US Minerals Deal Helps Congo Raise $1.25bn in Maiden Bond
The Democratic Republic of Congo completed its inaugural sovereign Eurobond, raising $1.25 bn. The issue comprised $600 m of 2032 notes at an 8.75% yield and $650 m of 2037 notes at 9.50%, with order books reaching $2 bn and $2.8 bn respectively, allowing tighter pricing. Proceeds will fund infrastructure, energy and social projects, reflecting improved macro‑economic stability and a positive S&P outlook. The deal follows a recent U.S. minerals agreement that highlighted Congo’s strategic role in global cobalt and copper supply.
Kenya Risks Loss of $40m Monthly Gulf Remittances
The World Bank warns that Kenya could lose up to $40 million each month in Gulf‑origin remittances as the Middle‑East conflict drags on. About 500,000 Kenyan workers are employed in Gulf construction and services, and their earnings are already slipping. The...
A US Strategy for Energy Competition with China in Emerging Markets
Emerging economies will drive the bulk of global energy demand growth over the next 20 years, turning them into a strategic battleground for influence. China has leveraged the Belt and Road Initiative to provide over $230 billion in concessional loans and...
Global Chaos Has Become a Permanent Guest in Your Portfolio. This Strategist Says Big Tech and Emerging Markets Are Now...
Nuveen strategist Laura Cooper warns that markets are under‑pricing the escalating Iran war and its broader geopolitical fallout. She advises investors to tilt toward U.S. large‑cap technology and AI, overweight emerging markets such as South Korea and Brazil, and add...
Qatar Vows to Remain Reliable Energy Supplier to India Amid West Asia Tensions
Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al‑Kaabi pledged to remain a reliable supplier of LNG and LPG to India during a two‑day visit by Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Qatar accounts for 45% of India’s LNG imports and 20% of its LPG, making it...
Japan Downgrades Description of China in Annual Diplomatic Report
Japan’s 2026 Diplomatic Bluebook downgraded its description of China from “one of the most important bilateral relations” to “an important neighboring country,” reflecting heightened tensions after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a...
Iran Confusion Makes the Case for Causal Modelling
Risk managers are grappling with the tangled uncertainties of the Iran‑US conflict, where traditional scenario testing—relying on past crises—fails to capture the unique dynamics of oil prices and prolonged infrastructure damage. Alexander Denev showed that Anthropic’s Claude LLM can construct...
Chinese Firms in Hungary Face a Post-Election Reckoning – No Matter Who Wins
Chinese firms operating in Hungary are bracing for the upcoming parliamentary election, fearing that a victory for the EU‑friendly Tisza party could bring stricter regulations, visa hurdles, or even asset seizures. Under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Budapest offered generous subsidies, tax...
Iran’s Impact on Markets: Where There Is Volatility, There Is Opportunity
François Collet, CIO of DNCA, says the Iran conflict will act as a short‑term inflationary shock, lifting European inflation expectations above 3% and keeping U.S. inflation near 3.25% over the next year. He forecasts GDP growth could be trimmed by 10‑30...
Taiwan Opposition Leader Calls for ‘Reconciliation’ After Meeting Xi
Opposition leader Cheng Li‑wun met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, becoming the highest‑ranking Taiwanese official to hold a face‑to‑face dialogue with Beijing since President Ma Ying‑jeou’s 2015 meeting. Both leaders reiterated opposition to Taiwan independence and framed the dispute as a cultural‑historical...
Global Growth to Slow to 3.2% in 2026, Amid Largest Energy Shock on Record Due to West Asia Crisis: S&P...
S&P Global now projects global GDP growth slowing to 3.2 percent in 2026, down from 3.4 percent in 2025, as the West Asia conflict generates the largest recorded energy shock. Disruptions to oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz and damage to...
US-Iran Ceasefire Eases Oil Prices but Gulf Economies Showing Strain – Oxford Economics
A two‑week US‑Iran cease‑fire announced on April 7 triggered a 13% drop in Brent crude, pulling prices to about $93 per barrel. Oxford Economics still expects a two‑month closure of the Strait of Hormuz followed by lingering disruptions, forecasting a 0.8%...
