Know What's Happening in Emerging Markets
Know What's Happening in Emerging Markets
Taiwan secures LNG supply assurances from a major producer
Taiwan’s economy minister announced that a major LNG‑producing nation will provide additional cargoes on request to meet the island’s gas needs amid concerns the Iran war could disrupt Middle‑East supplies. The pledge complements a new agreement with the United States that will deliver 1.2 million tonnes of LNG each year.
China’s Communist Party frames its far‑reaching global actions as defensive, even as it expands military capabilities, maritime claims and economic influence. This self‑perception stems from a blend of historic victimhood and a belief in inherent peacefulness, which turns defensive intent into offensive conduct. The narrative shapes how Beijing justifies cyber operations, extraterritorial laws and pressure on Taiwan. Understanding this mindset is crucial for foreign governments crafting responses that address both the actions and the underlying security logic.
South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung visited the Philippines on March 3‑4, 2026, marking the 77th anniversary of diplomatic ties and signing ten memoranda of understanding across AI, cybersecurity, defense, and energy. The two leaders pledged deeper cooperation on critical minerals, leveraging...
The Mumbai‑Ahmedabad high‑speed rail corridor’s budget has surged 83%, climbing to roughly Rs 2 trillion after land‑acquisition disputes inflated costs. Japan’s Official Development Assistance, which covered 81% of the original estimate, is unlikely to be extended, forcing India to tap its Consolidated...
In a recent CNN interview, political analyst Hajjar Chemali warned that Iran’s economy is spiraling toward collapse. He highlighted hyperinflation, a depreciating rial, and shrinking oil revenues as core drivers. Chemali also noted rising unemployment and mounting public unrest as...
Senegal announced the closure of 19 government agencies, eliminating roughly 1,000 public‑sector jobs. The move is projected to save at least 55 billion CFA francs over the next three years. The decision comes as the country's debt surged to 132% of...
The Iran–Israel war is not just a regional conflict. It may be part of a much larger global escalation cycle. The latest analysis looks at the wider strategic picture and how the current war could evolve into a broader confrontation involving major...
Four years into the war in Ukraine, the conflict has entered a new phase. In his latest analysis, David Murrin looks at the strategic direction of the war, the pressures shaping both sides, and what the next stage of the conflict...
China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan designates Hong Kong as the vanguard of its “strong financial nation” strategy, shifting the city from a neutral capital bridge to a core component of Beijing’s financial security architecture. The 2026‑27 Hong Kong budget formalizes this...
The article pits India’s Digital Rupee against the EU’s Digital Euro, evaluating which central bank digital currency (CBDC) best serves commercial users. It notes the Digital Rupee’s near‑real‑time settlement, open‑source APIs, and early integration with Indian e‑commerce giants, while the...
The Supreme Court’s February 20 decision barred the president from imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, ending the Trump administration’s primary trade‑leverage tool. Until that ruling, the administration had clinched eight reciprocal trade agreements and ten framework deals...
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s four‑day visit to India in late February marked a pragmatic reset in bilateral ties, delivering a suite of agreements across energy, AI, defense, space and critical minerals. The centerpiece is a $1.91 billion uranium supply contract...
The Iran‑Hamas war is unlikely to dent global GDP, as the Gulf accounts for only 2‑3% of world output. However, the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly a quarter of seaborne oil and one‑fifth of LNG flow—poses a serious chokepoint for...
The latest Global Dispatches episode examines how the unfolding war in Iran is reshaping diplomatic activity at the United Nations. It also notes two fresh contenders entering the race to replace António Guterres as UN Secretary‑General. Cindy McCain’s departure from the...
U.S. and Israeli forces intensified airstrikes on Iranian missile sites, prompting a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf energy assets. The Strait of Hormuz is now effectively closed, with traffic down 90‑94% and more than 200 tankers...
The author released a daily newsletter while traveling from Bogotá to the U.S., highlighting a $90 individual and $350 institutional subscription model. The edition curates a dense reading list covering Mexico’s cartel‑fuelled violence, U.S. military involvement in Ecuador, the geopolitical...
