Richmond Fed President Barkin said inflation has run above the Fed's 2% target for nearly six years and that risks to the central bank's dual mandate are concentrated on the inflation side. He said firms face broad cost increases and plan to pass some costs to consumers. With demand remaining strong and inflation elevated, the direction toward tighter policy is clear but should be pursued cautiously. Barkin warned that weaker-than-expected AI progress could damp business investment, equity price

Sources said BASF and Evonik CEOs and CFOs held talks last weekend.

Capital Economics senior Asia economist Gareth Leather says Philippine GDP growth slowed in Q3, driven mainly by a household spending squeeze from higher energy prices, though signs indicate the corruption-related drag is receding. Other Q3 components, notably exports, were more encouraging. The government is pushing to restart stalled infrastructure projects but may tighten fiscal policy to rein in a rising debt-to-GDP ratio; investment appears past its worst but recovery could be slow amid weak corporate confidence. Capital Economics forecasts roughly 3.0% GDP growth this year and says the weakness supports the view that, despite rising inflation, the central bank may have finished its tightening cycle.