2025-09-30 00:28

One opinion said 'time to raise rates again' Another opinion called for rate hike at regular intervals Some called for caution, wanted to see 'a little more hard data' Sept hawkish split, Noguchi speech raise Oct rate-hike bets BOJ tankan, Ueda's speech in focus for clues on rate-hike timing TOKYO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan board members debated the feasibility of raising interest rates in the near term with some suggesting the time for such a move may be approaching, a summary of opinions at the central bank's September policy meeting showed on Tuesday. Many opinions at the meeting called for vigilance over mounting inflationary pressure, the summary showed, adding to signs of a hawkish shift on the board that heightens the chance of a rate increase in October. Sign up here. "Judging solely from the perspective of Japan's economic conditions, it may be time to consider raising the policy interest rate again, given that it has been more than six months since the last rate hike," one opinion was quoted as saying. With uncertainty over U.S. tariffs and other external headwinds receding, the BOJ has scope to raise Japan's real interest rate that remains low by global standards, another opinion said, according to the summary. At the September 18-19 meeting, the BOJ kept interest rates steady at 0.5%, but two of the nine board members dissented and instead unsuccessfully called for a hike to 0.75%. The last time it raised rates was in January. Since then, the BOJ has signalled a pause to scrutinise the impact of U.S. tariffs on Japan's export-reliant economy. The dissent by board members Hajime Takata and Naoki Tamura was seen by markets as a prelude to a near-term increase in borrowing costs. In a speech on Monday, dovish member Asahi Noguchi said the need for a rate hike was increasing "more than ever." Markets are now pricing in roughly a 60% chance of a rate hike at the BOJ's next meeting on October 29-30. Investors are focusing on the BOJ's "tankan" quarterly business survey, due on Wednesday, and Governor Kazuo Ueda's speech on Friday, for clues on the timing of the next rate hike. If economic and price developments do not deviate much from the anticipated path, the BOJ should raise rates at "somewhat regular intervals," a third opinion said, adding the tankan and corporate first-half earnings reports may help to decide whether a hike would be appropriate. Of the opinions on monetary policy, five suggested resuming rate hikes in the foreseeable future in a sign of broadening calls within the board for a near-term increase. Some, however, called for caution. One member said it would not be too late to raise rates after assessing "a little more hard data" as Japan's domestic demand tends to be vulnerable to external shocks, the summary showed. "A rate hike at this point, which would come as a surprise to the market, should be avoided," another opinion showed. On the price outlook, many pointed to inflationary pressure with one saying firms were continuing to increase prices even as rises in import costs dissipate, the summary showed. "There seems to be a higher likelihood the cost pass-through to food prices will continue, taking into account data and anecdotal information," another opinion showed. Prices of 20,381 food items are expected to rise this year, up 62.8% from last year, a survey by private think tank Teikoku Databank showed on Wednesday, a sign food inflation was accelerating, adding to the strain on household budgets. The BOJ's summary, released several market days after each policy meeting, does not identify the names of the members who made the comments. https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/boj-board-debated-possibility-near-term-rate-hike-meeting-summary-shows-2025-09-30/

2025-09-30 00:01

Sept 30 (Reuters) - Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) , opens new tab said on Tuesday that it has agreed with Tesla (TSLA.O) , opens new tab to make changes to the pricing mechanism in their long-term offtake agreement. The pricing changes come as the lithium miner looks to move away from lithium hydroxide indices to spodumene concentrate, part of its bigger goal to be exposed to a "basket" of pricing references across main lithium products such as lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate and spodumene concentrate. Sign up here. Liontown clarified that there will not be any changes to the remaining volumes under the agreement for the remainder of the term, which ends in 2029. The company is also in talks with Ford Motor (F.N) , opens new tab to revise their offtake and loan agreements, which Liontown said could change contract quantities, purchase commitments for future deliveries, and re-profiling of debt arrangements. https://www.reuters.com/en/australias-liontown-resources-revise-tesla-offtake-deal-pricing-talks-with-ford-2025-09-29/

2025-09-29 23:10

LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Prices at British retailers rose at the fastest pace since February 2024 this month as food costs continued to increase rapidly and a decline for non-food items appeared close to an end, industry data showed on Tuesday. Overall shop prices in September were 1.4% higher than a year earlier, up from a 0.9% inflation rate in August, the British Retail Consortium said, potentially adding to Britain's broader inflation problem. Sign up here. Food price growth remained at 4.2% while non-food prices dropped by 0.1%, a smaller annual decline than the 0.8% fall recorded in August. "Households are finding shopping increasingly expensive," BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson said. "The impact on retailers and their supply chain of both global factors and higher national insurance and wage costs is playing out in prices for consumers." Finance minister Rachel Reeves announced an increase in employers' mandatory social security contributions in her annual budget last year, drawing widespread complaints from retailers. The BRC urged Reeves to avoid fresh levies that would push up prices in her next budget in November. The Bank of England forecasts that the broader consumer prices index - which covers a wider range of goods and services than the BRC measure - will rise to 4% this month, up from 3.8% in August and double the central bank's target. Policymakers are divided about whether a slowing jobs market is enough to ensure inflation will return to target, or if they need to slow or stop their cuts to interest rates. BoE Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden said on Monday that food prices seemed to be having an outsize effect on public perceptions of inflation, especially since a surge in 2022. Dairy and beef prices appeared most affected by farms' rising energy and labour costs, while a new government levy on packaging would push up prices in October, the BRC said. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-shop-prices-rise-fastest-pace-since-february-2024-2025-09-29/

