News•Feb 20, 2026
India Sets ₹25,000 Crore Export Engine in Motion as Goyal Launches Plan
India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the ₹25,060‑crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM), a six‑year programme designed to boost outbound shipments and simplify export processes. The initiative consolidates multiple support schemes into a single, digitally driven framework aimed at micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). By targeting labour‑intensive sectors and regions beyond traditional hubs, the mission seeks to broaden participation in global trade. It also aligns export growth with emerging technologies such as AI, data centres, and quantum computing to attract investment.
By The Economic Times (India) – Economy
News•Feb 20, 2026
Five Things to Know to Start Your Day
Nigeria's federal government ordered ministries to defer 70% of the 2025 capital budget to 2026, limiting new projects to prioritize existing ones amid weak revenues. The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission raided former Kaduna governor Nasir El‑Rufai’s Abuja home as he remains...
By BusinessDay (Nigeria)
News•Feb 20, 2026
Strong Manufacturing Growth Lifts Flash PMI to Three-Month High of 59.3 in Feb
India’s flash Composite PMI rose to 59.3 in February, its strongest level in three months, driven by a surge in manufacturing activity. Total new orders grew at the fastest pace since November, pushing output to a four‑month high, while services...
By The Hindu BusinessLine – Economy
News•Feb 20, 2026
Before the Ladder: Fixing Nigeria’s Broken Education Floor
Nigeria’s education system remains a fragile floor, with over 18 million children out of school and a majority of 10‑year‑olds unable to read basic texts. Public primary schools often lack essential infrastructure such as classrooms, furniture, sanitation, and reliable electricity, while...
By BusinessDay (Nigeria)
News•Feb 20, 2026
Adani Power Limited Enters Nuclear Segment as India Opens Sector
Adani Power Limited has created a wholly‑owned subsidiary, Adani Atomic Energy Limited, to enter India’s nuclear power generation market. The move follows the Indian government’s SHANTI Bill, which relaxes licensing and permits controlled private participation in nuclear projects. The new...
By bne IntelliNews
News•Feb 20, 2026
Africa Needs Patient Capital for the Long Term
Africa’s growth potential is hampered by a $350 billion SME financing gap and annual infrastructure needs of $130‑170 billion, far exceeding current investment. While the continent’s population tops 1.5 billion and GDP surpasses $3 trillion, capital flows remain fragmented and short‑term. The article argues...
By African Business
News•Feb 20, 2026
PENGASSAN Warns Tinubu’s Order on NNPC Revenues Could Lead to Job Losses
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) warned that President Bola Tinubu’s February 18 executive order, which channels oil and gas revenues directly into the federation account, undermines the financial autonomy granted to NNPC Limited under the...
By BusinessDay (Nigeria)
News•Feb 20, 2026
Samsung Electronics, KT Hit Record 6G Speeds in 7GHz Band
Samsung Electronics, Korean carrier KT and test‑equipment firm Keysight reported a record 3 Gbps downlink in the 7 GHz band, a core frequency earmarked for 6G. The speed was achieved using a prototype base station with massive MIMO architecture that transmitted eight...
By The Korea Herald – Business
News•Feb 20, 2026
Pax Silica Pact: India Plugs Into US Tech Alliance to Secure Chips, AI and Critical Minerals
India signed the Pax Silica Declaration at the India AI Impact Summit, formally joining the U.S.-led technology coalition that spans semiconductors, artificial intelligence and critical minerals. The pact reinforces a full‑stack supply‑chain partnership aimed at reducing reliance on hostile or coercive...
By The Economic Times (India) – Economy
News•Feb 20, 2026
Why Global Capital Is Looking at India Differently This Year
India’s economy is gaining traction through robust digital public infrastructure and maturing regulatory frameworks, positioning it as a distinct asset class for global investors. The latest Union Budget underscores this shift by offering a 20‑year tax holiday and a flat...
By The Economic Times (India) – RSS hub
News•Feb 20, 2026
US and Indonesia Agree to Cut Tariffs to 19% Under New Trade Deal
The United States and Indonesia have concluded a trade agreement that reduces U.S. tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19% from 32%. Indonesia will eliminate trade barriers on more than 99% of American exports across agriculture, healthcare, seafood, technology and automotive...
By bne IntelliNews
News•Feb 20, 2026
Pakistani PM Holds Talks with Rubio After Washington Summit
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Feb 19, focusing on cooperation in critical minerals, energy, counter‑terrorism and potential American investment. The discussion also highlighted Pakistan’s backing of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan...
