The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword

Russia's ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin's efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. The official central bank rate for Friday was set at...

Avocados, tequila and other iconic Mexican products are jeopardized by Trump's tariff threats

URUAPAN, Mexico (AP) — Mexicans are worried that threats by Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs could affect a wide range of iconic Mexican products and threaten entire regional economies. In western Mexico, no crop supplies an income for so many small growers as avocados. But...

South Korea's central bank cuts key interest rate to nurse a slower economy

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s central bank lowered its key policy rate for a second straight month and said the country’s economy will grow at a slower pace than it initially anticipated. Following a policy meeting, the Bank of Korea cut its benchmark interest rate by...

US economy grows at 2.8% pace in third quarter on consumer spending, unchanged from first estimate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American economy expanded at a healthy 2.8% annual pace from July through September on strong consumer spending and a surge in exports, the government said Wednesday, leaving unchanged its initial estimate of third-quarter growth. U.S. gross domestic product...

Wall Street eyes M&A revival if new Trump administration ushers in lower rates, looser scrutiny

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is betting corporate dealmaking could bounce back next year if the new Trump administration ushers in lower interest rates and looser regulatory scrutiny. The number of deals and their value are both below pre-pandemic levels. In the U.S., deal values...

Number of Americans filing for jobless benefits falls again and hovers near 7-month lows

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week, remaining near seven-month lows. Jobless claim applications fell by 2,000 to 213,000 for the week of Nov. 23, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. The previous week’s level was revised up by 2,000 from...

US economy grows at solid 2.8% pace in third quarter on consumer spending, exports, unchanged from initial estimate

US consumer confidence ticks higher on better outlook for hiring

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ outlook on the economy improved modestly in November, lifted by expectations for lower inflation and more hiring. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index ticked up to 111.7 from 109.6 in...

The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy — and a big debt problem that will be a hurdle to delivering on them. Trump has bold ideas on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs, but high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing...

US bribery and fraud charges are a big test yet for India's Adani, one of Asia's richest men

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, one of Asia’s richest men, may be facing his biggest challenge yet with an indictment by U.S. prosecutors for alleged fraud and bribery. But it’s unclear just how the case will affect his businesses and own future — as well as the Indian...