Archive: April 2026
24 articles published this month
Bessent: China oil hoarding during Iran war hit Asia
China oil hoarding is back in focus after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Beijing stockpiled crude and restricted some exports during the Iran war, raising fresh questions about wartime supply discipline and trade spillovers.
Uranium enrichment freeze splits U.S.-Iran Islamabad talks
A uranium enrichment freeze demand from the U.S. collided with Iran’s shorter counteroffer as senior talks in Islamabad ended without a deal, with Pakistan mediating and more rounds possible.
Susan Coyle Chief of Army pick makes Australian Army history
Susan Coyle Chief of Army appointment will take effect from July 2026, with Lt Gen Coyle set to replace Lt Gen Simon Stuart as Australia also names Vice Adm Mark Hammond as incoming Chief of the Defence Force.
Bangladesh India fuel imports request signals thaw in ties
Bangladesh India fuel imports are set to rise after Dhaka asked New Delhi for more diesel and fertiliser during a foreign minister visit, alongside talks on visas and security cooperation.
Bangladesh diesel shortage hits paddy farmers, Reuters reports
Bangladesh diesel shortage is delaying irrigation and paddy planting as rationing and long queues spread across rural districts, Reuters reports.
Strait of Hormuz disruption keeps oil near $100, re-prices risk
The Strait of Hormuz disruption has kept oil near $100 a barrel, tightening financial conditions and forcing investors to re-price inflation and rate risk across equities, credit, and FX.
US military overflight proposal alarms Indonesia ministry
The US military overflight proposal drew caution from Indonesia’s foreign ministry, which warned it could pull Jakarta into South China Sea tensions, Reuters reported.
Xi says rule of law must guide Middle East peace
Xi Jinping said the international rule of law must be upheld for Middle East peace and stability, in remarks widely read as a rebuke of the U.S.–Israel campaign against Iran.
US-Iran Islamabad talks may restart amid port blockade
US-Iran Islamabad talks could resume this week, Reuters reported, as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports raises pressure on shipping, oil markets, and Gulf investors.
Basra drone strike sparks fire at oil storage facilities
Basra drone strike reports say a drone hit storage facilities used by foreign oil companies west of Iraq’s main oil hub, triggering a fire. Damage and the attacker were not immediately clear.
Russia payment disruption tied to VPN blocks, Durov says
Russia payment disruption forced cash use in Moscow after a payment-system glitch hit Sberbank and QR-code payments. Telegram founder Pavel Durov blamed Russia’s VPN blocking, while officials gave no cause.
U.S. aircraft downed over Iran; one crew member missing
U.S. aircraft downed over Iran have raised escalation risks after an F-15E was shot down and one crew member remains missing, according to Reuters and AP.
S&P 500 earnings estimates climb as oil tops $100
S&P 500 earnings estimates are holding near 13% for Q1 2026 as oil trades above $100, with upgrades concentrated in Technology and Energy, FactSet data show.
March remittances hit record $3.75bn: Bangladesh Bank
March remittances jumped to a record $3.75bn, Bangladesh Bank data showed, offering short-term FX relief for payments and imports ahead of Eid.
Oil prices jump as JPMorgan flags $150 tail risk
Oil prices jumped above $100 as the Strait of Hormuz disruption risk grew, with JPMorgan warning crude could hit $120–$130 and carry a $150+ tail risk if supply stays constrained.
Bangladesh energy-saving measures cut office hours to 4pm
Bangladesh energy-saving measures will shorten office hours to 9am–4pm and require markets and shopping centres to close by 6pm, alongside tighter limits on non-essential public spending and electricity use as fuel stress grows.
Strait of Hormuz risk rises as Trump targets Iran
Strait of Hormuz risk rose on April 3, 2026 after President Donald Trump threatened broader strikes on Iran’s bridges and power plants, as Iran-linked attacks hit Gulf energy infrastructure, including Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi refinery.
Unilever McCormick food merger in $65B RMT tie-up
Unilever McCormick food merger plans to spin off Unilever Foods and combine it with McCormick in an RMT valued around $65B, with $15.7B cash to Unilever and a majority stake for Unilever investors.
Bangladesh fuel oil crisis: Dhaka tightens demand curbs
Bangladesh fuel oil crisis fears rise as Dhaka says April stocks are sufficient, orders 8pm shop closures to save energy, keeps pump prices steady, and seeks a US waiver to import Russian diesel.
Korean wave in Latin America goes mainstream
Korean wave in Latin America is moving into the mainstream as Spotify counts 14M K-pop fans in Mexico and BTS ticket demand pushes promoters and retailers to scale up across Mexico, Chile and Brazil.