Economy
Mazda has postponed the launch of its first dedicated battery electric vehicle to 2029 at the earliest and sharply reduced its electrification spending, signaling a strategic shift toward hybrid models as near-term demand for full electric vehicles weakens in several markets. The Japanese automaker......
The U.S. dollar surged against the Japanese yen on Tuesday, with the USD/JPY pair rising to 157.60 after stronger than expected U.S. inflation data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates higher for longer. The move accelerated as geopolitical tensions linked to the......
Central banks across major economies are reassessing monetary policy as the conflict involving Iran continues to push oil prices above 100 dollars per barrel, intensifying concerns over imported inflation and energy costs. Policymakers from Europe to Asia are increasingly signaling that prolonged geopolitical......
African policymakers, researchers and mining experts are intensifying calls for local transformation of critical raw materials as global competition for strategic minerals accelerates. During a conference held in Rabat by the Policy Center for the New South and the Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute,......
Canada has announced a new investment in a major economic development project in the Philippines, joining efforts led by the United States and Japan to strengthen regional supply chains and infrastructure. Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu said that Canada will invest around 2......
Asia is facing a dangerous convergence of inflationary pressures as a looming El Niño weather event and record temperatures compound the economic fallout from the Middle East oil crisis, threatening to drive food and energy costs sharply higher in the second half of 2026 at a moment when central......
Japan and Australia signed a series of agreements on critical minerals and energy cooperation during a bilateral summit in Canberra, as both countries move to secure supply chains under mounting pressure from global oil market instability linked to tensions in the Middle East. Japanese Prime Minister......
Japan is reported to have intervened heavily in the foreign exchange market, spending more than 30 billion dollars to support the yen as it weakened against the US dollar, according to local media reports. The intervention, estimated at around 5,000 to 6,000 billion yen (approximately 32 to 38 billion......
The Strait of Hormuz closure blocks 20% of global oil and comparable liquefied natural gas flows, sparking the modern era's largest energy disruption. Asian governments ration fuels, revive coal power, and fast-track nuclear plans. Western oil majors post surging profits as supplies dwindle. The......
Brent crude slipped below 110 dollars a barrel on Thursday, pulling back from a brief spike above 120 dollars the previous day, one of the most volatile stretches on oil markets since the start of the Strait of Hormuz crisis two months ago. The sharp moves underscore a market caught between fears of......
China’s manufacturing sector expanded in April despite a global energy crisis triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions and disruptions to maritime routes. Official data showed industrial activity continuing to grow, supported by a domestic energy system heavily reliant on coal, which has insulated......
Bitcoin fell below $77,000 after the Bank of Japan signaled a more hawkish policy direction despite keeping interest rates unchanged at 0.75 percent. The cryptocurrency dropped as low as $76,400 during early US trading, as investors reacted to growing expectations that Japanese rates could rise again......
The Bank of Japan kept its policy rate unchanged at 0.75 percent in a closely divided decision, with three policymakers voting for an increase to 1 percent. The 6 to 3 split highlights rising concern within the central bank as the war in Iran drives energy prices higher and intensifies inflationary pressures.......