British construction firms witnessed an unprecedented rise in cost inflation in March, marking the sharpest month-on-month increase since records began in 1997, according to a survey released on Wednesday. Data from S&P Global showed that the UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) measure of input cost inflation jumped to 70.5…
Emerging and developing economies in Europe and Central Asia will experience slower growth in 2026 due to the effects of higher energy prices brought on by the ongoing conflict in Iran, said a World Bank report released on Wednesday.This surge has increased operating costs for businesses and raised fuel expenses…
Markets have swung from relief to caution as the Iran ceasefire shows fresh signs of strain, keeping oil, equities and policy nerves on edge. Washington is trying to lock in a diplomatic opening, but the Strait of Hormuz remains only partly usable, regional violence has not fully stopped, and investors…
At 6:12 on a Tuesday morning, Trump posted that a whole civilisation would die that night. By 8 p.m., he had announced a ceasefire. By Wednesday’s open, the Nasdaq was up 3.5%, oil had shed 16%, South Korea’s Kospi had soared 6.9%, and emerging markets were posting their best single…
Global markets remained volatile as a fragile US-Iran ceasefire showed early signs of strain, oil prices plunged, but uncertainty lingered, Meta Platforms surged on AI-driven optimism, and bitcoin edged higher in a cautious rebound.US-Iran ceasefire tested earlyA fragile truce between the United States and Iran came under pressure shortly after…
US stocks surged on Wednesday, capping a powerful global rally after a last-minute ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran eased geopolitical tensions and triggered a sharp drop in oil prices.The two-week truce, announced by US President Donald Trump just hours before a self-imposed deadline for escalation, helped restore…
Asian markets were on edge on Thursday as renewed friction over the Strait of Hormuz unsettled investors, pushing oil prices higher again and reviving concerns about inflation, energy supplies and the interest-rate outlook.The more cautious tone followed a sharp relief rally a day earlier, when markets had taken comfort from…
The Hang Seng Index staged a cautious recovery this week as the United States and Iran announced a ceasefire that reduced the ongoing tensions. It formed a gap up to $25,887, its highest point since March 18 and 6.8% above the lowest level in March.Hang Seng Index rises as geopolitical…
Alibaba Group stock fell approximately 3% in Hong Kong on Thursday after Jefferies reduced its price target for the Chinese tech giant.The price action revived a familiar market debate on how long investors are willing to wait for Alibaba’s costly AI push to translate into stronger profits.Jefferies lowered its target…
Foreign investors poured a record 2.96 trillion yen ($18.65 billion) into Tokyo-listed shares in the week ended April 4, reversing three straight weeks of selling as easing geopolitical tensions and fiscal year-end trading patterns drew buyers back into Japan’s market.Ministry of Finance data showed the inflows marked a sharp turnaround after overseas investors…