U.S. debt surges close to $37 trillion after ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ -Elon Musk sounds alarm

Following the passage of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill, the U.S. national debt has officially soared to nearly $37 trillion, with projections suggesting it could hit $40 trillion by year’s end. The bill, which extends 2017 tax cuts and introduces expansive spending on defence, border security, …

U.S. debt and deficits are generating concerns about potential threats to the economy and financial markets

The federal debt reportedly reached $34.5 trillion, marking an increase of approximately $11 trillion since March 2020. This surge has sparked discussions among government and financial leaders, with a notable Wall Street firm questioning whether the associated costs could threaten the stock market’s upward trend. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the public debt will …

Moody’s Downgrades U.S. Credit Rating Amid Rising Debt Concerns

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded the United States’ sovereign credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, citing concerns over the country’s growing debt burden and rising interest costs. This marks the first time Moody’s has lowered the U.S. rating, aligning it with previous downgrades by Standard & Poor’s (2011) and Fitch Ratings (2023). The downgrade reflects …

Credit card debt in the U.S. reaches new high of $1 trillion

Problem? Americans are using their credit cards more than ever, pushing the total balance to over $1 trillion for the first time in history, according to a report from the New York Federal Reserve. The report, released August 2023, showed that credit card balances rose by $45 billion to $1.03 trillion in the second quarter …

Are U.S. Markets in an ‘Everything Bubble’?

The phrase ‘everything bubble‘ has gained traction among investors and commentators who fear that multiple asset classes in the United States are simultaneously overvalued. Unlike past episodes where excess was concentrated in one sector—such as technology in the late 1990s or housing in the mid‑2000s—the current concern is that equities, property, and credit markets are …

Concerns about credit contagion are back as troubles in U.S. regional banks shake global markets

On Friday 17th October 2025, a fresh wave of credit concerns erupted across financial markets, triggered by troubling disclosures from U.S. regional lenders Zions Bancorporation and Western Alliance. Both banks revealed significant exposure to deteriorating commercial real estate loans, reigniting fears of systemic fragility just months after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature …

Why the U.S. Has Bailed Out Argentina: A $20 Billion Gamble with Global Implications

In a move that has stunned economists and ignited political debate, the United States has extended a $20 billion bailout to Argentina—a country long plagued by inflation, debt crises, and political volatility. The lifeline, structured as a currency swap between the U.S. Treasury and Argentina’s central bank, aims to stabilise the peso and prevent a …

Debt and trade issues weaken UK growth – so says the OECD

The latest OECD report presents a cautious outlook for the UK economy, predicting slower growth amidst global uncertainties and domestic fiscal challenges. The UK’s GDP is projected to grow by 1.3% in 2025 and 1% in 2026, reflecting a slight downward revision. According to the OECD, trade tensions, particularly U.S. tariffs, are disrupting global supply …

What’s going on in the U.S. bond market?

The U.S. bond market is experiencing some turbulence due to rising Treasury yields and concerns over government debt. Investors are demanding higher yields because they’re worried about the GOP’s tax-cut plans, which could lead to increased borrowing and a larger deficit. Additionally, the recent Trump tax bill has caused Treasury bond yields to surge, as …

Fed lowers U.S. interest rate by 0.25% November 2024

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has reduced its benchmark overnight borrowing rate by 0.25%, bringing it to a target range of 4.50%-4.75%. This move follows September’s significant 0.5% cut. The overnight borrowing rate, while primarily affecting interbank lending rates, also typically impacts consumer debt products including mortgages, credit cards, auto and other loans.

Slower and smaller-than-expected rate cuts. A slowing U.S. economy and a potential AI bubble – does this all add up to a coming bear market?

