Know What's Happening in Emerging Markets
Know What's Happening in Emerging Markets
Taiwan Secures New LNG Supply Commitments Amid Middle‑East Tensions
Taiwan’s economy minister said a major LNG‑producing country has pledged to meet the island’s natural‑gas needs and will provide extra cargoes on request. The agreement with the United States adds a delivery of 1.2 million tonnes of LNG each year, diversifying Taiwan’s import mix as the Iran war threatens Middle‑East supplies.
A Russian scholar argues that the US‑Israel war on Iran is threatening the Global South, especially as oil prices surge. He warns the conflict could normalize forceful interventions, destabilizing developing nations. Russia, he suggests, could step in as an alternative energy partner for these countries. The commentary comes amid heightened US military activity under President Trump, including operations in Nigeria, Syria, and Venezuela.
The US‑Israel war on Iran is destabilising global oil, gas, fertiliser and food markets and has triggered sharp depreciations of African currencies against the dollar. Rising interest rates and tighter foreign‑financing conditions are compounding debt pressures across the continent. Experts...
India’s Punjab Rice Millers Exporters Association has asked the government to negotiate a barter deal with Iran, swapping premium basmati rice for Iranian crude oil with payments in rupees. The proposal follows steep financial losses for exporters after the US‑Israel‑Iran...
Private equity and venture capital exits in India slumped 40% year‑over‑year, falling to $18.8 billion across 223 deals in FY26. Total PE‑VC funding also dipped 10% to $33.9 billion, with mega deals above $100 million shrinking in both count and value. AI attracted...
Military conflicts and oil shocks are nothing new. We’ve been through this many times. Yes, they create uncertainty and shake things up, but historically oil has come back down within a few months, and stocks often start moving higher not...
China’s new 2026‑30 Five‑Year Plan pivots the economy toward a consumption‑led growth model, seeking to anchor expansion domestically amid rising geopolitical volatility. The strategy emphasizes expanding household demand and deepening capital‑market development to reduce reliance on external markets. While Chinese...
Nigeria’s Central Bank announced the conclusion of its two‑year banking recapitalisation, with banks injecting N4.61 trillion (about $3.1 billion) of fresh capital. The move meets higher minimum capital thresholds and is expected to deepen liquidity, improve risk‑taking capacity and attract more foreign...
The naira opened at ₦1,385.27 per dollar on April 1, with traders citing abundant autonomous supply and system liquidity exceeding ₦8 trillion ($5.8 bn). The stability comes despite a modest dip in gross reserves, underscoring the role of Nigeria’s oil earnings and...
President Bola Tinubu’s request for a $6 billion foreign‑currency loan was approved by the Senate in under four hours, pushing Nigeria’s total sovereign debt to N155.1 trillion (about $111 billion). The borrowing, split between a $5 bn structured swap with First Abu Dhabi Bank...
The episode examines the shift toward "military Keynesianism," where governments increasingly use defense spending to stimulate economic growth as traditional civilian investment loses its effectiveness. The host contrasts mainstream economic theory, which assumes equilibrium and smooth cycles, with the reality...
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 In my latest interview on @ndtv , India's leading English-language business news channel, I break down 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚'𝐬 90% 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥: 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. China builds...
The escalating war with Iran is destabilizing Middle‑East oil supplies, prompting global buyers to seek alternatives. African basins—particularly offshore Namibia, Ghana, and Nigeria—are attracting heightened investor attention thanks to favorable geology and lower‑cost drilling technologies. New seismic imaging and digital‑oilfield...
President Donald Trump told the nation the U.S. could wrap up its Iran offensive within two to three weeks and urged oil‑dependent allies to assume responsibility for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. He expressed frustration that partners were not...
Indonesia's annual consumer price index slowed to 3.48% in March, down from 4.76% in February, bringing inflation back into Bank Indonesia's 2.5% ± 1% target range. The decline reflects a base‑effect from last year's temporary electricity discount rather than sustained price easing....
Nigeria’s leadership is aligning fiscal and monetary policy to stabilise the macroeconomy, a move that has already lowered inflation while sustaining growth. Special Adviser Sanyade Okoli stresses that coordinated policy is essential for attracting investment and creating jobs. The government...
