Africa Needs to Fight for a Better Deal on World Trade Rules: It Should Lead the Charge on These 3...
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 arrives amid a 15‑year stalemate at the WTO and weak implementation of Special and Differential Treatment. By tapping the Enhanced Integration Framework’s third phase, Africa seeks funding and technical assistance to shift from raw‑commodity exports to higher‑value products.
German Minister Says Trump's Iran Talks Announcement Could Mark Turning Point
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...
The Great Easing Pause: Treasury Strategy in a Wartime Economy
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...
DOE: PH Fuel Supply Will 'Run Dry' If Middle East Tensions Escalate
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...
Eurozone PMI Drops to 10-Month Low on Middle East Conflict
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...
How the Economy Would Weather Private-Credit Defaults Rising to Financial Crisis-Like Levels
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...
Mild Bargain Hunting Lifts PSEi Amid Hopes of US Easing Middle East Tensions
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...
UK Economy Could Struggle Due to Rising Energy Costs and Inflation Concerns : Analysis
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,...
Conflicting Hormuz Claims Leave Shipping in Limbo and Markets Swinging
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...
Why Africa Should Pursue China's Coastal-First Approach
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...
Policy Paper: Chancellor Meeting with Gilt-Edged Market Makers: Minutes - March 2026
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...
STG Logistics Survey: Sourcing Diversification, Contract Flexibility, Logistics Network Changes…
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,...
S. Korea, Mongolia Discuss Accelerating Economic Partnership Negotiations
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...
Israel, Iran War: Goldman Sachs Slashes India Growth Forecast, Warns Currency Strain Will Force Rate Hike
Goldman Sachs trimmed its 2026 Indian growth outlook to 5.9%, down from a pre‑war 7% estimate, citing higher oil prices and prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. The bank now projects inflation at 4.6% and expects the Reserve Bank...
Japan Says to Release About One-Month Supply of Crude Oil Reserves Next
Japan announced it will release roughly 80 million barrels of crude from its strategic reserves starting 26 March, supplementing a 15‑day private‑sector release earlier in the month. The drawdown will be executed across 11 sites nationwide, bringing Japan’s total contribution to the...
Gold Demand From Central Banks Likely to Rise as Global Risks Intensify: WGC
Central banks are increasing gold purchases as geopolitical tensions and de‑dollarisation drive a safe‑haven shift, according to World Gold Council (WGC) executive Shaokai Fan. Guatemala, Indonesia and Malaysia have entered or re‑entered the market, signaling broader reserve‑strategy changes. Gold prices...
India Bonds Seen Lower as Elevated Oil, Higher US Yields Pinch; Debt Sale in Focus
Indian government bond yields slipped on Tuesday as Brent crude hovered above $100 a barrel and U.S. 10‑year Treasury yields steadied near 4.40%, the sharpest sell‑off since October 2023. The benchmark 2035 bond yield was expected to trade between 6.81%...
Japan to Begin Biggest-Ever Oil Release From National Reserves as Middle East Energy Crisis Bites
Japan will tap the largest ever portion of its strategic oil stockpiles, releasing 80 million barrels – enough for 45 days of domestic demand – as the US‑Israel war on Iran threatens tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The move...
China Is Squeezing Southeast Asia
China’s Belt and Road and the China‑ASEAN FTA have made Southeast Asia its largest trading partner, with roughly $126 bn of Chinese investment over the past decade. Yet the region’s trade deficit with Beijing has swelled to about $140 bn in 2024...
Iran War Threatens Global Food Supply Chains
The Iran war has choked the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting shipments of fertilizer and liquefied natural gas that underpin global food production. About one‑third of seaborne fertilizer, 35% of nitrogen‑based urea and 45% of sulfur exports now face delays, pushing...
New Zealand to Give Cash Payments to some Low Income Families as Global Fuel Crisis Worsens
New Zealand will begin a one‑year cash‑payment scheme on 1 April, giving roughly 150,000 low‑income families an extra NZ$50 (about US$30) per week to offset soaring fuel costs. The boost is delivered through an expansion of the in‑work tax credit and...
Australian Inflation Data Due Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Preview.
Westpac projects Australia’s February CPI to rise 0.1% month‑on‑month, keeping the annual rate at 3.8% for a third straight month. Underlying inflation measured by the trimmed mean is expected at 0.3% m/m and 3.4% y/y, indicating persistent price pressures. The...
