AfDB Says Africa’s Growth Risks Were Tilted to Downside Even Before Iran Conflict
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 if it drags on six months. The bank projects GDP growth of 4.3% in 2024 and 4.5% by 2027, but mounting debt—over $1.9 trillion—and shrinking aid weigh heavily. Oil‑exporting nations may offset some pain as higher crude prices boost revenues.
Suze Orman Says the Stock Market Is ‘Absolutely Being Destroyed’ by Oil Crisis — What Investors Can Do Right Now
Suze Orman warned that the U.S.–Iran war‑driven oil crisis is "absolutely destroying" the stock market, with crude prices soaring over 50% to about $100 a barrel. The S&P 500 has slipped 8.7% from its peak, while the Dow and Nasdaq sit...
Power Plants, Politics and Profitability: PWM Tea Break
In PWM’s latest Tea Break, a senior executive discusses her investments in energy and water companies across Brazil and the Philippines, emphasizing confidence in developing economies. She notes that emerging markets are projected to generate the majority of global GDP...
Nissan Urges that Low-Cost US Cars Can only Be Made in Mexico
Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier told an industry forum that entry‑level cars cannot be built profitably in the United States without tariff relief, citing margins eroded by a $2,500‑$3,000 per‑vehicle duty. The automaker has already discontinued the Versa, leaving the...
Sen. Warren Slams Trump Administration for Pressuring EU to Relax Tech Regulations
Senator Elizabeth Warren has publicly accused the Trump administration of pressuring European allies to ease tech regulations, using tariff threats to protect U.S. tech giants like Elon Musk’s xAI. In a letter to USTR chief Jamieson Greer, she demanded records...
Can a Country Get Too Rich?
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...
US Tariff Refund Portal to Exclude One-Third of Imports at First
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection will launch an online portal to refund tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court, initially covering about 63% of the 53 million import entries at issue. The first phase will process only non‑final duties, leaving...
Crude Oil Comes Under Renewed Pressure Amid US-Iran Deal Optimism; Upside Risks Remain
Oil prices slipped after President Trump reiterated his willingness to end the Iran conflict without tying it to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials responded with cautious optimism, saying they are ready to end hostilities but demand...
China Is Helping Build Africa’s Cities, but Its Approach Sidelines Local Urban Planners
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...
Officials Weigh Trade Probe on Sugar but Could Face Obstacles
U.S. officials are weighing a trade investigation into sugar imports, considering both a Section 201 safeguard and a Section 301 unfair‑practice probe. While overall sugar imports have declined, higher‑tariff shipments have risen, and the existing 15.36‑cent‑per‑pound quota tariff has lost its protective...
Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Hit Tree Nut Industry
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed by about 90% since the Iran‑U.S./Israel conflict began, halting the flow of U.S. tree‑nut shipments to the Middle East. The region accounts for roughly $1.75 billion, or 20 % of U.S. agricultural exports there,...
UK Requires Closer EU Partnerships Due to Volatile World, Starmer Says
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the war in Iran has created volatile global conditions, prompting the UK to seek closer security and economic cooperation with the European Union. He warned that rising energy costs could echo the 1970s oil...
Indonesia Bets on Nickel Levy to Break Its China Habit
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...
RI Posts $1.27b Trade Surplus Despite Surge in Capital Goods Imports
Indonesia posted a $1.27 billion trade surplus in February, up from $954 million in January but below the $2 billion-plus levels seen in the latter half of 2025. Imports rose 10.85% year‑on‑year to $20.89 billion, driven by a 33.68% surge in capital‑goods purchases. Consumer‑goods...
UK Universities Expand Into India Amid Shifting Demand, Tighter Visa Rules
British universities are establishing campuses in India as part of a £40 billion (≈$53 billion) education export target by 2030. Nine institutions, including Southampton, Liverpool and York, now offer British‑accredited programmes at lower fees, responding to tighter UK visa rules that cut...
Iran War Risks Private Credit Crisis and AI Bubble Bursting, Bank of England Warns
The Bank of England warned that the U.S.-Iran conflict could trigger a cascade of financial stresses, amplifying existing weaknesses in private‑credit markets and over‑valued AI‑focused stocks. A negative supply shock is tightening financing conditions, raising the risk of simultaneous credit...
Bahrain Circulates Revised UN Hormuz Draft, Drops Binding Enforcement
Bahrain circulated a revised U.N. Security Council draft on protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, keeping language that authorises “all necessary means” while dropping an explicit Chapter VII reference. The change aims to avoid a Russian or Chinese veto...
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UAE Energy Minister Says World Must Not Be Held 'Hostage' By Iran over Hormuz
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...
Cuba in Free Fall
Cuba’s economy is spiraling into a crisis deeper than the post‑Soviet collapse of the 1990s. Within weeks, the island lost its external energy imports and its primary sources of foreign earnings, including tourism and sugar exports. Manufacturing and other key...
