Today's Emerging Markets Pulse
India and U.S. forge $20 billion critical minerals framework
India and the United States signed a bilateral framework in New Delhi on May 26 to cooperate on critical minerals and rare‑earth supply chains. The pact covers mining, processing, recycling and project financing and could mobilise up to $20 billion, tapping India’s estimated 13 million tonnes of monazite deposits.
Abu Dhabi Power Play: L’Imad Emerges As $300 Billion Sovereign Force
Abu Dhabi has merged its state‑owned fund ADQ into the newly created sovereign wealth fund L Imad, boosting the latter’s assets to roughly $300 billion. The consolidation places the fund under the direct supervision of Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed, signaling a tighter grip by the emirate’s ruling family on capital deployment. ADQ previously managed $263 billion across airlines, energy, infrastructure and healthcare, while L Imad now incorporates 25 investment platforms and over 250 subsidiaries. The move positions L Imad as a central pillar of Abu Dhabi’s long‑term investment strategy.
Private‑Equity Firms Target Asia’s $5 Trillion Healthcare Market to Bridge Funding Gap
Private‑equity firms, anchored by Quadria Capital’s $4.2 billion under management, are pouring capital into Asia’s $5 trillion healthcare market to offset a chronic public‑spending shortfall. The surge creates fresh opportunities for consulting firms to advise on strategy, operations and market entry across...
How the Dominican Republic Can Escape the ‘Middle-Income Trap’
The Dominican Republic has leveraged three decades of political stability and institutional continuity to transition from an agrarian economy to a diversified, open market that now grows at roughly 5% annually—well above the Latin American average. This steady growth has...
Will Trump Put Boots on the Ground in Iran? – The Latest
The United States has moved thousands of soldiers and Marines into the Middle East, signaling a shift toward a more forward‑deployed posture. Former President Donald Trump has reignited talk of a direct strike on Iran’s energy infrastructure, even suggesting seizure...
South Korean Unification Minister Uses North Korea’s Formal Name
South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young referred to the North by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, signalling a shift toward a "peaceful two‑state framework." President Lee Jae‑myung’s END Initiative separates denuclearisation from engagement, emphasizing exchange and...
IDB Invest and Proparco Partner with Millicom to Expand Digital Infrastructure Across Latin America
IDB Invest and French development finance firm Proparco are jointly investing $100 million in a Colombian‑peso‑denominated bond issued by Millicom International Cellular. Each institution will anchor $50 million, financing network upgrades across Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Paraguay. The proceeds...
Are India-US Ties Really Back on Track?
In March 2026 a series of high‑level U.S. visits to New Delhi – including Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur, Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau and Under Secretary Elbridge Colby – kept diplomatic momentum alive. The visits produced a $43 million Boeing contract for P‑8...
Containment without Commitment: China and the Limits of the CRINK Alignment
The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs released a 35,000‑word report titled “Containment without Commitment: China and the Limits of the CRINK Alignment,” part of its Fault Lines series that dissects trust and mistrust among China, Russia, Iran and North...
Daily Memo: Mediation Efforts, Oil Supplies for Cuba
Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia met in Islamabad to explore diplomatic pathways for ending the Iran‑Saudi conflict. The quartet discussed forming a multilateral consortium to oversee commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, proposing a fee...
Ethiopia Lands $13bn in Deals, Dwarfing Kenya’s $2.9bn Haul
Ethiopia announced $13 billion in new investment deals at a conference in Addis Ababa, far outpacing Kenya’s recent $2.9 billion haul. The agreements cover manufacturing, agriculture, energy, construction and other strategic sectors, with a standout $10 billion renewable‑energy package from China’s Ming Yang Smart Energy...
How the Iran War Is Reshaping Kazakhstan’s Role in Eurasia
The Iran‑Russia war has shut the Strait of Hormuz, forcing Central Asian exporters to abandon the Southern Corridor. Kazakhstan’s Trans‑Caspian “Middle Corridor” has surged from 0.8 million to 4.5 million tons between 2020 and 2024, growing over 60 % in 2024 alone. The...
Mexico Economic Comments - March 2026
Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, faces sharp criticism from The Economist for failing to deliver the structural reforms she pledged, opting instead for incremental tweaks. The publication highlights that despite external pressures such as the lingering US‑Mexico trade war, USMCA...
Hedge Funds Ramp Up Short Bets on U.S. Stocks, Shift to European Defensives
Hedge funds have intensified short‑selling on U.S. equities, posting the fastest net sell‑off since April 2025, while simultaneously boosting long positions in defensive European stocks. The move reflects heightened geopolitical risk from the Iran conflict and a broader risk‑off tilt...
Asian Stocks Plunge as Brent Hits $115, Iran Conflict Fuels Risk Aversion
Asian equity markets tumbled on Monday as Brent crude surged to $115 a barrel, the highest monthly level on record. The Nikkei 225 fell 4.5%, South Korea’s Kospi slipped 3.2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 1.7%, reflecting heightened risk...
