European Inflation, Italy Clutches Budget, Asean Summit: Eco Day

(Bloomberg) -- Welcome to Wednesday, Europe. Here’s the latest news and analysis from Bloomberg Economics to help get your day started:

• European companies have found a way to boost prices even amid waning confidence and sputtering economic growth
• Hanging in. Italy is holding firm on its controversial budget, presenting a dilemma for the EU
• Rethinking duties. The U.S. looks likely to hold off on imposing fresh tariffs on imported cars as officials review the implications; meanwhile, a top White House official said the U.S. and China are talking “at all levels” on trade
• Summit happenings. The White House is doing some courting of Asian friends at the Asean summit this week in Singapore in a snub to China, while Southeast Asia pushes back on protectionism; catch up on all the latest in our Summit Update
• Decision time. It’s a busy week for central-bank decisions in Asia, with the Philippines considering another interest-rate hike while others appear ready to hold

• Academic reads. The calm in a housing cool-off, developing countries’ reactions to trade disputes, and more in the weekly economics research roundup

To contact the reporter on this story: Michelle Jamrisko in Singapore at mjamrisko@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nasreen Seria at nseria@bloomberg.net, Karthikeyan Sundaram, Devidutta Tripathy

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