Applications Open for £100k NatWest Accelerator Pitch
NatWest has opened applications for its UK‑wide Accelerator Pitch, offering a £100,000 prize pool (≈$125,000) at each live final, starting with the Oxford event on 18 June. The competition combines cash awards—£70,000 for the winner, £20,000 for second place, £10,000 for third (≈$87,500, $25,000, $12,500)—with coaching, peer support, and investor access to help early‑stage founders become investment‑ready. Since its 2025 launch, the Pitch has awarded nearly £300,000 (≈$375,000) across three events, with past finalists like POTINA and Orli reporting accelerated product development and new partnerships. Applications close 5 May and require a 60‑second video pitch submitted via the NatWest Accelerator app.
Alphamin Says Tin Price Sustainable as Stars Align
Alphamin, a DRC‑based tin miner listed on the JSE and TSX, is on track to post a record quarter with earnings of about $158 million, thanks to tin prices climbing from $30,000 to a peak near $60,000 per tonne and now...
Bullish Narrative Around India’s Economy at Odds with Struggling Rupee
The Indian rupee has risen about 1.5% since March 27, making it Asia’s top performer, but the rebound masks deeper strains from an Iran‑war‑driven energy shock that is widening the current‑account deficit and stoking inflation. The Reserve Bank of India responded...
Iran War: Six Weeks in, How Have Food Prices Changed?
Food prices have risen since the Iran war began, but seasonal planting has limited the immediate impact. Vegetable oils, especially soybean oil, surged to two‑year highs as they act as crude oil substitutes in biofuel production. Grains and oilseeds have...
Barry Callebaut Profits up 66% but Sales Slump Continues
Barry Callebaut posted a 66 % jump in net profit to CHF 801.8 million (about $882 million) for H1 2025/26, buoyed by lower tax and interest costs. Operating profit slipped 4 % as volume declines, supply disruptions and over‑capacity weighed on performance. Sales volumes remained down...
IMF, Global Investors See Indonesia as Bright Spot, BI Says
The International Monetary Fund and global investors have singled out Indonesia as a bright spot in the world economy, citing its resilient macro‑economic fundamentals. Bank Indonesia highlighted that the country has kept its fiscal deficit below 3% of GDP through...
Tesco Beats Profit Target but Warns of Middle East Impact
Tesco reported adjusted operating profit of £3.15 billion (≈$4.0 billion) for the year to 28 Feb, surpassing the £2.9‑£3.1 billion forecast, while revenue rose 5.4% to £73.7 billion (≈$93.6 billion). Like‑for‑like sales in the UK and Ireland grew 4.2%, driven by fresh‑food strength and a 5.2%...
New FREE Webinar: How Can Your Business Implement a Credible Carbon Credit Strategy?
edie, in partnership with Anew Climate, is hosting a free 45‑minute webinar on May 7, 2026, to guide businesses on building a credible carbon‑credit strategy. The session will cover integrating credits into broader decarbonisation plans, establishing governance and transparency, and selecting high‑integrity...
LondonMetric Reports 16% Rise in Rental Income to over £450m
LondonMetric announced a 16% jump in rental income, now exceeding £450 million (about $576 million). The portfolio’s occupancy stayed robust at 98%, underscoring sustained tenant demand. Long‑term lease structures underpin the income surge, enhancing cash‑flow visibility. The results position the REIT ahead...
Dimitar Radev: Economic Prospects in an Uncertain Global Environment
Bulgarian National Bank Governor Dimitar Radev warned that the war‑driven energy shock is shifting Bulgaria’s outlook from modest growth and low inflation to a baseline of about 3 % GDP growth and 3.7 % inflation in 2026. While 2025 saw 3.2 % growth...
China's Economy Grows Faster than Expected Despite Iran War
China’s first‑quarter GDP rose 5% year‑on‑year, outpacing the 4.8% consensus and meeting the upper bound of its newly‑set 4.5‑5% growth target. The rebound was anchored by a manufacturing surge, while property investment stayed depressed. Export growth decelerated sharply to 2.5%...
