Emerging Markets News and Headlines
Emerging Markets News and Headlines
Emerging Markets Pulse
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Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Fitch Solutions warns that a broader US‑Iran conflict could trigger a sharp currency shock across sub‑Saharan Africa. In a prolonged escalation, Brent crude is projected to trade between $110 and $130 per barrel, raising energy costs and disrupting shipping routes. Oil‑exporting nations such as Nigeria and Angola may see their currencies strengthen, while import‑dependent economies like Kenya and South Africa could experience significant depreciation. Countries with thin foreign‑exchange buffers, notably Burundi and Malawi, are especially vulnerable, with reserves covering only 1‑2 months of imports.
McKinsey’s latest report finds India’s direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) market, now worth $10‑11 billion, is set to explode to $55‑60 billion by 2030, growing at a 38% CAGR. This outpaces traditional e‑commerce marketplaces, whose sales are expected to reach only $100 billion with a 10‑12%...
In 2025 the United States recorded a negative net migration rate as legal immigration was sharply curtailed, a trend that economists warn will dampen economic growth. President Donald Trump has framed this demographic shift as part of a broader “Golden...
A U.S. nuclear submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters off Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors. The vessel had been a guest of the Indian Navy after participating in a fleet review in Visakhapatnam, yet New Delhi issued...
Mission 300, a partnership led by the World Bank and African Development Bank, targets 300 million electricity connections in Africa by 2030. Since July 2023 the initiative has added about 44 million new connections, leaving a shortfall that requires roughly 50 million people to...
The European Investment Bank (EIB) held its annual meetings in Luxembourg, where President Nadia Calviño announced a $1 billion pledge for electrification projects across Africa and introduced a third Gender Action Plan, underscoring a renewed focus on health and gender equity....
Goldman Sachs warns that a temporary spike in crude to $100 a barrel could shave 0.4 percentage points off global GDP growth and lift headline inflation by up to 0.7 points. The firm’s baseline scenario still sees oil easing to...
RBI monetary‑policy committee member Nagesh Kumar warned that the West Asia conflict creates near‑term headwinds for India, notably higher oil prices, export disruptions and reduced remittances. He stressed that inflation remains benign, with headline CPI at 1.3% in December 2025...
DoubleLine Capital sees a "virtuous feedback loop" in emerging markets as a weakening U.S. dollar and ongoing central‑bank rate cuts create attractive local‑currency fixed‑income opportunities. While recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran sparked a sharp sell‑off in EM currencies and equities,...
The Finance for Nature workshop in Hanoi gathered policymakers, economists and finance leaders to push natural‑capital accounting into Vietnam’s macroeconomic framework. Organisers unveiled a report that applies the Integrated Economic‑Environmental Modelling (IEEM) and GTAP‑InVEST tools to embed ecosystem services in...
Kenyan‑owned banks posted strong H1 2025 earnings, with I&M up 36%, Equity 17% and NCBA 12.6%, while foreign‑owned Standard Chartered and Stanbic saw profits fall 21% and 9% respectively. Moody’s kept a stable outlook for Kenya’s big three banks despite...
Bac Ninh Province recorded over US$18.6 billion in registered foreign direct investment in 2025, placing it among Vietnam’s top two FDI destinations. Major infrastructure projects—including the accelerated Ring Road 4 corridor and a new National Highway 3 overpass—have dramatically improved connectivity to Hanoi,...
Venezuelan state miner Minerven has signed a deal with the Trump administration to supply between 650 and 1,000 kg of 98 % pure gold dore bars to commodities trader Trafigura for the U.S. market. The agreement follows President Donald Trump’s recent removal...
The Australian Government and industry groups launched the Trade Diversification Network (TDN) on 4 March as part of the $50 million Accessing New Markets Initiative. The network brings together 40 national peak bodies to provide coordinated market‑intelligence, trade services and sector‑specific support...
