Fitch says US Medicare and Social Security spending will rise by nearly one percentage point of GDP by 2032, heightening fiscal pressure.

Japanese firms are increasingly using power futures to hedge fuel-price risk as the Iran crisis roils energy markets. On the European Energy Exchange (EEX), combined July daytime, weekend and weekly volumes nearly doubled YoY to just over 10,000 contracts, a second consecutive monthly record. EEX accounted for about 97% of the Japanese power futures market in 2025. Intraday contract prices hit record highs in June and July. Leo Takai, EEX research and management manager, said the Iran crisis has made fuel markets unpredictable, prompting participants to shift trading toward futures—particularly intraday contracts.

New York Fed trading desk plans roughly $17 bln of reinvestment purchases; will not conduct reserve-management purchases from Aug. 14 through Sept. 14.