Sánchez to Push China to Hand Over Tech Secrets on Beijing Trip
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to Beijing to seal a High‑Quality Investment Agreement that obliges Chinese firms to share technology, use local suppliers and create jobs in Spain. The pact aims to address Spain’s $36.1 billion trade deficit with China by demanding tech transfers and training centres. While Spain pushes for deeper ties, EU officials remain wary of Beijing’s control over critical minerals and the limited reciprocity of Chinese investment. The visit also includes meetings with President Xi and a tour of Xiaomi’s headquarters, underscoring the delicate balance between economic opportunity and security concerns.
MCX Crude Oil Prices Headed for Weekly Loss Amid Fragile US-Iran Ceasefire; What’s the Strategy Ahead?
MCX crude oil futures jumped over 3% on Friday, opening at ₹9,200 per barrel (≈$111) as international markets reacted to supply worries in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the rally, Brent and WTI have each fallen 11% this week, the...
Australia: Battery Storage Cushions AU$1 Billion Fuel Shock as Climate Council Demands May Budget Action
The Climate Council’s new report warns that Australia’s dependence on imported fossil fuels has triggered a $710 million fuel shock in March, as geopolitical tensions drive petrol prices above AU$3 per litre. It highlights that grid‑scale battery storage has already offset...
Unemployment Rate Remains at 2.9pct in February - DOSM
Malaysia's unemployment rate held at 2.9% in February 2026, with the labor force edging up to 17.30 million. The number of employed rose modestly to 16.79 million, while the unemployed fell to 506,800. Participation remained steady at 70.9%, and the employee share...
Germany March Final CPI +2.7% vs +2.7% Y/Y Prelim
Germany’s consumer price index for March confirmed a 2.7% year‑over‑year increase, matching the preliminary estimate and up from 1.9% in February. The rise was driven primarily by a 7.2% jump in energy prices, with fuel costs soaring 20% amid the...
FX Daily: First Inflation Test
The market awaits the March US CPI report, expected to show a 0.9‑percentage‑point monthly jump and a 3.4% year‑on‑year increase, with core inflation only modestly higher. A higher‑than‑expected headline could keep the dollar firm, but the Fed is likely to...
Not Just Pakistan — China Holds the Key to Ending Middle East War, Securing Lasting U.S.-Iran Peace
China stepped in to persuade Iran to accept a preliminary cease‑fire, enabling U.S. and Iranian delegates to meet in Pakistan. Beijing’s behind‑the‑scenes diplomacy, including vetoing a UN resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, positioned it as a potential guarantor of...
Bank of Korea Holds Rates Steady, Stressing Outlook Is Data Dependent
The Bank of Korea left its policy rate unchanged at 2.5% on April 10, citing persistent inflation and heightened geopolitical risk. Governor Rhee, set to retire on April 20, emphasized a data‑dependent approach and avoided any forward guidance on future...
Asia Week Ahead: China Releases Data on GDP, Trade, Retail Sales, Housing Prices
China will release a suite of economic data next week, including first‑quarter GDP, trade balances, retail sales, housing prices and industrial production. Analysts expect March exports to rise 8.8% YoY and imports 10.1%, creating a $108.2 bn trade surplus. Q1 GDP...
Gulf Ceasefire Builds Hopes for Lower Mortgage Rates
The ceasefire in the Gulf has lifted expectations that UK mortgage costs could ease. Capital Economics forecasts average rates for borrowers with 25% deposits falling from about 5% now to roughly 4.3% by January 2027, trimming monthly repayments by around £100...
ADB Ups India's FY26 Growth Projection to 6.9% on Strong Domestic Demand, Lower US Tariffs
The Asian Development Bank raised its forecast for India’s FY 26 GDP growth to 6.9%, citing resilient domestic demand and the recent easing of U.S. tariffs on Indian exports. The projection contrasts with the Reserve Bank of India’s more bullish 7.6%...
