Know What's Happening in Global Economy
Know What's Happening in Global Economy
Afreximbank eyes $2 billion textile financing for Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria
Afreximbank is in talks with Kenya and Rwanda to fund new textile projects while backing Nigeria with a $2 billion commitment and holding $11 billion in cash for African cotton‑value‑addition deals, aiming to cut the continent’s $50 billion cotton‑product import bill.
Australia and the European Union have signed a sweeping free‑trade agreement valued at about A$10 bn ($7 bn), ending eight years of negotiations. The pact eliminates almost all tariffs on Australian agricultural products and expands cooperation on defence, critical minerals, and space. It boosts EU access to Australian beef tenfold to 30,000 t, while European farmers fear competition, and it grants Australia unique rights to use the “prosecco” name domestically. The deal reflects the EU’s strategy to diversify trade amid geopolitical uncertainty and U.S. tariff pressures.
Gasoline, Diesel Price Surges May Mirror 2008, 2022 - US average gasoline and diesel prices have approached the $4 and $5 a gallon thresholds, raising the prospect of greater consumer and economic stress -- and peaks akin to 2008 and...
About 25 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah crude are trapped on tankers in the Gulf. Iran claims control of the passage — so why is it blocking Iraq’s oil? Does Iran want the Iraqi government to go bancrupt? العراق: نحو...
Dr. Anas Alhajji argues that the U.S. is a major winner from the Hormuz crisis, aligning with the November 2025 National Security Strategy that ties AI dominance to cheap, abundant energy. By disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas...
Governments in the United States and India are tightening oversight of ocean carrier pricing amid rising emergency surcharges linked to the Middle East crisis. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission rejected liner requests for war‑related fees without a 30‑day notice, while...
The World Trade Organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, is poised to adopt the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) into its rulebook. IFDA seeks to streamline investment processes and improve access to capital for developing economies. The move...
Markets are increasingly pricing equity risk premiums based on inflation expectations rather than the Federal Reserve’s real‑rate policy, a shift that tilts the advantage toward oil and gas (O&G) equities. Global oil and gas revenues have risen above 4% of...
Wealth managers are drawing a parallel between today’s economy and the 1970s, citing soaring oil prices, sticky inflation and heightened geopolitical risk. They argue that the era’s stagflation and oil shocks offer a useful lens for current asset‑allocation decisions. Advisors...
The White House is reportedly using an outdated oil price benchmark—specifically the OPEC basket—when calculating costs and sanctions related to the ongoing Iran conflict. Analysts argue that this misalignment skews revenue projections, inflates insurance premiums for vessels transiting the Strait...
South Africa is gearing up for the sixth South African Investment Conference, with more than 31 countries sending delegations. The conference builds on a five‑year drive that has attracted roughly R1.56 trillion (about US$82 billion) in investment pledges, exceeding its original target...
African leaders are using the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé to demand fairer trade rules, focusing on agriculture, e‑commerce and green industrialisation. They aim to curb subsidised imports, boost digital trade infrastructure and secure flexible carbon‑pricing mechanisms. The conference...
Citco’s latest performance snapshot shows hedge funds posted gains in February before the Ukraine war escalated. While exact return figures were not disclosed, the data underscores a brief rally in an industry managing roughly $5 trillion of assets worldwide.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said President Donald Trump's recent announcement of talks with Iran could represent a turning point in the ongoing Middle East conflict. Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States and Iran held “very good...
International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that the global economy faces a major threat from tightening energy markets. He cited recent oil price volatility, green hydrogen deals and geopolitical tensions as key drivers of the risk.
President Donald Trump announced a five‑day delay to planned strikes on Iran’s power grid and energy plants, citing “very good and productive conversations.” The pause comes as Iran’s energy infrastructure faces ongoing attacks, tempering volatility in global oil and gas...
The Federal Reserve paused its easing cycle in March, keeping the federal funds rate at 3.50‑3.75% after three consecutive quarter‑point cuts. This “hawkish hold” arrives amid a wartime‑style energy shock that could lift headline inflation by 0.8 percentage points and...
The Philippines, which imports over 90% of its petroleum, faces a potential fuel shortage if Middle East tensions disrupt global oil routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz. DOE Secretary Sharon Garin warned that gasoline stocks could last about 64 days...
The Saxo Market Call dissected the market fallout from former President Donald Trump's surprise social‑media announcement that he was pulling back a 48‑hour ultimatum to bomb Iran’s energy infrastructure, a move that temporarily lowered oil prices and sparked massive crude‑futures...
Eurozone's composite PMI fell to 50.5 in March, the lowest level in ten months, down from 51.9 in February. Manufacturing output remained modestly positive at 51.7, while the services PMI slipped to 50.1, indicating contraction. Input prices rose sharply as...
In this episode, Keith Bradshirp explains how China has become virtually tariff‑proof by rapidly expanding its advanced, robot‑driven manufacturing capacity. The discussion highlights four key factors: diversification of export markets, indirect shipments through third‑party countries, a deliberately weakened yuan, and,...
Goldman Sachs’ latest research argues that even if private‑credit defaults surge to 10%—a level seen during the 2008‑09 financial crisis—the macroeconomic fallout would be modest, trimming U.S. GDP by only 20‑50 basis points. The sector, with roughly $1.7 trillion in leveraged...
The EU‑Australia free trade agreement was finally signed, ending a protracted dispute over geographical indications (GIs). Australia will protect 396 EU GIs, including the Prosecco designation, while still allowing the term “Prosecco” to be used as a grape‑variety name within...
