Know What's Happening in Global Economy
Know What's Happening in Global Economy
Global Economy Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Iran war spikes fuel prices and drives inflation to four‑year highs
The conflict in Iran has pushed global fuel prices sharply higher, lifting U.S. gasoline costs by 21% and triggering the steepest inflation increase in nearly four years. Consumer confidence in the United States and Canada has fallen to record lows as households brace for persistent price pressures. Saudi Arabia’s oil throughput dropped by 700,000 barrels per day after a pipeline incident.
The Middle East conflict sparked a sharp rise in equity fund outflows, reaching $1.78 bn in March – a 55% jump from February and the worst month since November 2025. UK equity funds led the sell‑off with $752 m withdrawn, while North America was the only region posting net inflows. Bond funds also reversed February’s gains, seeing $680 m exit, and property funds doubled their outflows to $56 m. The trend marks the seventh‑worst month on record and extends a ten‑month streak of net withdrawals across risk assets.
The article revisits the 1991 Gulf War’s shock to India’s economy—sharp oil price spikes, a ballooning import bill and a fiscal squeeze that accelerated market liberalisation. It then projects how a hypothetical Gulf conflict in 2026 could repeat and amplify...
Former World Bank official Zhou Yongmei argues the institution’s role in post‑conflict reconstruction is shifting from a governance gatekeeper to a mere financial conduit. In Afghanistan and Iraq, the Bank oversaw project design, procurement and audits, but in Gaza it...
The EU will eliminate its de‑minimis exemption for e‑commerce parcels on July 1, prompting a pre‑deadline rush that could flood the Asia‑Europe air‑freight lane and push rates higher. Capacity is already tight because roughly one‑third of the route relies on Middle‑East...
Construction firms in the UK slashed jobs at an accelerated pace in March as cost inflation surged to its highest level since 1997, according to S&P Global. The spike was driven by war‑related price hikes in fuel, transportation and raw...
Ukraine’s intensified drone and missile strikes have knocked out roughly 40% of Russia’s oil export capacity, cutting about one million barrels per day from the market. The Kremlin responded by expanding a gasoline export ban to all producers until July...
The article challenges the narrative that post‑Cold‑War globalization is fading, using the Strait of Hormuz as a case study. It shows that oil, gas and fertilizer markets remain deeply interconnected, with supply shocks in the Gulf instantly affecting global prices....
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two‑week cease‑fire, mediated by Pakistan, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing immediate oil‑price pressures. Gulf shipping firms are resuming transit but face higher insurance costs, while airlines are launching a...
New Zealand and India will sign a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement on April 24, eliminating tariffs on 95% of New Zealand wood products, including timber, lumber, pulp and paperboard. The deal grants immediate duty‑free access for most wood exports and phases out...
Global debt now stands at $348 TRILLION. That’s more than 3 TIMES GLOBAL GDP. G7 Debt in G7 countries has surged from ~20% of GDP post WW2 to OVER 100% of GDP today. Global economies have never faced a shock with this...
The episode breaks down the newly announced two‑week cease‑fire between the United States and Iran, highlighting the ambiguous terms each side claims as a victory, including Iran’s demand for influence over the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. claim of...
Global equity markets rallied after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a cease‑fire with Iran, adding roughly $80 billion in market value. The Australian ASX 200 jumped sharply, reflecting a swift shift in investor sentiment. Crude oil prices slipped from $110 to $94...
The People’s Bank of China is likely to set the yuan’s midpoint at 6.8773 per dollar, a level that suggests a modest tightening of policy. At the same time, official data show China’s foreign‑exchange reserves fell 2.5% in March to...
The United States and Iran announced a two‑week cease‑fire, sending Brent crude tumbling 16% to about $93 per barrel. The relief in oil markets lifted Asian equity indices and U.S. futures, marking the day’s biggest geopolitical shock for the global...