Japan Remains Most Trusted Power in Southeast Asia Despite Military Build-Up: Survey
A Singapore‑based ISEAS‑Yusof Ishak Institute survey shows 65.6% of Southeast Asian respondents still view Japan as the region’s most trusted power, despite a modest dip from last year. Tokyo is pushing a one‑year timeline to amend its pacifist constitution, formally...
How Much Should You Pay for a Plot of Land? This Is How to Value a Self Build Site
Buying a self‑build plot in the UK is often driven by scarcity and competition, leading many buyers to wonder if they are overpaying. The article explains that the most reliable method to price a site is a residual valuation, which...
China Trims US Treasury Holdings Amid Rising Debt Supply as Global Ownership Hits Record
China’s central bank modestly reduced its U.S. Treasury holdings in February, continuing a multi‑year trend of diversifying its foreign‑exchange reserves. The cut came even as total foreign ownership of U.S. sovereign debt reached an all‑time high, buoyed by private investors...
Aussie Leads as Risk Optimism Builds, Strong Jobs Push AUD/USD Toward 0.72 Break
The Australian dollar surged toward the 0.72 resistance as global risk appetite improved, buoyed by easing US‑Iran tensions and strong domestic employment data. AUD/USD hit its highest level since late 2022, reflecting both dollar weakness and heightened confidence in the commodity‑linked...
Citi and Endowus Expand Partnership with Credit Card Offering
Citi Hong Kong and digital wealth platform Endowus have launched a joint credit‑card promotion, offering eligible Endowus clients a HK$4,000 (≈ $512) cash reward when they obtain a new Citi Prestige Card. The initiative builds on Citi Ventures’ 2023 investment in...
Strait of Hormuz Disruption and Global Supply Implications>
In Q1 2026 the U.S.–Iran conflict shut the Strait of Hormuz, cutting roughly 40% of global nitrogen trade and 20% of LNG supply. The chokepoint closure drove Brent crude from about $61 to a peak above $117 per barrel before diplomatic...
China’s G.D.P. Stronger Than Expected, Led by Infrastructure Spending
China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported that GDP expanded 1.3% quarter‑over‑quarter in Q1 2026, implying an annualized growth rate of about 5.3%, slightly above the 4.8% consensus. The modest gain was driven by an 8.9% year‑over‑year jump in infrastructure spending,...
UAE Ministry of Investment Visits China Merchants Capital to Deepen Strategic Investment Cooperation
On April 14, a delegation from the UAE Ministry of Investment met with China Merchants Capital (CMC) to deepen strategic investment cooperation between the two nations. CMC, a leading alternative‑investment platform of China Merchants Group, highlighted its focus on intelligent technology,...
Where Does Transition Finance Need to Go From Here?
Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s Navindra Katugampola appeared on The Responsible Investor Podcast to dissect the state of transition finance. He highlighted the sector’s growing importance as companies seek capital to shift toward low‑carbon business models. The discussion pinpointed persistent challenges...
Personality of the Year: Marjan Divjak
Marjan Divjak spearheaded Slovenia’s first sustainability‑linked sovereign bond, a pioneering move that ties borrowing costs to environmental performance. The €500 million issuance, launched in 2024, links coupon adjustments to verified climate‑reduction targets. Divjak oversaw the bond’s structuring, pricing, and post‑issuance reporting,...
Audrey AI Secures $1.8M to Develop AI Platform for Financial Auditors
Audrey AI, a Dublin‑based startup, closed a $1.8 million pre‑seed round led by Sure Valley Ventures and Delta Partners. The company is building an agentic AI platform that automates data requests, evidence gathering, transaction testing and review for financial auditors. Pilot...
Buy-to-Let Lending Rose in Q4 2025 Amid Remortgaging Growth
Buy‑to‑let mortgage lending in the UK jumped 18.2% in number and 21.3% in value in Q4 2025, with 59,489 new loans totalling £11.2 bn (≈$14.2 bn). The surge was almost entirely driven by landlords refinancing existing debt, while fresh purchase financing remained flat....
Property Market Stabilises but Affordability and Uncertainty Slow Activity
The UK property market showed modest stabilization in Q1 2026, with buyer‑friendly conditions but muted transaction momentum. Listing volumes rose 3% year‑on‑year, led by a 6% jump in January, while sold‑subject‑to‑contract activity stayed 8% below a year earlier. Mortgage valuation activity...
