Abha Power and Steel Ltd. IPO

The global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the cost-of-living crisis is proving surprisingly resilient. Inflation is falling faster than expected from its 2022 peak, with a smaller-than-expected toll on employment and activity, reflecting ... favorable supply side developments and tightening by central banks, which has kept inflation expectations anchored. At the same time, high interest rates aimed at fighting inflation and a withdrawal of fiscal support amid high debt are expected to weigh on growth in 2024. Growth resilient in major economies. Economic growth is estimated to have been stronger than expected in the second half of 2023 in the United States, and several major emerging market and developing economies. In several cases, government and private spending contributed to the upswing, with real disposable income gains supporting consumption amid still-tight––though easing––labor markets and households drawing down on their accumulated pandemic-era savings. A supply-side expansion also took hold, with a broad-based increase in labor force participation, resolution of pandemic-era supply chain problems, and declining delivery times. The rising momentum was not felt everywhere, with notably subdued growth in the euro area, reflecting weak consumer sentiment, the lingering effects of high energy prices, and weakness in interest-rate-sensitive manufacturing and business investment. Low-income economies continue to experience large output losses compared with their pre pandemic (2017–19) paths amid elevated borrowing costs. Read more