The ECB raised rates into a slowdown. Then the war ended.
The ECB's own data shows oil assumptions up 55% and energy inflation revised up nine points. It hiked rates on June 11. The next day, the war ended.
Nick Dimmer
Nick Dimmer writes Life Sufficient, an independent publication on geopolitics, money, privacy, and resilience. A software engineer by background, he reads central bank documents and government reports so you don't have to.
Global Brief: Jun 8 – Jun 14
The World Bank says global growth just hit its lowest point since COVID. The ECB hiked rates. Xi visited Pyongyang. One conflict ties them together.
Global Brief: Jun 1 – Jun 7
Gulf strikes escalate, Khamenei reported dead, and both Washington and Brussels race to lock AI into their security playbooks.
Global Brief: May 25 – May 31
A Russian drone hit Romanian soil. The US signed minerals deals on two continents. Oil reserves are at record drawdown. What the pattern signals.
How a distant war reaches your savings: the ECB's May warning
A war closed the Strait of Hormuz, and the ECB's latest review traces how the shock travels through bond markets and shadow banks to reach your savings.
Global Brief: May 18 – May 24
Iran sanctions tighten as Rubio hints at a Hormuz deal. A drone strike on the UAE's nuclear plant crosses a new line. What the pattern means.
Why Europe's central bank is suddenly worried about water
Three out of four euros euro area banks lend goes to companies that depend on nature. The ECB's own data says a drought is now a banking risk.
Global Brief: May 11 – May 17
Trump and Xi agreed on a new strategic framework in Beijing. Days later, Israel and Lebanon sat down for their first peace talks. Three deals, one pattern.
Smart Home Security Risks: What IoT Actually Exposes
Smart home devices ship with weak defaults and rarely get patched. Here's what actually puts you at risk, and the five fixes that meaningfully help.
Global Brief: May 4 – May 10
The US broke Iran's Hormuz blockade while Russia threatened to strike Kyiv. Europe outlined an 800 billion euro independence plan. One pattern connects them all.
Europe's banks are more divided than you think — and the ECB just said so out loud
The ECB just told the European Commission its Banking Union is half-built. A 95% internal tariff, no shared deposit insurance, and a deregulation fight most Europeans know nothing about.
Global Brief: Apr 27 – May 3
Washington unleashed its biggest Iran sanctions week yet as Middle East energy prices reversed the ECB's progress on inflation. Three stories, one pattern.