After Talking the Talk, It Is Time for US (and Iran) to Walk the Walk
President Trump declared a two‑week ceasefire contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a flurry of diplomatic back‑and‑forth. Tehran confirmed the truce but insists on a 10‑point proposal, while Washington negotiates on a 15‑point framework, accusing Iran of...
India Eyes 20 More Countries for Open Market Access in Next Big Trade Bet
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal announced that the government is negotiating free‑trade agreements with at least 20 additional countries, adding to the nine FTAs signed in the past 3½ years that already cover 38 developed nations. The new round targets...
Sánchez to Push China to Hand Over Tech Secrets on Beijing Trip
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to Beijing to seal a High‑Quality Investment Agreement that obliges Chinese firms to share technology, use local suppliers and create jobs in Spain. The pact aims to address Spain’s $36.1 billion trade deficit with...
ADB Ups India's FY26 Growth Projection to 6.9% on Strong Domestic Demand, Lower US Tariffs
The Asian Development Bank raised its forecast for India’s FY 26 GDP growth to 6.9%, citing resilient domestic demand and the recent easing of U.S. tariffs on Indian exports. The projection contrasts with the Reserve Bank of India’s more bullish 7.6%...
Venezuela’s Treacherous Recovery
The United States has installed an interim caretaker government in Venezuela after removing President Maduro, opening the door to a potential economic rebound driven by oil, mining and diaspora capital. Restoring oil production could require more than $100 billion and a...
InvestingLive Asia-Pacific FX News Wrap: Doubts over Islamabad Talks This Weekend
Iranian state media rejected reports of a U.S. delegation in Islamabad, insisting talks will only resume after a Lebanon ceasefire. Japan’s finance minister Shunichi Katayama warned of possible FX intervention as oil‑driven volatility spikes, while the Bank of Japan flagged...
Asian Economies Face ‘Formidable Test’ as Middle East Conflict Drags On: ADB
The Asian Development Bank warned that the ongoing US‑Israeli war with Iran will blunt Asia’s growth momentum, revising the region’s 2026 GDP expansion to 5.1% from 5.4% in 2025. If the conflict persists for a year, the bank estimates a...
EU Poised to Slash up to €1.5B in Funding to Serbia over Democracy Fears
European Commission is considering withholding up to €1.5 billion (about $1.6 billion) in conditional funding to Serbia over concerns about democratic backsliding, including recent judicial reforms and media repression. The decision hinges on whether Serbia complies with recommendations from the Council of...
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto Could Visit Russia Soon, Kremlin Says
Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subianto is preparing a visit to Russia, where he is expected to meet Vladimir Putin and discuss potential oil purchases. The Kremlin confirmed talks are underway as Asian nations scramble for alternative energy amid a widening Middle‑East‑driven crisis....
Financial Services Bear Maximum Brunt of Late-March FPI Selloff
Foreign portfolio investors dumped over ₹60,000 crore (≈ $7.2 billion) from Indian financial services in the second half of March, the steepest outflow since 2012. The sell‑off peaked at ₹28,824 crore (≈ $3.5 billion) from March 16‑31, contributing 43% of the ₹67,081 crore (≈ $8.1 billion) withdrawn across 21 sectors. Banking...
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Takes Steps to Open Financing Arm
Kyrgyzstan, set to chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2026, is pushing to launch an SCO Development Bank (SCODB) during its tenure. The bank concept was approved by all ten SCO members at the 2025 summit, with Chinese President Xi...
Asia-Pacific Markets Set to Open Mixed as Renewed Tensions Test a Fragile Iran-U.S. Ceasefire
Asia‑Pacific markets opened mixed on Friday as renewed Middle‑East tensions tested a fragile two‑week Iran‑U.S. ceasefire. Tehran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks provided attacks stop, while Israel also signaled compliance. Oil prices rose, with WTI...