A Coordinated Trans-Eurasian Threat: The Deepening China-Russia Strategic Partnership
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute warns that China and Russia have moved beyond a loose alignment into a deep, no‑limits partnership that coordinates military exercises, defense technology transfers, and economic coercion. This trans‑Eurasian axis seeks to fragment global finance, build...
Oil Prices Jump After Trump Says He Could ‘Blow up’ Iran’s Power Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island if Deal...
President Donald Trump warned he would destroy Iran’s power plants, oil wells and the Kharg Island export hub unless a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is reached, sparking a sharp rally in crude markets. Front‑month Brent May futures...
CANZUK: A Fringe Idea Whose Time Has Come?
The article revives the fringe CANZUK concept, proposing a deeper political, economic and security partnership among Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It builds on the existing Australia‑New Zealand free‑movement and regulatory integration, extending those mechanisms to include the UK...
PR Firm News: DGA Conducts Briefing on Gulf War
DGA Group will host a virtual executive briefing on April 1 to dissect the Gulf war’s trajectory and its ripple effects on multinational operations. The session features CEO Prem Kumar alongside senior policymakers and regional experts. Meanwhile, AI‑native marketing platform Kana...
Hedge Funds Capitulate: Record US Selloff and Europe Shorts Surge
Hedge Fund Selling Shows Signs of Capitulation From GS via BBG: - “Some signs of capitulation are starting to emerge” - Funds cut global equities for a 6th straight week - Europe macro product shorts are at a 10-year high - CHART: US selling hit...
TotalEnergies Made $1bn Profit From Middle East Oil Bet as War Disrupts Prices
TotalEnergies earned over $1 bn (€868 m) profit by snapping up roughly 70 Middle East crude cargoes in March as war‑related disruptions choked the Strait of Hormuz. The profit stemmed from a sudden narrowing of the Dubai crude benchmark after S&P Global Platts suspended...
China’s Trade Dominance: Good Macro or Strategic Industrial Policies?
China recorded a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025, equal to roughly 6 % of its GDP. The surplus stemmed from a broad-based export expansion across multiple sectors, while import growth remained limited to commodities. Analysts link this outcome to both...
Congress Targets Tax Relief for Rare Earths as China Tightens Export Controls
U.S. lawmakers have introduced the Critical Minerals Investment Tax Modernization Act, which would lift the depletion allowance for domestically mined rare earth elements and scandium from 14% to 22%. The move is a direct response to Beijing’s April 2025 export...
Mongolia’s Ruling Party Names Uchral Nyam‑Osor as Prime‑Minister Candidate Amid Political Turmoil
The Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) selected speaker Uchral Nyam‑Osor as its new prime‑minister candidate after Zandanshatar Gombojav quit after nine months. The move follows a corruption scandal involving a senior minister and a boycott by the opposition Democratic Party, heightening...
South Asia’s Energy‑Import Dependence Heightens Risk as Oil Hits $200
S&P Global Ratings flagged Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the most exposed South Asian economies to soaring oil prices that have surged toward $200 a barrel. The warning comes as the region grapples with fuel‑rationing measures, soaring inflation and...
Insufficient Source Material to Report on Vietnam's Real‑name Bank Account Mandate
No verifiable sources were provided to confirm Vietnam's plan to require real‑name registration for all bank accounts starting April 2026, so a factual report cannot be produced.
Buy, License, or Build? Why Most Firms Struggle to Enter the UAE
Global firms are increasingly targeting the UAE as a financial and technology hub, but many stumble because they treat entry options—buy, license, or build—as interchangeable. The article argues that aligning the chosen route with the UAE's fragmented regulatory landscape (DIFC,...
APAC’s Urbanising Economies Power the Global Steam and Gas Turbine Market
The GlobalData report projects APAC’s gas turbine market to reach $7.4 bn by 2030, cementing the region as the world’s largest thermal‑power hub. Rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and a 5 % annual rise in electricity demand are driving massive capacity additions, with steam...
West Asia Crisis Keeps Gold and Silver Prices Supported
Geopolitical Cushion: The West Asia crisis, now entering its fifth week, is providing a floor for prices. Investors are holding onto gold and silver as "safe-haven" assets to protect against uncertainty.
Congo Deepens China Mining Ties Amid US Rivalry
The Democratic Republic of Congo signed a new agreement with China to deepen cooperation in its mining sector, covering geological data sharing, investment protection, and promotion of local processing. The deal gives Chinese firms priority on the MIFOR iron‑ore project...
The New Baseline
The ongoing war in Iran has morphed from a geopolitical flashpoint into a structural supply‑chain shock. Tehran’s continued control of the Strait of Hormuz, and the risk of spill‑over into the Bab al‑Mandeb, is tightening energy flows and inflating oil...
