China Rebounds to Become Asia’s Busiest Buyout Market – Deloitte
China has reclaimed its position as Asia’s busiest buyout market, according to Deloitte’s latest private‑equity report. A surge in domestic and regional fund activity offset a decline in Western capital, driving a 28% increase in deal volume year‑over‑year. The market recorded over 300 buyout transactions in 2023, surpassing Japan and South Korea. Deloitte projects the momentum to continue as local investors deepen their allocations.
IShares MSCI EM Swap UCITS ETF: BlackRock Lists Emerging Market Swap Instrument in London
BlackRock's iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF launched in London on 23 February 2026, ticker ESWP, expanding its synthetic ETF suite. The fund tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Index via unfunded total‑return swaps, offering a 0.14% TER, 4 basis...
India Starts Countervailing Duty Probe Against Chinese PVC Resins
India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies has opened a counter‑vailing duty investigation into imports of Chinese PVC resins after domestic producers filed complaints. The petitioners, including Chemplast Cuddalore Vinyls, DCM Shriram and DCW Ltd, claim Chinese manufacturers receive government subsidies that enable...
February Brings Another Sharp Inflation Rise in Turkey
Turkey's annual inflation rose to 31.5% in February, driven primarily by a 2.96% month‑on‑month CPI increase. Food prices surged, with annual food inflation at 36.5%, while core inflation eased to 29.5%, its lowest since late 2021. Producer‑price inflation remained around...
Implications of Prolonged Unrest in Iran for Pakistan
The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran after the February 27 assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz and target regional airports. Iran’s resilient regime is now focused on defending its...
Safaricom's Ziidi Smashes Records on Nairobi Exchange
Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader, launched on the M‑Pay platform in early February, sparked a surge in Nairobi Securities Exchange activity, with daily equity trades climbing from under 8,000 to more than 25,000. The app gives roughly 38 million M‑Pay subscribers the ability...
China’s Undersea Great Wall Targets US Sub Supremacy
China is constructing a multi‑layered undersea warfare system, dubbed the "Underwater Great Wall," to counter U.S. submarine dominance and protect its nuclear deterrent. The People’s Liberation Army Navy now operates more than 60 submarines, including Shang III SSGNs with 24‑cell VLS...
What Are Biometric IDs? What Are the Risks?
Across Africa, governments are rolling out biometric digital ID systems to streamline access to voting, healthcare, education and social protection. A new report by the African Digital Rights Network, based on ten country case studies, finds millions excluded due to...
Trump Says Wars Can Be Fought ‘Forever’ With The U.S.’s ‘Virtually Unlimited’ Weapons Stockpiles
President Donald Trump asserted on Truth Social that the United States possesses a "virtually unlimited" supply of weapons, allowing it to fight wars indefinitely. He contrasted this claim with criticism of President Joe Biden for allegedly diverting resources to Ukraine....
Israel-Iran War to Discourage Investment Into India, Offset Trade Deal Positives: BMI
BMI warns that the Israel‑Iran conflict will increase policy uncertainty and deter foreign investment in India. The firm keeps its FY2026/27 GDP growth forecast at 7 % but flags geopolitical risks that could offset gains from new US and EU trade...
Prabowo’s Peacemaker Campaign Now Extends to Iran
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto announced he is ready to travel to Tehran to mediate between Iran and the United States after the recent U.S.-Israel strikes. The foreign ministry framed the offer as a call for restraint, stopping short of condemning...
Taiwan Doesn’t Have to Choose
Taiwan, home to 23 million people, sits at the nexus of global trade routes and the semiconductor supply chain, making its stability a linchpin for worldwide commerce. The Kuomintang (KMT) argues that the island should not be forced to align exclusively...
US, China Discuss Investment Revival Ahead of Trump’s Trip: Sources
U.S. and Chinese officials have begun talks to revive reciprocal investment ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Beijing. Both sides are exploring structured joint ventures and licensing arrangements, with Beijing demanding stronger protection for its firms and Washington...
