geopolitical Realignment As Catalyst For Monetary Evolution

A Parallel System, Not A Replacement—For Now

Source: Reuters

Australia’s Inflation Holds At 2.4% As RBA Eyes Room For Rate Cuts Ahead Of May Election

Inflation Stabilizes At Four-Year Low, Strengthening Monetary Policy Flexibility

Sectoral Breakdown Highlights Mixed Price Movements

Core Inflation Offers Clearer Signal For RBA Policy

Election Looms As Economic Policy Becomes Central Focus

Outlook: Growth, Labor Stability, But Global Headwinds Persist

Source: CNBC

Risk Disclosure