China Lures Home Its Top AI Talent From Silicon Valley
Over the past year more than thirty AI researchers have left Silicon Valley for Chinese tech giants, including ByteDance and Tencent. High‑profile defections such as Wu Yonghui from Google DeepMind and Yao Shunyu from OpenAI illustrate a broader reverse migration....
EU Trade Deal Set to Change India’s Wine Industry
The EU‑India trade agreement, signed in January, will cut tariffs on European wines from 150 percent to 75 percent initially and eventually to 20 percent, opening a market valued at $450 million in 2024 and projected to grow 14 percent by 2029. European vintners have...
Middle East Crisis Is Pushing China to Deepen Latin America Ties
Amid the Iran‑Israel conflict, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have highlighted China's vulnerability to concentrated energy supplies. Beijing is turning to Latin America for food, copper, lithium and other strategic commodities to diversify its import base. The United States'...
Colombia Cae a BB- Con Perspectiva Estable, Su Peor Calificación en 30 Años Y Por Debajo De La Crisis De...
Standard & Poor’s has lowered Colombia’s sovereign credit rating from BB to BB‑, marking the country’s weakest rating in more than three decades and a level not seen even during the 1999 crisis. The downgrade reflects a widening fiscal deficit...
Asian Stocks Shy of Full Recovery Amid Fragile Iran Ceasefire
A tentative cease‑fire between the United States and Iran lifted some pressure on Asian equity markets on Wednesday. However, the rally was limited as Israel’s large‑scale strikes on Lebanon, which Tehran says breach the truce, kept regional tensions high. Major...
AI Hype, Hard Lessons: Where SEA’s Startup Capital Is Really Going
Cooley partner David He told e27 that Southeast Asia’s startup funding landscape has shifted dramatically, with capital becoming more disciplined and expectations higher. AI has emerged as the dominant sector, now attracting a sizable share of new investments. He identified...
Macro Buffers to Help India Tide over Gulf Crisis: World Bank
The World Bank projects India’s GDP growth at 6.6% for FY27, noting that the ongoing Gulf conflict could shave a few tenths off the outlook. It assumes oil prices of $90‑100 a barrel and expects growth to rebound to about...
Attacks Cut Saudi Oil Capacity by 600,000 Barrels per Day
First official confirmation of scale of damage done by Iran to kingdom’s energy sector
China-US Trade Relations: Between Engagement and Decoupling
A new national web survey of 810 Americans reveals a nuanced view of U.S.-China trade. While a majority consider the relationship important (7.27/10), 59% label China’s trade practices unfair and 34% deem current trade inequitable. Partisan gaps are stark: Republicans...
Can FPIs Return to Dalal Street Soon? Nithin Kamath Outlines the Roadblocks
Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn ₹1.77 lakh crore in FY26, surpassing 2025 outflows. Zerodha co‑founder Nithin Kamath cited geopolitical tensions, rich valuations, limited AI opportunities, and tax changes as key deterrents. He warned that investor sentiment toward India has “pretty much died out,”...
UAE Oil Chief Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber: 'The Strait of Hormuz Is Not Open'
UAE oil chief Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed despite a U.S.–Iran cease‑fire, noting that Iran still controls ship movements and imposes permits. About one‑fifth of global oil passes through the narrow waterway, and the continued...
America’s War Is Adding to Africa’s Debt Burden
The US‑Israeli war in Iran has pushed U.S. Treasury yields higher, adding roughly $4.4 billion to Africa’s annual debt burden. With $149 billion of Eurobonds outstanding, the continent now faces $900 million to $1.2 billion of extra fiscal pressure each year. The increase stems...
India Navigating Global Uncertainties Like a ‘Chakravyuh’: Shaktikanta Das
India’s economy grew 7.6% in FY 2025‑26, showing resilience amid heightened global volatility. Principal Secretary Shaktikanta Das likened navigating the crisis to a “Chakravyuh,” stressing that a calibrated exit is essential to avoid new imbalances. He pointed to macro‑stability, rapid digitalisation,...
