8,201 events tracked
economic · economic
The cost of hedging against swings in the dollar has fallen to its lowest level this year, signaling that traders see little chance of a major catalyst disrupting the world’s reserve currency despite an uncertain Federal Reserve outlook and resurgent conflict in the Middle East.
economic · economic
Russia will begin importing diesel after Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries triggered a shortage estimated at nearly 40%, prompting filling stations to impose purchase limits and farmers to report supply shortages.
economic · economic
The Runner by Scarlett Thomas; The Madman by Henning Mankell; Everything She Didn’t Say by Jane Casey; The Spy and the Snake by MJ Robotham; Murder at the End of the World by Akane Araki The Runner by Scarlett Thomas (Scribner, £16.99) Part thriller, part romantic suspense, Thomas’s latest novel begins in Cyprus, where 34-year-old Jay is literally on the run from someone who wants to kill him. Jay (not his real name) is well used to evading hitmen: the attempts on his life began at university, when a Japanese man arrived at his flat with a samurai sword. People have been trying to murder him ever since, the contract on his life traded like a commodity, in bitcoin. Now his only apparent ally is the mysterious Ellie, although – given his track record – it’s quite possible that she’s trying to off him, too. Just before the reader’s sense of intrigue turns to irritated bafflement, the action rewinds to Jay’s childhood in Kent, and the reasons slowly become clear in this quirky, exciting tale that takes in exorcism, dictators, high finance, con artists and marathons along the way. The Madman by Henning Mankell, translated by George Goulding and Sarah de Senarclens ( Mountain Leopard , £25) Written in the 1970s and published in English for the first time, The Madman is set in a Swedish town in the late 1940s. The country’s wartime neutrality-on-paper continues to divide: the town’s pro-Nazis want the past forgotten, but the communist sympathisers, bitter about having been interned, want a reckoning. When a letter to this effect appears in the local paper, those accused, including the director of the town’s sawmill, claim that newcomer Bertil Kras has been stirring resentment for political ends. When the sawmill burns down, Kras is blamed for that, too, and the disintegration of the life he has tried to make provokes an existential crisis. An older Mankell might have been more concise, but the slow build towards inevitable disaster makes for true emotional depth, and the theme of othering, isolating and penalising people for their opinions remain horribly topical. Continue reading...
economic · economic
Wheat extended a decline as traders took profits, against a backdrop of Black Sea supply risks and weak US export demand.
economic · economic
South Korean food exporters are no longer treating Vietnam as just another market for kimchi, instant noodles and premium fruit. As Southeast Asia emerges as one of South Korea’s most important trading regions, Seoul is positioning Vietnam as a logistics and distribution base for a wider push to turn the popularity of Korean culture into sustained demand for Korean food across the region. But analysts said the strategy would depend on more than Hallyu-driven curiosity, with exporters needing to...
economic · economic
Base metals retreated on Friday as traders weighed the likelihood of higher interest rates and their negative impact on demand.
economic · economic
Gold prices saw a rebound on Friday, yet are set for a significant weekly loss. Renewed clashes between the United States and Iran have lifted oil prices considerably. This escalation has stoked inflation concerns and strengthened expectations for higher interest rates. Fed officials are signaling openness to rate hikes amid persistent inflation. Economic data shows a slight increase in U.S. retail sales and falling unemployment claims.
economic · economic
Asian stocks declined as chipmakers pulled down Wall Street amid valuation concerns. Oil prices climbed higher this week due to escalating Middle East hostilities. Investors are questioning the sustainability of massive artificial intelligence investments and tech valuations. Heightened geopolitical tensions fueled inflation worries and potential interest rate hikes. Consumers continue spending and the labor market shows resilience despite economic challenges.
economic · economic
Gold was on track for the biggest weekly loss since early June as renewed hostilities in the Middle East raised the odds that the US Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates to contain inflation.
economic · economic
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan called for higher interest rates, saying inflation does not appear to be heading sustainably back to the central bank’s 2% target.
economic · economic
Brazil is starting to feel the impact of China’s beef import quota, with lower shipments to the country’s largest overseas market reverberating across the entire supply chain.
economic · economic
Beef, coffee, and rare-earth materials escaped US tariffs amid trade tensions with Brazil over alleged unfair practices.
