Romania holds monetary policy rate at 6.5% amid elevated inflation and political uncertainty

Markets currently expect no rate cuts before autumn, although that timing remains subject to shifts in both domestic policy and external economic conditions.

Borsa Istanbul leads world markets in dollar-basis losses

Turkey’s exchange-traded fund down 9.5% in year-to-date. Thai performance second worst at 6.5%.

Polish economy grows 3.8% in first quarter as momentum holds steady

Polish GDP grew 3.8% year on year in the first quarter of 2025, slightly below the revised 3.9% increase recorded in the previous three months, seasonally adjusted data from the Central Statistical Office showed in a flash estimate on May 15.

Uzbekistan’s 1Q passenger car imports plummet to 6,950 units from 22,210 a year earlier

Non-tariff barriers have taken a big toll.

Slovak inflation eases to 3.7% y/y in April

Czech unemployment stagnates at 4.3% in April

Czech unemployment remained at 4.3% in April, the same level as in March. Year on year, the unemployment increased by 0.6 percentage point, or by 38,462 persons.

Romania pays 8.45% on 14-month Treasury bonds as presidential elections damage investor sentiment

The landslide win by far-right presidential candidate George Simion in the first round of the presidential elections has rattled investors.

Slovak industry returns to growth of 3.5% y/y in March

Slovakia’s industrial output increased by 3.5% year on year and by 0.7% month on month in March, registering the first month of growth this year.

Turkish inflation still ballsing up OECD charts

Despite some progress in reining in prices, Turkey's headline figure is a bar graph section too far.

Every $1 drop in oil price could cost Azerbaijan $300mn in exports, $150mn in budget revenue, ING says

Fluctuations in global oil prices remain a critical vulnerability for Azerbaijan’s economy.

Hungary's CPI falls to 4.2% in April as food price controls take effect

War is a growing concern across Europe – Statista

VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year to mark the formal end of World War II in Europe, reports Statista.

Pakistan stocks tumble nearly 10% in four days amid rising India tensions

Pakistani stocks have suffered a steep decline, with the KSE-100 Index dropping 9.7% over the past four sessions, as escalating military tensions with India rattled investors.

China’s central bank unveils 10-point plan to help calm markets, steer growth

Among the most headline-grabbing moves is a 0.5 percentage point cut in the reserve requirement ratio, expected to unleash some CNY1 trillion ($138bn) into the financial system. But that’s just the beginning.

Czech industry output increases by 1.4% y/y in March

Czech industrial production increased by 1.4% year-on-year and by 0.4% month-on-month in March (chart), driven by electricity production and maintaining the growth trajectory.

Czech National Bank cuts by 25bp as easing cycle comes to an end

The Czech National Bank reduced its base interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.5% on May 7, marking its fourth consecutive rate cut and signalling that the easing cycle is nearing its end, ING said in a note on May 7.

Kazakh service sector activity growth strongest in nine months, shows April PMI

Sustained optimism amid stronger competition noted. Rising price pressures a worry.

Hungary’s retail recovery slowed in March despite government intervention in food prices

Hungary’s retail sector lost some momentum in March, with sales volumes falling 0.5% from the previous month despite the government-introduced profit margin cap in effect from the middle of the month.

Investment plans of German-owned companies slump to post-crisis low

Hungary’s German business community is growing increasingly pessimistic, with corporate investment sentiment hitting its weakest level since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

GDP growth in North Macedonia projected at 3.3% in 2025, but risks remain, says IMF

Growth to be driven by stronger domestic demand, public investment and increased consumption, supported by government transfers and rising real wages.