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Fri, Aug 07, 2026 08:12 AM All times are UTC

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Global Geopolitics Series

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When you throw pebbles in a pond, you get splashes and ripples, but drop a huge rock, you create a mini Tsunami. Similarly Geo-political turmoil, are potent enough to create tsunamis in financial markets, even if its for the short run. It has in the past, and it will in the future. De-stabilised Middle East, rise of new power in Saudi Arabia, aggressive China, Russia-US tensions, Turkey-Russia escalation, rise of autocratic but nationalists leaders such as Modi in India, Trump in United States, bin-Salman in Middle East, the Geo-Political unease hasn't been this tense in decades, so as a market participant you can never care less than ever.

Global Geopolitics Series

Iran was always going to close the Strait of Hormuz

Mar 27, 2026 05:04 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The five-day deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz handed to Iran by Donald Trump on Monday expires some time tomorrow and the Islamic Republic needs to get serious before it is too late or so the US president has...

Global Geopolitics Series

Will a new border deal with the US open a backdoor into Kiwis’ personal data?

Mar 27, 2026 05:02 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

Anyone who has recently travelled to the United States will be familiar with biometric checks facial and fingerprint scans used at the border. It is the same technology platform that is used in airports elsewhere in the...

Global Geopolitics Series

What does China’s host bid mean for the High Seas Treaty?

Mar 27, 2026 04:24 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Delegates are meeting in New York for the third session of the preparatory commission (PrepCom 3) on the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), also known as the High Seas...

Global Geopolitics Series

Gold is meant to be a ‘safe haven’ in uncertain times. Why is it crashing amid a war?

Mar 26, 2026 08:50 am UTC| Insights & Views Investing Economy

Gold has long enjoyed a reputation as a financial safe haven during stormy times. But over the past few months of geopolitical chaos and market panic, the precious metal has moved more like a roller coaster than a steady...

Global Geopolitics Series

After the Iran war, Persian Gulf nations face tough decisions on the US – a former diplomat explains

Mar 12, 2026 04:48 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

When the US-Israeli war on Iran finally ends, the Middle East will be even less predictable than it was before it started. The decision by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go to...

Global Geopolitics Series

Nations will release an extra 400 million barrels of oil to the market. All we need to do now is not panic at the pump

Mar 12, 2026 04:46 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Despite being one of the worlds top exporters of fossil fuels (coal and gas), Australia has little left of its own oil. Neither does New Zealand. Both Australia and New Zealand sit at the end of a long supply chain for...

Global Geopolitics Series

Why did Iran bomb Dubai? A Middle East expert explains the regional alliances at play

Mar 02, 2026 07:03 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

US-Israeli joint strikes on Iran over the weekend have seen war break out in the region once again and the death of Irans supreme leader. Iran has retaliated with volleys of ballistic missiles and drones targeted at...

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Economy

China Exports Beat July Forecasts as AI Demand Fuels High-Tech Trade

Chinas exports posted stronger-than-expected growth in July, supported by booming global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure and a rush to ship goods before higher U.S. tariffs took effect. Exports increased...

US Dollar Gains as Iran Tensions, Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise

The U.S. dollar headed for a weekly gain against major currencies on Friday as uncertainty over an Iran peace agreement boosted demand for safe-haven assets, while rising Treasury yields and expectations of tighter Federal...

BOJ Rate Hike Expectations Rise Ahead of September Meeting

Bank of Japan policymakers are preparing a series of closely watched speeches ahead of the BOJs September 17-18 policy meeting, as expectations grow that the central bank will deliver another interest rate hike. BOJ board...

Asian Stocks Mixed as Chip Selloff Hits KOSPI, Nikkei Ahead of US Jobs Data

Asian stocks traded mixed on Friday as renewed weakness in semiconductor shares weighed on South Korean and Japanese markets, while investors awaited the closely watched U.S. July nonfarm payrolls report for fresh clues on...

China Trade Surplus Beats Forecasts in July as Exports Stay Strong

Chinas trade surplus exceeded market expectations in July as exports remained resilient, although faster import growth and softer export momentum pushed the surplus lower compared with the previous month. Official...

Politics

Bezalel Smotrich Faces Election Battle as Israel’s Far-Right Vote Fractures

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is facing a difficult political battle ahead of Israels October 27 election after his position on ultra-Orthodox military exemptions angered some of his traditional supporters in...

Trump Administration Weighs Executive Order on Vaccines and Autism Research

The Trump administration is considering an executive order focused on vaccines and autism research that could be announced as early as next week, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing people familiar with the discussions....

New Zealand MMP Electoral System Faces Fresh Referendum Debate

New Zealands mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system is back in the spotlight after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was open to holding a referendum on how the country elects its parliament. The proposal...

Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing increasingly difficult choices as the Iran war enters its sixth month, with diplomacy and the threat of renewed military action offering uncertain paths toward ending the conflict....

US Expands Social Media Vetting to Foreign Journalists Seeking Visas

The U.S. State Department is reportedly expanding social media vetting for visa applicants to include foreign journalists seeking permission to work in the United States, marking another expansion of the Trump...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Meta Ordered to Pay $567M Over Child Safety Violations in New Mexico

Meta Platforms Inc. has been ordered to pay $567 million into a fund designed to address harm to young people, in a major legal ruling involving child safety on Facebook and Instagram. Judge Bryan Biedscheid of New Mexicos...

Nintendo Shares Jump as Switch 2 Sales Boost Earnings

Nintendo shares surged nearly 5% on Friday after the Japanese gaming giant reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter earnings and upgraded its full-year financial outlook, supported by robust demand for the new Switch...

Cloudflare Stock Jumps 15% as Earnings Beat Estimates, 2026 Outlook Raised

Cloudflare shares surged in after-hours trading Thursday after the cloud connectivity and cybersecurity company delivered stronger-than-expected quarterly results, issued upbeat third-quarter guidance and raised its...

SoftBank Q1 Profit Beats Forecast as Intel Rally and OpenAI Investments Boost Returns

SoftBank Group (TYO: 9984) reported a stronger-than-expected fiscal first-quarter profit despite higher operating and financing costs, supported by massive investment gains from Intel and its Vision Fund portfolio. For the...

DeepSeek to Raise AI API Prices as Demand for New Models Surges

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek has announced plans to significantly increase the pricing of its API services as demand for its latest AI models continues to grow. The company revealed the upcoming change...