Iran War Pushing India to Edge of a Currency Crisis
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...
BOJ Policymaker Asada: How to Deal with Stagflation Is a Hard Question for Monetary Policy
Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymaker Kazuo Asada warns that rising oil prices are driving a stagflationary mix of higher inflation and weaker growth, posing a tough dilemma for monetary policy. Asada, a newly appointed member known for his Modern Monetary...
Odd Lots: Blas on Why Oil Could Go Much, Much Higher (Podcast)
Oil prices have surged since Iran’s conflict closed the Strait of Hormuz, but analysts warn the rally may be just the beginning. Strategic petroleum reserves and inventory drawdowns have temporarily softened the shock, yet significant volumes of oil remain stranded...
Gatchalian Calls for Prudent Budgeting Amid Global Economic Uncertainty
Senator Win Gatchalian filed Senate Resolution No. 349 urging prudent fiscal management in the 2026 General Appropriations Act as global economic uncertainty rises from the ongoing Middle East conflict. He warned that a massive fuel price hike, driven by the crisis,...
Germany March Final Manufacturing PMI 52.2 vs 51.7 Prelim
Germany’s final manufacturing PMI for March rose to 52.2, up from the preliminary 51.7 and the prior month’s 50.9, signalling continued expansion. The index was buoyed by stronger output and new‑order growth as firms stocked up amid supply‑chain uncertainty. At...
US Allows Kazakhstan to Continue Transit of Russian Oil to China
The United States has granted Kazakhstan a waiver allowing it to keep transporting Russian crude oil to China until March 19, 2027. The decision follows a consultation with the U.S. Treasury and was announced by Kazakhstan’s energy ministry. The extension...
Mozambique Fully Repaid $701 Million IMF Debt Early, Bank Says
Mozambique has fully repaid its $701 million International Monetary Fund loan ahead of schedule, according to Standard Bank. The early settlement suggests the IMF’s planned August mission to the country is now unnecessary. Details of the repayment terms remain undisclosed, but...
Top Five States Drive India’s Economic Growth, Says Rubix Study
Rubix Data Sciences' latest study shows that five Indian states—Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat—account for over 65% of the nation’s GDP and about 75% of exports. Maharashtra remains the largest economy, contributing roughly 13% of total output and reporting...
Gilts and European Bonds Surge as Oil Drops on Iran War Optimism
UK and European government bond yields plunged as oil prices fell 5% on optimism that the Iran war could end soon. German 10‑year yields slipped to 2.94%, the lowest level since March 18, while French and Italian yields each dropped more...
Oil Slides 4% to Below $100/Bbl as Middle East Uncertainty Keeps Markets on Edge
Oil prices plunged on Wednesday, with Brent June futures slipping 4.35% to $99.45 per barrel and U.S. WTI falling 3.99% to $97.34. The decline came despite signals that the U.S.-Iran conflict could be winding down, as investors reacted to lingering...
India's GST Collections Rise 8.2% to Rs 1.78 Lakh Crore in March
India's net GST collections rose 8.2% to Rs 1.78 lakh crore ($21.5 bn) in March 2026, with gross collections exceeding Rs 2 lakh crore ($24 bn). Refunds grew 13.8% to Rs 0.22 lakh crore ($2.7 bn), while domestic and import revenues increased 5.9%...
South Korea’s Economy Benefits From Robust Chip Exports and Fiscal Support
South Korea’s March exports surged 48.3% year‑on‑year, driven primarily by a 151% jump in semiconductor shipments and sharp price gains in computers and SSDs. The trade surplus expanded to $25 billion, up from $15 billion a month earlier, while imports rose 13.2%...
Govt Extends RoDTEP Benefits for Exporters Till September 30
The Indian government has extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme until September 30, 2026, keeping refund rates of 0.3%‑3.9% unchanged. The fiscal allocation for the program was reduced to roughly $1.2 billion for 2026‑27, far below the...
Large Japanese Companies Are More Optimistic Despite Iran Conflict, but Analysts Say This May Not Last
Japan’s quarterly Tankan survey showed large manufacturers’ optimism index climb to 17 in Q1 2026, the strongest level since late 2021, while large non‑manufacturers maintained a multi‑decade high of 36. The upbeat readings lifted the Nikkei 225 by about 4.5%, reflecting hopes that...
EU Extends Iran Sanctions, Citing Human Rights Concerns
The European Union announced on March 30 that it will extend its sanctions regime against Iran until April 13, 2027, citing persistent human‑rights violations. The package adds travel bans, asset freezes and a prohibition on exporting equipment that could be...
