Core Insights - The Institute for Supply Management's purchasing managers index for services providers increased to 52.4 in October from 50.0 in September, marking the highest level since February [1] Group 1 - The purchasing managers index for services indicates a positive shift in the services sector, suggesting growth and expansion [1]

Core Insights - Spain's private sector activity accelerated significantly in October, with the composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising from 53.8 in September to 56.0, marking the fastest expansion since December 2024 and the highest level since 2025 [1] Group 1: PMI and Sector Performance - The services PMI surged from 54.3 to 56.6, exceeding market expectations of 54.8, and has remained above the neutral line for 26 consecutive months, recording the strongest growth in ten months [1] - The manufacturing PMI also improved, rising to 52.1, contributing to the overall expansion of the private sector [1] Group 2: Drivers of Growth - The acceleration in business activity was primarily driven by an increase in new orders, with companies enhancing marketing efforts, executing existing contracts, and acquiring new business, leading to a notable rise in output [1] - Companies expanded hiring at the fastest pace in three months due to increased workloads and ongoing capacity pressures, continuing a growth trend in employment that has lasted over three years [1] Group 3: Price and Confidence Trends - Input cost inflation pressures eased, dropping to a three-month low, while output prices showed stronger increases, indicating enhanced pricing power for businesses [1] - Business confidence also improved, with the services business confidence index reaching its highest level since March, and the composite business confidence index hitting a nine-month high, slightly above the long-term average [1]

Group 1 - The Eurozone economy unexpectedly rose to its highest level since May 2024, driven by strong performance in Germany, despite weakness in France [1] - The Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) increased from 51.2 in September to 52.2 in October, surpassing the critical threshold of 50 that separates economic expansion from contraction [1] - The growth was primarily supported by the services sector, with Germany achieving its best monthly performance since May 2023, while France's PMI has declined for 14 consecutive months due to political turmoil [1] Group 2 - The European Central Bank (ECB) is unlikely to lower interest rates further, maintaining borrowing costs as inflation approaches the 2% target [2] - The recent PMI data supports the ECB's decision to keep rates unchanged, indicating resilience in the Eurozone economy despite U.S. tariff increases [2] - Service sector price inflation remains moderate, with a slight increase in sales price inflation but still close to long-term averages, suggesting low short-term risks [2]

Group 1 - The latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data indicates that UK manufacturing activity declined at the fastest rate in five months, reflecting weak domestic and international demand, along with a sharp drop in export orders [1] - The UK manufacturing PMI fell from 47.0 in August to 46.2 in September, remaining in the contraction zone, with this decline being the largest in five months and below market expectations [1] - Key drivers of the PMI drop include a significant reduction in new orders and concerns over weakening demand in both domestic and overseas markets [1] Group 2 - The output sub-index dropped to 45.7, marking a six-month low and a notable decrease from the previous value of 49.3 [1] - Manufacturers are reportedly reducing output in response to declining orders, with a continuous decline in orders for 12 months, reaching the highest drop in nearly two years [1] - Employment in the manufacturing sector has also been under pressure, with companies reducing staff levels for the 11th consecutive month due to high employment taxes, minimum wage increases, and the lingering effects of past energy price hikes [1] Group 3 - The automotive manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover experienced production disruptions due to a cyber attack, which also impacted the reported data [1] - There is heightened market attention on the upcoming annual budget announcement by the UK Chancellor, with many businesses believing that tax policies and fiscal stimulus measures could be crucial for boosting confidence and supporting a recovery in manufacturing [2]

Core Insights - The Kenya Standard Bank Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose significantly from 46.8 in July, the lowest in the past 12 months, to 49.4 in August, indicating that business conditions are nearing recovery despite remaining below the neutral level of 50.0 [1] - Standard Bank economist Christopher Leggilius noted that while business activity remains subdued, manufacturers are more optimistic about output over the next 12 months, suggesting healthier business activity in the coming months [1] - Companies have resumed procurement activities due to improved demand outlook, showing stronger confidence for the next year, reaching the highest level in two and a half years [1] - Employment levels have also increased, with August recording the largest rise in new jobs in the past 15 months [1] - However, businesses continue to face significant overall cost burdens [1]

Core Insights - XTransfer released the "2025 National SME B2B Goods Export Trade Purchasing Managers Index" (XTransfer PMI) to provide guidance for small and micro foreign trade enterprises [1] - The PMI for July was reported at 52.4%, indicating a positive outlook for the export sector [1] Group 1: Export Trends - SMEs showed the highest PMI for exports to African countries, particularly in export orders, highlighting Africa as a new market opportunity due to population growth and infrastructure needs [2] - The demand for "new three items" (lithium batteries, new energy vehicles, and solar batteries) is strong, with significant growth in both volume and price [2] Group 2: Market Dynamics - Southeast Asia has emerged as a key export region for the "new three items," while Europe’s energy-saving policies continue to drive market demand [2] - Companies are focusing on building differentiated competitive advantages through innovation and value-added services, leading to increased order volumes compared to previous years [2]