economic · economic
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement has officially come into force. Zero-duty consignments of Indian jewellery and coffee have now landed in the United Kingdom. This landmark pact is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade between the two nations. Businesses anticipate substantial growth and increased market competitiveness following the agreement. The pact aims to strengthen supply chains and support job creation across both countries.
economic · economic
The bullish tone in the US bond market following two benign inflation reports has traders of interest-rate options scrambling to exit positions bought in anticipation of at least one increase by the Federal Reserve this year.
economic · economic
Holders of Senegal’s dollar bonds could end up recouping less than 50% of the face value of the securities in the event of a restructuring — below the prices at which the debt currently trades, according to Citigroup Inc.
economic · economic
Since being sworn in as US Federal Reserve chairman on May 22, Kevin Warsh has struck a distinctly hawkish tone. At his first press conference at the helm of the world’s most important central bank on June 17, Warsh made a solemn vow to curb inflation. He said members of the Fed’s interest rate-setting committee were “unambiguous and unanimous. This committee will deliver price stability”. Bond investors who questioned Warsh’s inflation-fighting credibility – given that he built his candidacy...
economic · economic
The United States will slap 25 percent tariffs on some Brazilian goods starting July 22 following a yearlong investigation under the Trade Act of 1974. The probe concluded that Brazil engaged in unfair trade practices. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the move, saying it was politically motivated to favour his rival for upcoming elections, Flavio Bolsonaro. Also in this edition, we look at the Japanese firm trying to bring back 1980's style corporate culture.
economic · economic
The US will impose a 25% tariff on most imports from Brazil starting later this month. It's the first action in the Trump administration's new tariff strategy, after the Supreme Court struck down its prior impositions.
economic · economic
China will adjust its export controls on helium in response to changes in domestic and global supply conditions, after temporarily suspending overseas shipments of the gas last week amid a tightening global supply situation. The Ministry of Commerce said the temporary export ban was in line with the country’s foreign trade laws and World Trade Organization rules. “China is a major importer of helium,” ministry spokesman He Yadong said, adding that the temporary ban was to “safeguard domestic...
economic · economic
The US will begin charging 25 per cent tariff on imports of certain goods from Brazil following an investigation alleging that the country engaged in unfair trade practices. The year-long inquiry “found a number of Brazil’s practices to be unreasonable and discriminatory, restricting the competitive position of American farmers, workers, innovators, and exporters,” the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a social media post late on Wednesday night. Imports of coffee, beef, and certain...
economic · economic
Africa’s exports to China have surged since Beijing expanded its zero-tariff policy across the continent in May, as customs data showed signs of emerging trade links in a range of new sectors alongside traditional categories such as critical minerals. China’s imports from Africa soared by 21.1 per cent and 40.2 per cent year on year in May and June, respectively – outpacing the overall growth in Chinese imports over the same period, customs data showed. The increase was partly driven by China’s...
economic · economic
Weak demand domestically and the impact of the Iran war on oil prices overshadowed the country's strong exports.
economic · economic
Gold prices saw a slight increase on Wednesday as inflation data eased rate hike worries. Renewed Middle East conflict and rising oil prices, however, limited gains for the precious metal. Traders now anticipate a lower probability of a U.S. interest rate increase this year. Investors await China's economic data, which could impact gold demand from the nation.
economic · economic
economic · economic
Asian shares advanced as softer US inflation data eased rate hike concerns. The artificial intelligence trade gained renewed strength, boosting technology stocks significantly. Oil prices rose for a third consecutive day due to escalating Middle East tensions. Investors are closely watching the semiconductor sector after a volatile trading session. Fed officials reiterated their commitment to controlling inflation despite recent positive data.
economic · economic
Middle East tensions have pushed oil prices above eighty-five dollars a barrel. Indian equities declined moderately after recent geopolitical developments. Investors are betting on Donald Trump's tendency to de-escalate conflicts. This resilience suggests markets are accustomed to regional geopolitical tensions. Higher oil prices are negative for India, but investors expect rewards.
economic · economic
Central bank governor Sanjay Malhotra met bank chief executives on Tuesday. Geopolitical complexities and artificial intelligence were key discussion points. New expected credit loss guidelines also featured in the important talks. Some banks shared their FCNR(B) scheme inflow estimates with the governor. Oil prices have spiked over nine percent after recent military actions.