By bne IntelliNews
News•Feb 20, 2026
Indonesian Tycoon Mochtar Riady’s OUE REIT Seeks Buyers For Prime Singapore CBD Tower
OUE Commercial REIT, controlled by Indonesian tycoon Mochtar Riady, is seeking buyers for its flagship One Raffles Place tower in Singapore’s CBD. The sale, handled by CBRE and JLL, targets a reserve price of up to S$2.4 billion, roughly 24% above...
By Forbes – Business
News•Feb 20, 2026
Infra Sector Outlook Cautious as Weak Q3 Performance Leads to 4% YoY Contraction: Nuvama Research
India's infrastructure sector posted a 4% year‑on‑year revenue contraction in Q3 FY26, driven by eroding order books, payment delays, prolonged monsoons and construction bans. Average EBITDA margin slipped 40 basis points to 10.1%, while adjusted PAT margin fell to 5.2%....
By The Economic Times (India) – Economy
News•Feb 20, 2026
US Pays About $160m Towards Nearly $4bn in UN Dues
The United States transferred roughly $160 million toward its nearly $4 billion UN arrears, a modest contribution amid a broader shortfall. Washington still owes about $2.196 billion for the UN’s regular budget and $1.8 billion for peacekeeping operations. President Trump, long critical of the...
By Al Jazeera – All News (includes Economy)
News•Feb 20, 2026
IMF Warns Venezuela’s Economy and Humanitarian Situation Is ‘Quite Fragile’
The IMF warned that Venezuela’s economy and humanitarian situation remain “quite fragile,” citing triple‑digit inflation, a sharply depreciating currency and public debt at roughly 180 percent of GDP. The country has seen massive emigration, with about 8 million people leaving since 2014,...
By Al Jazeera – All News (includes Economy)
News•Feb 20, 2026
Civil War-Torn Sudan Sits On Unexplored Mineral Riches Worth Billions
Sudan, despite a civil war that began in 2023, is courting foreign investors to develop its largely untapped mineral portfolio that includes gold, copper, uranium and rare‑earth elements. Gold production set a new record of 70 tonnes in 2025, generating...
By OilPrice.com – Main
News•Feb 19, 2026
Lynx Investment Advisory Buy $5 Million of Akre Focus ETF
Lynx Investment Advisory disclosed a new $5.73 million position in the Akre Focus ETF (AKRE) during Q4 2025, purchasing 87,467 shares. The holding accounts for 3.1 % of Lynx’s reportable assets under management, though it sits outside the firm’s top five holdings....
By Yahoo Finance – Top Financial News
News•Feb 19, 2026
World Briefs | Rwanda Hikes Lending Rate on Higher Inflation
Rwanda’s central bank raised its key lending rate by 50 basis points to 7.25% on Thursday, reacting to a jump in consumer price inflation to 8.9% year‑on‑year in January. The move aims to bring inflation back within the bank’s 2‑8%...
By BusinessLIVE (South Africa) – RSS hub
News•Feb 19, 2026
World Briefs | Nigeria’s Tinubu and Germany’s Merz Talk Security, Power Deal in Phone Call
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed reviving a stalled electricity transmission project with Siemens and the purchase of used German helicopters, highlighting deeper security and power cooperation. France’s audit office warned that the country must shift...
By BusinessLIVE (South Africa) – RSS hub
News•Feb 19, 2026
Bank Indonesia Keeps Rates Steady, as Rupiah Weakness Threatens to Delay Easing
Bank Indonesia left its policy rate unchanged at 4.75% as the rupiah continued to weaken amid fiscal‑sustainability concerns and volatile investor sentiment. Moody’s downgraded Indonesia’s credit outlook to negative, reflecting uncertainty over policy direction and transparency. Real‑rate differentials with the...
By ING — THINK Economics
News•Feb 19, 2026
Philippines’ Central Bank Delivers Expected Rate Cut Paired with Uncertain Guidance
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas trimmed its policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.25%, matching market expectations. However, the central bank softened its forward guidance, dropping language that it was nearing the end of easing and emphasizing lingering confidence...
By ING — THINK Economics
News•Feb 18, 2026
You Can Invest in SpaceX Before Its IPO — but Should You?
Investors can now gain exposure to SpaceX through private secondary markets, specialty ETFs and pooled funds, sidestepping the wait for a public listing. The rocket company is valued at roughly $1.25 trillion, making it one of the most coveted private assets....
By MarketWatch – Top Stories
News•Feb 18, 2026
Five US Policy Shifts Could Reshape Financial Markets
The Trump administration is advancing five domestic policy initiatives that touch credit, housing, monetary policy, corporate governance, and digital‑asset regulation. Proposed credit reforms would tighten loan underwriting, while housing changes could modify the mortgage interest deduction. Monetary officials hint at...