The Great Liquidation: Russia’s Great Imperial Retreat
Russia’s prolonged war in Ukraine has drained its economic and military capacity, forcing a rapid retreat from peripheral outposts that once underpinned its global influence. Moscow’s refusal to aid Iran, the withdrawal from Syria’s Qamishli airport, and the erosion of...
Missiles Made in Ukraine Are Bringing Putin’s Invasion Home to Russia
Ukraine’s domestically produced FP‑5 Flamingo cruise missile achieved a landmark strike in February, hitting the Votkinsk missile‑production complex deep inside Russia. The missile, developed by startup Fire Point, boasts a claimed 3,000‑kilometre range and a payload of over one tonne,...
Investors Welcome Bradesco Healthcare Shakeup
Brazilian financial giant Bradesco announced it will consolidate all of its healthcare holdings into a single, publicly listed division. The restructuring creates a dedicated health platform that will house hospitals, insurance operations, and ancillary services under one corporate umbrella. Investors...
PNG’s Rich Mineral Bounty Proves Irresistible for ASX Gold Players
Papua New Guinea’s underexplored yet high‑grade mineral endowment is drawing a wave of Australian‑listed miners. The government’s mining act mirrors Australia’s, and a well‑educated workforce eases project development. Recent transactions—including St Barbara’s $370 million sale of half its Simberi gold project to...
Uzbekistan’s Afghanistan Push Accelerates
Uzbekistan has accelerated economic integration with Afghanistan, with 2025 bilateral trade reaching $1.5‑$1.68 billion—a 53% jump from the prior year and 2.5‑fold growth since 2021. Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev aims to lift trade to $5 billion, backed by a forthcoming Kabul...
PSEi Falls 2.79% as Middle East Tensions Spark Sell-Off
Philippine stocks tumbled on Monday as the PSEi slipped 2.79% to 6,426.83 points, driven by heightened US‑Iran tensions and fears of rising oil prices. The sell‑off was broad‑based, with the services sector falling 4.11% and foreign investors exiting with net...
Nedbank Wins Regulatory Approval To Take Majority Stake In Kenya’s NCBA
Nedbank has secured regulatory clearance to acquire a 66% controlling stake in Kenya’s NCBA for $855.5 million, marking one of the largest cross‑border banking deals in recent African history. The acquisition gives Nedbank access to NCBA’s $5.4 billion in assets, more than...
Central Asia Watches, Worries, as Conflict Threatens to Engulf the Middle East
Central Asian governments, long silent during Iran's December protests, issued cautious statements after the United States and Israel launched a surprise strike on Iran. Their foreign ministries emphasized restraint, the UN Charter, and humanitarian concerns while deliberately omitting any attribution...
Side Letter: Gulf Disruption
The Private Equity International (PEI) Awards 2025 honored firms that excelled in emerging markets, underscoring a shift toward Middle East opportunities. Global general partners (GPs) are now scrutinizing the Gulf’s evolving regulatory and economic landscape. Limited partners (LPs) report difficulty...
India’s Current Account Deficit Widens to $13.2 Billion in Q3FY26
India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened to $13.2 billion in Q3FY26, equivalent to 1.3% of GDP, up from $11.3 billion and 1.1% a year earlier. The increase was driven primarily by a larger merchandise trade deficit of $93.6 billion and higher net outflows...
Asia’s Outlook Under Higher Oil Prices
Asia can currently absorb the recent oil‑price surge, but the region’s heavy reliance on imported energy makes it vulnerable if prices stay high. Japan and the Philippines source almost 90% of their oil from the Middle East, while China and...
Central Asia’s ‘Soft Confederation’ Has a Hard Limit
Central Asia’s five states (C5) have coalesced around a sovereignty‑first coordination model, dubbed a “soft confederation,” that emphasizes consensus and minimal delegation. Recent C5+ diplomatic rounds—an EU summit in Samarkand, a U.S. White House meeting, and Germany’s C5+1 foreign‑minister talks—have...