On February 28, President Donald Trump ordered a sweeping military strike against Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and decapitated the regime’s senior leadership. The campaign quickly expanded to hit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s missile forces, navy and...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a national emergency aimed at Cuba, accusing the island of hosting spies and terrorists and threatening tariffs on any nation supplying oil. Following the declaration, U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, intensifying regional...
China announced a 300 billion yuan capital injection into state‑owned banks via a special treasury bond, coupled with deeper reforms of state financial firms. The move targets major lenders such as ICBC and Agricultural Bank of China to shore up capital...
India's auto industry recorded double‑digit wholesale growth in February 2026, driven by robust demand across all segments. Strong consumer sentiment after GST cuts and a wave of new model launches lifted volumes, especially in commercial‑vehicle and two‑wheeler categories. Tata Motors...
The United States convened a critical‑minerals summit to curb China’s overwhelming role in battery and electric‑vehicle supply chains, but China still controls over 80 percent of global lithium‑ion battery production and 90 percent of grid‑scale storage. Washington has taken minority stakes in...
The escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is spilling over into Africa, where Iran has cemented security ties with Sahelian juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Western attention is being diverted, prompting the United States to scale back counter‑terrorism support while...
Mark Temnycky argues that Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered the post‑Cold War security paradigm in Europe, forcing the United States and its allies to re‑arm and rethink deterrence strategies. He warns that the policy choices made by Washington,...
On March 3, 2026, debris from a drone intercepted by UAE air‑defence systems ignited a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. Authorities quickly contained the blaze, reporting no injuries and resuming normal operations within hours. The incident occurred as...
Kenneth Kazungu, the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) secretary general and Ganze MP, defected to President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) during a Kilifi event attended by senior government allies. The move reflects President Ruto’s push to consolidate Kenya Kwanza...
The International Day for Disarmament and Non‑Proliferation Awareness coincides with a devastating Middle East conflict, highlighting that war leaves only survivors, not winners. Armed clashes destroy infrastructure, displace populations, and erode social trust, imposing costly reconstruction duties even on victors....
The article argues that impunity—absence of credible consequences—undermines institutions and economic growth, especially in the Philippines. It cites economic theory and cross‑country data showing that weak rule of law depresses investment and fuels inequality. The piece details how political dynasties,...
Rising tensions between Iran and Israel have revived concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for nearly one‑fifth of global oil shipments. Analysts outline three scenarios: a contained but prolonged missile exchange, a broader regional war...
Donald Trump invoked Winston Churchill to criticize Keir Starmer’s stance on Iran, suggesting the former would back a U.S.-Iran confrontation. The article argues Churchill’s legacy is far more nuanced: he combined hawkish rhetoric with strategic caution, championed the Anglo‑American “special...
The Barangay Skilled Workers Registry Act (HB 7719) cleared its second reading in the House, mandating every barangay to maintain a voluntary, free registry of local skilled workers. Championed by Rep. Jolo Revilla, the bill seeks to make community‑level labor...
Kenya Airways announced two repatriation flights on March 4‑5, 2026, to transport Kenyan and United Arab Emirates citizens between Nairobi and Dubai. The flights are classified as emergency repatriations, not regular services, after Dubai International Airport approved the necessary slots. The...
Escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have erupted into open war, with Pakistan conducting air strikes on Kabul, Kandahar and Bagram, and the Taliban responding by targeting Pakistani military sites. The conflict follows a surge in cross‑border attacks by groups...
A year after the Trump administration’s stop‑work orders halted U.S. development assistance, Kenya is feeling the loss of roughly $470 million per year that USAID had funneled into its economy, 80 % of it earmarked for health. The abrupt funding gap coincides...
Maharashtra’s Multi‑Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN) in Nagpur has generated 127,225 jobs, according to IT Minister Ashish Shelar. The hub has attracted investment from 120 companies, with 90 already operating in the SEZ and non‑SEZ zones. The state government...
U.S. and Israeli officials have increasingly framed the ongoing strikes against Iran in explicitly religious terms, invoking biblical prophecy and the concept of Armageddon. Civil‑rights group CAIR condemned the Pentagon’s rhetoric as dangerous and anti‑Muslim, while the Military Religious Freedom...