Thursday Briefing: What It Will Take for Britain to Break up with Natural Gas
Britain’s economy remains tightly linked to natural‑gas prices, a relationship that exploded into a cost‑of‑living crisis after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A new geopolitical flashpoint – the US‑Israel strike on Iran – threatens to push gas prices higher,...
Major Housebuilder Cuts Land Buying Plans Amid Global Uncertainty
Barratt Redrow, one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders, announced it will approve only 7,000‑9,000 land plots this year, down from its earlier 10,000‑12,000 target. The cut reduces projected land spending to £700‑£800 m (about $875‑$1 bn), a modest decline from the prior £800‑£900 m...
WEBINAR: UAE Projects Market 2026
The upcoming MEED webinar on 28 April 2026 will dissect the UAE’s projects market, reviewing 2025 performance and the value of work awarded year‑to‑date in 2026. Organisers will assess how the Iran conflict is reshaping supply chains, material costs, and war‑risk premiums...
PIF Backs Neom
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has officially added Neom to its six strategic ecosystems in the newly approved 2026‑2030 plan, reaffirming support for the $500 bn megaproject after a series of setbacks. The project’s outlook had dimmed following the postponement...
Fuel Rollback: Diesel May Drop ₱20, Gasoline ₱3 Next Week
Fuel prices in the Philippines are set to retreat next week as easing Middle‑East tensions push global benchmarks lower. Industry data based on the Platts Singapore mean projects diesel to drop ₱18‑20 per liter (about $0.36) and gasoline to fall...
Cohoma Coffee Raises Rs 5 Cr Seed Round Led by IPV
Cohoma Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and machine maker founded by Kanika and Paritosh Birla, closed a Rs 5 crore (approximately $0.53 million) seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures with participation from Swishin VC. The funding will be deployed to expand its...
Jensen Huang Explains Why Nvidia Invests in Tons of Companies, Instead of Trying to Pick Winners
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang explained on the "Dwarkesh" podcast that the chipmaker prefers to fund a broad array of emerging tech firms rather than try to pick a few winners. He cites the company's own humble origins—once one of 60...
Private Rents in Great Britain Stop Rising for First Time Since 2017
Private rents in Great Britain have stalled for the first time since 2017, with the typical advertised rent outside London holding steady at £1,370 (about $1,740) per month in Q1 2026. The market shows 26% of listings cutting prices—the highest...
YC-Backed Openlaw Closes $3.3M Seed to Digitise Europe's Notary Nightmare
Openlaw, a YC‑backed legal‑tech startup, closed a $3.3 million seed round led by Y Ventures, Moonfire Ventures and a slate of angels. Its German platform beglaubigt.de digitises company formation, shrinking the typical eight‑week GmbH setup to as little as three days...
What Does the Geelong Refinery Fire Reveal About Australia’s Fuel Supplies?
Late Wednesday a fire broke out at Viva Energy's Geelong refinery in Corio, believed to be caused by equipment failure. The plant, which can process up to 120,000 barrels per day and supplies more than half of Victoria’s fuel and...
4 Alternative Investments for Accredited Investors
Accredited investors—those meeting SEC income or net‑worth thresholds—can tap into alternative assets such as private equity, venture capital, private credit, real estate, and hedge funds. These options promise higher return potential and portfolio diversification but often involve illiquidity, higher fees,...
How to Save for a Car: Savings Plan and Example
Buying a car requires a disciplined savings plan that accounts for the full cost of ownership, not just the sticker price. Experts recommend keeping total transportation expenses—including loan, insurance, fuel and maintenance—under 15‑20% of take‑home pay and setting a concrete,...
Russia Had to Spend an Extra $130 Billion to Buy Goods While Sanctioned, Analysts From NATO's Frontline Say
Latvia’s Constitution Protection Bureau estimates Russia has spent an extra $130 billion on alternative imports of Western goods between 2022 and 2025, equivalent to an annual $32.5 billion loss. The report adds that Russian export volumes in key commodities such as iron...