China is deliberately limiting its involvement in the Iran war while maintaining momentum on high‑level U.S.–China trade talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, USTR Jamieson Greer and Vice‑Premier He Lifeng are slated to meet in Paris in mid‑March ahead of a...
Reliance Industries rerouted two fuel tankers—about 100,000 metric tons of diesel and 75,000 tons of jet fuel—from Europe to Asia as the Iran‑Israel conflict chokes supply through the Strait of Hormuz. Asian jet‑fuel margins surged to a record $80 a...
WisdomTree has introduced the WisdomTree India Earnings UCITS ETF, an earnings‑weighted fund that tracks the proprietary WisdomTree India Earnings Index. The ETF carries a 0.55% total expense ratio and is listed on Xetra, Borsa Italiana, SIX Swiss Exchange and the...
In October 2023 ASEAN and Japan launched the ASEAN‑Japan Sustainable Tourism Initiative, a practical platform that showcases real projects ranging from community‑based tourism to low‑carbon travel. The effort moves beyond policy rhetoric, emphasizing knowledge exchange, job creation, ecosystem protection, and...
Five years after its launch, Finance in Common (FiCS) now coordinates over 540 public development banks (PDBs) managing roughly $23 trillion, demonstrating that collective financing can support Sustainable Development Goals. The International Development Finance Club (IDFC) deepens this effort by aligning...
JMIC data shows routine commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has virtually stopped, with only two cargo vessels recorded in the past 24 hours versus the usual 138. The pause follows a U.S.–Israel strike on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory...
US critical minerals talks in Caracas signal a push for a formal Venezuelan mining value chain. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/us-critical-minerals-supply-chain-in.html
NEW: Kazakhstan’s central bank is set to invest up to $350M from its reserves into the crypto sector. The strategy targets crypto-linked equities and funds, not direct purchases of digital assets. The program could start in April or May. https://t.co/RlEGwWKYzs
AI adoption is gaining traction in emerging market firms, with roughly 40% reporting use of AI for internal processes or customer‑facing products. Digital‑first companies lead the wave, achieving a 64% adoption rate, while newer startups founded after 2015 exceed 50%...
International Energy Agency executive-director Fatih Birol just spoke to journalists in Brussels after meeting with EU leaders. Here his main messages from the presser: https://t.co/uzZVrc46zi
Korea is a super interesting case (even before the latest events in the Gulf). Surging current account surplus (10% of GDP), surging domestic stock market and a very weak currency are an unusual combination 1/
The International Monetary Fund announced it is prepared to assist nations whose balance‑of‑payments are strained by the escalating Middle East conflict. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that higher energy prices could lift inflation by 40 basis points and shave up...
Somalia’s banking sector has rebounded over the past decade, quadrupling assets to $1.8 billion and expanding deposits to $1.43 billion, yet it remains highly fragmented with 13 small, under‑capitalised banks. Most institutions are privately owned, Sharia‑compliant and concentrated in urban centres, leaving...
So the agenda for the Trump-Xi summit will reduce to 'beans, Boeings and barrels (of oil)? 1/
The article warns that prediction markets such as Polymarket are becoming real‑time sensors for classified military intent, citing the 2024 Maduro removal bet, a 2026 Israeli insider‑trading indictment, and the failed DARPA Policy Analysis Market. It explains how contract spikes...
The market outlook for the coming week centers on four key data releases: Japan’s final Q4‑2024 GDP estimate on Sunday, the Baden‑Wurttemberg state election in Germany on Monday, U.S. February CPI on Wednesday, and the Core PCE price index for...
The Trump‑Xi summit scheduled for late‑2026 follows a fragile 2025 Busan truce that temporarily halted tariffs and export bans. While the pause eased immediate market stress, critical issues such as transshipment tariffs, rare‑earth and high‑end semiconductor controls remain unresolved. Chinese...
