US Stock Futures Give up some Gains as Iran Says Ceasefire Negotiations Lack Legitimacy
U.S. equity futures slipped from 6,678 to 6,660 after an Iranian semi‑official outlet reported Tehran’s rejection of any ceasefire or negotiations with the United States. The report, released at 7:50 a.m. ET, highlighted Iran’s view that talks lack legitimacy and that it will only consider ending the war once strategic objectives are met. The statement underscored intensified U.S. diplomatic activity over the past five days, but framed it as a retreat in the face of Iranian resistance. Market participants reacted swiftly, pushing futures lower.
Geopolitics Sidelining Climate Goals, Says BHP’s Slattery
BHP’s Australian operations chief Geraldine Slattery warned that recent geopolitical upheavals are pushing energy security ahead of climate objectives, reshaping policy priorities in major economies. She cited Middle East conflicts and disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz as catalysts for...
Inflation Could Rise to 3.2% for Year, ESRI Warns
Ireland’s Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has revised its 2026 inflation outlook to 3.2% from 2.1%, citing rising energy costs linked to the Iran crisis. The think‑tank warns that prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could push oil...
The Rise and Fall of China’s Overseas Lending
China’s state‑owned policy banks extended roughly $1 trillion in sovereign loans to developing nations over the past two decades, primarily financing large infrastructure projects. The loans were market‑rate, short‑term, and often secured by commodity‑export revenues, creating a massive exposure for borrower...
Iran War Sends Shockwaves Through Global Markets, Then a Relief Rally, What’s Coming Next?
The outbreak of war in Iran sent shockwaves through global markets, pushing South Korea's KOSPI to its worst session since 2008 and slashing Japan's Nikkei 225 by 10%. Oil prices spiked to briefly clear $115 per barrel before easing. Early...
Global Consumer Confidence Dips for First Time in Nearly a Year
Global consumer confidence slipped for the first time in nearly a year, with the Ipsos index dropping 0.6 points to 49.4 in March. The decline was driven mainly by weaker current financial assessments and investment intentions, while expectations about jobs...
30% of Nigerians Earn Below ₦100,000; Majority Unsure Income Covers Monthly Costs — PiggyVest Report
A PiggyVest survey shows 30% of Nigerians earned less than ₦100,000 (about $217) per month in 2025, the largest income segment, while 28% reported no income, up from 20% in 2023. Although the share earning over ₦1 million ($2,174) rose to...
Uganda Economy Expanded 8.5pc in Quarter Ended December
Uganda’s economy expanded 8.5% in the quarter ended December, up from 5.4% a year earlier, driven by strong consumer demand and a construction surge. The $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline is now 80% complete, positioning the country for oil...
Intra-Asia Trade the Next Hunting Ground for M&A-Hungry Carriers
Intra‑Asia container trade emerged as the most profitable segment in 2025, with volumes nearing 50 million TEU. Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines posted the highest operating margin at 18.9%, while Cosco’s $4.3 bn net profit was buoyed by strong intra‑Asia earnings. The region’s growth,...
Asia Looks to Covid-Era Playbook to Tackle Fuel Crisis
Asia, which purchases more than 80% of the crude transiting the Strait of Hormuz, is confronting a severe fuel shortage after Iran blocked the waterway following its war on February 28. Governments from South Korea to the Philippines are reviving...
Africa Needs to Build an Economic Architecture that Renders It Immune to US Extortion
A leaked U.S. State Department memo threatens to cut HIV aid for roughly 1.3 million Zambians unless the government grants American firms access to its copper, lithium and cobalt mines. The document frames the move as a direct “America First” extortion...
France Joins Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, China, India, and Others in Europe and Asia to Recover From Oil Shock and...
France, together with Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, China, India and other nations, is accelerating recovery from the recent oil shock and inflation as US‑Iran peace talks in Islamabad gain momentum. If the negotiations succeed, they could end the Middle East...
