* US approves $2.7 billion in new aid for Ukraine
* Fed Vice Chair Brainard says central bank is committed to taming inflation
* Fed’s Beige Book: US economy’s recent activity mostly unchanged since early July
* China extends covid-19 lockdowns in megacity Chengdu
* Climate change is expected to exacerbate disruptions for global supply chains
* Japan’s economy expanded more than initially estimated in Q2
* So-called quiet quitters reportedly make up half of US workforce
* Bond market decline weighs on Treasuries and corporates
* Considering the case for a ‘soft landing’ for the US economy
* Crude oil (US benchmark price) falls to seven-month low on Wednesday:

Emerging markets face elevated risk of recession as the US dollar strengthens, according to a paper discussed at a Brookings Institution conference this week. “The dollar has strengthened considerably since mid-2021 and a contractionary phase of the global financial cycle is now under way,” the authors write.

Global water supply shortages are on the rise, prompting new focus on companies in the industry. “As these demands for clean water increase, companies involved in water-related business activities stand to grow in the coming years,” advises Tianyin Cheng, a senior director at S&P Dow Jones Indices.