‘We Will Not Survive’: Toyota, Honda and Ford CEOs Issue Chilling Warning About China — and It Could Hit Your...
Chinese automakers now dominate the electric‑vehicle market, supplying roughly 70% of all new EVs worldwide. BYD’s rapid expansion has eclipsed Tesla, prompting CEOs of Toyota, Honda and Ford to warn that without drastic productivity changes they may not survive. Honda’s China sales have slumped from 1.6 million in 2020 to 640 000 in 2025, and Toyota reports year‑over‑year declines. The shift is forcing legacy makers to overhaul R&D, digitization and supply‑chain strategies.
Global Capital Shifts Beyond Silicon Valley – and SA Benefits
Global investors are moving capital beyond traditional US tech hubs, with South Africa emerging as a key destination. The country secured $715 million in venture funding in 2025, the second‑largest in Africa, and total deal volume rose 25% YoY to $4.1 billion...
U.S. Hormuz Blockade Hits India Just as Russian Oil Purchase Waiver Expires, Deepening Energy Worries
The United States began blocking ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off Iranian crude that India had just begun importing after a seven‑year hiatus. At the same time, a U.S. waiver that allowed India to purchase 1.5 million barrels...
Chatham Financial: Iran Conflict Drives Rise in Lender Caution
Chatham Financial reports that, despite stable profit margins in the first quarter, lenders are growing increasingly cautious about extending credit amid the escalating Iran conflict. The firm notes a noticeable rise in risk aversion, leading to tighter loan terms and...
China Turns to Central Asia as US Blockade in Hormuz Chokes Global Energy Flows
China is turning to Central Asia for energy as the Strait of Hormuz closure disrupts Middle‑East shipments. Vice‑Premier Ding Xuexiang will visit Turkmenistan, attend the groundbreaking of phase four of the Galkynysh gas field, and co‑chair a bilateral cooperation meeting....
How Trump’s Crypto Push Is Undermining American Power
President Donald Trump’s administration has rolled back key cryptocurrency regulations, effectively opening U.S. markets to unfiltered crypto activity. The policy shift removes many anti‑money‑laundering and know‑your‑customer safeguards, prompting a surge in domestic crypto trading. At the same time, state‑backed actors...
India’s Strong Fundamentals to Cushion Oil Shock, Growth May Slow up to 80 Bps: S&P Global Ratings
S&P Global Ratings says India’s solid macro and financial fundamentals will cushion a sustained oil price shock, but growth could decelerate by as much as 80 basis points if Brent averages $130 per barrel in 2026. In a stress scenario,...
Singapore Q1 Preliminary GDP up 4.6% on Year, Misses 5.9% Forecast
Singapore’s economy expanded 4.6% year‑on‑year in the January‑March quarter, falling short of the 5.9% consensus forecast and decelerating from a 5.7% gain in the prior quarter. The slowdown reflects tighter monetary conditions as the Monetary Authority of Singapore raised policy...
Global Startups Shape New AI, Quantum and Sustainable Tech Frontiers at GITEX AI ASIA
Day two of GITEX AI ASIA highlighted Southeast Asia’s AI surge, with projected AI investment surpassing $110 billion by 2028 and a $350 billion investor pool. The North Star Asia showcase hosted more than 300 startups from over 50 countries, adding new...
Asia Gains Ground in Global Capital Shift - Weekly Roundup: 14 April
HSBC’s new survey of 3,000 global firms shows a decisive tilt toward Asia, with 41% naming mainland China as the most important market over the next five years, while volatility is now seen as a permanent backdrop. Investors are reallocating...
Why Indonesia’s Prabowo Is in Russia – and What He Needs From Putin
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto flew to Moscow seeking cheap Russian crude as global oil prices surge following the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran and a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 25% of seaborne oil....
China’s Xi Warns Iran Conflict Leaves World ‘Beset by Disarray’
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that the escalating Iran conflict is leaving the world "beset by disarray," emphasizing the risk of broader geopolitical instability. He called on all sides to pursue diplomatic channels and warned that unchecked escalation could ripple...
