Warnings of massive job layoffs and another recession were all the talk when sequestration began in March. But so far the impact of government cutbacks seems a lot less than was predicted.
The policy measures taken in Japan to revive economic growth are "quite dangerous," billionaire investor George Soros told CNBC in an interview on Friday.
CNBC's Bertha Coombs discusses the day's activity in the commodities markets. Moves by the Bank of Japan sent the dollar higher and oil lower, but nat gas inventory draw downs pushed natural gas higher.
The South Korean stock exchange, the Kospi, has only fallen about 3 percent in the last month despite the threats from North Korea, reports CNBC's Seema Mody.
Global central banks are accelerating mostly ineffective policies because they feel they have no choice but to keep trying, Pimco's Mohamed El-Erian told CNBC.
The FMHR traders have the play on Carnival, Lululemon, and Apple. Also, Alain Bokobza, Societe Generale, explains why he believes the bull rally is on its last leg.
CNBC's Bob Pisani and Art Cashin, of UBS, discuss the Bank of Japan's bazooka and what it means to the global economy. You'll have to watch how people in the region react and whether it will start a currency war, says Cashin.
Martin Wolf, chief editorial commentator at the Financial Times, tells CNBC that China's slowing growth could be particularly challenging for the government as it is forced to move towards a very different economic model.
Shawn Matthews, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, provides his global perspective on the markets, amid geopolitical tensions and ahead of Friday's jobs report.
The number of planned layoffs at U.S. firms fell in March but downsizing by retail companies still helped the first quarter rack up the largest amount of cuts in over a year.