European Fiscal Support for High Energy Prices Still Targeted and Temporary
European governments are rolling out €200 billion (≈$215 billion) of fiscal relief to cushion households and energy‑intensive firms from soaring energy costs. The aid, delivered through cash transfers, tax rebates and temporary price caps, is deliberately narrow‑based and time‑limited, with most measures...
Preparing for a Covid-Style Crisis
The European Union is weighing a Covid‑style emergency framework to tackle a looming energy crisis sparked by the war in Iran, including joint procurement of gas and electricity. EU officials have convened rapid meetings to align policy responses, borrowing tactics...
Is Europe Ripe for Recovery? MoneyWeek Talks
Europe has long trailed the United States in equity performance, prompting investors to question what conditions could spark a continental rebound. In a MoneyWeek interview, Daniel Avigad, manager of the TM Lansdowne European Special Situations fund, outlines where he sees...
A Post-American Persian Gulf?
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has slashed oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz to roughly five percent of normal levels and damaged Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG plant, threatening a $20 billion annual export loss. Gulf states face immediate economic...
Malaysia’s Food Prices May Spike 50% Amid Fuel Surge
Malaysia’s food prices could surge as much as 50% after an energy shock tied to the Iran war drives fuel costs higher. Traders report raw ingredient prices already up 20‑30% before the fuel jump, forcing hawkers and restaurants to consider...
USD-Backed Stablecoins Fuel Nigeria’s Trade Amid FX Uncertainty
Fintech Verto’s CEO Ola Oyetayo says Nigeria’s recent naira volatility has pushed businesses toward USD‑backed stablecoins for cross‑border trade. Traditional banking liquidity dried up, prompting payment providers to use mixed local and global pools and dynamic pricing. The Central Bank...
Pacific Islands Energy Crisis: One Country Faces Fuel Import Bills Three Times Its Healthcare Budget
The war in the Middle East has pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel, threatening diesel‑dependent Pacific economies. Fiji could see its imported fuel bill jump $670 million by 2025—about three times its annual healthcare budget—while Vanuatu faces a potential $120 million...
The Petrochemicals Shock That Is Already Rippling Through Plastics
The war in Iran is throttling global oil supplies, which also serve as the primary feedstock for petrochemicals. This disruption has sent polyethylene prices soaring, with some Asian producers announcing force majeure and cutting output. Analysts warn that a significant...
Manufacturing Slips Into Contraction as Inflation Pressures Mount, S&P Global Says
Australia’s manufacturing PMI slipped to 49.8 in March, pushing the sector back into contraction for the first time since early 2024. New orders fell for the first time in five months while production declined for a second straight month, reflecting...
FII Exodus Hits Record Rs 1.6 Lakh Crore in FY26 Despite Strong DII Cushion
Foreign investors withdrew a record $19 billion (≈₹1.6 lakh crore) from Indian equities in FY26, marking the second consecutive year of outflows. Domestic institutions countered the sell‑off with a historic $102 billion (≈₹8.5 lakh crore) inflow, led by mutual funds, pension funds and insurers. The rupee’s 4 %...
SGX to Launch Asia-Pacific Government Bond Futures- #Wealth #AssetManagement #AssetFinance
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) will debut Asia‑Pacific government bond futures on 20 April, covering sovereign bonds from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. The contracts, margined and settled in US dollars, offer three maturities—three, five and ten years—based on FTSE Russell’s...
Georgian Company Strikes Coal Deal with Russian-Occupied Donetsk
Georgian firm George Oil Ltd signed a contract to import coal, metals and chemical products from the Russian‑occupied Donetsk region, planning domestic use and exports to India and Turkey. The deal arrives despite the EU’s full ban on Russian and...
Russia Offers Fertiliser Supplies to Global South Amid Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Russia announced it is prepared to supply fertilizers and other agricultural products to countries in the Global South and East, citing the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockage has halted roughly 50% of global fertilizer exports and...
‘The Rules-Based Order Is over’: What Trump, Iran and Ukraine Tell Us About the Future of International Relations
Mark Leonard’s new book *Surviving Chaos* argues that the post‑Cold‑War rules‑based order is collapsing, citing the wars in Ukraine, tensions over Iran and the disruptive foreign policy of Donald Trump. He describes a shift toward a multipolar "un‑order" where great...
Saudi Arabia Trades Oil Barrels for Batteries
Saudi Arabia is accelerating its shift from oil to energy storage, earmarking $64 billion in mining revenue by 2030 and targeting 48 GWh of domestic battery capacity. The kingdom aims to challenge China’s dominance by developing lithium‑metal technology and exploiting its own...
Food Exports Poised to Drop by over 7%
Thai food exports are projected to fall 7.3% year‑on‑year to 1.4 trillion baht (about $39 billion), potentially hitting a five‑year low. The first quarter is expected to plunge 11.5% to 306 billion baht ($8.6 billion) as Middle‑East conflicts disrupt Gulf shipments and re‑exports via...