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The World Bank’s Banga is speaking and says:

• Foreign aid is a temporary method to help challenged countries, but will not be the long-term solution for development

• The right regulatory environment must be created to encourage private investment in developing countries and to create jobs

• The ‘all of the above’ energy strategy will be discussed with the board in June

• The energy strategy will include natural gas, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and nuclear—but will require board approval

• It’s unclear how much the U.S. or some European countries will contribute to the International Development Association

• There are constructive discussions underway with the U.S. about its continued commitment to the World Bank

The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans, grants, and technical expertise to developing countries with the goal of reducing poverty and promoting sustainable economic development.

USAid which works with the World Bank was briefly shuttered by DOGE measures but it continues to operate as the U.S. government’s primary agency for administering foreign aid and development assistance.

However, there have been ongoing political discussions about potentially restructuring or reducing the scope of USAID. Some proposals have included:

• Merging USAID into the State Department

• Cutting its budget significantly

• Shifting foreign aid strategy toward bilateral deals or strategic investments

But none of these proposals have resulted in the agency being shut down.

USAID continues to:

• Fund global health, food security, and humanitarian relief programs

• Operate missions in over 100 countries

• Collaborate with partners like the World Bank, UN agencies, and NGOs

It seems like the trend will be more toward private funding.

Nevertheless, there has been criticism from the Trump administration of mismanagagement and corruption which puts it in the crosshairs for cutting. Plus Trump is in general, not very supportive of efforts outside the US borders.

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.

Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Tiff Macklem addressed the central bank’s policy outlook and answered questions from the media after the BoC paused its easing cycle in April.

The British Pound advanced during the North American session, posting soft gains of 0.14% against the Greenback as inflation slowed to its weakest level in three months. This adds to pressure on the Bank of England to reduce interest rates.

Fitch is out on global turmoil and says:

• Deep cuts to growth forecast as global trade war escalates.
• Still expects Federal Reserve to wait until Q4 before cutting rates despite deteriorating US growth outlook.
• We now expect deeper rate cuts from ECB and in emerging markets.
• Expect some additional US tariff revenues to be recycled back into US economy over the next 18 months, including through tax cuts.
• Lowered 2025 Brent crude oil price assumption by the five US dollars to $65.
• US ‘Liberation Day’ tariff hikes were far worse than expected.
• US inflation forecast has been revised up to over 4%, implying a stagnation in real wages.
• Massive policy uncertainty is hurting business investment prospects, equity price falls are reducing household wealth and US exporters will be hit by retaliation.
• China’s economy has grown faster than expected over the past year, but net trade has accounted for a third of GDP growth. This will slow sharply as exporters struggle to redirect sales in the near term.
• Import prices are set to rise sharply and there has been an alarming jump in US households’ medium-term inflation expectations over the past two months.
• The surprising weakening of the US dollar has created more space for other central banks to ease and we now expect deeper rate cuts from the ECB and in emerging markets.

Growth forecast from Fitch now see:

• Fitch has cut world growth in 2025 by 0.4pp and China and US growth by 0.5pp

• U.S. 2025 growth expected at 1.2% annually, but slowing to 0.4% YoY in Q4 2025

• China’s growth forecast to fall below 4% in both 2025 and 2026

• Eurozone growth projected to remain well below 1%

• Global growth expected to drop below 2% in 2025 – the weakest since 2009, excluding the pandemic

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.

US total retail sales rose 1.4% in March, beating the expected 1.3% after rising 0.2% a month earlier. On an annualised basis, sales rose 4.4%, the fastest pace since December 2023, which contrasted with the slowdown in inflation to 2.4% y/y. The acceleration in American spending can be attributed to a desire to stock up […]

The post US Sales Jump Gives USD Relief, But Driven by Fears appeared first on Action Forex.

Sector Overview

Today’s stock market heatmap reveals a stark divergence in sector performances. The technology sector is awash in red, with significant declines, while energy and certain areas of healthcare show resilience.

• 📉 Technology & Semiconductors: Key players like Nvidia (NVDA) plummeted 5.98%, leading a broader decline in the semiconductor space. Echoing this downturn, both Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL) fell by 1.87% and 2.55%, respectively, indicating a bearish sentiment towards tech stocks.
• 📈 Energy Sector: In contrast, energy stocks like Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) gained 1.53%, buoyed by rising oil prices. This indicates a potential shift towards more traditional, commodity-based sectors amidst tech uncertainties.
• 📚 Healthcare Innovations: Despite a general downtrend in drug manufacturers, companies like Abbott (ABT) climbed 0.71%, pointing to investor interest in healthcare innovation amidst varying sector dynamics.

Market Mood and Trends

The overall market sentiment today is one of caution mixed with opportunity-seeking in more stable sectors. The heavy sell-off in technology suggests investor anxiety over future growth prospects. Uncertainty in semiconductor supply chains and fluctuating tech valuations are key contributors to today’s downward pressure.

Conversely, the energy sector’s gains reflect a favorable reaction to rising oil prices and steadying demand. The upward movement in certain healthcare stocks suggests continued confidence in innovation and long-term growth despite short-term fluctuations.

Strategic Recommendations

Investors should consider re-evaluating their portfolios to balance potential risks in technology with opportunities in energy and healthcare. With today’s notable tech decline, there may be buying opportunities for long-term holdings, but caution is advised.

• 📊 Diversification: Consider diversifying into more stable sectors, especially those showing resilience like energy and select healthcare companies, to mitigate the volatility seen in tech.
• 📈 Focus on Energy: The gains in energy suggest a favorable outlook amid rising commodity prices. Energy companies may continue to perform well as demand stabilizes worldwide.

Staying informed with real-time data and adjusting strategies accordingly can provide a safeguard against market unpredictability. Be sure to keep up with the latest analyses at ForexLive.com for continuous updates and insights.

This article was written by Itai Levitan at www.forexlive.com.