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Russian Diplomat: Moscow Will Not Abandon Cuba, Help with Energy
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told a Cuban press conference that Moscow will not abandon its strategic partnership with Cuba, pledging continued energy assistance beyond the recent delivery of 700,000 barrels of oil on the sanctioned tanker Anatoly Kolodkin. He...
India Inc Ramps up Exports as Iran Ceasefire Reopens Middle East Trade
India Inc is rapidly reactivating exports to the Middle East following a two‑week Iran ceasefire that reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Pharma, packaged‑food and electrical‑goods manufacturers report rising demand as regional inventories are restocked and reconstruction projects loom. Companies such...
Venezuela’s Treacherous Recovery
The United States has installed an interim caretaker government in Venezuela after removing President Maduro, opening the door to a potential economic rebound driven by oil, mining and diaspora capital. Restoring oil production could require more than $100 billion and a...
InvestingLive Asia-Pacific FX News Wrap: Doubts over Islamabad Talks This Weekend
Iranian state media rejected reports of a U.S. delegation in Islamabad, insisting talks will only resume after a Lebanon ceasefire. Japan’s finance minister Shunichi Katayama warned of possible FX intervention as oil‑driven volatility spikes, while the Bank of Japan flagged...
China Flashes Additional Signs of Reflation as Iran War Impact Emerges
China’s March CPI eased to 1.0% YoY, reflecting typical post‑Lunar price declines, while the PPI rebounded to 0.5% YoY – the first positive reading since September 2022. Energy‑related subcomponents, especially transportation fuel, surged sharply, with a 10% month‑on‑month jump, indicating...
Asian Economies Face ‘Formidable Test’ as Middle East Conflict Drags On: ADB
The Asian Development Bank warned that the ongoing US‑Israeli war with Iran will blunt Asia’s growth momentum, revising the region’s 2026 GDP expansion to 5.1% from 5.4% in 2025. If the conflict persists for a year, the bank estimates a...
Royal Navy Tracks Russian Warships for Ten Days in UK Waters
From 29 March to 7 April, the Royal Navy dispatched HMS Mersey, HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans to shadow a series of Russian warships transiting the English Channel and the North Sea. The British vessels tracked the Admiral Grigorovich frigate, the Aleksandr Shabalin tank landing...
EU Poised to Slash up to €1.5B in Funding to Serbia over Democracy Fears
European Commission is considering withholding up to €1.5 billion (about $1.6 billion) in conditional funding to Serbia over concerns about democratic backsliding, including recent judicial reforms and media repression. The decision hinges on whether Serbia complies with recommendations from the Council of...
US-Iran Ceasefire Deal Shows Strain Ahead of Talks with Oil Flows Squeezed
A fragile two‑week U.S.–Iran ceasefire is under pressure as Tehran is accused of keeping the Strait of Hormuz blocked, limiting oil flows to a single tanker and five bulk carriers in the first 24 hours. Israel’s intensified strikes on Lebanon,...
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto Could Visit Russia Soon, Kremlin Says
Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subianto is preparing a visit to Russia, where he is expected to meet Vladimir Putin and discuss potential oil purchases. The Kremlin confirmed talks are underway as Asian nations scramble for alternative energy amid a widening Middle‑East‑driven crisis....
New Bike Tech: Flaanimals, Bikepacking The Life Time Grand Prix, and More MAAP
PeopleForBikes secured a policy win as the Trump administration dropped bicycles, e‑bikes and frames from the 50% Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, ending a year‑and‑a‑half of tariff uncertainty. The advocacy group rallied manufacturers, retailers and riders, generating 1,300 public comments...
Morning Brief Podcast: For India’s Exporters, It’s One Battle After Another
The Morning Brief podcast highlighted how the ongoing Middle‑East crisis is straining India’s export sectors, from leather to textiles and gems & jewellery. Exporters reported rising input costs for leather, a noticeable dip in knitwear demand, and a sharp contraction...
What Will It Take to Get Ships Going Through the Strait of Hormuz Again?
President Trump’s cease‑fire announcement on April 8 sparked hopes that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but traffic remained minimal. Iran’s recent threats and attacks have slashed daily commercial transits from roughly 130 vessels to only a few, creating...
