Emerging Markets News and Headlines
Emerging Markets News and Headlines
Emerging Markets Pulse
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Every morning
Weekly
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Iran’s deputy foreign minister confirmed a draft protocol with Oman to monitor traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing safety rather than restrictions. The agreement, described as post‑war housekeeping, includes plans to levy tolls on transiting vessels. Tehran frames the move as a preventive measure against future aggression, while markets have shown only fleeting optimism. The development adds a diplomatic layer to a historically volatile maritime corridor.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum suffered a rare legislative defeat in March, signaling waning support for her administration’s agenda. For a decade the country has enjoyed macro‑stable inflation, modest fiscal deficits and calm financial markets despite an ongoing centralization of power....
One year after President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs—34% on China, 20% on the EU and 46% on Vietnam—global markets have re‑evaluated exposure to the United States. The tariffs sparked a sharp sell‑off in U.S. equities, Treasuries and the dollar,...
Oil prices surged over 4% after President Donald Trump pledged to intensify U.S. strikes on Iran, pushing Brent crude to $106.16 a barrel and U.S. crude to $104.15. Asian equity markets reacted sharply, with Japan's Nikkei down 1.9% and South...
Arcius Energy, the BP‑ADNOC joint venture, announced a final investment decision to develop the Harmattan gas field in Egypt’s El Burg Offshore concession. The project carries an estimated $500 million investment and aims to lift domestic natural‑gas output. Execution contracts have been...
Yanis Varoufakis warns that the flare‑up in the Persian Gulf heightens the risk of a broader US‑China confrontation, making de‑escalation the top global priority. He argues that a pervasive myth—that China has cheated its way to prosperity—fuels mistrust and makes...
The United Kingdom has announced a new trade framework that gives Madagascar near‑total, 99% tariff‑free access to its market. The scheme combines the Developing Countries Trading Scheme with the UK‑Eastern and Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement, simplifying rules of origin...
President Donald Trump warned the United States would hit Iran "extremely hard" over the next two to three weeks, prompting a sharp sell‑off across global markets. Asian equities reversed gains, with South Korea's KOSPI plunging 5.5% and European indices falling...
Chinese state‑run Economic Daily published front‑page editorials denying the existence of a so‑called “China shock 2.0.” The outlet argues that China’s export engine remains strong and that the real threat to the global economy is rising protectionism, not a slowdown in...
Saudi Arabia is pivoting from oil to critical minerals to meet Vision 2030 goals, targeting 30% electric‑vehicle sales and 50% renewable electricity by 2030. Africa, which holds about 30% of global critical‑mineral reserves, is becoming a key supply source. Riyadh has...
East African economies are slipping toward a debt trap as governments replace concessional aid with costly commercial loans and Eurobonds, pushing debt‑service costs to record levels. In Kenya, roughly 68% of revenue now funds debt repayments, crowding out credit for...
Twenty‑four roadblocks staffed by militias and corrupt officials line the Goli–Mahagi–Kisangani route, a vital segment of the Northern Corridor linking Uganda to eastern DRC. Unofficial fees of up to $300 per vehicle are inflating transport costs and delaying deliveries. The...
In April 2025 the United States unleashed sweeping tariffs and China responded with export controls, creating a “World War Trade” that shattered the post‑World‑II rules‑based system. While the US‑China clash intensified, the other 75 % of global trade—countries responsible for three‑quarters of...
Malaysia's economy expanded 5.2% in 2025, slightly above the 5.1% pace of 2024, driven by a 5.5% rise in services, 4.5% manufacturing growth and a 12.2% construction surge, supporting a GDP of roughly $400 bn. Early 2026 data show the Industrial...
Jordan is positioning itself as a regional trade hub by leveraging deepening Saudi investment, which now exceeds $15 billion, and a series of bilateral agreements signed in Riyadh. Trade between the two countries grew 19% in the first half of 2025,...
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that, starting April 1, it will target a list of U.S. multinationals operating in the Middle East, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, Boeing, JPMorgan, Oracle, Nvidia and others. Many of these firms form...
