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Americans don't think import tariffs are a good idea if they lead to higher prices and are skeptical they would help U.S. workers, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, underscoring the political risks to President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose heavy fees on goods from China, Mexico and other nations. Only 29% of respondents in the six-day poll, which closed on Tuesday, agreed with a statement that "it’s a good idea for the U.S. to charge higher tariffs on imported goods even if prices increase," while 42% disagreed. Just 17% of respondents agreed with a statement that "when the U.S. charges tariffs on imported goods, it is good for me personally."

Investors view it as a near given that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point at its Dec. 17-18 meeting, with more attention focused on policymakers' new economic projections released alongside the decision. Those projections will include an updated look at how much further Fed officials think they will reduce rates in 2025 and perhaps into 2026, an exercise that will have to account for data in the meantime showing stickier-than-expected inflation, a healthy labor market, a U.S. election result that could shift the global trade and immigration landscape, and ongoing geopolitical risks. With so much to assess, a multitude of new risks, and a lot of uncertainty, many analysts expect the collective messaging from the central bank's policy statement on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell's post-meeting press conference and the updated projections to be somewhat hawkish - with the Fed perhaps closer to a rate-cut stopping point, or at least very reluctant to commit to many more reductions in borrowing costs, than it was just a few months ago.

Investors view it as a near given that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point at its Dec. 17-18 meeting, with more attention focused on policymakers' new economic projections released alongside the decision. Those projections will include an updated look at how much further Fed officials think they will reduce rates in 2025 and perhaps into 2026, an exercise that will have to account for data in the meantime showing stickier-than-expected inflation, a healthy labor market, a U.S. election result that could shift the global trade and immigration landscape, and ongoing geopolitical risks. With so much to assess, a multitude of new risks, and a lot of uncertainty, many analysts expect the collective messaging from the central bank's policy statement on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell's post-meeting press conference and the updated projections to be somewhat hawkish - with the Fed perhaps closer to a rate-cut stopping point, or at least very reluctant to commit to many more reductions in borrowing costs, than it was just a few months ago.

(Bloomberg) -- Germany’s economy will hardly grow in 2025 after shrinking again this year, according to fresh forecasts from Bundesbank.Most Read from BloombergHong Kong's Expat Party Hub Reshaped by Chinese InfluxBrace for a Nationwide Shuffle of Corporate HeadquartersCity Hall Is HiringAmerican Institute of Architects CEO ResignsHow California Sees the World, and ItselfGross domestic product will fall by 0.2% in 2024, it said Friday — slashing a June prediction for 0.3% growth. Output will exp

Malaysia's palm oil production is set to fall for the fourth consecutive month in December as heavy rainfall hit harvesting in the world's second-largest producer of the tropical oil, the industry regulator told Reuters on Friday. Lower output in Malaysia would curb inventories in the country and further boost benchmark futures, which are already near their highest levels in about 2-1/2 years. "We estimate a potential reduction of around 5% to 8% in crude palm oil (CPO) production under normal circumstances," Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, director-general at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said.

With consumer prices still inflated the French are becoming far more picky about how they spend their spare time and cash.

(Bloomberg) -- Peru kept borrowing costs unchanged at its December meeting, after both headline and core inflation accelerated last month.Most Read from BloombergHong Kong's Expat Party Hub Reshaped by Chinese InfluxBrace for a Nationwide Shuffle of Corporate HeadquartersCity Hall Is HiringAmerican Institute of Architects CEO ResignsCloud Computing Tax Threatens Chicago’s Silicon Valley DreamThe central bank kept its key interest rate at 5% on Thursday, as forecast by nine of 12 analysts surveye