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The yield on the benchmark ten‑year U.S. Treasury bond has swung dramatically, dipping below 4% on Feb. 27, spiking above 4.4% by March 27, and then retreating again. The rapid movement reflects heightened market sensitivity to geopolitical shocks, notably the American‑Israeli war on Iran. Because Treasury rates set the baseline for mortgages and corporate debt, a half‑percentage‑point shift can determine whether a family can afford a new home. The episode underscores the tug‑of‑war between inflation fears and recession risk in bond markets.
SBI Research warns that the global GDP growth forecast, currently around 3.2%, is likely to be revised downward as geopolitical tensions in West Asia intensify. The conflict is pushing crude oil above $100 per barrel and raising metal prices, which...
The OECD warns Britain will enter recession faster than any other G7 nation, as slowing retail sales and soaring energy costs strain the economy. A 4.1% rise in the living wage to £12.71 (about $16.30) per hour adds pressure on...
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) praised the Indian government and RBI for swift, coordinated fiscal, monetary and trade actions following the West Asia conflict, noting early measures have steadied market sentiment. However, CII warned that supply‑side pressures in energy,...
The United States has issued an executive order imposing up to 100% tariffs on patented drugs manufactured abroad, while offering a 20% rate for firms that relocate production to the U.S. Taiwan officials say the measure will not raise drug...
Saudi Arabia’s non‑oil private‑sector activity contracted in March, with the Riyad Bank PMI slipping to 48.8 from 56.1 in February. The decline marks the first contraction since August 2020 and reflects heightened geopolitical risk from the regional conflict. New‑orders and...
Egypt’s non‑oil private sector contracted sharply in March, with the S&P Global PMI slipping to 48.0, its lowest level since April 2024. Output and new orders fell to near‑two‑year lows, while firms blamed the Middle East conflict for weakened demand...
Four years after the Jan. 15, 2022 Hunga Tonga‑Hunga Ha'apai eruption, Tonga is still wrestling with reconstruction while servicing a Chinese loan that has ballooned to over $100 million. The government paid $17.7 million to China in the year to June 2025, a sum...
Deutsche Bank warns that a massive global energy price shock could push the United Kingdom into recession, slashing its GDP growth forecast to a narrow 0.35‑0.7% range. The analysis highlights a “non‑linear” risk where growth could contract faster than traditional...
Japan relies on Middle‑Eastern crude for 94% of its oil, with 93% transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A closure of the strait has forced the government to tap its strategic reserves, now covering roughly 230 days—about eight months—of consumption. Because...
The MINING.COM Top 50 miners posted a combined market capitalization of $2.41 trillion at the end of Q1 2026, up roughly $250 billion from the start of 2025. Despite the onset of the US‑Iran conflict and a sharp drop in gold and silver prices,...
The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its definitive phase in January 2024, levying charges on imports based on embedded carbon content. It currently targets cement, steel, aluminium, fertilizers, electricity, hydrogen and related intermediates, covering roughly half of emissions...
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China remained the world’s largest exporter of goods in 2024, shipping $3.75 trillion worth of products. Smartphones led the export portfolio, accounting for over $216 billion, while electrical machinery and machinery together comprised more than $1.6 trillion. The European Union, if aggregated, outpaced...
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation proposes replacing the 18.4¢ per‑gallon federal gas tax with a weight‑based vehicle fee to sustain the Highway Trust Fund. EVs now represent 2.5% of U.S. light‑duty vehicles and accounted for 9.6% of new sales in...
Two veteran Australian economists warn that the country may be entering stagflation as oil prices surge due to the Middle‑East war. Professor Bob Gregory says early signs are already visible – inflation edging higher while unemployment begins to rise –...
Olaf Sleijpen, president of the Dutch central bank, told the College Leaders in Finance podcast that the European Central Bank’s next Governing Council meeting will focus on a binary decision: raise interest rates further or keep them unchanged. He indicated the...
The Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE) released a policy brief urging Tunisia to adopt a “multi‑alignment” diplomatic strategy as the global order fragments. It highlights the erosion of multilateral institutions, heightened US‑China rivalry, and regional crises that amplify Tunisia’s...
Egypt announced it will no longer accept Russian wheat that originates from occupied Ukrainian territories, marking a sharp policy reversal. The country, the world’s largest wheat importer, bought more than 8 million tons of Russian grain last year, accounting for a...
Afreximbank is in negotiations with Kenya and Rwanda to finance new textile projects, extending the bank’s successful model from Benin’s special economic zones. The lender also backs Nigeria with a $2 billion commitment and holds $11 billion in cash ready for African...
Amid the escalating Middle East conflict, a handful of vessels—including French and Japanese‑owned ships—have resumed transiting the Strait of Hormuz, easing a near‑three‑week blockade that has strained global oil and LNG flows. The war has also triggered a cascade of...
Geopolitical tensions are unlikely to evolve into a prolonged conflict, limiting long‑term economic disruption. Higher oil prices add volatility, but modest growth and stable policy expectations keep markets anchored. Diverging central‑bank outlooks and bearish dollar positioning set the stage for...
Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain have asked the European Commission to introduce an EU‑wide windfall tax on energy companies profiting from the Iran war, echoing the 33% excess‑profit levy applied after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ministers propose a...
China has accelerated the sale of its U.S. Treasury bill holdings, dropping from $682.6 bn in November 2025 to $633.4 bn—a $50 bn decline in four months and the lowest level since 2008. The sell‑off follows a pattern of larger drawdowns during the...
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas refuted claims that an Iranian crude cargo destined for Vadinar was rerouted to China, labeling the reports factually incorrect. The ministry emphasized that Indian refiners continue to source crude from more than 40...
U.S. grocery prices for fresh produce are spiking as the Israel‑Iran war drives oil above $100 per barrel, inflating diesel and refrigeration costs. USDA data show wholesale lime prices up 63% and blueberries up 44% between late February and March....
EY’s March 2026 European Economic Outlook notes that the newly announced EU‑India free trade agreement will have limited macro impact on Europe but could sharpen India’s competitiveness in select sectors such as minerals and textiles. The report flags that U.S....
Facing a wave of Iranian air strikes on its industrial sites, the United Arab Emirates has moved to choke off Tehran’s economic lifeline. The UAE quietly imposed a near‑total ban on Iranian nationals entering the country or transiting through its...
In a recent Businessline State of the Economy podcast, Union Bank of India's chief economic advisor Kanika Pasricha dissected the early economic effects of the Ukraine‑Russia war on India. She highlighted a steep decline in the manufacturing PMI caused by...
In March 2026, silver‑focused commodity ETFs slumped as much as 15%, with UTI Silver ETF posting the steepest decline of –14.72%. The broader commodity‑ETF universe saw 43 funds in the red, while gold ETFs also recorded double‑digit losses. The sell‑off...
India’s economy faces a turbulent 2026 as oil price spikes from the Iran‑war threaten its trade deficit, current‑account balance, growth and inflation targets. The editorial notes that budget assumptions are unraveling, but a swift end to the conflict could limit...
Sri Lanka’s government has slashed fuel supplies, raised fuel prices by a third and hiked electricity tariffs up to 40% as the Middle‑East war strains global energy markets. The country is also coping with the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which...
Vietnam’s economy expanded 7.83% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, the strongest pace in 16 years. Services drove growth, contributing 50.32% of added value, while industry‑construction posted a 9.01% rise and manufacturing surged 9.73%. Trade activity reached $249.5 billion, up 23%, and 96,000...
The United States and Israel have stepped up coordinated air strikes against Iranian‑backed facilities in Syria, marking a sharp escalation in the covert war on Tehran. Syrian air defenses have shot down several missiles, while Iranian militias report casualties and...
