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.
Bangladesh’s Missing Billions as Trade Misinvoicing Bleeds It Dry
Investigations reveal Bangladesh lost roughly $68 bn through trade misinvoicing over the past ten years, with additional illicit outflows estimated at $23‑$27 bn from major industrial groups. The scheme involved import over‑invoicing and export under‑invoicing, facilitated by weak customs, banking oversight, and politically connected conglomerates such as S Alam, Beximco, Bashundhara, Sikder and Nabil. These capital‑flight channels have inflated import demand, suppressed export earnings, and eroded foreign‑exchange reserves, jeopardizing the country’s push toward middle‑income status. Bangladesh is now pursuing international asset‑tracing and legal actions, but recovery is expected to be partial and slow.
LatAm Has Resource Buffer if Iran War Hurts Growth: BlackRock
BlackRock’s senior strategist says Latin America’s abundant metal reserves give the region a buffer against a potential global slowdown triggered by the Iran‑Israel conflict. The area’s copper, lithium and nickel supplies are essential for the AI‑driven hardware boom, providing a...
West Asia War Sparks Fuel, Beer and Fertilizer Shortages Across India
India’s brewers warn of glass bottle and aluminium can shortages as gas‑driven packaging costs surge, while farmers describe fertilizer as “as precious as gold” after Urea prices jumped to $600/ton. A parallel cash‑flow squeeze at fuel depots, caused by oil...
Oman Holding Acquires 100% of SalamAir in Sovereign‑Backed Deal
State‑owned Oman Holding has finalized a 100% purchase of low‑cost carrier SalamAir, creating a wholly‑owned national airline. The deal, announced without disclosed financial terms, underscores Oman's push to consolidate its aviation assets amid regional market volatility.
Meta Extends BKC Lease, Sparking New Tech Investment Wave in Mumbai
Meta Platforms has renewed a 5‑year lease for more than 70,000 sq ft in a Grade‑A tower at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, committing to a monthly rent exceeding ₹3 crore (about $360,000). The deal underscores a broader surge of technology‑driven capital into the city’s premium...
Saudi Crown Prince Urges US to Sustain Iran War
🚨 Report: Saudi Arabia Pushing for Escalation? New reports suggest Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is privately urging the U.S. to maintain its military campaign against Iran, viewing it as a "historic opportunity" to reshape the Middle East. Key Takeaways: •...
Mexico Peso Falls Past 18/USD After Surprise Banxico Rate Cut and Oil Spill Fears
The Bank of Mexico voted 3-2 to cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 6.75%, prompting the peso to slip past 18 per U.S. dollar for the first time since December. The move came as inflation hit 4.63%...
Rising U.S. Mortgage Rates Threaten Spring Home‑Buying as Treasury Yields Climb
U.S. mortgage rates have jumped sharply, creating a major obstacle for the spring home‑buying season. The rise is tied to higher Treasury yields as geopolitical tensions lift oil prices and weigh on global bond markets.
Tazapay Raises $36M Series B to Scale Cross‑Border Payments in Asia, LATAM, MENA
Tazapay, the Singapore‑based payment‑infrastructure startup, closed a $36 million Series B extension led by Circle Ventures with new participation from CMT Digital and Coinbase Ventures. The capital will fund licensing expansion and go‑to‑market pushes in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East,...
A Mad Max World Emerges
The ongoing war in the Middle East and the constriction of maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz are prompting nations to prioritize domestic energy and food security. The article draws parallels with the 14th‑century crisis, when trade barriers, export...
Bitcoin Resilience Amid Iran War Raises Optimism About Crypto Adoption in ASEAN
Bitcoin has held steady above $30,000 in recent weeks, defying the market turbulence caused by the Iran war. The resilience has sparked optimism among investors that the cryptocurrency could serve as a hedge against traditional asset volatility. In Southeast Asia,...
Iran's Resource Crisis Threatens Global Energy and Food Security
We are getting to that point of doom on Iran where X got to on Ukraine. Back then without gas and food we were going to be cholipping frozen, starved, dead Europeans of the streets. This time it's oil, gas,...
Iran’s Ideological Purge Mirrors CCP, Stifling Regime Change
Also, Iran has an office of the supreme leader that ensures all civil servants are ideologically pure. Similar to the CCP's Organization Department that keeps file of every party member. Any dissent is quickly crushed. So the probability of a...
Foreign Investors Pull $20 B From South Korea’s KOSPI as Won Hits 17‑Year Low
Foreign investors dumped a net 30.3 trillion won ($20 billion) from South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI in March, the largest monthly outflow on record. The sell‑off coincided with the won sliding to its lowest level since 2009, intensifying concerns over capital flows and...
Vietnam Pitches International Financial Center to San Francisco Investors
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh urged San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie to back the Vietnam International Financial Center (VIFC), seeking U.S. investors for the flagship project in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. The initiative aligns with Vietnam’s goal of becoming...
High Oil Prices Fuel Apac Energy Crisis as Middle East War Enters Fifth Week
Brent crude rose above $115 a barrel, up $3 over the weekend, as the Middle East war entered its fifth week. The conflict, which began on February 28 with Israeli and U.S. airstrikes in Iran, has tightened global oil supplies....