ARQ, formerly DolarApp, raised $70 million in a Series B led by Sequoia Capital and Founders Fund. The funding will fuel a rebrand, team expansion, and rollout of new financial products beyond its core stablecoin remittance service. With more than two million...
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that a U.S. submarine fired a torpedo that sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters off Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities recovered several bodies, reported at least 80 deaths and rescued 32...
The Indian rupee fell to a new record low as the US‑Iran conflict sparked safe‑haven buying of the dollar and pushed oil prices higher. Higher oil costs and the realization that U.S. rate cuts may be delayed have lifted inflation...
Vietnam is projected to outpace all economies in GDP growth over the next decade, according to Harvard’s Growth Lab and S&P Global research. Manufacturing activity accelerated in February, with the PMI rising to 54.3, marking eight months of expansion and...
The United States and Israel carried out a drone strike that killed Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking a rare state‑sanctioned assassination of a foreign head of state. The attack, framed as a response to Iran’s nuclear program, instead...
Fitch Ratings lowered Indonesia's credit outlook to negative, citing rising policy uncertainty. The agency kept the long‑term foreign‑currency issuer default rating at BBB, an investment‑grade level. This follows Moody's February decision to downgrade the outlook amid concerns over governance under...
Best Nights VC, the venture arm of Jägermeister, has invested in socially‑responsible hostel chain Mad Monkey alongside lead investor EXS Capital. The deal supports Mad Monkey’s expansion across Southeast Asia and Australia, where it already delivers over one million bed‑nights to more...
Ghana's banking sector is stabilizing as macroeconomic recovery and sweeping reforms take hold. Inflation fell from a record 54.1% in 2022 to 5.4% by early 2026 and the cedi appreciated about 30% while the Bank of Ghana cut its policy...
Chinese sovereign bonds are positioning themselves as a strategic alternative to US Treasuries, driven by investor demand for geopolitical hedges. Recent dollar‑denominated issuances in Hong Kong saw a 30‑times oversubscription, with coupon rates closely matching Treasury yields. Economist Xu Qiyuan...
Vinhomes Green Paradise in Ho Chi Minh City has launched a Smart City Certification Project with Korea Management Association Consulting, the World Council on City Data and the Standardized Urban Metrics initiative. The development aims to become Vietnam’s first internationally...
VinEnergo, the Vietnamese renewable energy arm of Vingroup, unveiled a global expansion plan anchored by a secured 10 GW project portfolio across Europe and Asia. The company aims to scale its total capacity to 100 GW within three years, focusing on 50 GW...
Allianz’s latest Risk Barometer indicates that 51% of more than 3,000 executives view a geopolitically‑driven global supply‑chain paralysis as the most likely Black Swan event within five years, with a global internet outage close behind. The survey highlights rising concern...
Iran has launched strikes against U.S. bases in the Gulf States, citing their role in the U.S.-Israel campaign, yet it has refrained from hitting the two American installations in Turkey. Tehran views the Gulf nations as militarily weak and economically...
Cambodia will host the Francophonie Summit in November, prompting tourism leaders to view the event as a catalyst for repositioning the country as a hub for trade, talent, and long‑stay visitors. Industry voices urge the government and private sector to...
The United States and Israel launched a coordinated strike—codenamed Epic Fury and Rising Lion—marking the first fully integrated U.S.-Israeli combat operation against Iran. The joint effort combined American air power with Israeli intelligence and special‑operations assets, targeting Tehran’s nuclear and...
Eastern DR Congo’s eastern provinces sit atop lithium, gold, coltan and other critical minerals that power the global energy transition and digital economy. Rising demand has drawn a slate of international actors, from the United States to China, intensifying geopolitical...
China's official manufacturing PMI slipped to 49.0 in February, matching a 33‑month low, while the private RatingDog index rose to 52.1, highlighting a split between domestic weakness and export‑driven resilience. Sub‑indices show production, new orders and employment contracting, even as...