By Project Syndicate — Economics
News•Feb 18, 2026
Defence Giant BAE Hails Record Sales as Workers Remain on Strike
BAE Systems announced record 2025 results, with sales rising 10% to £30.7 billion and pre‑tax profit climbing to £2.6 billion. The company highlighted a historic order backlog as global defence budgets surge amid geopolitical tension. Meanwhile, Unite union members at the Lancashire...
By BBC News – Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
Europe Is Squandering Its Leverage Over China
Europe is losing bargaining power with China as the continent’s growth stalls while Beijing posts a record trade surplus. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s upcoming China visit underscores the urgency, with Germany’s 2025 GDP expanding only 0.2% versus a $1.19 trillion Chinese surplus....
By Project Syndicate — Economics
News•Feb 18, 2026
India Keen to Diversify Crude Oil, Coking Coal Sources; Eyes High-Quality US Supplies: Piyush Goyal
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal said New Delhi will diversify crude oil and coking‑coal supplies, targeting high‑quality U.S. coal to reduce reliance on a few geographies. He highlighted a $100 billion aircraft demand from the United States over the next five...
By ET EnergyWorld (The Economic Times)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Ground View: How Industry Leaders Are Shaping Pakistan’s Mining Future
The Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum (PMIF) will gather industry leaders in Islamabad to spotlight the country’s world‑class copper, gold, and critical mineral deposits, most notably the revived Reko Diq project. While the geology is undisputed, the article argues that mining...
By MINING.com
News•Feb 18, 2026
China Gives Lithuania Punishing Silent Treatment over Taiwan
In 2021 Lithuania permitted a Taiwanese representative office to use the name "Taiwan" rather than "Taipei," directly challenging Beijing's One‑China policy. China answered not with public sanctions but with a silent diplomatic freeze, withdrawing embassy staff and removing Lithuania from...
By Asia Times – Defense
News•Feb 18, 2026
AD Ports Joins Cameroon’s Douala New Dry Bulk Terminal Concession
UAE‑based AD Ports Group has entered a 30‑year concession with Africa Ports Development to design, build and operate a new dry‑bulk terminal at Cameroon’s Port of Douala. The partnership gives AD Ports an effective 51% economic stake and commits roughly...
By Seatrade Maritime
News•Feb 18, 2026
Kenya Awards Key Transmission Work to Power Grid
Kenya has awarded a $311 million power transmission contract to a joint venture of India’s Power Grid Corp and Africa50. The PPP will design, build, operate and maintain two high‑voltage lines serving western and northern Kenya, addressing chronic supply gaps. The...
By ET EnergyWorld (The Economic Times)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Microsoft on Pace to Invest $50B Into AI for Global South
Microsoft announced a $50 billion commitment to accelerate artificial‑intelligence adoption across the Global South by 2030. The plan, unveiled at the India AI Impact Summit, follows a five‑pronged approach covering infrastructure, skills training, multilingual models, local innovation and impact measurement. Microsoft...
By YourStory
News•Feb 18, 2026
SEC Moves to Toughen Standards for Philippine Corporate Directors
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a draft memorandum circular proposing stricter training requirements for corporate directors and senior executives. The new framework mandates a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates OECD corporate governance principles, the ASEAN Governance Scorecard,...
By Manila Bulletin – Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
Cambodia Extends Tax Incentives for the Tourism Businesses in Siem Reap, Supporting Sector Recovery, Long-Term Growth and Regional Tourism Development
Cambodia’s government has extended tax incentives for tourism businesses in Siem Reap until the end of 2026, offering income‑tax exemptions and monthly tax relief (excluding VAT and accommodation tax). The measure targets hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and travel agencies, aiming to...
By Travel And Tour World
News•Feb 18, 2026
AFP Backs Increased US Missile Deployments to Manila for Enhanced Regional Defense Posture
The Armed Forces of the Philippines publicly endorsed the United States’ plan to expand missile and unmanned system deployments following the 12th Philippines‑U.S. Bilateral Strategic Dialogue. The agreement includes the Typhon mid‑range missile launcher and the Navy‑Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction...
By Manila Bulletin – Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
AboitizPower Agrees to Supply 30 Megawatts to Negros Cooperative
Aboitiz Power Corp. will supply Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) with 30 MW of electricity, combining 10 MW of solar generation and 20 MW of baseload power. The mixed supply aims to meet rising demand in the cooperative’s franchise area while smoothing the...
By Manila Bulletin – Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
Overseas Investors Tap Brakes on JGB Selling Post-Election
The Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide victory in Japan’s snap election has steadied the government‑bond market, halting a sharp rise in long‑term yields. Foreign institutional investors, who had been offloading JGBs, have paused sales and begun modest buying. Domestic investors are...
