Benchmarks

Merz won the German election. Here’s what it means for Europe.
POLITICO breaks down what the conservatives’ victory means for EU policy and cooperation ― from nuclear weapons to cannabis.

EU shoots down rumors it will revive divisive gas price cap

The menace of deindustrialization in the EU — and what we can do about it

Stocks tumble, dollar surges on Trump trade war

Trump vs. Xi: Who Will Win the Trade War?

US company behind Teflon tries to block EU’s forever chemicals ban, claims NGO

Markets are rewarding Meloni for resisting French temptation
It’s not just Trump: Economic malaise and political chaos are battering Europe’s currency too
Home-grown problems are hurting the single currency, and the markets are looking to the ECB for a remedy.
Euro and pound tumble as Trump storms to victory — stocks don’t know whether to laugh or cry
Big gains for defense and health stocks, but it’s a bleak day if you’re driving the green transition — or lending to Mexicans.
To Ursula, with love: Paris sends Brussels the anti-Breton
France’s incoming commissioner is a Macron loyalist who prefers backroom dealing to attention-grabbing stunts.
What’s driving Kamala Harris’ surge in the polls
Harris has made eye-popping gains with traditional, core Democratic base voters while also appealing to independents.
France faces worst wheat harvest ‘in the last 40 years’
Farming unions are calling on the government to help wheat producers get through the year.
European markets open higher on relief at French election results
Stocks bounce sharply as the first round of voting leaves Le Pen’s National Rally looking short of securing a majority in parliament.
Euro plunges, eyes parity with dollar after Lagarde’s go-it-alone pledge
The currency weakened as the ECB signals it plans start cutting rates before the Fed.
The EU has a €30 billion hidden fees problem
Last year, European consumers and businesses lost €30 billion to hidden international payment fees. The Payment Services Regulation has to close the loopholes that have enabled these fees.
Senators unveil long-awaited border deal
It faces an uncertain vote in the Senate this week and even longer odds in the House.
30 things Joe Biden did as president you might have missed
Drone armies, expanded overtime pay and over-the-counter birth control pills are just some of the new things Biden has ushered in as president that you might not have heard about.
Georgia PM Irakli Garibashvili resigns
His departure comes a month after billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili returned to the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party as honorary chair.
The Middle East is on fire: What you need to know about the Red Sea crisis
Iran wants to take its fight against Israel global — but just how bad could things get?
Climate summit makes ‘historic progress’ — but the world still can’t quit oil
The contradictions in nations’ attitudes toward fossil fuels were at the forefront of the talks in Dubai.
Bulgaria’s Russian gas games rile Europe
Critics accuse Bulgaria of punishing Russia to curry favor with Brussels, while quietly helping Moscow regain its grip on Europe’s energy supplies.
Europe braces for a winter of two wars
With fighting raging in the Middle East, the EU is hoping it can avoid a repeat of last year’s energy crisis.
No more rate hikes (for now)! ECB set to take its foot off the brake
As Israel attacks add to uncertainty, ECB will stress data dependence while zooming in on balance sheet debate.
Franco-German disagreement stalls EU fiscal rules reform
Fiery meeting in Luxembourg sets the scene for more difficult negotiations in the weeks to come.
War in Israel imperils Europe’s fragile economic recovery
Just as inflation is getting under control and growth starting to recover, a wider Middle East conflict would pose significant problems.
Poland’s government under fire for massaging price data before election
Opposition claims fuel and medicine prices were artificially lowered to ease inflation ahead of the October 15 general election.
UK economy grows 0.2 percent thanks to June surge
Surprise rebound in manufacturing raises likelihood of another Bank of England rate rise.
Britain’s post-Brexit trade alliance is a triumph … for Japan
Tokyo is the biggest winner of the UK’s accession to the CPTPP.
Ending animal testing for good
Regulatory change needed to unleash animal-free safety science
Fitch warns it could still cut US credit rating even after debt deal
“Repeated political standoffs” over the US government’s borrowing limit “lowers confidence in governance on fiscal and debt matters,” Fitch said.