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The AFRICOM commander described Somalia as strategically important for the US due to its proximity to key maritime trade routes

Economic · Economic

We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin American relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. Chile’s Kast courts China day after US hits exports with forced labour tariff Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast received China’s ambassador to Santiago, Niu Qingbao, at the La Moneda Palace, in an encounter that lasted more than an hour and marked the first meeting between the two...

Economic · Economic

We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering global relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. Nato launches defence projects to counter Russia and China Nato member states unveiled a series of defence initiatives in June aimed at strengthening weapons development, production and supply chains in response to security challenges posed by Russia and China. 2.... Read the full story here.

Economic · Economic

Economic · Economic

The US trade deficit narrowed in June as imports fell for the first time since the start of the year. The gap in goods and services trade shrank 5.6% from the prior month to $73.3 billion, while the value of imports declined 1.8% while exports fell 0.9%. Michael McKee reports on Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)

Economic · Economic

BP profits more than double amid high oil prices BP has reported record-high profits, as the US-Israeli war on Iran has led to rising oil and gas prices. The oil company's profits more than doubled to $5.73bn in the second quarter of 2026, as energy exports in the Gulf continue to be disrupted. US President Donald Trump criticised major oil companies yesterday for "making too much money" because of high prices. "I don't like it. They're making too much money, okay? Based on a shortage, they're making too much money," he said.

Economic · Economic

Stephen Schork, principal and editor at The Schork Group, says refiners have virtually no ability to increase capacity and deliver more gasoline and diesel products and lower costs for consumers. President Donald Trump scolded ExxonMobil Holdings Corp. and Chevron Corp. Monday for making too much money as oil prices surged amid the war in Iran. (Source: Bloomberg)

Economic · Economic

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Anna Paulson said she will keep an open mind about the path for interest rates, writing in an essay on Tuesday that she is focusing on the trends of underlying inflation. Michael McKee reports on Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)

Economic · Economic

Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the vulnerability of global trade to a single maritime chokepoint, with early data showing sharp falls in exports of energy, fertilizers and industrial products.

Economic · Economic

The cost of hedging against rand declines over the next 12 months has fallen to the lowest level this year as investors bet gyrations spurred by the Middle East conflict and a surprise interest-rate hold by the central bank will soon blow over.

Economic · Economic

Oracle Corp. and Stellantis NV are among a group of high-grade companies with debt that has recently traded close to junk levels, putting the bond market on watch for a new era of fallen angels.

Economic · Economic

Copper advanced to the highest in two months, approaching $14,000 a ton in London as traders monitored ballooning volumes of the metal in the US ahead of a decision on import tariffs by President Donald Trump.

Economic · Economic

Australia's housing downturn is accelerating, with higher interest rates and weaker investor demand driving the biggest home price declines since late 2022. REA Group Senior Economist Anne Flaherty says further falls are likely through year-end, especially in higher-priced suburbs. She discussed the outlook for Australia's housing market on "Bloomberg: The Asia Trade". (Source: Bloomberg)

Economic · Economic

Gold prices remained stable as investors watched for U. S. -Iran talks. S. Conflicting reports emerged regarding potential negotiations between the United States and Iran. Investors are anticipating U. jobs reports for Federal Reserve interest rate clues. Higher rates typically pressure gold prices, which offer no interest. South Korea's central bank plans to increase its gold holdings.

Economic · Economic

The coalition argues the president exceeded his legal authority by imposing broad tariffs on dozens of trading partners under the guise of combating forced labour, asking a federal court to block the measures and order refunds for importers.

Economic · Economic

Foreign investors are reducing positions in Indian debt after a key index inclusion was delayed. Inflows into Indian debt have significantly slowed down over the past two weeks. US treasury yields have become more attractive, influencing investor decisions and market sentiment. Traders are awaiting the upcoming monetary policy announcement for further policy direction. Cooling oil prices and other inflows are helping to offset negative market sentiment.

Economic · Economic

The Indian market began the week with strong momentum and expects continued positive sentiment. Encouraging first-quarter earnings and easing crude oil prices are supporting this upward trend. Investors will closely watch the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy meeting for further market direction. Developments in the US-Iran conflict and ongoing earnings season also remain key focus areas. Foreign portfolio investors and domestic institutional investors showed net buying activity on Friday.

Economic · Economic

South Korea’s financial authorities are weighing tighter curbs on high-risk leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as part of broader efforts to stabilise the country’s notoriously volatile stock market, which has left many investors with heavy losses and mounting debt. The proposals could include giving regulators the power to reduce the leverage ratio of single-stock ETFs and raising the minimum investment requirement to discourage inexperienced retail investors from taking excessive risks,...

Economic · Economic

Gold moved in a narrow range as traders monitored talks in the Middle East for signs of progress that would ease pressure on the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

Economic · Economic

A group of 25 Democratic-led US states sued US President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday, arguing that the president’s latest round of tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, like most of his earlier sweeping tariffs, exceeds his legal authority to tax imports. The states’ lawsuit filed in the US ‌Court of International Trade in New York follows previous challenges by small US businesses, which sued to block the tariffs on the day they went into effect last month. States and small...

Economic · Economic

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh is creating fresh uncertainty for investors by pledging to rein in inflation without explaining how he intends to do so, according to Citadel Securities.

Economic · Economic

Copper is pouring into the US at the fastest rate in at least 12 years as traders position ahead of President Donald Trump’s decision on tariffs on refined imports.

Economic · Economic

We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Liberation Day 2.0? US slaps fresh wave of tariffs on China, 50-plus economies On June 24, the United States imposed a fresh wave of tariffs against 60 economies, including China, Japan, South Korea, India and European Union member states, hours before a temporary 10 per cent blanket levy...

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. S. Traders now anticipate a lower probability of a U. 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