Reckitt Benckiser’s CEO Kris Licht declared India and China must‑win markets as middle‑class households there now outnumber those in Europe and the United States combined. Emerging markets now represent about 42 % of Reckitt’s core net revenue, with India and China...
Why are we surprised by 👇? I wrote this nearly six years ago, in the context of why the US won’t allow India the same freedom of an undervalued currency that it accorded China: https://t.co/sZ45dDSSRv
#IndiaWatch🇮🇳: After the rupee hit a record low, India’s central bank sold dollars. Then, the Rupee SURGED, with the biggest gain in Asia today. https://t.co/rzGC4rj8Kv
The interview with Oleg Itskhoki examines how Russia employed financial repression in 2022 to weather the largest post‑war sanctions package. By banning cash withdrawals and obligating exporters to surrender foreign‑currency earnings, Moscow halted a ruble freefall and stabilized its fiscal...
The Asian Development Bank announced a $5.4 billion financing plan for Kazakhstan, a $1.1 billion package for Tajikistan, and a $2.5 billion commitment to Azerbaijan, all aimed at strengthening the Middle Corridor trade route. The bank also launched a technical assistance program to...
Iran’s recent drone and missile barrage has struck the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, with more than 95% of projectiles intercepted by Gulf defenses. The attacks have shaken public confidence but quickly gave way to a resilient mood as...
New Zealand faces a shifting global order as Donald Trump’s America‑first agenda threatens the rules‑based system the country has long relied on. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for middle powers to devise practical “workarounds” highlights the urgency for smaller...
The U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran has rapidly expanded beyond the Middle East, affecting more than a dozen nations. Azerbaijan reported Iranian drones over its Nakhichevan exclave, while Tehran denied involvement and blamed Israel. A U.S. submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship...
GCC banks have shown resilience as the region endures fresh hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran. Central Bank of the UAE reported banking assets above AED 5.42 trillion with a 17 % capital adequacy ratio and 146.6 % liquidity coverage ratio, both...
The US dollar still dominates Africa’s trade, finance and debt, but China’s renminbi is gaining traction. African policymakers have launched the Pan‑African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to enable local‑currency cross‑border payments, yet adoption remains modest. Since 2024, renminbi usage...
At the opening of China’s National People’s Congress, PLA officers listened intently to the government work report, signalling renewed loyalty to the Party. The display comes as Xi Jinping presides over the session with a calm demeanor, despite a sweeping...
"I know I said last April that 'as the debtor country, America has all the leverage v. China'...& I know we are actively trying to choke out both you AND Russia...but could you buy less oil from Russia & more...
This chart shows the = home price an American household on a median income can afford. More at today's Chartbook Top Links: https://t.co/1bNlhKyjp5
The Indian government is likely to let central sector and centrally‑sponsored schemes run in their existing format beyond April 1, as ministries have not finished a comprehensive review tied to the Sixteenth Finance Commission. The evaluation, which includes third‑party reports, aims...
The Iran War - Day 6: Energy Disruption, Regime Fragmentation, and Ukraine You are watching a full preview of Peter's coverage of the Iran War. Join our Analyst Tier on Patreon to access daily videos and analysis of...
Uzbekistan’s annual inflation ticked up to 7.3% in February, a modest 0.1 percentage‑point rise from January and still 2.8 points below the 10.1% recorded a year earlier. Monthly inflation eased to 0.6% month‑on‑month, while core inflation rose to 0.5% month‑on‑month, pushing...
A high‑level French embassy delegation toured Zambia’s Kalumbila Multi‑Facility Economic Zone to assess investment prospects in the country’s mining supply chain. Hosted by First Quantum Minerals, the visit highlighted the zone’s 5,000‑hectare footprint, fiscal incentives and ready infrastructure. Kalumbila MFEZ’s...
Peru’s interim president José Jerí was censured and removed by Congress after just four months, amid ethical scandals, and succeeded by José María Balcázar. His ouster comes less than two months before a historic April 12 election featuring a record...