Can Hong Kong, Target of the Most US Sanctions, Become China’s Quantum Gateway?
Hong Kong, the most US‑sanctioned Chinese territory with 340 blacklisted entities, is positioning itself as China’s quantum gateway through the Hetao Shenzhen‑Hong Kong Innovation Cooperation Zone. Chief scientist Guo Guoping of Origin Quantum says the zone will link mainland quantum research...
A Test of Wills in Iran
The United States and Iran failed to reach a cease‑fire agreement during talks in Pakistan, leaving their war unresolved. Washington pressed Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, curb its nuclear and missile programs, and halt support for proxy groups....
Risk of LatAm Fiscal Slippage Grows as Iran War Drags On
Latin American governments face mounting fiscal pressure as the protracted Iran‑Israel conflict keeps global oil prices elevated. Higher energy costs are eroding household purchasing power, prompting policymakers to consider subsidies that could swell public deficits. At the same time, many...
Bloomberg Daybreak Asia: US-Iran Eye More Talks (Podcast)
Asian stocks rose as artificial‑intelligence shares regained momentum, while Middle‑East tensions eased after President Donald Trump signaled openness to renewed talks with Iran. Brent crude fell 1.5% to $97.85 a barrel as the United States and Iran explored a fresh...
The Strategic Logic of Xi’s Historic Meeting with Taiwan’s Cheng Li-Wun
On April 12, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li‑wun in Beijing, marking a historic dialogue between the Communist Party and Taiwan’s main opposition. The meeting coincided with Beijing’s rollout of a 10‑point policy package that restores direct...
Singapore Must Resist Insular Policies, Deepen Ties with Trusted Partners Amid Geopolitical Fragmentation: DPM Gan
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong warned Singapore against turning inward as global economic policies grow more insular, urging deeper ties with trusted partners. He announced the launch of Enterprise Singapore's fourth U.S. overseas centre in Austin, the first non‑coastal...
Kyrgyz Officials in Washington Seeking Investment
Kyrgyz officials unveiled the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory, a 6,000‑hectare special economic zone near Lake Issyk‑Kul designed to compete with Kazakhstan’s Astana Hub and Uzbekistan’s IT Park. Construction began in February, and the zone will operate under a British‑common‑law...
CCP Using ‘Carrot and Stick’ Strategy: Experts
Chinese military activity around Taiwan surged to a peak on the day KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li‑wun met President Xi, underscoring Beijing’s “carrot and stick” approach that blends diplomatic overtures with coercive pressure. The Chinese government announced ten preferential measures for Taiwan,...
Strait of Hormuz Blockade: The Complex Regional Realities the US Ignores at Its Peril
President Donald Trump ordered a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, halting Iranian port traffic. The narrow waterway moves roughly 20% of global oil—about 18 million barrels a day, worth over $1 trillion annually—so the blockade threatens to spike crude...
Xi to Meet Vietnam Leader as Hormuz Blockade Risks Energy Flows
Vietnam’s new president To Lam will meet Xi Jinping in Beijing to cement deeper energy, infrastructure and telecom ties as the Iran‑driven Hormuz blockade threatens oil supplies. The agenda includes a possible VietJet‑Comac aircraft deal, metro construction contracts and expanded rail investment,...
Xi’s Petroyuan Dream Gets New Life From Trump’s War in Iran
The Iran‑Israel war has revived interest in a Chinese "petroyuan" as Tehran began accepting yuan for oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. A Chinese‑affiliated scholar noted a surge in yuan‑denominated crude, and the Cross‑Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS)...
War Has Sanctioned Russian LNG Booming
Russia’s Novatek has begun offering cargoes from its Arctic LNG 2 project to buyers in South Asia, despite the facility being subject to U.S., EU and UK sanctions. The shipments are priced at discounts of up to 40 % versus current spot‑market...
Global Shocks Are Back: Emerging Markets Holding Up
The latest U.S. Federal Reserve tightening in 2022‑23, despite raising rates over five percentage points, did not trigger the financial crises that historically followed such moves in emerging markets. Researchers attribute this resilience to two structural improvements: higher monetary‑policy credibility,...