After Ceasefire, Iranian Attacks Cut Saudi Oil Production
Saudi officials confirmed that a series of Iranian drone and missile attacks in the past 48 hours severely damaged key oil and gas infrastructure. The East‑West pipeline’s throughput fell by about 700,000 barrels per day, while the Manifa and Khurais...
India Inflation Likely Rose to 3.4% in March 2026: Mint Poll
India’s consumer price index is projected to climb to 3.4% in March 2026, up from 3.2% in February, according to a Mint poll of 16 economists. The modest rise marks a 12‑month high, driven by higher fuel prices and a...
Financial Services Bear Maximum Brunt of Late-March FPI Selloff
Foreign portfolio investors dumped over ₹60,000 crore (≈ $7.2 billion) from Indian financial services in the second half of March, the steepest outflow since 2012. The sell‑off peaked at ₹28,824 crore (≈ $3.5 billion) from March 16‑31, contributing 43% of the ₹67,081 crore (≈ $8.1 billion) withdrawn across 21 sectors. Banking...
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Takes Steps to Open Financing Arm
Kyrgyzstan, set to chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2026, is pushing to launch an SCO Development Bank (SCODB) during its tenure. The bank concept was approved by all ten SCO members at the 2025 summit, with Chinese President Xi...
Standard Chartered: Oil Price Correction Is Likely Overdone
Standard Chartered warns that the recent oil‑price correction may be too deep, noting Brent crude at $95.57/bbl and WTI at $96.99/bbl after the steepest drop since the Iran war began. The bank’s Q2 forecast still targets Brent around $98 and...
Asia-Pacific Markets Set to Open Mixed as Renewed Tensions Test a Fragile Iran-U.S. Ceasefire
Asia‑Pacific markets opened mixed on Friday as renewed Middle‑East tensions tested a fragile two‑week Iran‑U.S. ceasefire. Tehran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks provided attacks stop, while Israel also signaled compliance. Oil prices rose, with WTI...
Trump Advisors Divided on How to Tariff Iran’s Allies
The Trump administration is weighing a 50% tariff on countries that supply weapons to Iran, invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett says the move is within the president’s emergency powers, while U.S....
Vietnam: Unlocking Global Cross-Border E-Commerce Potential
Vietnam’s cross‑border e‑commerce is emerging as a key export engine, with the domestic market reaching roughly $31 billion in 2025 and cross‑border turnover at $4.45 billion. The sector is driven by SMEs seeking lower logistics costs and direct access to global consumers,...
BC Softwood Under Siege as 45% Tariffs and Red Tape Squeeze Mills
British Columbia’s softwood sector faces a dual crisis: a 45% tariff imposed by the United States and a provincial regulatory regime that limits access to fibre, the industry’s primary cost driver. Council of Forest Industries (COFI) vice‑president Kurt Niquidet warned...
Miliband Slammed for Net Zero Sprint as High Costs Hamper Businesses
Labour energy minister Ed Miliband faces criticism for stalling two North Sea projects – the Shell‑run Jackdaw gas field and Equinor’s Rosebank oil‑gas development – as the UK grapples with soaring energy costs. Researchers at the Tony Blair Institute argue...
EU Trade Deal Set to Change India’s Wine Industry
The EU‑India trade agreement, signed in January, will cut tariffs on European wines from 150 percent to 75 percent initially and eventually to 20 percent, opening a market valued at $450 million in 2024 and projected to grow 14 percent by 2029. European vintners have...
Trump Says Iran 'Better Stop Now' If It's Charging Oil Tankers Fees to Go Through Strait of Hormuz
Former President Donald Trump warned Iran on Truth Social to stop charging fees for oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is reportedly planning to levy cryptocurrency payments for passage, a move that could tighten an already fragile cease‑fire...
Australia Details Feb Chickpea, Lentil Exports
Australia shipped 292,347 tonnes of chickpeas and 179,335 tonnes of lentils in February 2026, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Chickpea volumes matched February 2025 levels and were more than triple the 89,420 t sent in January 2026, with India taking 231,197 t. Lentil...
