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 than 10 basis points. The rally reflects markets scaling back expectations for further rate hikes this year. Brent crude slid to $98.65 a barrel, reinforcing the deflationary bias.
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...
Stronger Baht Hurts Travel
Thailand’s baht hovering between 30 and 32 per U.S. dollar threatens tourism competitiveness, with a worst‑case scenario of a stronger baht (>30/USD) potentially eroding 15‑17% of revenue. The Thai Hotels Association projects Songkran holiday bookings to fall 5‑10% year‑on‑year as...
How Ireland Became Dependent on Big Pharma — and the Risks Ahead
Over the past five decades Ireland has transformed into the world’s third‑largest pharmaceutical exporter, with drug manufacturing now contributing roughly 20 % of its GDP. The sector’s rapid growth was driven by generous tax incentives, a skilled workforce and proximity to...
Japan's February Jobless Rate Falls to 2.6%; 1st Improvement in 7 Months
Japan's unemployment rate fell to 2.6% in February, marking the first decline in seven months. Employment rose modestly to 68.27 million while the pool of job seekers shrank to 530,000. Layoffs dropped 4.4% and voluntary quits fell 7.3%, indicating a modest...
Iran War Threatens Trump Dream of Lower Interest Rates
The Iran‑Russia war has reignited a supply‑side shock, pushing 10‑year Treasury yields up about 35 basis points to roughly 4.30%, the steepest monthly decline since President Trump returned to the White House. The closure of the Hormuz Strait, which carries...
Trump-Xi Summit: US Trade Chief Casts Doubt on Pre-Meeting Beijing Visit
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Bloomberg that cabinet members will not travel to Beijing ahead of the anticipated mid‑May Trump‑Xi summit, diverging from the usual pre‑summit diplomatic routine. The comment follows a White House statement suggesting cabinet‑level engagements would...
China, the Philippines, and the Real Lesson of Second Thomas Shoal
Philippines and China signed the July 2024 Provisional Understanding on Second Thomas Shoal after a June 2024 violent boarding that exposed Beijing’s coercive tactics. Despite extensive transparency campaigns and diplomatic talks, Chinese water‑cannon and boarding actions escalated, prompting Manila to demonstrate national...
US Removes Sanctions on Three Russian Vessels, Says Move Not Policy Shift
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control removed three Russian‑flagged vessels—container ships Fesco Moneron and Fesco Magadan and cargo ship Sv Nikolay—from its Specially Designated Nationals list. The ships, sanctioned in 2022 for ties to state‑linked banks, were delisted...
Northeast US Diesel Exports Surge to Europe
New York Harbor briefly became a net diesel exporter as traders shifted ultra‑low sulfur diesel (ULSD) shipments to Europe. A sharp rise in northwest European jet fuel prices created a price arbitrage window, flipping the usual discount relationship between European...
Will Conflict in the Middle East Boost China’s Renewable Energy Sector?
The Iran‑Israel‑U.S. war has driven Brent crude to its highest level since 2022, rattling global markets. Despite a 5% quarterly dip in the Hang Seng, China’s large strategic crude reserves and aggressive renewable‑energy rollout keep its growth outlook intact. Renewable‑energy...
Bitcoin, Stocks Rally because of Chatter that Iran Is Ready to ‘End the War’ as Dollar Index Sinks Below 100
Bitcoin surged past $68,000 on March 31, spurred by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s remarks that Tehran could end the Iran‑US‑Israel conflict under certain conditions. The broader cryptocurrency market gained roughly $40 billion, with Ethereum climbing to about $2,100. Simultaneously, U.S. equities...
Gold Surges As Reports Indicate Trump Plans To End The Gulf War
Gold surged 2.6% on Tuesday, pushing COMEX June futures to $4,676.40 an ounce, while silver jumped 6.3% to $75.30. The rally followed Wall Street Journal reports that President Donald Trump is considering a diplomatic path to end the Gulf conflict...
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Understanding the IS-LM Model: Curves, Characteristics, and Limitations
The IS‑LM model, introduced by John Hicks in 1937, visualizes the interaction between the goods market and the money market by linking output and interest rates. The downward‑sloping IS curve reflects equilibrium where investment equals savings, while the upward‑sloping LM...
Could Turkey Help Mediate an End to the Iran War?
