Tue, 21-Oct-2025

China can consider increasing its budget deficits, ex-finance minister says

China

Some local governments have distributed consumption vouchers to encourage consumption. But those actions remain insufficient. China will have difficulty achieving its official 2022 economic growth target of about 5.5 percent. If more deficit spending is required to fund assistance for small firms, China can consider it, according to a former finance minister on Saturday. Lou … Read more

Oil drops by 9% on worries about demand destruction

Oil

Global benchmark Brent crude settles at $102.77 a barrel, losing $10.73, or 9.5%. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude ends 8.2%, or $8.93, lower at $99.50 a barrel. Fears of potential lockdowns in China that could deepen cuts to oil consumption. Oil fates sank alongside gaseous petrol, fuel and values, which frequently act as request marker … Read more