Mayberry Group Executive Chairman Christopher Berry called on the Jamaican government to slash the Special Consumption Tax on fuel after Petrojam raised gasoline prices by $21‑$22.50 over five weeks, making tax 31% of the pump price. The move comes amid...
The United States and Iran announced a two‑week cease‑fire on April 7, ending active combat and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for over 20% of world oil. The deal includes Iran’s ten‑point peace plan, a $2 million per‑vessel transit fee...
Delta Air Lines announced a $10 increase for the first and second checked bag and a $50 hike for a third bag on domestic and short‑haul routes. The move comes as jet fuel prices have surged to about $209 per...
Canada’s government aims to boost its critical mineral output to as much as 14% of global supply by 2040, up from the current 2% share. To achieve this, Ottawa has launched the First and Last Mile Fund, committing up to...
The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has quickly moved beyond battlefield strikes to generate sweeping second- and third-order effects. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut roughly 20% of global oil flow, sending Brent crude above $120 and triggering stagflationary...
Jessica Tarlov and Scott Galloway hosted a live webcast titled “Iran Ceasefire,” focusing on President Trump’s recent, albeit temporary, decision to step back from direct confrontation with Tehran. The conversation, streamed exclusively for Prof G+ members, examined how the ceasefire...
A surprise two‑week cease‑fire between the United States and Iran caused oil prices to plunge below $100 per barrel, with Brent falling about 13% and U.S. benchmarks mirroring the drop. The sharp decline sparked a risk‑on rally, lifting S&P 500 and...
The cease‑fire announcement in the Straits of Hormuz sparked a brief equity rally but left markets focused on energy‑related inflation risks. Oil futures have entered a steep backwardation, with 12‑month contracts priced over $30 below near‑term levels, while bond markets...
The African Development Bank’s new Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook reports that Africa grew 4.2% in 2025, beating the global average but still falling short of the 7% growth needed for structural transformation. Thirty‑two of 54 economies posted stronger growth, with...
Traders have sharply revised expectations for Bank of England policy, now pricing in only a single 25‑basis‑point rate hike after a cease‑fire between the US, Israel and Iran eased Middle‑East tensions. The two‑year gilt yield fell to 4.1%, down from...
A two‑week ceasefire between the United States and Iran sparked a sharp drop in oil prices and a rally in risk assets, as traders anticipate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The pause in hostilities is expected to ease...
A two‑week ceasefire in the Middle East has pulled oil prices and related markets off the brink of extreme stress. Brent crude slid roughly 16%, prompting a mechanical unwind of the war‑driven risk premium, while equities steadied and the yield...
WiseTech CEO Zubin Appoo warned that the March shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the Middle East war, exposed how quickly supply chains can be crippled by geopolitical events. He noted that vessel transits collapsed from over a...
The episode analyzes the market fallout from a fragile two‑week cease‑fire between Iran and Israel, focusing on oil logistics, price volatility, and speculative positioning. Hosts note that despite ongoing missile launches, the cease‑fire has sparked a sharp drop in Brent...
The International Maritime Organization and the International Chamber of Shipping welcomed a 14‑day U.S.–Iran cease‑fire, aiming to evacuate roughly 1,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers trapped in the Gulf after the Strait of Hormuz was closed in late February. IMO Secretary‑General...
Hedge‑fund founder Ray Dalio said the upcoming Trump‑Xi summit in Beijing on May 14‑15 will prioritize trade and capital‑flow issues. He expressed optimism that the leaders will show empathy, which could calm bilateral tensions and reassure investors. Dalio noted the S&P 500...
The episode examines Europe’s dual transition: decarbonising transport through rapid EV adoption and maintaining a competitive automotive industry amid Chinese overcapacity and shifting US subsidies. Guests explain how the EU’s reliance on Chinese batteries and EVs threatens supply‑chain resilience, while...