Nomura Sees 60% Chance of BSP Rate Hikes
Nomura estimates a 60% chance that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will raise its benchmark rate this year, potentially adding 0.5 percentage points. The first quarter‑point hike could be announced at the April 23 Monetary Board meeting, with a second increase...
Wall Street Is the Biggest Winner of the Iran War—And the S&P 500 Just Turned Positive for the Year
Wall Street rallied on Monday as the S&P 500 jumped 1.02% to 6,886, wiping out every loss incurred since the Iran war began on Feb. 28. A brief X post by a New York Post reporter about tentative nuclear‑deal talks...
MENA Startup Funding Slips to $941 Million in Q1 2026 Amid Heightened Geopolitical Risk
Startup funding in the Middle East and North Africa slipped to $941 million in Q1 2026, a 21.5% quarter‑on‑quarter decline and a 37% drop year‑on‑year as geopolitical tensions escalated. The UAE dominated the market with $625.8 million across 46 deals, while Saudi Arabia...
Why Did Wang Yi Go to North Korea? China’s 3 Strategic Calculations
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi made an unannounced two‑day trip to Pyongyang on April 9‑10, meeting both Kim Jong Un and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. The visit was timed to temper Pyongyang’s recent missile tests and to smooth the diplomatic environment ahead of...
FSB Chair Warns of Rising Financial Risks Stemming From Middle East Conflict
Financial Stability Board Chair Andrew Bailey warned G20 ministers that the Middle East conflict is amplifying existing financial vulnerabilities. He highlighted the risk of a "double or triple whammy" as stretched asset valuations, concentrated non‑bank leverage and liquidity mismatches converge...
Global Downgrades Unwind India’s Premium, Cap Market Upside
Global brokerages including Goldman Sachs, Nomura, Citi and Bernstein have downgraded India from overweight to neutral, trimming Nifty targets by 10‑15% as earnings recovery stalls. The revisions reflect heightened energy costs, supply disruptions and a reassessment of India’s risk‑reward profile...
Iran War Tests BRICS — And Reveals Its Limits
More than two months after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, the conflict is edging toward a fragile cease‑fire, but the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent global fuel and food prices soaring. BRICS – Brazil,...
Investors ‘Back to the Drawing Board’ as Iran Deal Stalls. This Is What Advisors Should Know
Investors are re‑evaluating stock valuations as U.S.–Iran negotiations stall, sending Brent crude above $100 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate past $101. The market reacted with the Dow down 0.5% and the S&P 500 flat, underscoring heightened geopolitical risk. Meanwhile, Goldman...
Saudi Arabia: IPO Magnet
Saudi Arabia cemented its role as the Gulf’s premier IPO hub in 2025, delivering 37 of the region’s 42 listings and raising roughly $4.2 billion. The Saudi Stock Exchange’s Main Market and its Nomu parallel market split the flow, with Nomu...
Inside the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings as Leaders Grapple with War and Supply Shocks
The IMF and World Bank opened their 2026 Spring Meetings in Washington under the shadow of the Iran‑Israel war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which have spiked oil by more than 20% and European gas by over...
Zambia Secures Strategic Partnership in Jiangsu to Boost Chinese Investment
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has signed a strategic partnership with the Jiangsu Industrial Cooperation Association, gaining free office space and staffing support for a new representative office in Nanjing. The deal taps into Jiangsu’s network of over 5,000 enterprises,...
T Rowe Price: How Investors Can Capitalise on China’s Next Expansion
T Rowe Price argues that despite recent sell‑offs in large‑cap Chinese tech stocks, the medium‑ to long‑term investment case for China remains intact. The firm highlights a projected 5% annual GDP growth by 2025, renewed policy support for infrastructure, and consumer demand...
