Economy

ECB can start cuts before Fed, says Finnish bank governor
ECB can start cuts before Fed, says Finnish bank governor

The European Central Bank did not have to take its cues from the US Federal Reserve and could start to lower rates as soon as June, Bank of Finland governor Olli Rehn told AFP. "While we don't make policy in a vacuum, the ECB is not the 13th Federal district of the US Federal Reserve," which is split into 12 zones, said Rehn.

UK inflation slows to near three-year low
UK inflation slows to near three-year low

Britain's annual inflation rate slowed to a near three-year low in April as energy prices cooled further, official data showed Wednesday, easing a cost-of-living crunch before this year's general election. - Energy cap - Inflation slowed rapidly last month after energy regulator Ofgem lowered the price cap on energy bills for most UK households to the lowest level for more than two years.

Asian markets track Wall St record ahead of Nvidia results, Fed minutes
Asian markets track Wall St record ahead of Nvidia results, Fed minutes

Asian investors fought Wednesday to revive a recent rally across markets as they turned their focus on the release later in the day of earnings from US tech darling Nvidia. After the previous day's retreat, most Asian markets rose Wednesday, with Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta all in positive territory.