Competitive Europe Summit — Live Updates
The Competitive Europe Summit convened policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to assess the EU’s renewed push for competitiveness. Central themes included cutting red tape, accelerating industrial capacity, and rebranding the single market to spur growth. Attendees also debated how geopolitical...
Asian Corporate Bonds Rebound After Trump Delays Iran Strike
Asian corporate bond markets rallied on Tuesday as geopolitical tension eased following President Donald Trump’s remarks about ongoing talks with Iran. Credit default swaps on investment‑grade Asian debt fell by at least four basis points, signaling reduced perceived risk. At...
Japan’s Soft Inflation Is Temporary and Won’t Alter BoJ’s Rate Hike Cycle
Japan’s February consumer‑price inflation slowed to 1.3% YoY, driven by lower fresh‑food and utility costs, while core‑core inflation stayed near 2.5% above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. Wage negotiations indicate a 5.26% average increase, and PMI readings remain in...
The Iran Conflict Is A Compounding Cost Crisis For Retail
Operation Epic Fury’s Feb. 28 strikes on Iran have forced a massive reroute of global container traffic, shifting roughly 90% of Suez‑Canal flows to the Cape of Good Hope. The detour adds 10‑14 days to voyages, cuts effective vessel capacity by...
Why the Iran War Could Be a ‘Game-Changer’ for EVs – and China’s Car Industry
Rising oil prices sparked by the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran are prompting consumers worldwide to consider electric vehicles as a cost‑effective alternative. Analysts say the price shock could accelerate EV adoption, directly benefiting Chinese automakers who recently overtook Japan as...
From India to Italy, Trump’s Iran War Is Rippling Through the World Economy
The US‑Israel war in Iran has sent oil, gas, aluminum and fertilizer prices sharply higher, pushing global inflation expectations upward. Elevated energy costs are already biting manufacturers, farmers and freight carriers from India to Italy, while the conflict has forced...
Oil Price Spike Threatens to Cut Thai GDP Growth, Raise Inflation
Tisco Financial warns that a 10% rise in crude oil from a $72‑per‑barrel baseline could trim Thailand's GDP growth by 0.3‑0.4 percentage points and lift inflation by roughly 0.8%. The surge also strains the Oil Fuel Fund, which subsidises diesel...
White House Eyes Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf as Potential US-Backed Leader, Politico Reports
The White House is reportedly positioning Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad‑Reza Ghalibaf, as a potential US‑backed leader, signaling a possible diplomatic pivot. President Trump has postponed planned strikes on Iranian power plants, describing recent talks with Tehran as “very good.” The...
White House Eyes Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf as Potential US-Backed Leader, Politico Reports
The White House, under the Trump administration, is reportedly evaluating Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as a potential partner and future US‑backed leader. Ghalibaf, who currently chairs the Majlis, is seen as a workable figure who could steer Iran in negotiations...
China’s Hainan Wants More than Beach Tourism. Will New Customs Rules Cause a Sea Change?
China’s Hainan province is pivoting from a beach‑tourism‑centric economy to a broader, sustainable growth model anchored by its new designation as a free‑trade port. Recent customs reforms will streamline cross‑border clearance, lower tariffs and introduce a “single window” system for...
Oil Markets Grapple With Still-Unclear Mideast Endgame
Tensions in the Middle East remain high as the United States and Iran stepped back from a potential escalation on Monday. ADNOC chief Sultan al‑Jaber denounced Iran’s continued control of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as “economic terrorism” during...
Ray Dalio’s Gold Playbook: Why He Now Sees Bullion as “The Safest Money”
Ray Dalio told the World Governments Summit in Dubai that the global monetary system is entering a "capital war" and that gold is now the safest form of money. He linked the erosion of fiat currencies and sovereign debt to...
Iran Disputes Trump's Claim of Peace Deal
President Donald Trump claimed that preliminary peace talks with Iran were underway and that a deal could be reached within five days. Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf refuted the claim, stating no negotiations have occurred and accusing the US...
Carlyle’s Stavridis Says Investors Are Already Mapping Out Post-War Iran
Admiral James Stavridis, vice‑chairman of Carlyle, says investors are already mapping out opportunities in a post‑war Iran, citing a roughly two‑thirds chance that negotiations will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and revive oil trade. He likens Iran’s potential reconstruction to South...