How Global Conflicts Are Threatening India’s Maritime Trade and Energy Security | Energonomics Podcast | EP 15
The Energonomics podcast examines how escalating geopolitical tensions are jeopardizing India’s maritime trade and energy security. It highlights the vulnerability of critical chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, where conflict could disrupt oil and cargo...
Deutsche Bank Says China Is Energy ‘Winner’ in Age of War
Deutsche Bank’s emerging‑markets CIO Jacky Tang argues that the Middle‑East war makes China the clear energy winner. While Iran‑linked oil imports pose a test, China’s rapid clean‑tech expansion and near‑40% renewable electricity mix cushion it from oil price shocks. Tang...
Corridor Of Power: China’s Inland Hub Connects to ASEAN
China’s New International Land‑Sea Trade Corridor (New ILSTC) moved 1.425 million TEUs in 2025, a 47.6% year‑on‑year rise, and generated $196 billion in trade value, up 17.9%. ASEAN’s share of Chinese exports climbed to 17.6% in 2025, while shipments to Southeast Asia jumped...
Chart Shows Iran May Have Put Sea Mines in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is alleged to have deployed sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a chart released by semi‑official Iranian news agencies. The diagram marks a “danger zone” over the Traffic Separation Scheme and suggests...
Uzbekistan Prepares to List State Assets in London
Uzbekistan announced plans to float a portfolio of state‑owned enterprises on the London Stock Exchange, marking a major step in its market‑oriented reforms. The government aims to tap deep international capital pools, improve corporate governance, and generate a sizable cash...
Delegation to Visit Washington as India, US Look to Revive Trade Deal Talks
The United States and India first outlined a bilateral trade framework in February 2026, promising to slash reciprocal tariffs on industrial goods and lower duties on U.S. agricultural products. Momentum stalled when the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the reciprocal‑tariff mechanism,...
India’s Worrying Plans for Dams on Transboundary Rivers Shared with Bangladesh
India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya is accelerating a suite of hydropower projects on the Myntdu and Kynshi rivers, including the 210 MW Myntdu‑Leshka Stage II and several upstream schemes. The detailed project reports are finished and the state government is seeking central...
Chhangani Cited in FT Article on the Banks and Financial Institutions Willing to Launder Dollar Payments for Iran
The Financial Times reported that a network of banks and financial institutions is facilitating dollar‑denominated payments for Iran, effectively laundering sanctions‑evading funds. Atlantic Council senior fellow Alisha Chhangani is quoted highlighting how correspondent‑bank relationships and opaque shell entities enable the...
Fuel Shortages, Hunger, Inflation Spiral: IMF Fears ‘Scarring’ Harm From Iran War
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran conflict will trigger widespread fuel shortages, heightened hunger and an inflation spiral, leaving lasting scarring effects on the global economy. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are expected...
The Decline and Fall of the Dollar Empire
Barry Eichengreen argues that the United States is losing its status as the world’s primary currency issuer, likening today’s dollar decline to the fall of Rome’s denarius. He points to chronic economic stagnation, a debt load surpassing $31 trillion, and costly...
Egypt’s Foreign Minister: One Cannot Secure Waterways ‘While Ignoring the Political Order of the States’ Along the Shore
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned that Red Sea security cannot be ensured without political stability in the Horn of Africa, linking maritime chokepoints to Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues. He cautioned that unilateral recognition of Somaliland threatens African sovereignty norms...
Mooted South China Sea Oil Deal with China Draws Fire in Manila
The Philippines is weighing a joint oil‑exploration pact with China despite a national energy emergency and soaring fuel prices. Lawmakers and nationalist groups have condemned the talks, arguing they send the wrong signal to a territorial aggressor and could compromise...
What to Know About the Bab El-Mandeb Strait as Iran Threatens to Restrict Other Key Trade Passage
Iranian officials have warned they could leverage the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait as a geopolitical bargaining chip, mirroring their threats on the Strait of Hormuz. The chokepoint, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, currently handles about 4.2 million...