The Philippine Stock Exchange index edged higher on March 24, gaining 37.02 points (0.63%) to close at 5,936.20, led by mining stocks as gold prices rose, while trading volume slipped to 634 million shares worth roughly $102 million. The rally was sparked by...
One of the foundations of the US reserve currency status is the 1970s Nixon-KSA agreement that the US provides military protection in return for recycling of Petrodollars into the US bond market. When President Trump says things like that "we...
In this Rapid Response episode, Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen explains how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is rippling through global trade, driving up oil and air‑freight costs while leaving container shipping relatively unscathed. He highlights secondary crises such...
With the Iran conflict now in its 4th week, an important angle worth noting: President Trump’s family business (Trump Organization) has substantial licensing deals across the GCC - Trump Towers, hotels & golf resorts in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar & Oman,...
KPMG UK’s latest Economic Outlook warns that Britain’s GDP growth will slow sharply to 0.7% in 2026, half the pace expected for 2025, as rising energy prices and a weaker jobs market bite. A fresh shock to wholesale energy costs,...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a five‑day pause on military strikes against Iranian energy assets, claiming productive talks toward ending the Middle East conflict, while Iran refuted any negotiations. Analysts say the Strait of Hormuz remains only partially open, with...
African policymakers are urged to adopt a "coastal‑first" development strategy, mirroring China’s early focus on seaports and special economic zones. The article argues that concentrating investment in coastal hubs lowers trade costs, attracts foreign direct investment, and creates surplus revenues...
On 23 March 2026 the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for Pensions convened a meeting with economists from the primary dealer firms that act as wholesale gilt‑edged market makers (GEMMs) at HM Treasury. The session focused on the participants’ views...
The IMF’s COFER database shows the U.S. dollar still commands roughly 60% of global foreign‑exchange reserves, keeping its status as the premier reserve currency. Over the past decade the euro and Chinese yuan have inched upward, while the British pound...
STG Logistics released a new industry survey highlighting three emerging trends: shippers are diversifying their sourcing portfolios, demanding greater contract flexibility, and re‑engineering logistics networks to cope with volatile freight markets. Over 60% of respondents plan to add alternative carriers,...
The episode reviews Tuesday’s market outlook, focusing on how geopolitics—especially President Trump’s remarks about renewed U.S.-Iran talks and the still‑closed Strait of Hormuz—are driving oil prices and, in turn, equities, bonds, and the dollar. Crude’s recent dip below $88 per...
South Korea and Mongolia are working to accelerate a stalled comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) that would deepen cooperation on critical minerals. Negotiations have been at an impasse since November 2024 over market‑opening concerns and rules of origin. Korean trade officials...
Growth is accelerating, but not where most expect. Moldova is projected to lead global GDP per capita growth with +53% by 2030. Alongside countries like Guyana and Turkmenistan, emerging economies dominate the percentage rankings. But the more interesting signal is where speed meets scale. Countries...
and when you find yourself thinking that rates/yields are high, just remember, they're not... they rose for 40 years... they fell for 38 years... they bottomed (big time), almost 6 years ago... https://t.co/6tRJ9pYxtQ
Why the war in the Middle East will have long term impacts on energy prices and our energy security. I talked to TRT World last night. https://t.co/Tia1QYZDBJ
"Australia and EU seal sensitive trade deal" https://t.co/SVt8r09Man "With U.S. President Donald Trump slamming tariffs on allies globally, Brussels and Canberra rekindled their negotiations last year." https://t.co/0jxir9qjN2
France moves to support farmers hurt by Iran war fuel spike https://t.co/LXQyz0tCcx via @nayrazz https://t.co/bjA6oRzKXS
Investing Quote of the Day: “I continue to believe that the American people have a love–hate relationship with inflation. They hate inflation but love everything that causes it.” - William E. Simon https://t.co/eO3YmqPZEG
Hard assets, Oil and Gas in a multipolar world. Financial conditions are tightening at the fastest pace since the regional bank panic of 2023, rate hikes impact already happening, the opposite of White House wants. Join us @MorningsMaria in 5....
ECB must be vigilant in face of stagflation risks, Vujcic says https://t.co/TJxut9isTf via @jaskuzmanovic https://t.co/HQiDucuNdh
The Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs were illegal, forcing the administration to do things...the right way. Welcome to Section 301 investigations. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/clLUiPPPhq #tariffs #trump #economy https://t.co/En6Bk5ulRD
You can run, but you can't hide: ECB to Start Fresh Checks on Banks’ Exposure to Private Credit https://t.co/nEqJE6yYDf
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche is pushing gas companies to diversify beyond the US 🇩🇪 🚢 Reiche said Germany is also pursuing agreements with Angola, Mexico, Canada and other suppliers worldwide https://t.co/YsSeBtLmvB https://t.co/RPngivFPz4
From Indian films to Italian wine, Trump’s Iran war ripples through the world economy https://t.co/nN8qmnNvwV via @Swatisays @LouKCurtis @mniquette https://t.co/oUjyH8kZ9O
GS: We Estimate Based on Reported Vessel Counts that Average Daily Flows Through the Strait of Hormuz Are Down 98% From Their Normal Levels (4-Day Moving Average) https://t.co/af4DPzafNM
Great conversation with Nicolai Tangen on the In Good Company podcast. From the uncertainty created by the war in the Middle East to the impact of AI and the importance of central bank independence, we covered a lot of ground. Listen...
African export restrictions on battery metals are a blow to Chinese companies that have spent billions of dollars developing mines there to dominate supplies https://t.co/yoI9r6fpaN
% min until the first EZ PMIs start to trickle in for March, with ERZ6 pricing in three hikes for this year. Let's see whether the latter holds. Remember,that the PMIs will tend to import this shock as "strength" via...