Oil-Rich Nations Seek to Gain on Price Hikes
Iran’s abrupt closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices soaring, prompting non‑Middle‑East exporters to step into the breach. Canada’s energy minister hailed the country’s surge as a strategic moment, positioning it as a reliable guarantor for allied...
Lagarde Says ECB Won't Be 'Paralyzed by Hesitation' On Iran
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde told a Frankfurt conference that the ECB will act decisively if a surge in energy costs linked to Iran threatens broader inflation. She emphasized the bank will not be "paralyzed by hesitation" and reiterated...
Sabine Mauderer: Preserving Stability in a Fragmented and Uncertain World
Sabine Mauderer, chair of the NGFS, warned that heightened policy uncertainty—especially around climate and energy transition—is already dampening economic output and private investment, citing a 0.5% U.S. GDP hit and a $65 billion loss for the global car industry. She highlighted...
Turkey Conveying Messages Between Iran-US, Ruling Party Official Says
Turkey’s ruling party announced that Ankara is relaying messages between the United States and Iran to promote de‑escalation and direct talks. The effort also extends to Gulf states, which are increasingly entangled in the regional conflict sparked by recent U.S.–Israeli...
There Are No Missiles Raining Down on Havana. But What I Saw There Was Still Warfare | Owen Jones
Owen Jones reports that the Trump administration’s recent fuel embargo has deepened Cuba’s humanitarian crisis, crippling hospitals, blacking out the grid, and halting tourism. The lack of diesel has left the Ramón González Coro maternity hospital without essential medicines, while...
Signs of Jet Fuel Hoarding Emerge in Asia on Iran Oil Shock
Asian airlines are increasingly hoarding jet fuel as the Iran‑Russia war drives crude prices above $120 per barrel. South Korea’s transport ministry is debating redirecting export‑bound jet fuel to the domestic market, while Philippine Airlines warns of imminent fuel rationing....
EU Launches Trade and Digital Skills Projects to Strengthen the Lobito Corridor
The European Union has committed €11 million (about $12 million) to two development projects along the Lobito Corridor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A €6 million trade‑facilitation programme will streamline customs and regulatory procedures, while a €5 million digital‑skills initiative will train...
German Business Outlook Sinks as Iran Puts Recovery ‘on Ice’
Germany’s business confidence slipped sharply as the Ifo expectations index fell to 86, its lowest level in more than a year. The decline reflects heightened uncertainty after the Iran‑related war drove European energy prices higher, threatening the country’s tentative economic...
Dimitar Radev: The Euro and the Banking Sector - Readiness to Participate and Shared Responsibility
Bulgaria’s switch to the euro was the culmination of a multi‑year overhaul that fortified banks’ balance sheets, upgraded risk‑management practices, and aligned the sector with European standards. The transition unfolded smoothly, with payment systems operating normally and no immediate credit‑risk...
Amid Struggles at Home, 80% of Chinese Companies in EU Plan More Investment
A recent survey by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU finds that almost 80% of Chinese companies operating in Europe plan to increase investment, despite citing policy uncertainty. In contrast, only 38% of European firms intend to expand...
Japan PM Takaichi Asks IEA Chief for Further Oil Stockpile Release
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi asked International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol for an additional coordinated release of oil stockpiles as Tokyo prepares for a potentially prolonged Middle East conflict. The request follows a prior agreement to release 400 million barrels—about 20%...
Middle East Conflict Risks Pushing UK Food Inflation Above 8%, Warns IGD
IGD warns that prolonged Middle East instability could trigger an energy shock that pushes UK food inflation above 8% by June 2026. In its worst‑case scenario, the surge would add roughly $190 to the average household grocery bill, while even...
Inflation Remains Steady for Now
UK inflation held steady in February 2026, with the consumer price index unchanged at 3% and CPIH at 3.2%, while the retail price index slipped to 3.6%. The ongoing US‑Israeli war with Iran has sparked an energy crisis deemed worse...
Inflation Holds Firm at 3% in February
The UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) held steady at a 3% year‑over‑year increase in February, unchanged from January. Monthly inflation also remained at 0.4%, mirroring the same pace recorded a year earlier. Clothing prices were the primary upward force, while...