Clara Chan Ka‑chai, chief executive of Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), has been appointed to the board of FCLTGlobal, marking the first Chinese sovereign wealth fund representation on the nonprofit’s 19‑member board. FCLTGlobal, founded in 2016, unites leading long‑term investors...
China’s leading Communist Party journal Qiushi reiterated the nation’s trade‑rebalancing agenda, warning that the traditional export‑driven growth model is no longer viable. The editorial cites rising global protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and a record‑high trade surplus as catalysts for a pivot...
New research estimates the median social rate of return to building a kilometre of two‑lane highway in emerging markets at 55%, with a mean of 97%, far outpacing the roughly 7% private‑capital return in the United States. Despite this eight‑to‑fourteen‑fold...
Hungary’s opposition Tisza party must secure a two‑thirds parliamentary supermajority in the April 12 election to reverse laws that have frozen roughly €18 bn ($19.44 bn) of EU funding. While polls show Tisza leading, merely ousting Prime Minister Viktor Orban will not suffice;...
The article argues that the war in Iran harms China’s economy, but not as severely as its regional rivals, while China publicly understates the impact. It notes that Chinese officials continue to portray Beijing as a stabilizing force despite disruptions...
The African Development Bank warns that Africa’s growth outlook was already fragile before the Iran‑Israel conflict and could slip further. Chief economist Kevin Urama estimates a 0.2‑percentage‑point slowdown if the war ends within three months, rising to a 1.5‑point decline...
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said no cabinet officials will travel to Beijing before the expected mid‑May Trump‑Xi summit, raising doubts about traditional pre‑meeting talks. A European Parliament delegation made its first visit to China in eight years, focusing on...
Norway’s new Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo, a 13‑storey slab of recycled aluminium and glass, opened in 2021 after a ten‑year delay and a $350 million price tag that ballooned by $200 million. The project, financed by the nation’s deep sovereign wealth...
As the Middle East conflict drags on, Iran is selectively allowing ships from energy‑import‑dependent Asian nations to transit the Strait of Hormuz, often under a toll‑booth system. Countries such as Malaysia, India, China and Thailand have secured toll‑free or paid...
Chinese banks have become the leading bilateral financiers of urban infrastructure in Africa’s fastest‑growing cities. Between 2000 and 2021 they committed roughly $37 billion to six major metros, with transport projects receiving over $17 billion and 74% of projects finished within two...
The Wall Street Journal’s What’s News covers the United Arab Emirates’ shift toward becoming a combatant in the Iran‑U.S. conflict, as it prepares to help force‑open the Strait of Hormuz by clearing mines and supporting a U.N. resolution authorizing military action. Middle‑East...
Japan’s Proterial Ltd., owned by a Bain Capital‑led consortium, said it is considering applying for India’s rare‑earth magnet manufacturing incentive. The move could link Japanese capital with New Delhi’s push to cut reliance on Chinese imports and reshape the global...
EnerVenue announced a $300 million Series B+ financing round and the appointment of Henning Rath as CEO. The capital will fund large‑scale manufacturing of its lithium‑free nickel‑hydrogen batteries and the launch of a regional headquarters in Hong Kong, positioning the company...
Investors poured into Asian equities on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said the Iran‑Israel war could end within weeks. The Hang Seng Index rose 2% to 25,294 points, while mainland China’s CSI 300 gained 1.7%, marking the strongest single‑day...
Indonesia is preparing a progressive export levy on processed nickel products such as nickel pig iron and ferronickel. The tax starts at about 2% when LME prices sit between $15,000‑$16,000 per ton and can rise to roughly 10% as prices...
The United States has reclaimed global venture capital dominance, with AI alone accounting for three‑quarters of worldwide AI funding in 2025 – roughly $194 billion – and 75% of all AI deals. Landmark rounds by Anthropic ($30 billion) and OpenAI ($110 billion) illustrate...
