Emerging Markets News and Headlines
Emerging Markets News and Headlines
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Every morning
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The Atlantic Council essay by Ahmed Charai examines how the United States can preserve a credible deterrence posture in the Middle East after the eventual death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Charai argues that Washington must blend conventional force, cyber capabilities, and diplomatic outreach to prevent a power vacuum that Tehran could exploit. He highlights the importance of regional alliances, especially with Gulf states, and suggests a calibrated escalation‑de‑escalation framework. The piece also warns that missteps could trigger broader conflict, undermining U.S. credibility across the region.
Hungarian startup Edortech announced its patented tin‑anode system, ONLi, ready for scale‑up after a decade of research. Independent audits show the anode can deliver up to 70 % higher energy density and 1.8 times the capacity of conventional graphite or Si‑C anodes...
The Serbian embassy in Tehran was damaged during Iranian airstrikes on March 1, though no staff were injured. A nearby military base was also hit, prompting the embassy team to relocate to Baku under standard diplomatic protocols. President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed...
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are prompting concerns about rising energy costs for Indian firms, especially those in energy‑intensive sectors. While the overall share of power and fuel expenses in corporate cost structures has softened to about 4.3% in...
India’s electronics and tech exports to the Gulf, valued at $4.5 billion in FY26, face disruption as the Iran‑Israel conflict restricts airspace and the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates, the second‑largest buyer, accounted for $4.1 billion of those shipments,...
A new Australian study using HILDA survey data and latent class analysis identified six distinct profiles of discouraged workers – people who want a job but have stopped looking. The groups range from young, low‑educated men to older, well‑educated women...
The ongoing West Asia conflict is expected to push global pulse prices higher, threatening a rise in dal costs for Indian households. India imports roughly 5‑6 million tonnes of pulses from Myanmar, Canada and Africa, leaving the domestic market vulnerable to...
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil conduit, has seen trade reduced to a trickle after a wave of escalatory attacks. U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, followed by Iranian reprisals triggered by the reported assassination of Supreme Leader...
Maynilad Water Services is moving its ₱30 billion Teresa water‑treatment plant from Rizal to a site within its West Zone concession to better align with the upcoming Kaliwa dam. The relocation shortens pipeline distance, aiming to cut non‑revenue water losses and...
Discovery World Corp. is injecting ₱265 million into its Palawan resort portfolio, subscribing to ₱250 million of shares in Euro Pacific Resorts and ₱15 million in Palawan Cove to fund new beachfront developments and bolster working capital. The move also raises JT Perle Corp.'s...
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has moved from taxing to dismantling Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) by issuing a revenue memorandum circular that bans and declares all POGOs illegal, repealing the tax law that previously regulated them. This enforcement...
The Philippines is seeking up to $800 million from the Asian Development Bank as a partial credit guarantee to backstop availability payments for the North‑South Commuter Railway (NSCR) operator. The guarantee, equivalent to 24 months of payments, aims to mitigate government...
Nickel Asia Corp (NAC) posted a 312% jump in net income to ₱6.27 billion, driven by record nickel ore prices and a 56% rise in EBITDA. The company announced three new wholly‑owned subsidiaries to support a geothermal holding entity, a shared‑services...
MUFG Bank expects U.S. tariffs on Philippine imports to decline following the Supreme Court’s decision that curbed the Trump administration’s emergency‑powers tariff authority. The bank notes that exemptions for high‑value semiconductors and key agricultural products should keep effective trade costs...
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched airstrikes on Tehran, destroying multiple command headquarters, including the General Staff for Internal Security, after an Iranian missile strike killed nine Israelis in Beit Shemesh. Israel reported firing about 100 ballistic missiles at Iran...
Iraqi groups linked to the Islamic Resistance announced a mass march to storm the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on March 1, targeting the Green Zone at 8:30 pm. Security forces responded with tear gas and water cannons, dispersing protesters who had already...
