Inside Absa Plan to Acquire More African Banks After Uganda, Mauritius Buyouts
South Africa’s Absa Group has unveiled a revised pan‑African strategy that accelerates acquisitions and greenfield projects after recent purchases in Mauritius and Uganda. The plan reorganises the bank into three continent‑wide units—Corporate & Investment Banking, Personal & Private Banking, and Business Banking—under new chief executives. Absa aims to broaden its retail and wealth footprint, launch a mobile virtual network operator, and tap high‑growth markets to lift profit margins and cut earnings volatility. The Africa region now accounts for roughly one‑third of group earnings, signalling a shift away from South‑African concentration.
Global Shock Feared as Iran Tightens Grip on Hormuz, Qatar Says Impact “Not Far Away”
Qatar’s finance minister warned that Iran’s tightening grip on the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a broader energy and commodity shock within months. The narrow waterway carries about one‑fifth of global energy supplies, a third of fertilizer trade and supports...
India to Grow 6.8%-7.1% in FY27, Defies Oil Shock Pressures: SBI Report
SBI Research projects India’s GDP to expand between 6.8% and 7.1% in FY27, despite a fresh oil price shock and heightened West Asian tensions. The outlook follows a robust FY26 growth rate of 7.6%, mirroring the country’s resilience during the...
From Aid to Investment: Africa Redraws the Terms of Partnership with Europe
At the Africa‑Europe Finance Ministers' Platform, AUDA‑NEPAD chief Nardos Bekele‑Thomas declared that Africa will no longer accept passive aid but will pursue strategic co‑investment with Europe. She highlighted the EU’s upcoming 2028‑2034 budget, which earmarks roughly $66 billion for Sub‑Saharan Africa,...
Bangladesh Raises Fuel Prices as Iran War Drives up Costs
Bangladesh announced a 10‑15% increase in retail fuel prices, raising petrol to 135 taka (about $1.10) per litre and diesel to 115 taka. The hike reflects soaring global crude costs and supply disruptions linked to the seven‑week‑old Iran‑Israel conflict. The...
ILF: Bullish On Latin America, But I Don't Love This Fund's Portfolio
The iShares Latin America 40 ETF (ILF) has rallied over the past year as commodity prices and favorable political shifts lift regional markets. The fund’s portfolio is heavily weighted toward Brazil, offering limited exposure to smaller economies and the burgeoning...
Winter, Waves and the Return of the Unresolved
The Philippines is entering the "winter" phase of a multidecade Kondratieff cycle, marked by slowing growth and heightened risk aversion. The PSEi has been consolidating despite post‑pandemic earnings recovery, while corporate leverage relative to market value has risen to levels...
India to Benefit From US Extension of Russian Oil Waiver
The United States has extended a limited waiver for Russian oil transactions until May 16, 2026, covering cargoes already in transit or contracted before the cut‑off date. The extension, granted despite political opposition, does not signal a broader easing of sanctions...
Could It Be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
Turkey is courting Gulf and Asian investors with a new incentive package for its Istanbul Financial Center, positioning the city as a potential alternative to Dubai amid regional instability. The government, led by Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, promises tax breaks...
Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Is Closed Again as Vessels Attempting to Cross Come Under Fire
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced the Strait of Hormuz is closed again after gunfire struck a tanker, reversing a brief reopening. Tehran warned any vessel attempting passage will be treated as cooperating with the United States and could be targeted. The...
How Hong Kong Can Beat Singapore as the Launch Pad for Chinese Firms
Chinese firms seeking overseas growth now view Hong Kong and Singapore as competing launch pads. Singapore’s Economic Development Board offers a streamlined “no‑wrong‑door” process that guides entrepreneurs from entry to regional expansion. Hong Kong, despite the GoGlobal Task Force and...
China’s Birth Slump Adds to Aging Burden: Researcher
China’s birthrate has plunged to 7.92 million newborns in 2025, just 44% of the 2016 level, pushing the total population to 1.4049 billion after four consecutive years of decline. The sharp drop has forced the closure of 20,000 kindergartens in 2024, eliminating...
For Iran, Flexing Control Over Waterway Is New Deterrent
Iran has leveraged its control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil passes, to create a new strategic deterrent amid ongoing US‑Israel hostilities. Despite heavy strikes on Iran’s leadership and missile facilities, Tehran’s ability to...
Iraq Moves to Restart Oil Exports as It Seeks Stability and Revenue
Iraq announced it will restart oil exports from all fields within days, aiming to boost state revenue and stabilize domestic fuel supplies. The Ministry of Oil is also opening a new black‑oil outlet through Syria’s Baniyas port to diversify export...
Kazakh Gas Sector Comes of Age, Spurns Western Partners for CITIC
Kazakhstan’s state‑owned KazMunayGas is set to partner with China’s CITIC to construct a gas‑treatment plant at the Karachaganak field, after a dispute led to the exclusion of Western partners Eni and Shell. The move underscores a strategic pivot toward Chinese...