UK February Inflation: Stable Headline Rate Masks Rising Retail and Housi...
UK inflation held at 3% in February 2026, matching expectations and marking the lowest level since March 2025. While the headline rate was unchanged, clothing and footwear prices rose 0.9% and housing costs ticked up to 4.6%, indicating emerging retail...
Yannis Stournaras: The Greek Economy Ten Years After the Crisis - Lessons for National Economies, the Eurozone and Future Challenges
Greek central banker Yannis Stournaras reflected on a decade after Greece’s debt crisis, highlighting how fiscal consolidation, debt restructuring and deep structural reforms restored macro‑economic stability and turned a primary deficit into a surplus. He noted that the banking sector’s...
Elizabeth Genia: Presentation of the March 2026 Economic Outlook, Inflation and Monetary Policy
The Bank of Papua New Guinea presented its March 2026 outlook, projecting GDP growth of about 3% after a strong 5.3% expansion in 2025 and forecasting headline inflation near 4% despite a fresh Middle‑East energy shock. The Monetary Policy Committee kept...
India’s Total Exports Rise to USD 714.73 Billion Amid Global Uncertainty
India’s merchandise and services exports rose 5.26% year‑over‑year to $714.73 billion in April‑January FY 2025‑26, extending a 6.9% compound annual growth rate since 2021. The surge reflects a blend of traditional strengths and technology‑driven sectors, underpinned by the Foreign Trade Policy 2023...
Chiara Scotti: Financial Stability and Regulation in an Age of Transformation - How Economic Research Can Help Reorient Navigation
At the fifth joint conference of Banca d'Italia, Bocconi University, EIEF and CEPR, Chiara Scotti highlighted how the 2023 banking turmoil exposed stark differences in deposit dynamics across institutions. She argued that digitalization and the rise of non‑bank intermediaries have...
Israel Strikes Tehran as Trump Says US Negotiating to End War
Israel launched a missile strike on Tehran while President Trump announced that the United States is negotiating a cease‑fire with Iran. The news sent crude oil prices plunging more than 6%, before partially recovering on doubts about the report’s veracity....
Steel Companies Gear up for Further Hike in Prices
Indian steel producers are preparing for another price increase as U.S. attacks on Iran lift coking coal, ferro‑alloy and shipping costs. Domestic hot‑rolled coil prices have risen 23 percent to roughly $650‑$700 per tonne, up from about $566 a month earlier....
EU FTA Holds some Benefit for Grain, Oilseed Sector Bar Rice
The Australia‑EU free trade agreement eliminates tariffs on key grains – wheat, barley and wheat starch – saving up to $166‑$392 per tonne, and grants a $70 million duty‑free wheat‑gluten quota. Canola oil, machinery and chemicals also become tariff‑free, while ethanol...
Oil Prices Drop 5% Amid Hopes of Ceasefire in the War in West Asia, Brent Below $100
Oil prices plunged about 5% on Wednesday as optimism grew that a US‑Iran cease‑fire could be negotiated, pushing Brent crude below $100 per barrel and WTI to $88.31. The decline follows a recent peak near $119, but ongoing strikes and...
Lamborghinis Stranded in Sri Lanka as War Disrupts Asia's Used-Car Trade
The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have choked the Strait of Hormuz, causing severe port congestion that left more than 500 Japanese‑exported cars idle at sea before finally off‑loading in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port ten days late. Japanese firm...
Gift Nifty Signals Strong Start as Trump’s Iran Talks Boost Global Sentiment
Indian markets kicked off strong on Wednesday as the Gift Nifty rose to 23,170, roughly 100 points higher at the open. The rally was spurred by President Donald Trump’s remarks suggesting imminent US‑Iran negotiations, which buoyed global risk appetite. Crude...
Australia Politics Live: Treasurer Jim Chalmers Responds to Latest Inflation Figures
Treasurer Jim Chalmers addressed Australia’s latest inflation data, noting that headline CPI eased to a 3.7% annual rate in February while underlying inflation slipped to 3.3%. The figures suggest price pressures are moderating after a brief pause before the Iran‑Israel...