South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups launched the Donghaeng Festival, a 30‑day nationwide shopping event that synchronises tourism, cultural programs and retail discounts. In April 2026 the festival mobilised more than 33,000 SMEs across roughly 200 distribution channels, linking...
CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company has launched arbitration proceedings directly against APM Terminals, the terminal arm of Danish carrier Maersk, over the recent Panama Canal port transition. The claim now exceeds $2 billion, expanding beyond the original dispute with the Panamanian...
Good Morning from Germany, where industry was showing little sign of recovery even before the war. Factory orders rose just 0.9% in Feb MoM, missing expectations. Excl volatile large orders, demand was up a stronger 3.5%. Still, a downward revision...
UK and European Bond Yields straight down alongside Oil, but their TREND Signals are still up
Macro hedge funds recorded their steepest March decline since the pandemic, slipping roughly 5.5% as the Israel‑Iran escalation drove oil to $100 per barrel and spooked equity markets. The turmoil forced a rapid unwind of short positions in U.S. stocks,...
Global trade is rewiring. China is moving into HIGH-VALUE, ADVANCED manufacturing. Vietnam is rising as a LOW-COST HUB. Meanwhile, Mexico’s nearshoring hype has FAILED to deliver. https://t.co/moYJrnHSfE
German 10y (nominal) yields plunge 15bps (w/10y inflation expectations down 10bps) on Iran ceasefire. https://t.co/TN4TRdNdX1
France is heading a coalition of about fifteen countries to restart commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after a U.S.-Iran cease‑fire was announced. The strait moves roughly one‑fifth of global oil, about five million barrels daily, making its reopening...
Now imagine how clearly the Iranian Islamist regime has realized just how firmly and with impunity it can hold the entire global economy by the throat and force its own terms.
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two‑week cease‑fire that temporarily reopens the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian military coordination. The strait carries about 30 % of global fertilizer shipments, making its partial reopening critical for agricultural input supplies....
A new Fraser Institute report shows Ontario’s GDP per capita lagged far behind its Great Lakes neighbours in 2024, registering roughly $55,000 USD per person – the second‑lowest among the eight U.S. states and Quebec examined. New York topped the region...
Asia’s energy reality is shifting FAST. As the Middle East’s supply of oil is disrupted by the US-Israeli war on Iran, countries are turning to Russian oil. RUSSIA = BIG WINNER. https://t.co/akGGPsbivA
Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 5.39% on Wednesday, posting its third‑largest point gain in history after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week cease‑fire. The rally was driven by easing Middle East tensions, a stronger yen around ¥158 per dollar,...
A temporary cease‑fire in the Iran‑Israel conflict has opened the Strait of Hormuz, but the damage to Gulf oil infrastructure means the global fuel crunch will linger for months. The war removed roughly 11 million barrels per day from the market,...
President Trump announced a conditional cease‑fire with Iran, contingent on the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The news triggered a sharp plunge in Brent crude and diesel futures, while U.S. stock futures, led by the Dow, surged. Treasury...
Middle East tensions sparked a sharp spike in equity fund outflows, with investors pulling £1.44 bn ($1.8 bn) in March – the worst month since November 2025 and the seventh‑worst on record. The sell‑off was broad‑based, but UK equity funds felt the brunt,...
India will receive its first Iranian crude cargo in seven years after the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil. The shipment, aboard the Curacao‑flagged VLCC Jaya, was bought by state‑run Indian Oil Corp. and is bound for India's...
The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry unveiled a five‑year roadmap to lift semiconductor and electronics exports to $110 billion by 2030, more than twice today’s level. The plan targets $70 billion in semiconductor sales and $40 billion in broader electronics shipments, backed...
Philippine unemployment slipped to 5.1% in February 2026, down from a pandemic‑era peak of 5.8% in January. The decline represents roughly 300,000 fewer jobless, bringing the total to about 2.66 million. Labor force participation rose to 63.8% (52.09 million) and the employment‑to‑population...