The stock markets mix of toil and trouble is in the cauldron ready for a bear market in 2025, if not before. Why? These concerns are now all combining, and it will likely add-up to a bear market of around 25% in 2025 (this is my best guess). Remember – make your own decisions and …

Recent U.S. data is indicating inflation is proving stubborn and isn’t going away anytime soon

Inflation has become a persistent challenge for the Fed The battle against inflation persists, gradually impacting the U.S. economy and presenting substantial challenges for the Federal Reserve. Despite concerted efforts to control it, inflation remains stubbornly remains, leaving policymakers in a dilemma – to stimulate economic growth or to curb spiraling prices. Let the data …

America and its $1 trillion credit card debt

U.S. citizens have accumulated a record-breaking $1 trillion in credit card debt. The Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes through 2023 have caused average interest rates for credit cards to spike to more than 22%. Rates on retail credit cards are even higher, nearing 29% on average. Despite rising costs and higher borrowing rates, a record number of …

U.S. credit card balances climbed to a $1.08 trillion record in Q3 2023

U.S. citizens now owe $1.08 trillion on their credit cards, according to a new report on household debt from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. U.S. Household Debt Rises to $17.29 Trillion Led by Mortgage, Credit Card, and Student Loan Balances Total household debt rose by 1.3% to reach $17.29 trillion in the third quarter of 2023, according to …

U.S. Treasury to borrow $776 billion in last 3 months of 2023

In an announcement Monday 30th October 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department said it will be looking to borrow $776 billion. The Treasury said it expects to borrow $816 billion between January and March 2024. The announcement comes 10 days after the government said the fiscal 2023 budget deficit would be about $1.7 trillion. U.S. debt …

U.S. ten-year treasury yield breaches 5% for the first time since 2007

The U.S. Treasury yields are the interest rates that the U.S. government pays to borrow money for different periods of time. The 10-year Treasury yield is one of the most important indicators of the state of the economy and the expectations of inflation and growth. On 23rd October 2023, the 10-year Treasury yield rose above 5% …

U.S. holds interest rates at 5.25% – 5.5%, but expect higher rates for longer

Fed holds steady The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in a decision released Wednesday 20th September 2023, while also indicating it still expects one more hike before the end of the year and fewer cuts than previously indicated next year. That final increase, if realised, would be it for now according to data released …

Fitch downgrades U.S. credit rating to AA+ over fiscal concerns

Must try harder The U.S. has lost its top credit rating from Fitch Ratings, one of the three major credit rating agencies, due to its recent political gridlock over the debt ceiling and deteriorating fiscal situation. How much does this matter? Fitch re-calculated the U.S.’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) from AAA to AA+ …

The staying power of gold!

Gold’s recent surge—hitting over $3,550 per ounce (4th September 2025)—isn’t just a speculative blip. It’s a convergence of deep structural shifts and short-term catalysts that are reshaping how investors, central banks, and governments think about value and stability. Here’s why 🧭 Strategic Drivers (Long-Term Forces) Central Bank Buying: Nearly half of surveyed central banks reportedly …

Well – that didn’t last long – is the ‘love in’ over already?

Elon Musk has dramatically distanced himself from Donald Trump’s latest tax-and-spending bill, branding it a ‘disgusting abomination’ in a fiery post on X. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, once a key financial backer of Trump’s 2024 campaign, has now turned against the administration’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, warning that it will explode the federal deficit …

Has AI Investment Gone Too Far Too Fast? A Quick Look at Hype Reality and Returns

Few technologies have attracted capital as aggressively as artificial intelligence. In just a few years, AI has shifted from a promising research frontier to the centrepiece of global corporate strategy. Yet as investment has surged, so too has scepticism. Many analysts now argue that the pace of spending has outstripped both practical readiness and measurable …

Nikkei surges past 48,000 as Japan embraces political shift

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index soared past the symbolic 48,000 mark on Monday 6th October 2025 in intraday trading, marking a new all-time high and underscoring investor confidence in the country’s shifting political landscape. The index closed at 47944.76, up approximately 4.15% from Friday’s session, driven by a wave of optimism surrounding the Liberal Democratic …