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UAE Energy Minister Suhail al‑Mazrouei warned that Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz could hold global trade hostage, urging a unified international response. He highlighted the potential economic fallout if safe passage is not guaranteed and stressed the UAE’s...
Siemens sees the EU‑Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative as catalysts for expanding its footprint in Vietnam. The company is focusing on green and digital projects, including renewable‑energy grid upgrades, high‑speed rail with VinSpeed, and digital...
President Donald Trump told the Telegraph that the United States is "beyond reconsideration" about pulling out of NATO, signaling a possible withdrawal after the Middle East conflict. He criticized NATO allies for refusing to support U.S. and Israeli actions against...
India's rupee has slid another 5.5% this year, making it Asia's worst performer in 2025 and hovering around 95 per dollar. Rising Brent crude above $100 a barrel has added roughly $5 billion to India's monthly oil import bill, intensifying pressure...
The divergence is striking. China’s GDP per capita grew more than 10x since 2000. India and Russia followed with strong gains. At the same time, Japan saw a decline. This isn’t just growth. It’s a redistribution of economic momentum. Some economies are accelerating rapidly. Others are stabilizing or stagnating. The...
CHARTS OF THE DAY: What's the inflationary impact of the US-Iran war for Europe (and thus the ECB and BoE)? Sure, the price of oil and refined products has risen. But paralells between the curent shock and the 2022 energy...
Iran’s aggressive campaign to close the Strait of Hormuz with mines, missiles and drone swarms has driven global energy prices sharply higher. The United States’ attempt at a quick, decisive strike has backfired, leaving a protracted conflict that threatens worldwide...
Trump Says U.S. May Exit Iran War Soon and Threatens to Quit NATO, as Oil Crisis Escalates. A global economic mess ahead? Is Putin smiling if US leaves NATO? https://t.co/wbm30dgf7R
Crazy March trade surplus for Korea ($25b a month, $300b annualized) Strong chip exports continued. And presumably a bunch of expected tankers didn't arrive so fuel demand was met out of inventory 1/2 https://t.co/NGcasg9i4v
Equinix is investing roughly $405 million to add 160 MW of data‑centre capacity in South Africa, bringing its total under development to 332 MW across Johannesburg and Cape Town. The company acquired about $48 million of land, expanding its footprint beyond Gauteng. All funding...
Great new @ForeignAffairs essay by @ColumbiaUEnergy’s @ProfessorKaren about how post-war, the historic “oil for security” relationship is no longer tenable, & US needs to update its approach to Gulf states that are rapidly diversifying their economies https://t.co/Nmszm8a5bu
How China can survive without the Strait of Hormuz The world’s largest importer of oil through the Strait of Hormuz is, paradoxically, also one of the best placed to weather the waterway’s closure. https://t.co/YczOlt8T4v
Iran war gives Chinese exporters chance to grab global market share Ample oil reserves and renewables growth make manufacturing sector more resilient than rivals https://t.co/Zm287YiQYa via @ft
The capital markets are being driven by hope that the Middle East war ends shortly. Markets are anticipatory. Still, they do not always get it right. Ahead of POTUS speech tonight, consolidation may be most likely scenario. https://t.co/6peh5F9uHH https://t.co/aae8efFiPO
South Sudan’s government hasn’t produced RELIABLE MONEY SUPPLY DATA since October 2024. SOUTH SUDAN = NO RELIABLE DATA = FLYING BLIND https://t.co/nPGh0aY8rq
China is moving to stabilize Hormuz without the U.S.—using Pakistan as a diplomatic bridge. Power shifts to whoever restores the flows. https://t.co/3LW8TIyS65 #OilMarkets #Geopolitics #China
After a 7-year hiatus, India is about to import its first Iranian oil. At ~$100 a barrel. Quite the achievement in Washington for the long-term strenght of the economic and financial sanctions regime.
If usa friendly regime takes control of strait of Hormuz it will be very bullish., https://t.co/bpWTMUPjFa
1/4 Yicai: "China’s local debt cleanup is moving faster, with the central government’s debt swap program simultaneously lowering borrowing costs and shrinking the implicit debt pile." https://t.co/Ru3dUFDjL5
