Seoul equities fell sharply on April 2, with the benchmark KOSPI index closing down 4.47% at 5,234.05, after renewed threats of US strikes against Iran unsettled investors and pushed global oil prices higher. According to the Yonhap News Agency, the Korean won subsequently weakened against the US d»»»

In Taiwan’s ever pugnacious political debate, few orthodoxies are quite as deeply embedded by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as the conviction that alignment with the United States is both natural and the only real way to counter Chinese takeover threats. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

Tokyo equities fell sharply on April 2, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 ending more than 2% lower as a sell-off gathered pace following remarks by US President Donald Trump that reignited concerns the Iran war could be prolonged, Kyodo News reports. »»»

April 2, 2026. bne IntelliNews, a leading provider of business news and data about emerging markets, today announces the launch of the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards – an independent, annual awards programme that recognises companies whose leadership and public reputation stand out across ke»»»

In Taiwan’s ever pugnacious political debate, few orthodoxies are quite as deeply embedded by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as the conviction that alignment with the United States is both natural and the only real way to counter Chinese takeover threats. »»»

Gold has overtaken US Treasuries as the largest component of global central bank reserves for the first time since the mid-1990s, marking a significant shift in the structure of the international monetary system, Bloomberg reports. »»»

Gold has overtaken US Treasuries as the largest component of global central bank reserves for the first time since the mid-1990s, marking a significant shift in the structure of the international monetary system, Bloomberg reports. »»»

April 2, 2026. bne IntelliNews, a leading provider of business news and data about emerging markets, today announces the launch of the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards – an independent, annual awards programme that recognises companies whose leadership and public reputation stand out across ke»»»

China said on April 2 that the Strait of Hormuz crisis was caused entirely by "US-Israel illegal military operations against Iran" and that only an end to the fighting would restore safe shipping through the waterway, directly rejecting President Trump's suggestion that countries should go to the s»»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

April 2, 2026. bne IntelliNews, a leading provider of business news and data about emerging markets, today announces the launch of the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards – an independent, annual awards programme that recognises companies whose leadership and public reputation stand out across ke»»»

Gold has overtaken US Treasuries as the largest component of global central bank reserves for the first time since the mid-1990s, marking a significant shift in the structure of the international monetary system, Bloomberg reports. »»»

April 2, 2026. bne IntelliNews, a leading provider of business news and data about emerging markets, today announces the launch of the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards – an independent, annual awards programme that recognises companies whose leadership and public reputation stand out across ke»»»

A sustained escalation of the US/Israel–Iran conflict could push global oil markets beyond a price shock into severe physical shortages, with rationing, supply chain disruption and recessionary pressures becoming increasingly likely, according to a note from Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

A sustained escalation of the US/Israel–Iran conflict could push global oil markets beyond a price shock into severe physical shortages, with rationing, supply chain disruption and recessionary pressures becoming increasingly likely, according to a note from Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on April 2 it had launched its 90th wave of operations since the war began, striking US steel and aluminium interests in the UAE and Bahrain, Israeli defence manufacturer Rafael, and US military bases across the region in retaliation for strikes on Iran's ste»»»

A sustained escalation of the US/Israel–Iran conflict could push global oil markets beyond a price shock into severe physical shortages, with rationing, supply chain disruption and recessionary pressures becoming increasingly likely, according to a note from Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

A sustained escalation of the US/Israel–Iran conflict could push global oil markets beyond a price shock into severe physical shortages, with rationing, supply chain disruption and recessionary pressures becoming increasingly likely, according to a note from Oxford Economics. »»»

Foreign ministers from 35 countries will meet on April 2 in a British-led effort to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with the United States, Iran and Oman all absent from the virtual summit chaired by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the Associated Press reported. »»»

A US-Israeli strike on the B1 bridge in Alborz province killed eight people and wounded a number of residents and tourists, the provincial governor's office said on April 2. The regional office for Alborz (Karaj) said, "In»»»

China said on April 2 that the Strait of Hormuz crisis was caused entirely by "US-Israel illegal military operations against Iran" and that only an end to the fighting would restore safe shipping through the waterway, directly rejecting President Trump's suggestion that countries should go to the s»»»

A sustained escalation of the US/Israel–Iran conflict could push global oil markets beyond a price shock into severe physical shortages, with rationing, supply chain disruption and recessionary pressures becoming increasingly likely, according to a note from Oxford Economics. »»»

A sustained escalation of the US/Israel–Iran conflict could push global oil markets beyond a price shock into severe physical shortages, with rationing, supply chain disruption and recessionary pressures becoming increasingly likely, according to a note from Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

A sustained escalation of the US/Israel–Iran conflict could push global oil markets beyond a price shock into severe physical shortages, with rationing, supply chain disruption and recessionary pressures becoming increasingly likely, according to a note from Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

Foreign ministers from 35 countries will meet on April 2 in a British-led effort to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with the United States, Iran and Oman all absent from the virtual summit chaired by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the Associated Press reported. »»»

A US-Israeli strike on the B1 bridge in Alborz province killed eight people and wounded a number of residents and tourists, the provincial governor's office said on April 2. The regional office for Alborz (Karaj) said, "In»»»

China said on April 2 that the Strait of Hormuz crisis was caused entirely by "US-Israel illegal military operations against Iran" and that only an end to the fighting would restore safe shipping through the waterway, directly rejecting President Trump's suggestion that countries should go to the s»»»

A sustained escalation of the US/Israel–Iran conflict could push global oil markets beyond a price shock into severe physical shortages, with rationing, supply chain disruption and recessionary pressures becoming increasingly likely, according to a note from Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

A US-Israeli strike on the B1 bridge in Alborz province killed eight people and wounded a number of residents and tourists, the provincial governor's office said on April 2. The regional office for Alborz (Karaj) said, "In»»»

Albania has security measures in place after the United States Embassy in Tirana warned that groups linked to Iran may target Americans and US-associated entities in the country. In a security alert issued on April 1, the »»»

China said on April 2 that the Strait of Hormuz crisis was caused entirely by "US-Israel illegal military operations against Iran" and that only an end to the fighting would restore safe shipping through the waterway, directly rejecting President Trump's suggestion that countries should go to the s»»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022, according to a note by Ryan Sweet, Chief Global Economist at Oxford Economics. »»»

Ethiopia has signed investment agreements and memoranda of understanding worth $13.1bn at the Invest in Ethiopia 2026 forum, with the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia describing the outcome as a boost to investor sentiment, although most commitments remain at an early stage. »»»

April 2, 2026. bne IntelliNews, a leading provider of business news and data about emerging markets, today announces the launch of the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards – an independent, annual awards programme that recognises companies whose leadership and public reputation stand out across ke»»»

Gold has overtaken US Treasuries as the largest component of global central bank reserves for the first time since the mid-1990s, marking a significant shift in the structure of the international monetary system, Bloomberg reports. »»»

State oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has exported 950,000 barrels of a new Cawthorne blend crude, marking the first lifting from the FSO Cawthorne facility — Nigeria’s first new crude oil terminal in 50 years, The Punch reported. »»»

Kazakh manufacturing in March suffered the worst deterioration in performance since March 2022, according to the latest Freedom Holding and S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey. The PMI was posted at»»»

Ethiopia has signed investment agreements and memoranda of understanding worth $13.1bn at the Invest in Ethiopia 2026 forum, with the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia describing the outcome as a boost to investor sentiment, although most commitments remain at an early stage. »»»