Core Insights - The XTransfer PMI report indicates a positive export outlook for small and micro foreign trade enterprises in China, with a PMI index of 52.4% in July, slightly above the neutral point [1] - The report highlights that African countries have the highest export PMI, particularly Ghana and Nigeria, as small and micro enterprises seek new opportunities in the African market due to declining demand in the US [1] Group 1: Export Trends - The "new three samples" of exports, including lithium batteries, new energy vehicles, and solar cells, have shown strong performance, with order and price indices significantly above the market average [2] - Southeast Asia has emerged as a key export region for the "new three samples," while Europe’s energy-saving policies continue to drive demand for these products [2] - Infrastructure demands in Latin America and Africa present substantial market potential for the export of "new three samples" [2] Group 2: Business Adaptation - Many enterprises emphasize the importance of resilience and confidence in the face of external uncertainties and increasing market competition, highlighting the need for differentiated competitive advantages [2] - A case study from a mechanical products exporter in Guangzhou illustrates how XTransfer's local collection accounts have improved cash flow efficiency by reducing transaction times and fees [2] - XTransfer aims to leverage its industry-leading platform to share insights and trends with foreign trade practitioners, enhancing their global business strategies [2]

Group 1 - Singapore's retail sales in June 2025 increased by 2.3% year-on-year, outperforming May's growth of 1.3%, but showed a month-on-month seasonally adjusted decline of 1.2% [1] - The decline in retail sales is attributed to the school holidays and a stronger Singapore dollar, leading families to spend more on overseas travel, which weakened domestic retail demand [1] - The number of inbound tourists dropped to 1.25 million in June, the lowest point of the year, impacting the retail market [1] Group 2 - Excluding automobile sales, the year-on-year growth of retail sales was only 0.4%, indicating weakness in the core consumer market [1] - Automobile sales were the main driver of growth, with a year-on-year increase of 14.6%, while sales in several sectors, including gas stations and food and beverage, experienced declines [1] - The overall retail sales for the first half of 2025 grew by 1.2% year-on-year, a slowdown compared to 2.2% in the same period last year [2] Group 3 - The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Singapore rose to 52.7 in July, indicating economic expansion for six consecutive months, despite a cooling labor market [2] - Input price inflation reached a six-month high, while selling prices remained nearly unchanged, suggesting potential pressure on profit margins for businesses [2] - The forecast for retail sales in Q3 2025 remains weak, with expectations of stabilization in Q4 due to a lower base, projecting an annual growth of 1% to 1.5% [2]

Group 1 - The European Union has approved a measure to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products totaling €93 billion, following a period of trade negotiations that seemed to be progressing [1][5] - The retaliatory tariffs will target high-value industrial products such as aircraft, automobiles, wine, and electrical equipment, with the first round of tariffs already implemented earlier this year on items like soybeans and motorcycles [5] - The EU's decision comes amid a backdrop of positive economic data, with the Eurozone's July Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising from 50.6 in June to 51, indicating economic resilience [4] Group 2 - Following the announcement of the retaliatory tariffs, European stock markets experienced a sharp decline, reversing earlier gains that were attributed to positive economic indicators [2][3] - Analysts expect the European Central Bank to maintain its current policy stance, although there may be one or two interest rate cuts in the next six months due to the ongoing trade tensions impacting export performance and inflation [4]

Group 1 - The euro is currently experiencing narrow fluctuations, with traders closely monitoring the potential impact of tariff noise on the euro to USD exchange rate, reflecting heightened investor caution due to concerns over potential risks [1][2] - If the US and EU fail to reach an agreement, the EU plans to impose a 30% tariff on approximately €100 billion worth of US goods, which has led to a slight decline in the euro against the dollar, currently trading around 1.1720 [1] - The EU is preparing to launch a robust countermeasure plan amid stalled tariff negotiations with the US, merging previously approved tariffs on €210 billion worth of US products with an additional proposed list of €720 billion [1] Group 2 - Market focus is on the latest developments in US-EU trade negotiations, resulting in low trading activity in the forex market, with the euro likely to continue its narrow fluctuations in the short term [2] - The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to maintain current interest rates during its upcoming decision, as policymakers assess the impact of US-EU tariffs and the euro exchange rate on economic growth and inflation [2] - The ECB is also monitoring the significant rise of the euro, with analysts noting that any comments regarding foreign exchange during the ECB meeting will attract attention, especially with the euro surpassing 1.20 [2]