Is Anthropic Building Rwanda’s AI Future — or Its Dependence?
Anthropic signed a three‑year memorandum of understanding with Rwanda to deploy its Claude AI tools in health and education, offering developer access and training for public‑sector coders. Rwanda’s ICT minister touts the deal as a boost for national AI capacity,...
Africa Reckons with Oil Price Spike as Iran War Widens
The United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, triggering a sharp rise in global oil prices. Brent crude surged 13% before settling 8.5% higher, marking its biggest daily jump in nearly three years. The conflict has halted...
Platinum Credit Uganda Secures $4m to Boost MSME Lending
Platinum Credit Uganda, a Platcorp subsidiary, secured a $4 million, 24‑month investment from Swiss asset manager Symbiotics to broaden financing for low‑income households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Uganda. The capital, disbursed on 22 December 2025, enabled a phased rollout...
Inside the Fund Taking Women Asset Managers to the Next Level
In 2025, women-only founders raised just 0.9% of African startup capital, while women-led firms received only 2.2% of funding. The African Women Impact Fund (AWIF), launched with $60 million and bolstered by an extra $10 million from Standard Bank, aims to close...
Trust Collateral: The Missing Variable in Climate Finance Mobilization
Development finance in 2026 faces a structural squeeze: official development assistance dropped 9 % in 2024 and continues to tighten while climate‑related funding needs soar into the trillions. The gap is most acute for emerging markets, which bear the highest capital...
RAW Business: African Female Leaders Rethink Leadership Frameworks for a Changing Global Economy
The 2025 RAW Conference in Nairobi urged African female leaders to design indigenous leadership and equity frameworks instead of relying on imported Western models. Panelists highlighted the shortcomings of performative diversity and called for structures grounded in African realities to...
Brazil Strengthens Agricultural Partnership with the Philippines at WOFEX Drinks and Bakes 2026
Brazil deepened its agricultural partnership with the Philippines at WOFEX Drinks and Bakes 2026, showcasing five firms that offer value‑added beverages, superfoods, and coffee products. The Brazil Pavilion highlighted innovative, sustainability‑focused offerings such as Amazon‑sourced craft gin, açaí bowls, and...
List of Alert Levels Raised by PH Gov't Across Middle East and What They Mean
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released its latest Crisis Alert Levels for Middle‑East nations, placing Palestine, Syria and Yemen at Level 4, Iraq and Lebanon at Level 3, and Iran and Israel at Level 2, while Jordan remains at Level 1 and...
Philippine Bank Deposits Hit ₱21 Trillion as Account Numbers Surge
Total deposit liabilities in the Philippine banking system climbed to ₱20.9 trillion at the end of Q3 2025, a 7.3% year‑on‑year rise driven by a 20.4% surge in deposit accounts to 166.6 million. The increase followed a March 2025 decision to double...
The New Critical Minerals Race – Why the US-China Rivalry Will Be Decided in the Global South
Critical minerals have become the centerpiece of the U.S.-China rivalry, but the contest is playing out in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. While China dominates mid‑stream processing of rare earths and battery materials, Washington is building "friend‑shoring" partnerships to...
India's Cumulative Exports Rise to $720.76 Billion in Apr-Jan 2025-26, up 6.15%
India’s cumulative exports reached $720.76 billion in April‑January 2025‑26, a 6.15% increase over the same period last year. Services exports surged 10.57% to $354.13 billion, while merchandise categories such as electronics and pharmaceuticals posted broad‑based gains. Defence exports hit a record Rs 23,622 crore,...
Agency of Foreign Trade Warns of Trade Disruption Due to Middle East Conflict
Vietnam's Agency of Foreign Trade issued Dispatch No. 229/XNK‑TLH warning that the recent escalation of Middle East hostilities poses serious risks to international transport, trade and supply chains. The agency highlighted expected spikes in consumer‑goods, fuel and oil prices, which...
What Has Museveni Done for Uganda?