Iranian officials have rejected claims that former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was killed in the recent US‑Israeli strikes on Tehran's Narmak district. The joint operation on February 28 reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, sparking a...
On March 2, Iran’s Central Bank lifted daily transfer limits across its banking system to ease pressure from high inflation and the ongoing war. The POL instant network cap rose to IRR 1 billion, card‑to‑card limits to IRR 150 million, and payment transaction ceilings to...
Geopolitical tensions surged after coordinated US‑Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Iranian missile and drone attacks across the Gulf. Kuwait’s Boursa Kuwait suspended all trading, while Saudi, Oman and Bahrain markets slipped 1‑2% despite Saudi Aramco’s 2.6% rally on rising oil...
Canada and Mexico posted record foreign direct investment in 2025, underscoring North America’s growing role as a manufacturing hub. Canada received $96.8 billion, the strongest inflow in 18 years, while Mexico attracted a historic $40.87 billion, a 10.8% year‑over‑year rise. U.S. investors...
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto was commissioned as an auxiliary vice admiral of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary during a ceremony aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua, highlighting the administration’s push to strengthen maritime governance. The government allocated ₱42.52 billion to the Coast Guard this year...
Visa announced a new sub‑regional structure covering Egypt, Libya and Sudan, part of its broader North Africa, Levant and Pakistan growth strategy. The reorganisation appoints Malak El Baba as country manager for the three markets and moves veteran Ahmed Mohey...
China’s foreign ministry called for an immediate cessation of Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran, urging both parties to respect Iran’s sovereignty and resume dialogue. The statement followed unverified reports that Beijing may offer to mediate between Tehran and the...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent as missiles struck Iran, Israel and other Middle Eastern states, opting instead to post cricket highlights, investment news and birthday wishes on social media. His silence follows a high‑profile visit to Israel that suggested...
Passengers at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were left stranded after a wave of flight cancellations triggered by airspace closures across the Middle East. The closures follow coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, prompting the Ministry of Civil...
Artificial intelligence is moving from pilot projects to core policy in India’s agriculture, backed by the Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack and NITI Aayog’s AI strategy. AI‑driven precision farming, climate forecasting and market analytics are already improving yields, water use and...
Democratic lawmakers condemned President Trump’s unilateral strikes on Iran, labeling them dangerous and unnecessary. They are pushing a Senate‑originated War Powers Resolution to require congressional approval before any further US military action against Iran. The effort has attracted bipartisan backing,...
South Korea’s exports surged 29% year‑over‑year in February, hitting a record high. The jump was driven primarily by a sharp rebound in semiconductor shipments as global chip demand accelerated. The trade surplus expanded sharply, reinforcing the country’s position as a...
The IMF paper documents a rapid rise in non‑bank financial institution (NBFI) subsidiaries within banking groups, now accounting for about 32 % of syndicated loan origination in 2024. When macroprudential policies tighten bank‑level constraints, bank subsidiaries cut lending by roughly 1 %,...
Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s Defence Council secretary and former defence minister, was reported killed in coordinated Israeli and U.S. strikes. The attacks occurred while he was overseeing the latest round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations that concluded on Friday. Shamkhani, a 70‑year‑old...
President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike, a statement not corroborated by Tehran. Iranian state media reported Khamenei as “steadfast,” casting doubt on the allegation. The report...
Africa’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem is being hailed as a catalyst for growth, yet its future hinges on whether it can be harnessed for peace. Young, connected Africans are already building AI‑driven early‑warning tools and civic platforms that can defuse...
Kenya’s political landscape is plagued by perpetual election campaigning, with parties launching rallies for the 2027 poll as early as January 2026—about 1.5 years before the vote. The High Court ruled that any campaign activity outside the official 30‑60‑day window...