Rupee Depreciation Forces Indian Firms to Adopt Yuan Payments, Boost Local Sourcing
Indian manufacturers are increasingly paying Chinese suppliers in yuan to offset the rupee’s 4‑5% slide against the dollar. Companies such as PG Electroplast and Super Plastronics have begun yuan‑based settlements, while Godrej Appliances is exploring the option. Retailer Lifestyle has...
Iran’s Hormuz Whiplash Highlights Divide Within Regime as U.S. Blockade Tightens. ‘The Fight Between Different Factions Has Started’
Iran’s military announced the Strait of Hormuz closed again after a day of contradictory statements from the foreign ministry and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC publicly rebuked Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s claim that the waterway was fully...
How the Middle East Crisis Chokes East Africa’s Revenue Lifeline
The US‑Israel war on Iran has driven up global crude prices, sending East African fuel costs soaring. Governments in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia rely on multiple taxes that can represent up to half of pump prices, sparking public...
Middle East Conflict Deepens Hunger in East Africa
The six‑week Iran‑Israel‑US war is choking fertilizer, fuel and shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, driving a 68% surge in global urea prices and forcing East African farmers to cut or forgo planting for the 2026‑27 harvest. Higher input...
Trump Rejects ‘Blackmail’ by Tehran as Iranian Military Shuts Hormuz Again
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps re‑established tight control over the Strait of Hormuz, demanding the United States lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports before the waterway is reopened. The move followed IRGC gunboats firing on a tanker and a...
Rwanda Secures $251m Low-Cost Loan for Projects, Budget
Rwanda has secured a €213 million ($251 million) 15‑year low‑cost loan from Société Générale and Standard Chartered, backed by an IDA guarantee and a six‑year grace period. The financing will fund infrastructure projects and provide budget support as the country seeks to...
Lutnick Shuts Down Talk of Any Chinese Investment in US Autos
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Semafor audience that Chinese automakers, including BYD, will not be allowed to invest in U.S. auto manufacturing, responding with a firm “no.” He reiterated the stance in remarks to Bloomberg, saying “not cars,...
A Bet on Brazil's Bright Future
Investors have largely shrugged off the escalating Middle East crisis, keeping global equities flat despite heightened geopolitical risk. The turmoil is sharpening focus on energy security, which could lift commodity prices and benefit resource‑rich economies. Brazil, with its strong biofuel...
EBID and Guinea Seal Strategic Partnership to Drive Economic Transformation
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and Guinea signed a memorandum of understanding on April 8, 2026, committing over €310.5 million (≈ $387.9 million) to six priority projects. The initiatives, part of Guinea’s Simandou 2040 plan, target transport, renewable energy, agriculture, land administration...
Strategic Autonomy or Ambiguity? India’s Gulf Dilemma
India’s Gulf policy is marked by cautious strategic autonomy amid the Iran‑Israel‑US crisis. New Delhi’s reliance on energy imports through the Strait of Hormuz, deep economic ties with Gulf states, and a sizable diaspora constrain overt diplomatic action. While Pakistan...
Trump Eyes "Historic" China Summit as Xi Welcomes Hormuz Reopening
President Donald Trump announced an imminent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, branding it "historic" as both leaders discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz and bolstering regional energy security. Trump highlighted Xi’s satisfaction with mine‑clearance efforts and signaled that the...
Why China Is Urgently Looking to North Africa as the Energy Crisis Rolls On
China is accelerating its North African investments as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, turning long‑term Belt and Road projects into urgent energy‑security measures. Beijing is committing billions to infrastructure, including a $4.7 bn El Hamdania megaport in Algeria, a $6.5 bn...
The Real Outcome of the Iran War: America Is Now the World’s Most Secure ...
The United States is leveraging the Iran‑Hormuz standoff to reposition itself as a secure, domestic energy supplier while channeling capital back to American markets. Oil futures have slipped into the low $70s‑$80s as the strait shows signs of reopening, prompting...
Analysis: IDX, OJK to Restore Investor Confidence Ahead of MSCI Review
Indonesia’s stock exchange has lifted the minimum free‑float requirement to 15%, double the prior 7.5%, to satisfy MSCI’s concerns about liquidity and price manipulation. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) is pairing the change with broader reforms, including expanding shareholder classifications...
Recalibrating the India-South Korea Strategic Partnership
President Lee Jae‑myung's three‑day visit to India is framed as a strategic inflection point rather than routine diplomacy. South Korea faces a deepening split between its US‑anchored security alliance and a trade dependence of 20‑25% on China. India‑South Korea trade...
Thailand Banks on EU Trade Deal
Thailand is accelerating negotiations on an EU‑Thailand free‑trade agreement as the EU finalised a landmark FTA with India. Eight rounds of talks have produced agreements on trade remedies, public‑health exceptions and market‑access rules, bringing the total to 11 of 24...
In Wake of Iran War, Chinese Manufacturers Recalibrate Overseas Expansion Plans
Chinese manufacturers are reassessing overseas expansion after the Iran war heightened geopolitical risk and shipping costs. Domestic profit margins have narrowed while capacity utilization sits near 85%, prompting firms to seek higher‑margin markets abroad. Companies are scaling back projects in...