Why Chinese Tech Companies Are Racing to Set up in Hong Kong
Mainland Chinese technology firms are increasingly listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with IPOs jumping 153% to 76 companies last year. The surge reflects a strategic shift toward Hong Kong as a gateway for capital, international customers, and regulatory credibility amid...
Energy Shock Could Trigger Demand Collapse, Slowing US Growth
Below is an example of a new and ongoing economic risk to the US economy from the US-Israeli War on Iran — What begins as a "cost of living" problem (Energy Price Shock), if sustained, risks evolving into a "fewer...
Putin Thrives as U.S. Pivots Away From Russia’s Sanctions.
a surprisingly good month for putin. russia making bank on oil, gas. fertilizer. us sanctions suspended. us weapons now prioritized for iran war. russia supporting iran without consequence. and a russian tanker with oil now allowed through to cuba by...
Why Kenneth Rogoff Thinks China’s Yuan Will Be a Reserve Currency ‘in the Next 5 Years’
Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff predicts China’s yuan will join the ranks of global reserve currencies within five years. He argues that the U.S. dollar faces a legitimacy crisis due to mounting debt, political fragmentation, and waning confidence among central banks....
Can Hong Kong Hitch a Ride on China’s Commercial Aerospace Wave?
China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan elevates commercial aerospace to a core strategic pillar, linking satellites, AI, quantum and 6G technologies. The plan signals a national push for a low‑altitude economy and expects private firms like ADA Space to expand AI‑enabled satellite...
China’s Property Crisis Is Starting to Look a Lot Like Japan’s Lost Decade
China’s housing market has entered a six‑year correction that mirrors Japan’s 1990s Lost Decade, with prices falling, construction slowing, and developers facing defaults. The sector once drove roughly one‑third of China’s GDP and now holds about 70% of household wealth,...
Houthis Threaten Bab El-Mandeb Closure, Endangering Global Food Supply
Yemeni Houthis has entered the Iran War, they are now considering closing Bab El Mandeb Strait. It is estimated that 12% of the world's trade passes through here. The FAO chief economist has already warned of potential global risks to...
Closing Hormuz: Strategic Disruption, Not Just Conflict
They were always going to close the Strait of Hormuz. This was never a side development. It was central to the strategy. Because the objective isn’t just confrontation — it’s disruption: energy flows, shipping routes, and the systems that rely on them. That changes the...
Russia Was Expecting a Windfall From Soaring Oil Prices, but Relentless Ukrainian Drone Attacks Are Devastating Nearly Half Its Export...
Russia banked on a windfall after oil prices spiked when the Strait of Hormuz closed and the United States briefly eased sanctions on its crude. The surge lifted Urals prices near Brent, temporarily rescuing a revenue stream that had collapsed...
India’s Growth Holds, Nifty Upside Limited – Favor Quality Stocks
Macro: India’s growth intact; NIFTY shows limited near‑term upside. Drivers: rich valuations, slowing earnings, FII outflows. Risks: higher oil, tighter global liquidity. Trade: trim cyclicals; buy quality domestics. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to Visit Canada in May for Trade Talks
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Canada in May 2026 to head a high‑level business delegation. The visit follows the launch of comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) negotiations on March 2, 2026, and aims to accelerate the...
Voice of Global South: India Bats Strongly to Shield WTO’s Core Mandates at MC14
India emerged as the lone dissenter among 166 WTO members, successfully blocking the China‑led Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) agreement at the MC14 in Yaoundé. The move underscored New Delhi’s commitment to preserving the WTO’s consensus rule and protecting core...
EU Enlargement Rethink as Divisions Emerge Among Key Member States
The European Union’s next enlargement round faces a crossroads as member states clash over speed and criteria. A German Council policy paper highlights Germany’s shift toward geopolitically‑driven, merit‑based accession, while the EU rejected a fast‑track proposal for Ukraine, insisting on...
SBI Funds Flags Israel‑Iran War as New Strain on Rupee, Remittances and Fiscal Outlook
SBI Funds Management warned that the ongoing Israel‑Iran conflict could pressure the Indian rupee, reduce outbound remittances and widen the fiscal deficit. The alert comes as oil prices surge, the rupee weakens and global investors adopt a defensive stance.
Bursa Malaysia Braces for Cautious Trading as West Asia Conflict Dampens Sentiment
Bursa Malaysia warned that investors will likely adopt a defensive stance next week, citing the escalating Israel‑Iran conflict as a key drag on market sentiment. The exchange’s cautious outlook underscores how geopolitical risk is shaping equity flows in the region.
100k Troops in Iran Signal Prolonged War, Inflation Surge
The ‘100k troops on land in Iran’ is the new risk narratives for prolonged war and confirmation of escalation of inflation which would lead in global rate hikes again. Rumble in the Jungle is here…
UAE’s Closure Drives Iran Toward Chinese Banking
The faster UAE closes money window on Iran, quicker China becomes Iran's banker. 1)China pays for Iranian oil into Chnse bank accts2) Iran buys gold w CNY in Shanghai's CNY gold mkt & do what Russia did w China after...