The authors analyze 75,000 sovereign bond auctions from 20 emerging‑market economies (2000‑2023) to uncover how timing decisions differ by currency. Local‑currency issuances closely track refinancing needs, while foreign‑currency issuances are driven by global financial conditions, investor sentiment, and terms‑of‑trade shocks....
BioCentury’s website now outlines a comprehensive cookie framework that classifies cookies into five distinct groups: strictly necessary, functional, marketing, advertising, and analytics. Each category serves a specific purpose, from enabling authentication and core site functions to gathering anonymous usage metrics...
The U.S.-Iran conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, stranding roughly 2,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers in the Persian Gulf. The United Nations notes this is unprecedented in modern maritime history, as 19 attacks on civilian ships have already...
The United States has revised tariffs on metals and pharmaceuticals, signaling a possible ratification of the long‑awaited EU‑U.S. trade agreement. New duties cap pharma tariffs at 15% for the EU, Japan, South Korea and 10% for the UK, while steel...
The Iran‑Israel conflict has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, instantly choking a key artery for global oil shipments. The disruption has triggered a sharp supply shock, pushing crude prices higher and exposing Asia’s heavy reliance on Middle‑East...
China’s National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Commerce launched the 2025 Catalogue for Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment on February 1, 2026, expanding the list to 1,679 entries – 205 new and 303 revised. The updated guide pivots...
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has again denied Maersk’s petition to waive the statutory 30‑day notice required before imposing an emergency bunker fuel surcharge on U.S. trades. The carrier’s request, filed on March 11, was unanimously rejected, meaning Maersk cannot apply...
Indian textile exporters have asked the government to suspend the 11% import duty on cotton, citing a recent 7‑8% rise in domestic cotton prices and an 11‑12% jump in ginned cotton costs. International cotton prices have also climbed 12‑15%, squeezing...
Asian equities stayed under pressure as the Middle East conflict dampened optimism, though the Thai SET index nudged up 0.5% to 1,454 points, supported by net buying of roughly $126 million from brokerages. Oil price fears linger, with European policymakers warning...
A Malta‑flagged container ship owned by French carrier CMA CGM became the first major Western European vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the US‑Israeli war with Iran halted traffic. Iran has said “non‑hostile” ships may use the waterway, but...
Three Democratic senators—Tammy Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin and Chuck Schumer—urged President Donald Trump to bar Chinese automakers from building vehicles in the United States and from importing cars assembled in Mexico or Canada. They cite national‑security risks and an unfair competitive...
The Netherlands has become the world’s top exporter of cocoa products, overtaking Germany in 2024 and solidifying its lead in 2025. Export revenues surged from €4.2 bn in 2020 to €12.4 bn in 2025, a near‑threefold increase that adds roughly €3 bn ($3.3 bn)...
Oil prices surged past $140 a barrel as renewed U.S.-Iran tensions reignited market bullishness, pushing WTI and Brent to levels not seen since 2008. OPEC+ is weighing a 206,000‑barrel‑per‑day production increase for May, despite most members having cut output amid...
Axis Securities warns that the US‑Iran conflict‑driven surge in crude oil and LNG prices will compress margins across FMCG, paints, quick‑service restaurants and retail. Crude has risen over 60% since late February, while India imports about 85% of its oil...
Apollo chief economist Torsten Slok predicts a "Nike swoosh" recovery for the U.S. economy, citing a three‑month average of 68,000 jobs—well above the Federal Reserve’s 10,000 break‑even threshold. He points to three emerging tailwinds: accelerated AI‑related data‑center spending, an industrial...
The latest Mimit report, released ahead of National Made in Italy Day, highlights Italy’s ability to thrive in a post‑pandemic world despite heightened geopolitical tensions and supply‑chain fragility. Export diversification and market breadth have kept Italy among the top exporters,...
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will upgrade its Kumamoto, Japan fab to a 3‑nanometer process, targeting 15,000 12‑inch wafers per month and mass production by 2028. The $20 billion investment, backed by $4.62 billion in Japanese subsidies and equity from Sony, Denso...