Amid the escalating Iran‑Israel conflict, Turkey is actively promoting itself as a regional stabilizer and potential mediator. Ankara has hosted Iranian officials, engaged Gulf states, and highlighted its ability to talk to all parties, while the EU Commission and the...
Warren Buffett Says Iran Bomb Would Make Nuclear Disaster Harder to Avoid
Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett warned that the rise to nine nuclear‑armed states is reshaping global risk. He singled out Iran and North Korea, saying a bomb in Iran would make a nuclear disaster harder to avoid. Buffett predicted that...
Govt Unveils New Rules to Boost Ecommerce Exports
India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has rolled out sweeping reforms to boost e‑commerce exports, effective April 1. The long‑standing Rs 10 lakh (≈ $12,000) value cap per courier consignment has been eliminated, allowing higher‑value shipments to move directly via courier....
Large US Agricultural Delegation to Explore Philippines Prospects
The United States is sending a record agricultural delegation of 58 firms and industry groups to the Philippines from April 13‑16, aiming to convert the 2024 Trump‑era trade agreement into real export growth. The Philippines, the 10th‑largest market for U.S....
Philippines External Position Improves as Net Liability Narrows in 2025
The Philippines narrowed its net external liability to $50.8 billion, or 10.4% of GDP, by the end of 2025, improving from $52.1 billion three months earlier. External assets grew 1% quarter‑on‑quarter, outpacing a 0.4% rise in liabilities, driven by higher reserve assets...
We Never Learn
The article reflects on the Israel‑U.S.‑led war in the Middle East and its ripple effects on the global economy, especially energy markets. It argues that the conflict’s resource‑driven motives are exposing a worldwide vulnerability to oil price shocks. The author...
Salalah Disruptions Send Carriers on Indian Trades Back to Adding Pakistan Calls
Operations at Oman’s Salalah port were suspended after a drone strike on Saturday, forcing a gradual restart this week. The disruption compounds existing schedule pressures from the broader Middle East crisis, prompting major carriers such as Maersk and Hapag‑Lloyd to...
India's First Iranian Oil Cargo Since 2019 Headed to Gujarat Coast
India is set to receive its first Iranian crude cargo since 2019, with the Aframax tanker Ping Shun carrying about 600,000 barrels to Vadinar, Gujarat. The shipment follows a U.S. 30‑day waiver allowing Iranian oil sales on the water amid the...
Ethiopia Holds Key Rate for Sixth Time as Oil Shock Rekindles Inflation Fears
The National Bank of Ethiopia kept its benchmark lending rate at 15 percent for a sixth consecutive meeting, maintaining a tight monetary stance as global oil prices surged to about $105 per barrel. The central bank cited inflation containment despite a...
A Year Into Tariffs, US Businesses See Declining Sales, Plan Price Increases: KPMG Survey
A year after the Trump administration’s tariff wave, KPMG’s February 2026 survey shows U.S. firms facing shrinking margins, higher operational costs and a growing tendency to shift tariff burdens onto customers. Thirty‑four percent of companies now pass more than half of...
A Year Into Tariffs, US Businesses See Declining Sales, Plan Price Increases: KPMG Survey
A year after the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs, U.S. firms report falling margins and higher operational costs, prompting many to shift tariff burdens onto consumers. The KPMG survey shows 34% of companies now pass more than half of tariff costs...
EU Legislators Visit China to Ease Strained Relations
EU legislators visited China for the first time in eight years, aiming to steady relations strained by trade imbalances, human‑rights disputes and Beijing's ties to Russia. The delegation, responsible for market and consumer protection, will discuss digital trade, e‑commerce fairness...
Warren Buffett Warns He’s Watching Stability of Banking System
Warren Buffett warned that the banking system is showing signs of fragility as it becomes more intertwined with non‑bank players, urging the Federal Reserve to prioritize financial stability. He highlighted the risk that distress at one institution could quickly spread...
Christopher Kent: Reassessing Australian Financial Conditions
In his KangaNews address, Christopher Kent explained how the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Monetary Policy Board evaluates financial conditions every six weeks to set the cash rate. He defined financial conditions as the cost and availability of credit, exchange rates...
Japan and South Korea’s Energy Hedge
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a systemic shock to global energy flows, prompting Japan and South Korea to deepen bilateral cooperation on LNG security. Both nations’ top energy firms, KOGAS and JERA, signed an MOU enabling...