Japan’s broadening inflationary pressures test BOJ’s dovish stance

By Leika Kihara and Takahiko Wada TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s consumer inflation held steady above the central bank’s target in March and an index excluding fuel costs rose at the fastest annual pace in four decades, data showed, indicating broadening price pressure in the world’s third-largest economy. The data may keep alive market expectations that the…

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U.N. chief calls for three-day ceasefire in Sudan as thousands flee

By Khalid Abdelaziz and Nafisa Eltahir KHARTOUM (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to Sudan’s warring factions to observe a ceasefire over the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday to allow civilians to reach safe areas as rival forces battled for a sixth day on Thursday. Thousands of civilians streamed out of the capital Khartoum as…

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Japan’s factory activity shrinks at slowest pace in six months – PMI

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s manufacturing activity shrank at the slowest pace in six months in April on a softer decline in sales, while the service-sector stayed solid, a preliminary survey showed on Friday, suggesting a patchy post-COVID economic recovery. The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to a seasonally adjusted…

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