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni secured a seventh term in the January 2026 elections with 71.6% of the vote, while opposition leader Bobi Wine received 24% amid allegations of fraud and election‑related violence. Over his 40‑year rule, Museveni has overseen steady...
South Africa’s Move to Greener Energy Is Creating New Jobs, but Benefits Aren’t Evenly Spread
South Africa’s green transition is boosting employment, with green jobs rising from 12.4% of the labour force in 2022 to 14.8% in 2024. Growth is concentrated in utilities, mining, construction and finance, driven by government procurement and sustainable‑finance policies. However,...
Indonesia’s Geothermal Quest: Where Massive Potential Meets Structural Reality
Indonesia holds roughly 24‑29 GW of technically recoverable geothermal resources but operates only about 2.71 GW, a fraction of its potential. A new partnership between Star Energy Geothermal and US firm SLB aims to de‑risk the Sekincau field and assets in North...
India's Godavari Biorefineries to Start Grain-Based Distillery in June Quarter
India’s Godavari Biorefineries will commission a 200 kilolitres‑per‑day grain‑based distillery in the June quarter, adding the ability to switch between sugarcane and corn as feedstock. The move addresses margin pressure from fixed cane payments and volatile sugar prices, while leveraging the...
Indian Buyers May Find Pistachios, Figs and Raisins Pricey Following Gulf Crisis
Indian buyers are likely to face higher prices for pistachios, figs and raisins as the Gulf crisis shuts key Iranian and Afghan export routes. Pistachio prices have risen about ₹100 per kilogram, while figs are up a similar amount and...
Two Landmark Vietnam Hotels Sold for Combined 53 7million
Two landmark hotel assets in Vietnam were sold for a combined $53.7 million. Singapore‑based UOL Group off‑loaded the 186‑room Park Royal Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City to a domestic investor, while the five‑star Hotel Perle D’Orient Cat Ba on Cat Ba Island was...
For Oil Prices, It’s The Fear Not The Barrels
The death of Iran’s supreme leader and subsequent missile exchanges have raised alarms about a possible Straits of Hormuz shutdown, which could cut 10‑20 million barrels per day from global supply. Analysts debate the price impact, with some warning that panic...
South Korea Faces Renewable Energy Safety Concerns
South Korea’s National Assembly approved amendments that dramatically reduce setback distances for renewable‑energy installations, shifting authority from local governments to the central government. The change comes amid a spate of high‑profile accidents, including a wind turbine collapse, a turbine‑blade fire,...
Three Indian Stocks Poised to Profit
India’s economy is modernising rapidly, creating a fertile backdrop for mid‑cap equities. The India Capital Growth Fund highlights three stocks positioned to capture this wave: Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), which benefits from a deepening commodity market; Aether Industries, a niche...
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Gulf States Condemn 'Unjustified' Iranian Attacks at Emergency Foreign Ministers Meeting
Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers convened an emergency video‑linked session on March 1, condemning Iran’s recent missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar as “flagrant and unjustified.” The attacks were a retaliation to joint US‑Israeli operations...
Iran's Larijani Denies US Talks
Senior adviser Ali Larijani, a key figure in Iran’s post‑Khamenei crisis management, denied reports that Tehran was ready to resume talks with Washington via Omani mediators, posting “We will not negotiate with the United States” on X on March 1. His denial...
India Manufacturing Growth Hits Four-Month High in February, PMI Shows
India’s manufacturing PMI climbed to 56.9 in February, the strongest level in four months, driven by a surge in domestic new orders and higher production volumes. Export orders, however, slipped to a 17‑month low as U.S. tariff uncertainty lingered. Input‑cost...
SET Index Falls on Iran-US Conflict
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) opened down 1.73% to 1,501.78 as investors reacted to the Iran‑US conflict. Energy‑linked shares such as PTTEP and PTT rose, while non‑energy stocks like Gulf Energy, Bumrungrad Hospital and Airports of Thailand fell sharply....