The European Central Bank (ECB) announced its decision to increase interest rates by 0.25 percentage points. This marks the ECB's initial rate increase since September 2023. The base rate has increased to 2.4%. The deposit rate grew to 2.25%, while the marginal lending rate has been raised to 2.65%. The ECB recognized that the conflict in the Middle East has heightened inflationary pressures. As...

The European Union aims to implement extra carbon fees on international airlines and allocate the revenue to support green energy, based on an EU document quoted by Bloomberg. The announcement of the proposal is anticipated next month as a component of the reform of the European Union's Emissions Trading System (ETS). According to the regulations implemented in 2012, international carriers are...

The OECD has released an updated baseline forecast indicating that the global economy is expected to grow by 2.8% in 2026, down from the 3.4% growth projected for 2025. The estimate has been slightly reduced because of the conflict in the Middle East and because of the interruptions in energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz.  If the conflict persists, the organization's analysts predict...

Severe weather has devastated the Alphonso mango harvest in India, referred to as the "king of mangoes," according to Reuters. The report states that in Devgad, a major region for Alphonso cultivation in Maharashtra, crop losses are projected to be between 85-90% this year. The information is derived from a government-funded study performed earlier this year. Reuters acquired a copy of the study....

The swift rise in the demand for protein items (shakes, powders, and ready-to-eat foods) has resulted in a significant surge in the price of whey protein, as reported by the Financial Times. Whey protein isolate costs have surged five times since 2023, now standing at €28,000 per tonne, greatly exceeding the increases in cheese and butter prices. Consequently, this ingredient has evolved from a...

China has initiated a comprehensive drive to strengthen oversight on cross-border investments to curb capital flight. Eight regulatory bodies, among them the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and the Central Bank, released a joint statement committing to combat illegal cross-border stock trading and warning of severe penalties for well-known brokers. The statement indicates that the...

According to a report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (CPB) of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, global trade volumes rose by 3.5% from the previous quarter in the first quarter of 2026, despite military activities in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The report indicates that the expansion of international trade was primarily fueled by the AI...

According to sources referenced by the Financial Times, the €850 million acquisition of the OpernTurm office skyscraper in Frankfurt has collapsed since the buyer could not secure the necessary funds. The sources stated that entrepreneur and developer Erich Schwaiger spearheaded the discussions to acquire the building, which is presently owned by JPMorgan Asset Management and Singapore's...

Citigroup Inc. analysts anticipate that Brent crude prices will increase to $120 per barrel soon, highlighting that the market is undervaluing the risk of extended supply disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict. Experts suggest that Brent may reach $150 per barrel if the Strait of Hormuz allows tanker traffic to resume only in the third quarter. On Wednesday morning, the price of...