Lightning Minerals Pivots to Gold-Led Strategy with Mt Turner Project
Lightning Minerals (ASX:L1M) is resetting its strategy to become a gold‑focused explorer, naming the wholly owned Mt Turner Project its flagship asset. Initial drilling returned 100% hit rates, highlighted by a 20.4‑metre interval at 2.4 g/t Au and a 1.9‑metre core...
The 1% Rule of Real Estate Investing
The 1 % rule is a quick screening metric that requires a rental property's gross monthly rent to equal at least 1 % of its all‑in purchase price, including repair costs. Originating in an era of high mortgage rates, it helps investors...
Foreclosures 'Could Signal Shifting Housing Market Dynamics'
Foreclosure filings rose to 118,727 in the first quarter, up 6 % from the prior quarter and 26 % year‑over‑year, according to Attom data. The increase is driven mainly by a rise in foreclosure starts, which are edging toward the 100,000 threshold....
A Strategic Playbook for Opportunity Zones 2.0
Opportunity Zones (OZ) have been made permanent and will roll out new regulations in 2026. Starting July 1, states and U.S. territories have a 90‑day window to nominate up to 25% of eligible tracts for the next decade’s Qualified Opportunity Zones...
Iran War: What Does Tehran Want and Will It Get It?
In a televised discussion, Gideon Rachman and Brookings scholar Suzanne Maloney explore Tehran’s objectives in the ongoing Iran‑U.S. confrontation and the prospects for a negotiated settlement. They argue that Iran’s primary aim is to lift crippling sanctions, secure regional leverage, and...
Fashion Briefing: Gold Prices Are Skyrocketing, Squeezing the Jewelry Industry’s Margins in Uncomfortable Ways
Gold prices have surged dramatically, with futures topping $5,500 in January and analysts now projecting levels near $6,000 by year‑end. The rally is fueled by persistent inflation and heightened Middle East tensions, which have reinforced gold’s safe‑haven appeal. This price...
Hopes Grow for a Breakthrough in US-Iran Talks as Pakistan Mediates
Pakistani officials, led by Army Chief Asim Munir, delivered a fresh U.S. proposal to Tehran on 15 April, hoping for a major breakthrough in nuclear negotiations. The talks focus on narrowing the gap between a five‑year and a twenty‑year enrichment freeze...
Allbirds Is Ditching Years of Clean and Green Street Cred
Allbirds announced a strategic pivot from sustainable footwear to AI compute infrastructure, rebranding as NewBird AI and planning to purchase GPUs for a GPU‑as‑a‑service model. The SEC filing proposes stripping the company of its environmental charter and public‑benefit corporation status,...
How The Apple (AAPL) Investment Story Is Shifting On AI, China And Valuation Concerns
Apple’s fair‑value estimate nudged up to $296.46 per share, a modest rise that keeps the stock near analysts’ target range. Bullish analysts point to the upcoming MacBook Neo, refreshed Macs and expanding AI‑driven services as fresh earnings catalysts. Bearish voices...
Oil Prices Trade Subdued Amid Fragile Ceasefire, Peace Deal Hopes
Oil prices edged lower on Thursday as Brent slipped to $94.68 and WTI to $90.96, reflecting a modest 0.26% and 0.36% decline respectively. Market sentiment was tempered by optimism over a cease‑fire expected to hold through 21 April and renewed Iran‑US...
ICYMI - Reports that Iran Proposes Partial Hormuz Reopening for Ships via Oman Waters
Iran has signaled a willingness to let commercial vessels transit the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without attack, linking the offer to progress in US‑Iran negotiations. The proposal marks a shift from earlier hardline ideas such as transit...
Pakistan’s “Managed Failure”: What the U.S.-Iran Stalemate Means for India’s Oil Supplies & Inflation? OPED
Senior US and Iranian officials met in Islamabad for a 21‑hour dialogue that ended without a formal deal, underscoring a deliberate "managed failure" aimed at containing escalation. The venue choice, the absence of Israel, and divergent US‑Iran agendas highlighted the...
Nike (NKE) Stock Is Up, What You Need To Know
Nike’s shares jumped 3.8% to $45.67 after CEO Elliott Hill bought roughly $1 million of stock and board member Tim Cook added $3 million. The insider purchases signal confidence that the stock is undervalued following a year of flat revenue and slipping...