EU‑India Deal Slashes Tariffs, CBAM Remains Intact
The EU-India trade deal cuts tariffs, but CBAM stays unchanged and keeps carbon compliance in focus. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/eu-india-fta-and-cbam-remain-on.html
Reopening Hormuz Won’t End Gulf’s Kill Zone
All the middle east, geopolitics and energy experts keep talking about reopening the Strait of Hormuz as if that solves the problem. It doesn’t. The Strait is just the front door. The entire Persian Gulf is now a kill zone. 1/2 https://t.co/ZHp06lZzYS
Prices of Asia-Pacific's Fertilisers, Petrochemicals Set to Surge on Iran War: ADB
The Asian Development Bank warns that the Iran‑Israel conflict is driving sharp increases in fertilizer and petrochemical prices across the Asia‑Pacific. Methanol benchmark prices rose about 25% in two weeks, while urea and ammonia costs surged after Qatar’s QAFCO halted...
Rial Strengthens 9% Amid US‑Israeli Conflict, Media Silent
Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Iranian rial has APPRECIATED by 9% against the USD. AN IMPORTANT FACT THAT THE WESTERN MEDIA HAS FAILED TO REPORT ON. https://t.co/Dlt04mOOmJ
Foreign Investment Drops Sharply One Year After Liberation Day
As we approach the 1-year anniversary of "Liberation Day" this week, @sdonnan reports that new foreign investment in the US was actually down significantly last year: https://t.co/s1wGG4RQiu
Laurent Proutière: «We Are a Hybrid, Power Boutique»
Indosuez Wealth Management Asia posted a strong 2025 performance, with assets under management climbing 23% to $23 billion and transactional revenue surging 40%. The unit added $500 million of net new money, driven by a 45% rise in discretionary portfolio management assets...
Hormuz Strait Events Differ From Administration's Claims
What’s really going on in the straight of Hormuz is NOT what the admin is saying
Kharg Island's Role in US‑Iran Oil Tactics
Can the US "take the oil" from Iran? Does Kharg Island matter? And what can the GCC do about developing bypass pipelines? I discuss with @BeckyCNN @CNN
Triumph’s China Exit Exposes the Real Reasons Western Brands Fail in the World’s Largest Market
Triumph, the German lingerie maker, shut its China operations in December after 31 years, joining a wave of Western brands exiting the market. While trade wars and geopolitics are often cited, company insiders point to falling sales, shrinking market share,...
US Pullout May Open Door for Chinese Taiwan Attack
China. Taiwan Strait and threat on Taiwan. US has pulled military from Asia. Does that leave an opportunity for China to attack Taiwan? What would that do to supply chains?
Turkey's Overheated Growth Fuels Deficits, Risks Shock
The danger for Turkey is always the same. The current government pushes growth way above the speed limit, which leads to a large current account deficit. Then a shock like high oil prices hits and things run out of control....
Facing Section 301, ASEAN Must Reform Systems
The United States is pivoting from tariff‑based pressure to Section 301, using the trade act to label partner institutions as “unfair” and demand reforms. A recent Supreme Court ruling invalidated IEEPA tariffs, prompting the Trump administration to adopt a temporary 15%...
Turkey's Reserves Plunge, Echoing 2025 Devaluation After Mayor's Arrest
Turkey's reserve losses rival March 2025 after the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu. They're up in the most recent data point only because the central bank used its gold to get access to more foreign exchange. In March 2025 this ended...
War's Goal: Reopen Strait of Hormuz
So the main objective of the war is now to open the Strait of Hormuz, which was fully open before the war started. Got it https://t.co/4zzh9wHvya
Trump Threatens to Destroy Iran's Oil and Water Infrastructure
I suppose that today wasn't an oil jawboning day. Instead, US President Trump just threatened Tehran with blowing up not just all its power stations, but also its oil wells, Kharg Island, and "possibly" all desalination water plants (Note: the...
Trump, Iran Tensions Spike Oil Prices
JUST IN: Trump's Strait of Hormuz warning and Iran's counter-threats are making oil prices jumpy.
No Nation Can Outpace China's AI or Military AI
JUST IN: Victor Gao states no nation, including the US, can dominate China in AI or military AI.
Five Months of Negative FDI Highlight India's Red‑Tape Crisis
#IndiaWatch🇮🇳: Net foreign direct investment (FDI) into India was a NEGATIVE $1.4B in January. That marks 5 STRAIGHT MONTHS of negative flows. INDIA’S MOUNTAIN OF GOVERNMENT RED TAPE = REPELS FDI = BIG PROBLEM.
FX Reserve Decline Driven by Oil Importers, Not Exporters
Lots of talk about oil exporters in the Gulf selling fx reserves. That may happen. But for now the visible fall in fx reserves is coming from the oil importers (CBRT = Turkey, RBI= India) https://t.co/8prQkznGG6
Military Plans Overlook Political, Market Limits on Hormuz
Former CENTCOM commander says the US can & will open Hormuz I think he's taking the narrowest military view He ignores the force of politics, markets & insurers to limit Trump's options on time & risk. 👇 https://t.co/Fw6ibZ5qLW https://t.co/shLc2VcgAj