2025-09-29 22:20

SAO PAULO, Sep 29 (Reuters) - More Brazilians have reduced their coffee consumption, according to a bi-annual study carried out with over 4,000 people in Latin America's largest economy reported on Monday. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, is also the second largest coffee consumer, behind the U.S. Sign up here. Earlier this year, global coffee prices hit record highs due to supply issues in producers such as Brazil and Vietnam. In Brazil, coffee has been among the foods and drinks whose prices have risen the most within the country's official inflation index IPCA in last two years. BY THE NUMBERS Some 24% of respondents said they have reduced their coffee consumption, according to the study, commissioned by the Brazilian coffee industry lobby Abic to research institute Axxus. That was up substantially from 3% in 2023, 5% in 2021 and 7% in 2019. Meanwhile, 2% of respondents said they have increased their coffee consumption in 2025, far lower than 16% in 2023, 49% in 2021 and 36% in 2019. Respondents who said they drink more than six cups of coffee per day fell to 26% in 2025, from 29% in the previous edition of the study. KEY QUOTES "The survey showed an important drop in the intensity of consumption," said Sergio Pereira, one of the coordinators of the study. "We also observed a greater weight of price in the purchasing decision," said Pereira, also a scientific researcher at the Coffee Center of the Campinas Agronomic Institute, a partner in the study together with the Center for Industrial Economics and Technology at University of Campinas. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/more-people-cutting-coffee-consumption-2nd-largest-market-brazil-study-shows-2025-09-29/

2025-09-29 22:06

Countries cut overseas oil and gas finance by up to 78% Follows Clean Energy Transition Partnership struck in 2021 NGOs warn of backsliding; clean energy investment lagging LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Public funding for international fossil fuel deals fell by up to 78% last year across a coalition of 35 countries, though members of the group, including Germany and the United States, approved new projects, research by a group of NGOs showed on Tuesday. Countries agreed atUN climate talks in 2021 to cease the practice by the end of 2022 and prioritise investment in clean energy instead. The agreement, known as the Clean Energy Transition Partnership, covers export finance, development finance and official development assistance. Sign up here. Tuesday's report from think tank the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and NGOs Oil Change International and Friends of the Earth U.S. said trade wars, rising geopolitical tensions and the United States' decision to withdraw from the coalition and prioritise oil, fossil gas and coal production put future efforts at risk. "Multilateral cooperation on climate and energy is more fragile than ever," the report says. "Furthermore, the significant reduction in support for international fossil fuels has not led to a corresponding increase in support for clean energy technologies." In 2024, overseas fossil fuel financing had decreased by up to 78%, or between $11.3 billion and $16.3 billion, compared with 2019-2021 levels, before the agreement was signed. Germany, Switzerland and the United States were among the members to jointly approve $10.9 billion in new fossil fuel financing from 2023 to 2024, the report added. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/green-energy-pact-has-curbed-fossil-fuel-funding-2025-09-29/

2025-09-29 21:55

US government shutdown may start Wednesday, causing widespread disruptions Shutdown may halt FAA hiring, training, and safety initiatives Air traffic controller shortage worsens with potential furloughs WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - U.S. airlines warned on Monday that a partial federal government shutdown could strain American aviation and slow flights, as air traffic controllers and security officers would be forced to work without pay and other functions would be halted. Airline trade group Airlines for America, which represents United Airlines (UAL.O) , opens new tab, Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) , opens new tab, American Airlines (AAL.O) , opens new tab, Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) , opens new tab and others, warned that if funding lapses, "the system may need to slow down, reducing efficiency" and impacting travelers. Sign up here. The warning about air travel highlights the latest potential collateral damage from the political dispute in Washington over government funding. "When federal employees who manage air traffic, inspect aircraft and secure our nation’s aviation system are furloughed or working without pay, the entire industry and millions of Americans feel the strain," the group said. Air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees who staff airport checkpoints are among the government workers who would be required to keep working but would not be paid. In 2019, during a 35-day shutdown, the number of absences by controllers and TSA officers rose as workers missed paychecks, extending checkpoint wait times at some airports. The Federal Aviation Administration was forced to slow air traffic in New York, which put pressure on lawmakers to quickly end the standoff. The shutdown is expected to begin on Wednesday unless there is an agreement between the Democrats and Republicans on a government funding bill. Congressional Democratic leaders left a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday without reaching a deal. In a separate letter, airline groups, aviation unions, manufacturers, airports and other aviation groups warned shutdowns force the FAA to "suspend air traffic controller and technician hiring and training, delay the implementation of safety initiatives, postpone maintenance and repair work to critical air traffic equipment, suspend air carrier pilot check rides, delay airworthy inspections for aircraft, defer the analysis of voluntary safety reporting, and suspend work on modernization programs." An extensive shutdown could delay the FAA's certification of the Boeing (BA.N) , opens new tab 737 MAX 7 and slow the $12.5 billion overhaul of air traffic control. The FAA said that under its shutdown plan released in March it would not be able to conduct air traffic controller hiring or field training of air traffic controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Friday he was concerned a shutdown could jeopardize air traffic training and the modernization effort. Hundreds of air traffic control trainees at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City could also be furloughed "causing significant delays in the training pipeline and worsen the ongoing air traffic controller staffing crisis," the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said, adding "a government shutdown of any length could cause significant setbacks." The FAA is about 3,800 controllers short of targeted staffing levels. A persistent shortage of controllers has delayed flights and many are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/major-airlines-warn-government-funding-lapse-could-strain-aviation-slow-flights-2025-09-29/