Indonesia’s 2025‑2029 economic roadmap hinges on manufacturing, which posted a 5.3% growth rate in 2025—slightly above the nation’s 5.0% GDP expansion. The sector now accounts for 19.07% of GDP and over 80% of exports, employing more than 20 million workers. Government...
UK High Commissioner Jonny Baxter praised the Central Bank of Nigeria’s growing credibility and highlighted the United Kingdom’s position as Nigeria’s largest single source of foreign capital, accounting for roughly half of recent inflows. He noted that Nigeria’s macro‑economic reforms...
At the Boao Forum for Asia’s 25th conference, leaders reaffirmed Asia’s role as the world’s primary growth engine, with its share of global GDP projected to reach 49.7% in 2026. The Philippines, positioned at the heart of Southeast Asia, is...
Helios Towers has secured a $110 million investment agreement with DRC’s ANAPI to expand its mobile tower infrastructure. The deal will fund new sites in urban and rural areas, improve network resilience, and incorporate sustainable energy and local skill programs. Helios,...
Helios Towers announced a $110 million investment to expand telecom tower infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal, signed with the government’s ANAPI agency, will fund new sites across urban and rural areas and improve energy resilience. Helios already...
President Donald Trump’s statements on the Iran conflict have swung from pledging a quick exit to threatening to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages” if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Meanwhile, Iran has intensified missile and drone strikes...
President Trump signaled he may end U.S. strikes on Iran within two to three weeks, prompting a wave of market optimism. Brent crude briefly slipped below $100 a barrel, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures turned positive and 10‑year Treasury yields...
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) approved a $565 million loan to Brazil’s Serra Verde, granting the United States off‑take rights to rare earths from the company’s Pela Ema mine. The agreement ensures that heavy rare earths, critical for magnets...
The U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran is spilling into Iraq, where rockets and drones have struck near Baghdad and Erbil, disrupting daily life. Oil exports are faltering after Iranian attacks on tankers and a force‑majeure declaration on foreign‑operated fields, threatening the...
Indonesia’s government has rolled out emergency measures to curb a worsening energy crisis, including a push for remote work, reduced subsidies and scaling back free school meals to conserve fiscal resources. Economists and business groups warn that these austerity steps...
A Russian scholar argues that the US‑Israel war on Iran is threatening the Global South, especially as oil prices surge. He warns the conflict could normalize forceful interventions, destabilizing developing nations. Russia, he suggests, could step in as an alternative...
The US‑Israel war on Iran is destabilising global oil, gas, fertiliser and food markets and has triggered sharp depreciations of African currencies against the dollar. Rising interest rates and tighter foreign‑financing conditions are compounding debt pressures across the continent. Experts...
India’s Punjab Rice Millers Exporters Association has asked the government to negotiate a barter deal with Iran, swapping premium basmati rice for Iranian crude oil with payments in rupees. The proposal follows steep financial losses for exporters after the US‑Israel‑Iran...
Private equity and venture capital exits in India slumped 40% year‑over‑year, falling to $18.8 billion across 223 deals in FY26. Total PE‑VC funding also dipped 10% to $33.9 billion, with mega deals above $100 million shrinking in both count and value. AI attracted...
China’s new 2026‑30 Five‑Year Plan pivots the economy toward a consumption‑led growth model, seeking to anchor expansion domestically amid rising geopolitical volatility. The strategy emphasizes expanding household demand and deepening capital‑market development to reduce reliance on external markets. While Chinese...
The escalating war with Iran is destabilizing Middle‑East oil supplies, prompting global buyers to seek alternatives. African basins—particularly offshore Namibia, Ghana, and Nigeria—are attracting heightened investor attention thanks to favorable geology and lower‑cost drilling technologies. New seismic imaging and digital‑oilfield...
President Donald Trump told the nation the U.S. could wrap up its Iran offensive within two to three weeks and urged oil‑dependent allies to assume responsibility for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. He expressed frustration that partners were not...