US-EU Clean Freight Crests $100/T for First Time
Refined product shipments on medium‑range tankers from the US Gulf to Europe broke the $100 per tonne barrier for the first time in nearly two decades, reaching $108.08/t on a Worldscale 545 voyage. The surge is linked to Iran's de‑facto...
What Do Central Asians Think About the Eurasian Economic Union?
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) launched in 2015 with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, promising a common market and higher living standards. A new study by Dr. Zhanibek Arynov and Diyas Takenov surveyed public opinion in Armenia, Kazakhstan and...
Trump Delays Iran Energy Strikes as Confusion Swirls Over ‘Productive’ Talks
President Donald Trump announced a five‑day pause on planned strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure, citing "productive conversations" with Tehran. The talks, led by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, reportedly involved Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad‑Bagher Ghalibaf, though Iran publicly denied...
Authorities in Talks on US Tariffs and Finalising FTAs
Thai authorities are negotiating with the United States to address the 10 % global tariff and a Section 301 investigation that could trigger new duties, while preparing a written response by mid‑April. The U.S. tariff expires in July, intensifying the urgency of...
60 Minutes Catches Up to America’s Shipbuilding Crisis Long Flagged by Maritime Industry
A 60 Minutes segment highlighted the widening gap between U.S. shipyards and Asian rivals, underscoring a long‑standing shipbuilding crisis. South Korean conglomerate Hanwha announced up to $5 billion to expand Philadelphia’s Philly Shipyard, aiming to boost annual output from under two...
Pro Farmer Podcast | Fund Positioning and China Import Interest
Economist Lane Akre hosted the latest Pro Farmer podcast, focusing on fund positioning and rising Chinese interest in U.S. agricultural imports. He and economist Spencer Langford examined how China’s appetite for soybeans and corn is reshaping trade flows. The discussion then shifted to...
What Is America’s Goal in Cuba?
The article argues that while global attention remains on the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran, a growing focus in Washington is the potential collapse of Cuba's communist regime. Analysts claim the island’s economic reforms and rising private sector activity suggest a...
Bloomberg Intelligence: Oil Dives on Trump Comments (Podcast)
Oil prices plunged more than 5% after President Donald Trump suggested his team was discussing an end to the Iran conflict, a claim Tehran denied. The comments temporarily eased geopolitical risk premiums, prompting a sharp sell‑off in crude futures. In...
Moody’s Trims Philippine Growth Outlook to 4.9 Percent for 2026
Moody’s Analytics lowered its Philippine GDP outlook to 4.9% for 2026 and 5.2% for 2027, revising down from 5.1% and 5.4% respectively, while keeping the 2028 forecast at 5.3%. The new projections fall short of the government’s 5‑6% target for...
Bloomberg Surveillance TV: March 23rd, 2026 (Podcast)
Bloomberg Surveillance aired its March 23, 2026 television episode at 20:35, featuring Norman Roule of CSIS, Michael Haigh of Societe Generale, and Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran. The program blended interviews on warfare‑related risk, commodity market outlooks, and upcoming monetary policy. Listeners received...
Trump Rows Back on Strait of Hormuz Threat – What Next? | Podcast
President Donald Trump has extended by five days the deadline to "hit and obliterate" Iran's power stations and energy infrastructure if Tehran does not restore free shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The shift follows earlier, more aggressive rhetoric threatening...
African Bunkering Hubs Gain as Ships Reroute Around the Cape
War in the Middle East and Houthi attacks have forced carriers to avoid the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, prompting a surge of vessels rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope. This shift has dramatically increased demand for ship‑refuelling...
India, Russia Reaffirm $100 Billion Trade Goal as West Asia Simmers
India and Russia reaffirmed their ambition to lift bilateral trade from $68.7 billion to $100 billion by 2030, emphasizing a balanced and sustainable approach. Both ministers highlighted that 96 percent of current trade is settled in national currencies, bypassing Western payment systems. Ongoing...
U.S. Executives, From Apple to Eli Lilly, Revamp Their Push Into the World's Second-Largest Economy at the China Development Forum
More than 30 U.S. executives, including Apple’s Tim Cook and Eli Lilly’s David Ricks, attended the China Development Forum in Beijing, signaling a renewed push into China’s consumer market. Apple reported a 23% year‑on‑year rise in iPhone sales, while Eli Lilly announced...