The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the Bank of England (BoE) to be “very cautious” when considering future rate cuts, as the global economy faces a myriad of challenges. Meanwhile, European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has downplayed concerns about French bond risks, despite the ongoing crisis in the country. In the United States, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Richard Clarence Collins has suggested that it is “prudent to ease a bit more” in 2025, while President Donald Trump has threatened to disarm Hamas “quickly” as a ceasefire in Gaza wobbles.

In other news, Bouygues, Free-Iliad, and Orange have offered $20 billion for Altice’s French assets, while Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has argued that the recent hiring slowdown supports the need for more interest rate cuts. Stellantis, the maker of Jeep, has announced a $13 billion investment in the United States, with jobs at risk, and Embraer CEO Martinez has pushed for an aircraft tariff deal between the US and Brazil.

In addition, Oracle co-CEOs have defended their massive AI-focused data centre expansion, while Trump has threatened “trade punishment” against Spain over its defence spending. Japan is set to ban cryptocurrency insider trading with new rules, and China’s consumer prices have fallen as deflation fears loom. Grindr has confirmed interest from top investors, and the UK and Canada are set to join the EU plan to tap frozen Russian assets.

Overall, the global economy faces a complex and challenging landscape, with central banks and governments taking different approaches to address their respective challenges. As always, it is important to stay informed and up-to-date on these developments to better understand the potential impacts on financial markets and economic growth.