By Nikkei Asia – Economy
News•Feb 18, 2026
Japan to Offer Support for Exports of Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells
Japan announced a new subsidy scheme to support overseas installations of flexible perovskite solar cells, aiming to accelerate the export of its homegrown renewable‑energy technology. The program targets projects in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Thailand identified as early beneficiaries....
By Nikkei Asia – Economy
News•Feb 18, 2026
Hong Kong Plots Student Housing Buildup as Land Revenue Shrinks
Hong Kong’s government has earmarked the Kai Tak commercial site for student housing, marking the first use of open‑market land sales to spur such development. The move aims to offset shrinking land‑sale revenue while addressing a surge of mainland and other...
By Nikkei Asia – Economy
News•Feb 18, 2026
Vietnam Tackles Gold Fever with Black Market Crackdown
Vietnam has introduced fines of up to $12,000 to deter illicit gold trading, marking a decisive shift after ending a 13‑year state monopoly on gold production and sales. The new penalties target black‑market dealers and unlicensed jewelers, aiming to bring...
By Nikkei Asia – Economy
News•Feb 18, 2026
APSEZ Signs MoU with French Port to Deepen Cooperation on Trade Facilitation
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with France’s Port of Marseille Fos to deepen cooperation on trade facilitation, port innovation and energy transition. The pact will create an IMEC Ports Club to coordinate the...
By The Hindu BusinessLine – Economy
News•Feb 18, 2026
India–US Deal Under Fire as Kisan Bodies Call It ‘Anti-Farmer’, Urge President to Stop It
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has condemned the interim India‑US trade agreement, branding it anti‑farmer and urging President Droupadi Murmu to halt its signing. The coalition demanded the removal of the commerce minister and the IAS officer who signed a...
By The Economic Times (India) – Economy
News•Feb 18, 2026
From Slump to Surge: Renault Korea’s Strategic Turnaround
Renault Korea has reversed a sales slump by launching the Aurora Project and a hybrid‑first Grand Koleos, boosting domestic sales 31.3% to 52,271 units in 2025. The model’s 86.5% hybrid mix drove 40,877 domestic deliveries, while exports dropped 46.7%, signalling a...
By The Korea Herald – Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
Building Roads While Travelling Nowhere
Nigeria’s states received a record N33.27 trillion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee between January and November 2025, far exceeding the N25.46 trillion allocated in 2024. Despite the surge, per‑capita spending on health and education remains dismally low, with implementation rates of only...
By BusinessDay (Nigeria)
News•Feb 18, 2026
55 Years of Partnership and the New Dawn in China–Nigeria Bilateral Relations
China and Nigeria celebrated 55 years of diplomatic ties, marking a shift toward deeper economic integration. The partnership, upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2024, now emphasizes higher‑value trade and industrial transformation. A new Zero‑Tariff Agreement grants qualifying...
By BusinessDay (Nigeria)
News•Feb 18, 2026
India’s AIF Industry Crosses Rs 15 Lakh Crore as Domestic Capital & Liquidity Reshape Private Markets
India’s alternative investment fund (AIF) sector has crossed the ₹15.05 lakh crore mark, underscoring rapid scale and emerging maturity. Equity‑oriented AIFs have delivered roughly 8.7 % alpha over the BSE Sensex across multiple cycles, highlighting consistent outperformance. Domestic investors now contribute about 55 %...
By The Economic Times (India) – RSS hub
News•Feb 18, 2026
Nigeria’s Oil Firms Survive on $7 per Barrel as Insecurity Tames Profit
Nigeria’s indigenous oil producers are surviving on razor‑thin margins of $5‑7 per barrel despite crude prices hovering around $70. Production costs sit near $40 per barrel, but spiralling security expenses and operational losses from theft and pipeline vandalism push total...
By BusinessDay (Nigeria)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Westpac: China Must Shift to Proactive Policy in 2026 to Sustain Growth
China met its official 5.0% GDP target in 2025, largely on the back of robust export growth to Asia, Europe and Latin America. Manufacturing investment, particularly in electric vehicles and electronics, remained resilient, while overall fixed‑asset investment fell 3.8% and...
By ForexLive — Feed
News•Feb 18, 2026
SPEM: Why It's Not Just A Weaker-Dollar Story Boosting Emerging Markets
State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) remains a buy, backed by strong technical momentum, low valuation and a 0.07% expense ratio. The fund holds $16.7 billion in assets, offers a 2.58% dividend yield and provides broad EM exposure. Its...
By Seeking Alpha – ETFs & Funds
News•Feb 18, 2026
The Economics of the Kalshi Prediction Market
Kalshi, a CFTC‑approved designated contract market, operates a quote‑driven prediction platform where makers post offers and takers accept them. An analysis of over 300,000 contracts shows that prices generally track event probabilities but suffer a pronounced favourite‑longshot bias, with cheap...
By CEPR — VoxEU