April 7, 2026
United States:
US Core Capital Goods Orders Rise Ahead of Middle East War
US orders for business equipment rebounded in February, suggesting companies were moving forward on investment plans before the Iran war.
Bookings for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a proxy for investment in equipment, increased 0.6% after a downwardly revised 0.4% decline a month earlier, Commerce Department figures showed Tuesday.
Europe:
Investor Confidence in Euro-Zone Economy Slumps to One-Year Low
Investor confidence in the euro-area economy dropped to the lowest in a year due to the Iran war, casting doubt on the region’s nascent recovery.
The Sentix index sank 16.1. points to -19.2 in April as expectations and a measure of current conditions suffered, a release Tuesday showed. The gauge is based on a April 2-4 poll among 1,047 investors.
Asia:
China Ramps Up Gold Buying as Middle East War Dents Prices
China’s central bank bought the most gold in more than a year in March, demonstrating that a key pillar of support for the precious metal remains intact as prices come under pressure amid the Iran war.
Bullion held by the People’s Bank of China rose by 160,000 troy ounces last month, or about 5 tons, according to data on Tuesday. The central bank, among the world’s largest buyers, has added to holdings for 17 months straight.
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