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NewsSep 21, 2026 · 01:41 IST

China Keeps Benchmark Lending Rates Unchanged for 16th Month

China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged in September for a 16th consecutive month, Reuters reported. The one-year loan prime rate remained at 3.00%, while the five-year LPR, which influences mortgage pricing, stayed at 3.50%. The decision extends Beijing's prolonged pause in benchmark lending-rate adjustments as policymakers balance domestic growth support against banking-sector constraints and the external rate environment. The unchanged settings represent a fresh September monetary-policy decision rather than a new easing step.

NewsSep 21, 2026 · 01:35 IST

Zelenskiy Says Trump Meeting Agreed in New York as Ukraine Pushes Peace Track

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to meet in New York during UN General Assembly week, describing renewed diplomacy as Ukraine's top priority. Zelenskiy said the sides were working on potential de-escalation steps and broader security issues involving energy, food supplies and protection of civilians. The announcement follows September talks in Kyiv involving U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. No peace agreement, ceasefire terms or specific concessions were announced with the planned presidential meeting.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 18:12 IST

Indian Stocks Post Longest Weekly Losing Streak Since 2020 as Oil and Rate Risks Weigh

Indian equities completed a sixth consecutive weekly decline on September 18, their longest losing streak since 2020, as elevated crude prices and tighter global monetary conditions pressured sentiment. Reuters reported the Nifty 50 closing 0.33% higher at 25,818.55 on Friday while the Sensex slipped 0.03% to 83,730.19. For the week, the indices lost 0.22% and 0.65%, respectively. Friday's selective rebound included insurance stocks, while several Tata Group companies fell amid uncertainty surrounding governance and a possible Tata Sons listing.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 18:03 IST

Russia and China Block Extension of UN Iran Sanctions Monitoring Panel

Russia and China blocked a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of the independent Panel of Experts monitoring sanctions on Iran, Reuters reported. The panel's current mandate expires on September 26. UN records show the experts are tasked with examining sanctions implementation and possible violations involving Iran's nuclear and missile-related restrictions. The vote does not itself remove the underlying UN sanctions, which were re-applied in September 2025. Instead, it removes a key independent monitoring mechanism unless the Security Council reaches a new agreement.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 16:49 IST

EU Provides Ukraine €3.3 Billion for Missiles and Drones

The European Commission said it would disburse €3.3 billion to Ukraine on September 18 for defence procurement, including drones and missiles, under the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The payment is the fourth under the loan's defence component and brings Commission disbursements to Ukraine this year to nearly €15 billion across defence and broader support. Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi separately confirmed receipt of the €3.3 billion tranche, according to Reuters. The funding comes as Russia's war continues to drive European defence and security spending.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 16:30 IST

Yen Slides to Two-Week Low as BOJ Rate Hike Fails to Signal Faster Tightening

The yen weakened to a two-week low after the Bank of Japan raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%, the highest level in 31 years. Reuters reported the dollar up 1.2% at ¥157.84, with the move on course to be its largest daily rise against the yen since December. Two policymakers dissented from the 7–2 decision, while traders saw limited hawkish guidance on further increases. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama reiterated that Japan would not hesitate to conduct further coordinated currency intervention if necessary.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 16:13 IST

FTSE 100 Falls 0.6% as Banks and Energy Stocks Weigh

The FTSE 100 fell 0.6% to 10,751.57 by 09:53 UTC on September 18, retreating from a more than one-week high as banking and energy shares weighed on the index. Despite Friday's decline, the UK blue-chip benchmark remained on course for its strongest weekly gain since late July. The FTSE 250 was broadly flat but was heading for its best week since early August. The pullback came after a busy week of UK economic data and the Bank of England's decision to keep Bank Rate at 3.75%.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 15:45 IST

ECB's Vujčić Cautions Against Reading Higher Energy Prices as Automatic Rate Hikes

European Central Bank Vice-President Boris Vujčić said markets are focusing heavily on higher energy prices when pricing the ECB's interest-rate path, but policymakers will assess a broader set of data before deciding further moves. In an ECB-published Reuters interview released September 18, Vujčić said energy prices had risen beyond assumptions used in the latest projections and could stay elevated for longer. He also warned that persistent energy costs can weaken household purchasing power and consumption, creating a growth drag alongside the inflation pressure.

NewsSep 18, 2026, 03:21 PM GMT+5:30

Euro-Zone Consumer Inflation Expectations Rise Across All Horizons

Euro-area consumers raised their inflation expectations across all measured horizons in August, according to the European Central Bank's Consumer Expectations Survey released September 18. Median expectations for inflation over the next 12 months increased to 3.0% from 2.9% in July. Three-year expectations rose to 2.9% from 2.7%, while five-year expectations increased to 2.5% from 2.4%. Expected economic growth remained at -1.2%, while the expected unemployment rate declined to 11.0% from 11.2%.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 14:43 IST

Oil Falls 2% as Saudi Supply-Recovery Hopes Ease Disruption Fears

Oil extended its decline on September 18 as expectations of a limited Saudi supply disruption strengthened. Reuters reported Brent down about 2% at $102.53 a barrel and WTI at $100.04, marking a third consecutive session of declines. Saudi Arabia was working to restore roughly half of its East–West Pipeline capacity and had offered additional crude to Asian refiners, easing fears created by pipeline damage and disrupted Yanbu loadings. Uncertainty remains over the timetable for a complete restoration, while Strait of Hormuz risks continue to support a geopolitical premium.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 12:47 IST

U.S. Sanctions Iran-Linked BitBank Over Crypto Transfers to IRGC

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iranian digital-asset exchange BitBank, its software developer and three associates of financier Babak Zanjani. Treasury said Zanjani used BitBank between June and July to facilitate transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Bitcoin to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It also said Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority has used BitBank since June to transfer payments received to the Iranian government. The action extends U.S. sanctions enforcement into digital-asset infrastructure connected to Iran's financial networks.

NewsSep 18, 2026 · 12:01 IST

Bank of Japan Raises Rate to 1.25% as Yen Weakens After Split Vote

The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25% on September 18, its highest level in 31 years, as policymakers continued to respond to inflation risks. The decision passed by a 7–2 vote, with Toichiro Asada and Ayano Sato dissenting. Despite the increase, the yen weakened after the decision, with Reuters reporting USD/JPY around 157.1 and roughly 0.7% higher on the day. Governor Kazuo Ueda's post-meeting press conference remains the next key source of guidance on the policy outlook.