Gold Heads for Weekly Gain as Traders Weigh Iran Truce Prospects
Gold edged toward a third consecutive weekly gain on Friday, hovering around $4,765 an ounce. The metal is on track for roughly a 2% rise this week as central‑bank buying offsets lingering inflation worries. Traders are eyeing a U.S. delegation...
Ecuador Raises Tariffs on Colombia to 100% From 50%
Ecuador announced a steep increase in tariffs on Colombian imports, raising the rate to 100% from the previous 50% effective May 1. The move follows Quito’s claim that Bogotá has failed to implement effective border security against drug trafficking. Colombia rejected...
Trump Says Iran Should Not Charge Fees to Tankers Going Through Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump warned Iran on April 9 that any fees imposed on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz must stop immediately. Iran has hinted at collecting tolls in cryptocurrency despite a fragile two‑week ceasefire announced on April 7. Ship...
Europe’s Gas Market Faces a Brutal Storage Refill Season
Europe’s gas market has cooled from March’s three‑year highs, but analysts warn the relief is fleeting. Storage levels sit at just 29% of capacity, well below the 35% benchmark from a year ago, leaving the continent exposed as it races...
Middle East Crisis Is Pushing China to Deepen Latin America Ties
Amid the Iran‑Israel conflict, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have highlighted China's vulnerability to concentrated energy supplies. Beijing is turning to Latin America for food, copper, lithium and other strategic commodities to diversify its import base. The United States'...
Keir Starmer: 'I'm Fed Up' With Trump and Putin Affecting UK Energy Costs
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV’s Talking Politics podcast he is "fed up" with UK energy bills swinging wildly because of actions by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He linked the volatility to recent oil‑price spikes...
The World’s 500 Richest People Made More than a Quarter Trillion Yesterday as Volatile Markets React to Fragile Iran War...
Wall Street rallied after President Trump withdrew his dire Iran warning, propelling the Dow up 2.85% and the S&P 500 2.51%. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index recorded a $265 billion one‑day gain for the world’s 500 richest, the second‑largest since 2012. Meta CEO...
Can the Middle East Ceasefire Hold?
A fragile 14‑day cease‑fire in the Iran‑Israel conflict is under strain as Israel continues air strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, rejecting Tehran’s claim that the truce covers the north. Pakistan is set to host the first round of negotiations in...
Iran Attacks on Crucial Saudi Pipeline and Production Facilities Slash Kingdom's Oil Output
Iran attacked Saudi Arabia's strategic East‑West pipeline, knocking out about 700,000 barrels per day of capacity, and simultaneously struck the Manifa and Khurais production complexes, trimming Saudi output by roughly 600,000 barrels per day. The pipeline, which routes crude to...
How an Ancient Resin Traded for Centuries Got Snarled up by the Iran War
Frankincense, a 6,000‑year‑old aromatic resin harvested from Boswellia trees across the Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa, is now caught in the fallout of the U.S.–Iran conflict. The war has heightened the risk of closing the Strait of Hormuz, prompting...
Asian Stocks Shy of Full Recovery Amid Fragile Iran Ceasefire
A tentative cease‑fire between the United States and Iran lifted some pressure on Asian equity markets on Wednesday. However, the rally was limited as Israel’s large‑scale strikes on Lebanon, which Tehran says breach the truce, kept regional tensions high. Major...
Oil Pares Gains to Close up 1% as Israel Plans Peace Talks with Lebanon
Oil prices closed up about 1% on Thursday, with Brent at $95.92 and WTI at $97.87, but both remained below the $100 barrier for a second day. The market initially spiked over 5% on doubts about the durability of the...
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Markets News, April 9, 2026: U.S. Indexes End Higher, Oil Pares Gains on Iran Ceasefire Optimism; Dow Turns Positive for...
U.S. equity markets rallied on Thursday, with the Nasdaq up 0.8%, the S&P 500 up 0.6% and the Dow Jones gaining 0.6% and moving back into positive territory for the year. The bounce followed President Donald Trump’s announcement of a two‑week...