The Bigger Energy Lesson Behind Iran’s Control Over the Strait of Hormuz
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial traffic, prompting a sharp dip in oil prices and a modest rally in equity markets. The reopening, however, does not erase the underlying geopolitical risk that the strait can be...
Energy 'Sovereignty' Drives Mexico's Rethink on Gas Fracking
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signaled a policy shift by allowing unconventional shale‑gas development near the U.S. border, reversing the strict bans imposed by her predecessor. The move aims to boost domestic gas production and lessen Mexico’s reliance on imported U.S....
Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Is ‘Completely Open’
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" following the Israel‑Hezbollah cease‑fire, but Washington reiterated its naval blockade, citing unfinished transactions with Tehran. The U.S. Central Command reported 19 ships intercepted since the blockade began, underscoring lingering tension. Oil...
Hormuz Is (Apparently) Unblocked. Energy Markets Remain a Mess
Iran’s foreign minister announced that commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open," a sentiment echoed by President Donald Trump. The news sent Brent crude futures tumbling more than 10% to $89 a barrel, their lowest level since...
Senior Iranian Official: Significant Differences Remain, Serious Talks Required
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that substantial gaps remain in the nuclear talks with the United States, especially on nuclear issues, and that serious negotiations are still required. He indicated a preliminary agreement could be struck within days, potentially...
India Can Handle the Energy Shock if Iran Ceasefire Holds, Top Government Adviser Says
India’s chief economic adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran said the country can absorb the current energy‑price shock from the Iran war if the cease‑fire holds and extends. He expects oil supply and prices to normalise by the end of Q3 2026, allowing India...
India Explores FTA Full Use with Norway, Sets up Fast-Track Investment System with Austria
India and Norway deepened sectoral cooperation under the TEPA, targeting energy, maritime, pharma and biotech while tackling trade barriers such as SPS measures and certification. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund and Norfund are increasing renewable‑energy investments in India. Concurrently, India and...
India, Austria Launch Fast-Track Investment Mechanism; Flag India-EU FTA as Key Trade Driver
India and Austria have operationalised a bilateral fast‑track mechanism (FTM) to accelerate investment approvals and resolve business disputes promptly. The launch, announced during Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker’s first official visit in over 40 years, underscores the strategic importance of the...
This Means (Economic) War
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that if diplomatic talks with Iran collapse, the administration will launch an intensified economic campaign, leveraging sanctions as a “financial bombing” strategy. The move comes as the International Energy Agency warns Europe faces a...
China Suspends Import Licences of 3 Indian Rice Export Firms
China has cancelled the import licences of three Indian rice exporters—NM FoodImpex, Shriram Food Industry and Sponge Enterprises—after earlier rejections citing traces of genetically modified organisms. The suspension, effective April 17, follows a month‑long dispute over non‑Basmati rice shipments and may...
Iran War Energy Shock Drives Nuclear Power Plans in Hard-Hit Asia and Africa
The Iran war’s energy shock is driving Asian and African nations to boost nuclear power output and accelerate new reactor projects. South Korea is increasing generation, Taiwan is considering restarting mothballed plants, and Japan has signed a $40 billion reactor deal...
EU to ‘Play Its Part’ to Restore Energy and Trade Flows From Middle East
The European Union announced it is prepared to send additional warships to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once a ceasefire is secured. EU leaders discussed expanding the Aspides naval mission, which currently operates in the Red Sea, Gulf...
Virtus Minerals Signs First Major Deal Under US-DRC Critical Minerals Partnership
Virtus Minerals, a U.S. firm with just eight staff, has completed its first major transaction under the U.S.–DRC critical‑minerals pact by acquiring Chemaf and its copper‑cobalt assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The purchase includes the Mutoshi mine, which...
Pre-Markets Very Happy About Middle East Developments
A cease‑fire between Israel and Lebanon has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices down about 8% and lifting pre‑market futures sharply—+540 points on the Dow, +54 on the S&P 500, +230 on the Nasdaq, and +36 on the Russell 2000....
The Market’s Iran-Driven Correction Has Likely Run Its Course. This Is What Advisors Need to Know
After weeks of volatility sparked by the Iran‑U.S. conflict, U.S. equity markets rallied, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closing at record highs. The VIX fell, indicating reduced fear, and analysts say the Iran‑driven correction has likely run its course. Lower...
Iran Conflict Poses Risk to Global Economy, IMF Members to Say
The International Monetary Fund’s policy‑making body is set to issue a statement warning that the ongoing Iran conflict constitutes a serious threat to the global economy. It cautions that sustained hostilities could keep oil and fertilizer prices elevated for an...
Can Africa Avoid Asia's Palm Oil Pitfalls?
African nations are seeking to slash palm‑oil imports—about half of current consumption—by expanding domestic production. Smallholders, who grow roughly 70% of the continent’s oil palm, average six tonnes per hectare, far below the 20‑plus tonnes achieved on Asian commercial estates....
India Markets Draw Long-Term Capital Amid Global Volatility: SEBI Chief
India’s capital markets are attracting long‑term capital despite global volatility, SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said at the IMF‑World Bank Spring Meetings. In fiscal year 2026 the markets raised over $154 billion through equity and debt issuances, while mutual‑fund assets approach...