With Orban Gone, China Has Lost Its Best Friend in the EU
Viktor Orban’s defeat in Hungary’s election removes the EU’s most vocal pro‑Beijing ally. Under Orban, Budapest routinely blocked EU statements on human‑rights abuses, Hong Kong and Taiwan, turning political support into China’s primary leverage in Europe. The incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has...
From Indaba to the Budget: Will Fiscal Policy Unlock Mining-Led Growth?
South Africa’s mining sector, responsible for roughly 6% of GDP and about R440 billion ($23 billion) in annual output, is hampered by chronic freight bottlenecks. At the February Mining Indaba, industry leaders called for policy certainty and reliable logistics, prompting Finance Minister...
Saudi Arabia Restores Capacity of Affected Oil and Gas Assets
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy announced that the East‑West oil pipeline, which lost about 700,000 barrels per day in the April 9 Iranian attacks, has been restored to its full 7 million b/d capacity. Production at the Manifa field, previously reduced by 300,000 b/d,...
Dueling Hormuz Blockades Push World to the Brink
US President Donald Trump announced a US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz effective April 13, targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. Iran has responded with a de‑facto toll‑booth regime, charging up to $2 million per ship and laying mines...
Full Interview: Roubini on Iran War, Oil Shock, AI Boom
In a Bloomberg interview, economist Nouriel Roubini warned that the Iran‑Israel conflict could spiral into a full‑scale escalation, pushing oil prices to $150‑$200 a barrel and reviving 1970s‑style stagflation. He contrasted this with a de‑escalation scenario that would likely keep...
China Leads Asia’s Startup Funding To Its Highest Level In More Than 3 Years
Asia’s venture capital market rebounded in Q1 2026, with investors deploying $27.4 bn across seed to growth stages—a 20% rise from the previous quarter and nearly double year‑over‑year. China led the surge, accounting for $16.5 bn (60% of the region’s total) driven...
EU Businesses Warn China’s New Supply Chain Law Puts Firms on Collision Course with Bloc’s Rules
A EU business lobby, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, has condemned China’s new Regulation 834, which took effect last week. The law gives Chinese authorities sweeping powers to investigate and punish companies or individuals deemed to threaten industrial...
Pakistan Launches Iran Transit Corridor with First Shipment to Central Asia
Pakistan has inaugurated an overland trade corridor through Iran, dispatching its first export—a refrigerated truckload of frozen meat—from Karachi to Tashkent. The road link offers a shorter, faster alternative to traditional maritime routes, promising lower freight costs and reduced handling...
US, China Seen as Top AI Beneficiaries in New Growth Forecast From ‘Doctor Doom’ Economist
Renowned economist Nouriel Roubini, once famed as “Doctor Doom,” has turned bullish, forecasting that a surge in artificial intelligence and other high‑tech innovations will propel the United States into double‑digit annual growth. He projects China will experience a comparable boost,...
Spain Reopens Embassy in Tehran as Diplomatic Activity Resumes
Spain reopened its embassy in Tehran on April 13, 2026, with Ambassador Antonio Sánchez‑Benedito leading a diplomatic team back to Iran after the ceasefire. The ambassador announced a focus on peace‑building, bilateral cooperation, and exploring economic and tourism opportunities. Madrid’s...
Iran Warns Persian Gulf Port Security ‘for All or None’ as Hormuz Tensions Escalate
Iran’s Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters warned on April 13 that security in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman must be collective, stating any threat to Iranian ports endangers all regional ports. The statement follows the collapse of Iran‑U.S. talks and...
Hormuz Crisis Signals New Era of Risk for Gulf Energy
The six‑week Iran‑Israel‑U.S. war culminated in Iran’s unprecedented closure of the Strait of Hormuz, halting roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil supply. The shutdown and missile strikes knocked out about 11 million barrels per day of regional production, including Saudi Arabia’s...
China, the Iran War and the Chemical Suddenly Stoking Global Supply Fears
China announced an abrupt halt to sulphuric acid exports, a key input for fertilizer and mining industries worldwide. The decision coincides with renewed tensions in the Iran‑U.S. conflict, where failed peace talks have heightened geopolitical risk. Analysts warn that reduced...