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has poured roughly $600 million into its Zambian operations since Vedanta Resources returned, prioritising underground development, infrastructure rehabilitation and AI‑driven safety systems. The capital injection has created more than 2,000 jobs, expanding the workforce to over 14,000...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed deep sorrow over the joint US‑Israeli strike on Iran, labeling it a breach of Iranian sovereignty. He blamed Israeli provocations for the escalation and condemned Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Gulf states...
Rosatom confirmed that Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, operated by Russia, sustained no damage during the recent US‑Israeli military operation. The Russian state nuclear corporation evacuated 94 family members of its staff via Azerbaijan and Armenia after the Russian embassy...
India’s Directorate General of Shipping issued urgent advisories for seafarers in the Gulf region, urging heightened security drills for Indian‑flagged vessels. Global carrier Maersk announced a repeat avoidance of the Red Sea, rerouting services around the Cape of Good Hope....
Iraqi Shi'ite militia Saraya Awliya al‑Dam announced all U.S. military bases are legitimate targets. The group, aligned with Iran, said its fighters are ready to fire at any American installation in Iraq and beyond. The declaration follows recent Iranian strikes,...
Fresh U.S. and Israeli strikes have shone a spotlight on Iran’s parallel crypto economy, now estimated at $7.78 billion. Since legalising mining in 2019, Tehran subsidises electricity for licensed operators who sell Bitcoin to the central bank, using it to bypass...
Bank of America projects Philippine GDP growth at 4.6% in 2026 and 5.0% in 2027, falling short of the economy’s 5.5‑6.5% sustainable range. The slowdown is driven by weak household consumption, softer private investment and a tapering of government disbursements...
The First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF (NFTY) provides U.S. investors with an equal‑weight exposure to the Nifty 50 constituents, but its performance is hampered by a weakening Indian rupee. Over the past two decades the equal‑weight index has generated...
Hours before President Donald Trump announced air strikes on Iran, Oman's foreign minister Badr Albusaidi appeared on CBS's Face the Nation and declared a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal within reach. He said Iran had pledged zero stockpiling of weapons‑grade material and...
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net buyers in February, pouring Rs 22,615 crore into Indian equities, with Rs 19,782 crore going to secondary markets and Rs 2,832 crore to primary issues. However, a sharp sell‑off on February 28 saw FIIs dump Rs 7,536 crore, dragging the Nifty and Sensex...
The iShares MSCI Chile ETF (ECH) is currently rated Hold as analysts cite high risk and an unclear growth outlook for Chile through 2026. While the fund benefits from solid momentum and liquidity, its expense ratio is above average and...
The Philippines joined the 3rd Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue (JPIDD) in Tokyo, marking its first participation in the forum. Led by Defense Assistant Secretary Marita I. Yoro, the delegation discussed humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, climate change and maritime security....
The Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM) uses a "freedom‑weighting" model to pick stocks from 24 emerging‑market nations, deliberately excluding companies with more than 20% state ownership. With $2.97 billion in assets and a 0.49% expense ratio, the fund has consistently outperformed...
Argentina’s Senate approved President Javier Milei’s Labor Modernization Act, a sweeping overhaul that lengthens the workday to 12 hours, cuts severance payouts, eases firing, and curtails union activity. The legislation aims to bring the country’s 40% informal workforce into the formal sector,...
India’s economy grew 7.8% in the December quarter, a deceleration from 8.4% in the prior quarter, driven by weaker agriculture, non‑manufacturing output and reduced government spending. The statistics ministry’s revised base year projects FY25‑26 GDP at 7.6%, up from 7.1%...
The Trump administration has escalated threats of military action against Iran while covert nuclear talks continue, and Tehran’s state media claim the pressure is a distraction linked to the Epstein scandal. In parallel, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit...
U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a January 2026 raid, removing the military threat to Guyana’s Essequibo region and clearing the path for the country’s oil expansion. Guyana’s offshore Stabroek Block, operated by ExxonMobil with Chevron and CNOOC,...