The Economics of War Extend Far Beyond Energy Prices and Stock Markets
The article argues that the economics of war reach far beyond energy prices and stock market swings, encompassing democratic war initiation, the military‑industrial complex, and Big Oil’s profit motives. It highlights recent research showing that populist nationalism in advanced democracies...
Emerging Markets Rout Lures Contrarians Betting on Rate Cuts
Emerging‑market assets have entered their steepest monthly decline since 2022, with stocks down about 10% and local‑currency bond yields at two‑year highs. Asset managers TT International and AllianceBernstein are buying beaten‑down EM bonds, betting that central banks will cut rates...
Shanghai Composite Volatility Eases as A‑Shares Find Floor Amid Middle East Tensions
The Shanghai Composite index, after a 143‑point plunge that marked the year’s biggest single‑day drop, rebounded to close the week at 3,913.72 points, a 1.1% decline for the week. Energy, metals and new‑energy stocks led the recovery while overall market...
Stagflation and War Trigger Biggest 60/40 Loss Since 2022
Stagflationary winds and the biggest monthly loss for the classic 60/40 investment portfolio since 2022, the global economic and financial fallout of the Middle East War are tangible. This week’s data deluge will help us assess how much resilience remains in...
US Empire Decline Confirmed, Eastern Powers Ascend
Back in 2010 on @cnbc , I warned that the American empire was entering a phase of rapid decline, and that Eastern powers would rise to fill the vacuum. 📉That forecast is now unfolding in real time. This isn’t hindsight....
Oil Crude Surpasses $100 as Middle East Tensions Hit Emerging Markets
Oil prices broke the $100‑a‑barrel barrier as renewed Iran‑U.S. hostilities forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and threatened the Bab el‑Mandab corridor. The supply squeeze is inflating import bills for emerging‑market economies while boosting revenue for oil exporters.
Iran Conflict Erases $12 Trillion, Global Stocks Drop $11.5 Tr
Meanwhile, the conflict in Iran has already wiped about $12 trillion off global markets. Many investors are selling off assets due to the risk of escalation and rising oil prices. As a result, the total capitalization of the global stock market...
Turkey Sells Billions in Gold to Prop Lira
Turkey is selling gold to support the lira. Over the past two weeks, the central bank has sold around 58 tons (~$8 billion). At the same time, since 2020, Turkey has been among the top three gold buyers (alongside China and Poland)....
Indian Equities Drop Over 10% in March as Middle East Tensions Spur Fifth Weekly Loss
The BSE Sensex slid 10.5% to 73,583 and the NSE Nifty fell 10.5% to 22,820 in March, marking the steepest monthly decline since the COVID‑19 crash. The rout was driven by heightened US‑Iran hostilities, soaring oil prices and record foreign...
Retaliation on Gulf Energy Could Trigger Global Depression
If Israel/US attack Iranian oil fields and power plants, they are not going to sit back...they'll attack oil fields, desalinisation plants and power assets in the Gulf. Then, we'll get an economic depression.
Iran's Inflation Drops, Oil Exports Surge Amid War
My latest with @davidlin_TV on Iran: "Since the war started, Iran's inflation has come down from 87% to 67%. Iranian oil exports have increased substantially at higher prices with lower discounts. You won't read these FACTS in the press." https://t.co/tnO36Tw8XU
Finance Ministry Flags Rising External Risks as Trade Deficit and CAD Expand
India’s external sector is under strain as merchandise exports slipped 0.8% year‑on‑year while imports surged 24.1%, driven largely by gold and silver purchases. The trade deficit more than doubled to roughly $27.1 billion in February 2026, widening the current‑account gap to...
Japan Redirects Naphtha Imports Amid Middle East Reliance
Japan is switching naphtha imports from the Middle East to other countries, says Prime Minister Takaichi 🇯🇵 ⛽️ Japan relies on the Mid East for >70% of naphtha imports, and has 20 days of stockpiles Shortages threaten supply of petrochemicals, plastics,...
Dollar Weakness Paused; Brazil Set to Surge Post‑war
The Dollar downtrend has now been meaningfully disrupted. But that doesn't mean it's over. As soon as this war ends - and it must because of the midterms - Dollar weakness will reassert itself. EM commodity exporters like Brazil will...
DBS Joins Buzzing India IPO Space with Mandate in US$1 Billion Offering
DBS Group has entered India’s equity capital market by winning its first IPO mandate from Manipal Health Enterprises, a $1 billion offering. The Singapore‑based lender is establishing a full‑service investment‑banking platform under its merchant‑banking licence, with an on‑shore ECM team led...
Immigrants Expand Demand, Creating New Jobs
Immigrants weren’t just filling existing jobs; they were helping create them. That’s Econ 101: jobs are not a fixed pie. More people means more customers, more demand, more businesses expanding, and yes, more hiring. https://t.co/TuC32PJmUk
Vietnam's Economy Thrives; To Lam Emerges as Reformer
Vietnam's macro situation is so impressive. And To Lam seems to be more of a reformer than I initially thought. https://t.co/pKtcfrLTG6