Oil slides, stocks rise as Iran-Israel ceasefire holds
The main international and US oil contracts briefly bounced off their lows as Israel and Iran accused each other of...Business Economy Geostrategy
US Fed keeps interest rates unchanged in face of Trump criticism
Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters the central bank would make better decisions if it waited a few months to...Economy
Warren Buffett says will retire from Berkshire Hathaway by year’s end
Buffett transformed Berkshire Hathaway from a medium-sized textile company when he bought it in the 1960s into a giant conglomerate,Buffett's success, coupled with his ability to explain his thinking in clear soundbites, has made him highly influential in the business and financial communities
Several years ago, Buffett had already indicated that the 62-year-old Abel would be his pick for successor in an interview with CNBC
OPEC+ countries to open the oil taps despite price slump
Saudi Arabia, along with Russia and six other members of the oil cartel, will implement a production adjustment of 411,000...Saudi Arabia, along with Russia and six other members of the oil cartel, will implement a production adjustment of 411,000 barrels a day out of the ground
Numbering a total of 22 countries, most of which are highly dependent on oil, the OPEC group had until recently been exploiting supply scarcity to boost prices
Trump’s next 100 days: Now comes the hard part
In a dizzying first three months, Trump wielded executive power like no other modern president, signing more than 140 orders...The job gets trickier now for the self-styled dealmaker-in-chief, who must corral fractious Republicans on Capitol Hill to anchor his domestic policies in legislation
Trump's political capital will be put to the test as he aims to shepherd his sprawling agenda on tax, border security and energy production through the House and Senate
Massive GCC infrastructure investments set stage for rising foreign equity: Franklin Templeton
The Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity outlook emphasizes how GCC countries have reduced their dependence on oil and gas, opened...The FTEME outlook emphasizes how GCC countries have reduced their dependence on oil and gas, opened their capital markets, and diversified their economies
The report highlights a striking decline in the equity risk premium (ERP) in the GCC — from 6.6% in 2016 to 2.4% by March 2025
Apple expects $900 million hit from tariff war
Apple on Thursday reported first-quarter profit above expectations but warned that US tariffs could cost the company and were disrupting...Cook said he expected "a majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin."
Tit-for-tat exchanges have seen hefty US levies imposed on China, with Beijing setting retaliatory barriers on US imports
Slower growth expected in MENA region in 2025: IMF
"Growth is still projected to increase in 2025 and 2026, but at a considerably slower pace than anticipated last October,"...The lender lowered growth projections from 4 percent to 2.6 percent for 2025, and from 4.2 percent to 3.4 percent for 2026.
In 2024, average growth in the region slowed to 1.8 percent -- from 2.1 percent the year before -- due to "ongoing conflicts and extended voluntary oil production cuts".
US reaching out to China for tariff talks: Beijing state media
United States officials have reached out to their Chinese counterparts for talks on vast tariffs that have hammered markets and...Punishing US tariffs that have reached 145 percent on many Chinese products came into force in April, while Beijing has responded with fresh 125 percent duties on US imports
Beijing has vehemently denied any talks are taking place while repeatedly urging the United States to engage in dialogue in a "fair, respectful and reciprocal" manner
Global stocks mostly rise as Trump grants auto tariff relief
Stocks moved sideways on Monday after notching four straight positive sessions last week as Trump adopted a more conciliatory posture...Trump's pivot includes limitations on the impact of multiple tariffs on carmakers and a measure to allow carmakers to offset a portion of the levy for two years
Investors are "encouraged by the Trump decision to be a little more flexible (...) with the autos," said CFRA Research's Sam Stovall, who predicted stocks could go higher
Saudi Arabia and Qatar to settle Syria’s World Bank debt
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced on Sunday that they would settle Syria's debt to the World...Both Gulf states have played a key role in the diplomatic outreach to Syria's new rulers since the ouster of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad in December.
The statement came just days after Syria's central bank governor and finance minister attended the IMF and World Bank spring meetings for the first time in more than 20 years.
Trump trade war pushes firms to consider stockpiling
Even if they don't all acknowledge it so openly, firms in many different sectors are stockpiling their products in the United...Whether it's the luxury, electronics or pharmaceutical sectors, US President Donald Trump's unpredictability complicates the calculations of firms.
Some companies didn't wait for Trump's April 2 announcement of massive "reciprocal" trade tariffs: they had already begun shipping more of their goods to the United States.
