Reuters

RIGA (Reuters) - Around 90% of the revenues generated from Russian frozen assets should be spent on arms purchases for Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday, supporting an earlier EU proposal to use Russian assets' interest payments to boost Ukraine defence.

"It is important that we also agree that this money can be used for arms purchases not only in the EU, but for purchases worldwide," Scholz told journalists after a meeting with members of... (continue reading...)

By Howard Schneider

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Reuters) - The current level for the Federal Reserve's benchmark interest rate should cool the economy enough to return inflation to the central bank's 2% target, with the strength of the job market giving officials time to wait, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said on Monday.

"I am optimistic that today’s restrictive level of rates can take the edge off demand in order to bring... (continue reading...)

SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates will begin negotiations over a free trade agreement, the Pacific nation's trade minister said on Tuesday.

Trade Minister Todd McClay met his UAE counterpart in Dubai to announce the start of talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, according to a statement from his office on Tuesday.

"The UAE is an important bilateral partner for New Zealand, and today’s launch... (continue reading...)

By Marcela Ayres and Bernardo Caram

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Senior officials in Brazil's economic team are signaling a need to curb pension spending in order to shore up public accounts, although their biggest challenge may be convincing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to take such a measure.

Despite a sweeping 2019 pension reform, spending on retirements and pension benefits continues to surge, affected by an aging population and Lula's... (continue reading...)

By Davide Barbuscia

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Office of Financial Research (OFR), a U.S. Treasury Department-based research powerhouse, said on Monday it has adopted a final rule that will allow it to collect data on certain transactions in the repurchase agreement (repo) market.

Most hedge fund activity in repo markets - where banks and other players such as hedge funds borrow short-term loans backed by Treasuries and other securities -... (continue reading...)