Latvia’s industrial production growth moderated sharply in February, data from the Official Statistics Portal showed on Tuesday. Industrial output advanced a calendar-adjusted 4.0 percent year-on-year in February, much slower than the 13.2 percent surge in January. Production has been growing since April 2025. Among sectors, the annual production growth in the utility sector softened markedly […]
The global financial markets are treading water as the Hormuz reopening deadline looms, with U.S. Donald Trump warning of severe escalation if Iran does not comply. The mood across financial markets is one of “calculated dread,” as investors await a decisive signal while avoiding aggressive positioning. Equities are mixed, currencies largely range-bound, and volatility subdued.
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2026.04.07 2026.04.07 Yen Reels on Geopolitical Turmoil. Forecast as 07.04.2026 Dmitri Demidenkohttps://www.litefinance.org/blog/authors/dmitri-demidenko/ The conflict in the Middle East is pushing Japan’s economy toward stagflation and prompting foreign investors to sell Japanese stocks and bonds. The government is trying to counter the rise in the USD/JPY pair. Will it work? Let’s discuss this topic and make a
Recent performance points to mixed trading Barratt Redrow’s most recent half-year results already highlighted the challenges facing the sector. Barratt Redrow reported a 14% decline in adjusted pre-tax profit, reflecting weaker margins as build-cost inflation and increased use of sales incentives outweighed limited house price growth. Operationally, there have been some signs of stabilisation. Sales rates improved modestly
Zain Vawda Market Analyst Zain is an experienced financial markets analyst and educator with a rich tapestry of experience in the world of retail forex, economics, and market analysis. Initially starting out in a sales and business development role, his passion for economics and technical analysis propelled him towards a career as an analyst. He
When you hear from many buy-side execution trading desks, a common theme emerges – they seem to loathe their lack of resources and the requirement to do more with less. As a consequence, these teams are now either bolting on more ancillary work, looking to add value in ancillary task and project areas, or simply
Macro update Oil prices extend rally: WTI climbed to $116.56 as supply concerns intensified, with prices now up more than 50% since the Iran war began. Hormuz shutdown drives risk: The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% of global oil flows, has severely disrupted exports and tightened global supply. Trump deadline approaches:
Japan’s leading index improved in February to the highest level in three-and-a-half years, preliminary data from the Cabinet Office showed Tuesday. The leading index, which measures future economic activity, rose to 112.4 in February from 112.1 in January. The expected score was 112.3. Subscribe to continue reading the article. This article is part of our
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Oil is nearing a $120 breaking point as US President Donald Trump’s Iran deadline looms, with markets increasingly focused on whether the US–Iran battle for Hormuz control will tip into full escalation. The urgency is rising as the “Power Plant Day” deadline approaches, with no clear resolution in sight. Markets are no longer reacting to
Oil pushes higher toward USD 115/bbl as Trump deadline looms • Middle East escalation intensifies with strikes across Iran, Saudi, Israel • Missile activity hits key Saudi industrial hub at Jubail • US signals limited appetite for further deadline extensions • Iran response seen as “tough” but still a negotiating tactic • Pentagon briefing cancelled,
Australia’s labour market showed signs of softening in March, as ANZ Job Advertisements fell 3.1% month-over-month, reversing a solid 3.2% increase recorded in February 2026. The latest figures, updated on 7 April 2026, suggest a cooling in hiring intentions after a strong start to the year. The ANZ Job Advertisements series, which tracks changes in
In a reversal of fortune, Nikkei 225 has now fallen to the bottom, becoming one of the worst-performing stock indices, with a loss of 9.2% recorded from February 28, 2026, to April 6, 2026 (see Fig. 1). Japan is a major oil importer, and the current US-Iran war, which is entering its 39th day, is
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Summary: Fire broke out in La Boca near the Bridge of the Americas and fuel-linked facilities Bridge traffic was suspended while authorities assessed structural safety One person was reported missing and two firefighters were injured Preliminary reports indicate the blaze began in a fuel tanker and spread Incident occurred beside the Pacific entrance area of
Summary: Services PMI falls to 46.3, back into contraction after 26 months Composite PMI fell to 46.6 in March, down from 52.4 in February Sharp drop from 52.8, weakest since November 2023 New orders decline, with exports hit by Middle East conflict Broad-based weakness, led by finance & insurance Input costs surge to multi-year highs