economic · economic
Some Gulf states signal they aren't opposed to paying fees in Hormuz, sources say Submitted by Sean Mathews on Tue, 07/14/2026 - 21:07 Gulf states are more wary of Iranian control in Hormuz than financial payments, as Trump ups his demand for investments Ships are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the Sharjah emirate, along the Gulf of Oman, on 14 July 2026 (AFP) Off Some Arab Gulf States have suggested to the US and European countries that they are not opposed to paying a fee in the Strait of Hormuz, but reject Iranian control of the waterway, multiple US and regional officials have told Middle East Eye. The difference between the two positions is a nuanced one, officials briefed on the matter told MEE, but it is important as fighting flares between the US and Iran again. US President Donald Trump is also signalling he expects economic compensation for the US providing security in the waterway. “For some Gulf states, a toll doesn’t really matter. Financially, it is negligible to their bottom line. They want stability,” one US official told MEE. “What the Gulf doesn’t want is Iran to have veto power over who can exit and enter the strait. They don’t want Iran to be able to flip a switch. The toll or payment is insignificant,” a separate official in the region told MEE. The signals Gulf states have quietly sent to multiple western capitals could explain why US President Donald Trump has resurrected the idea of charging to provide security in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump on Monday called for the US to collect a 20 percent fee for serving as the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz. He said the US’s Gulf partners, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, should pay the fee for security. But Trump's remarks contrasted sharply with those of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the same day, who said that "no country is allowed to charge tolls or fees" in international waterways. UAE and other Gulf officials have publicly rejected Iran's attempts to impose transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz. Investments, not fees Trump walked back his claim on Tuesday, saying that in lieu of a fee, he expected Gulf states to invest more money in the US. “Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20 percent United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. But even Trump’s flip does not separate the concept of the US extracting an economic benefit from Gulf states in exchange for handling the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. For example, Trump did not say that Asian countries, which import Gulf energy, or Greek shipowners, who play a major role in shipping, should make investments in the US. Exclusive: Syria, Iraq and US plan to unveil Mediterranean pipeline deal to bypass Strait of Hormuz Read More » Referring to the Gulf states, Trump said on Tuesday: “I spoke to all of them, and they would love to invest more money in the United States at record amounts, and that would be very acceptable”. “This way, there's no fee. I don't like the concept of a fee, but at the same time, it's not fair that we're protecting this strait for the entire world, for China and everyone. I don't mind protecting it for China. I don't mind protecting it for anybody. But it's unfair that we're not, in some way, compensated,” Trump told the press during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House. Trump’s comments appear to suggest that Gulf states are willing to pay an economic premium for stability in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s efforts to establish a service fee in the waterway have been hamstrung in recent weeks by Oman’s willingness to allow vessels to transit its territorial waters without consulting Iran. Multiple US and regional officials told MEE that Muscat has been under intense pressure to distance itself from Iran’s service fee plans. Iran has responded by attacking Qatari, Emirati and Saudi vessels in Oman’s waters. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, countries can stake a claim up to 12 nautical miles for their territorial waters. The Strait of Hormuz is just 21 nautical miles wide at its narrowest point. Oman and Iran are its only two littoral states. Some legal experts have told MEE that if Oman and Iran worked together, they could establish a legal reasoning to charge “piloting fees” or “fees for service” in the waterway. Oman’s move to allow vessels to transit freely robs Iran of that legal rationale. War on Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0
economic · economic
U.S. stocks ended higher as softer June inflation data and strong bank earnings lifted sentiment despite escalating Middle East tensions. Nasdaq outperformed on chip gains, while JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs advanced on robust results. IBM fell on weak revenue guidance, and markets scaled back expectations of a near-term Federal Reserve rate hike.
economic · economic
US consumer inflation slowed more than expected in June as energy prices retreated, but the moderation was insufficient to convince financial markets to take an interest-rate increase from the Federal Reserve this year off the table against the backdrop of renewed conflict in the Middle East. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the Labour Department on Tuesday also showed underlying inflation subsiding last month amid declines in the costs of motor vehicle insurance, communication, apparel,...