Morning Brief Podcast: Markets May Be Misreading This War: UBS’ Chief Strategist
UBS chief strategist Bhanu Baweja warns that the escalating Middle East conflict could generate an oil supply shock far larger than the Russia‑Ukraine war, a risk markets are currently under‑estimating. He argues investors are applying a short‑shock mindset, overlooking the...
From Shock to Opportunity: What Wars Really Do to Stocks, Gold, Commodities and Crypto
War-driven market volatility creates both risk and opportunity. The Russia‑Ukraine conflict shaved roughly 1 % of global GDP—about $1.5 trillion—and sparked energy price spikes, while current Middle‑East tensions are pushing oil higher and inflating commodity prices. Historical data show equities rebound, delivering...
Oil Executives, Investors Meet in Venezuela as Sanctions Easing Revives Upstream Interest
Dozens of hedge‑fund and oil‑company executives gathered in Caracas this week, marking one of the largest investor delegations to Venezuela in years. The meetings, organized by U.S. consultant Signum Global Advisors, follow a U.S. policy shift that is easing sanctions...
Crude Prices Fluctuate as Reports of US-Iran Talks Swirl
Oil prices jumped higher on Tuesday before slipping in after‑hours trading, reflecting the market’s reaction to fresh reports of potential US‑Iran talks aimed at ending the Middle East conflict. The price swing underscores how quickly crude markets respond to geopolitical...
Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun on What Role Stablecoins Could Play in China and the US
Gary Liu and Liu Xiaochun argue that stablecoins will become the backbone of cross‑border payments and remittances, eliminating high fees and slow settlement. They foresee AI agents executing billions of decisions daily, using stablecoins for instant settlement. The U.S. Genius...
Iran Is Testing a Selective Strait of Hormuz Strategy that Could Deliver Another Shock to Oil Markets
Iran is testing a selective passage strategy in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only certain vessels to transit the waterway. Analysts describe the approach as a calibrated tactic that balances political leverage with economic self‑preservation. By targeting specific ships, Tehran...
Execs Warn of Oil Demand Destruction From Supply Crunch
Oil executives warn that the ongoing war in Iran is severely disrupting crude and refined product flows, creating a global supply crunch. The resulting shortages are driving price spikes that are eroding demand across industrial and consumer sectors. Analysts anticipate...
Big Take: Cuba at a Crossroads (Podcast)
Bloomberg’s Big Take podcast examines Cuba’s deepening crisis as the island grapples with widespread power outages and a tightening U.S. oil embargo. Former President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to “take” Cuba, raising speculation about a possible regime shift. Reporters...
Economic and Geopolitical Upheaval Adding Risk to Financial System, Canada's Top Bank Regulator Says
Canada’s top banking regulator warned that escalating economic and geopolitical turmoil is adding systemic risk, but affirmed the country’s banks remain resilient compared with global peers. He highlighted that roughly 2.1 million mortgages will need renewal over the next two years,...
Ag Groups Urge U.S. to Drop Phosphate Fertilizer Tariffs on Morocco, Russia Imports
More than 60 agricultural organizations, including USA Rice, the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association, have asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to lift countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imported from Morocco and Russia. The groups argue...
Dow Dips 84, Nasdaq Sinks 185, S&P 500 Falls 25
U.S. equity markets slipped on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones down 84 points (0.2%), the Nasdaq falling 185 points (0.8%) and the S&P 500 dropping 0.4% to 6,556.37. The retreat followed President Trump’s optimistic remarks on Iran‑U.S. talks, which initially...
Stocks Slide Again as Crude Oil Controls: Stock Market Today
Stocks slipped amid renewed oil‑price pressure as the Strait of Hormuz remained blocked, pushing WTI crude to $91.66 a barrel and Brent above $103. Energy‑heavy sectors rallied while the S&P 500 fell 0.4 percent, reflecting a near‑100 % intraday correlation between oil and...