Indonesia's annual consumer price index slowed to 3.48% in March, down from 4.76% in February, bringing inflation back into Bank Indonesia's 2.5% ± 1% target range. The decline reflects a base‑effect from last year's temporary electricity discount rather than sustained price easing....
Nigeria’s leadership is aligning fiscal and monetary policy to stabilise the macroeconomy, a move that has already lowered inflation while sustaining growth. Special Adviser Sanyade Okoli stresses that coordinated policy is essential for attracting investment and creating jobs. The government...
Clara Chan Ka‑chai, chief executive of Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), has been appointed to the board of FCLTGlobal, marking the first Chinese sovereign wealth fund representation on the nonprofit’s 19‑member board. FCLTGlobal, founded in 2016, unites leading long‑term investors...
China’s leading Communist Party journal Qiushi reiterated the nation’s trade‑rebalancing agenda, warning that the traditional export‑driven growth model is no longer viable. The editorial cites rising global protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and a record‑high trade surplus as catalysts for a pivot...
New research estimates the median social rate of return to building a kilometre of two‑lane highway in emerging markets at 55%, with a mean of 97%, far outpacing the roughly 7% private‑capital return in the United States. Despite this eight‑to‑fourteen‑fold...
Hungary’s opposition Tisza party must secure a two‑thirds parliamentary supermajority in the April 12 election to reverse laws that have frozen roughly €18 bn ($19.44 bn) of EU funding. While polls show Tisza leading, merely ousting Prime Minister Viktor Orban will not suffice;...
The article argues that the war in Iran harms China’s economy, but not as severely as its regional rivals, while China publicly understates the impact. It notes that Chinese officials continue to portray Beijing as a stabilizing force despite disruptions...
The African Development Bank warns that Africa’s growth outlook was already fragile before the Iran‑Israel conflict and could slip further. Chief economist Kevin Urama estimates a 0.2‑percentage‑point slowdown if the war ends within three months, rising to a 1.5‑point decline...
Norway’s new Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo, a 13‑storey slab of recycled aluminium and glass, opened in 2021 after a ten‑year delay and a $350 million price tag that ballooned by $200 million. The project, financed by the nation’s deep sovereign wealth...
As the Middle East conflict drags on, Iran is selectively allowing ships from energy‑import‑dependent Asian nations to transit the Strait of Hormuz, often under a toll‑booth system. Countries such as Malaysia, India, China and Thailand have secured toll‑free or paid...
Chinese banks have become the leading bilateral financiers of urban infrastructure in Africa’s fastest‑growing cities. Between 2000 and 2021 they committed roughly $37 billion to six major metros, with transport projects receiving over $17 billion and 74% of projects finished within two...
Indonesia is preparing a progressive export levy on processed nickel products such as nickel pig iron and ferronickel. The tax starts at about 2% when LME prices sit between $15,000‑$16,000 per ton and can rise to roughly 10% as prices...
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UAE Energy Minister Suhail al‑Mazrouei warned that Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz could hold global trade hostage, urging a unified international response. He highlighted the potential economic fallout if safe passage is not guaranteed and stressed the UAE’s...
Siemens sees the EU‑Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative as catalysts for expanding its footprint in Vietnam. The company is focusing on green and digital projects, including renewable‑energy grid upgrades, high‑speed rail with VinSpeed, and digital...
President Donald Trump told the Telegraph that the United States is "beyond reconsideration" about pulling out of NATO, signaling a possible withdrawal after the Middle East conflict. He criticized NATO allies for refusing to support U.S. and Israeli actions against...
India's rupee has slid another 5.5% this year, making it Asia's worst performer in 2025 and hovering around 95 per dollar. Rising Brent crude above $100 a barrel has added roughly $5 billion to India's monthly oil import bill, intensifying pressure...
Equinix is investing roughly $405 million to add 160 MW of data‑centre capacity in South Africa, bringing its total under development to 332 MW across Johannesburg and Cape Town. The company acquired about $48 million of land, expanding its footprint beyond Gauteng. All funding...
