English

Quirino Mealha

Economy

Germany halves GDP forecast from 1% to 0.5% due to Iran war fallout

The German government has officially halved its economic growth forecast for 2026, citing the severe impact of energy shocks stemming from the Iran war. This revision reflects a significant cooling for Europe's largest economy.

Economy

Fed nominee Warsh rejects 'Trump sock puppet' label at Senate hearing

Kevin Warsh, the nominee for Chair of the US Federal Reserve, declared he has not pledged to lower interest rates to secure his position despite public calls from US President Donald Trump for immediate monetary easing.

Economy

UK inflation hits 3.3% as Iran war drives energy costs higher

British consumer prices rose at a faster pace in March, reaching 3.3% as the ongoing Iran war sent fuel prices soaring. The data has forced markets to reassess expectations for the Bank of England, with a previously anticipated interest rate cut next week now looking very unlikely.

Business

Iran crisis pushes Wall Street toward 24/7 tokenised trading

Driven by the need to manage risk outside of traditional exchange hours and the desire for greater capital efficiency, major banks and hedge funds are moving towards "always-on" digital infrastructure.

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Markets

Global markets on edge as investors await US-Iran negotiations

European markets are trading mostly flat with Asian indices jumping higher and oil prices rising slightly as suspense builds around potential US-Iran negotiations and the end of the ceasefire in less than 48 hours.

Economy

Reignited US-Iran tensions likely to drive up petrol and diesel prices

As US representatives travel to Pakistan on Monday for a second round of talks with Iran, the lack of clarity over a possible deal is once again expected to place upward pressure on petrol and diesel prices.

Business

Anthropic's fast ascent: The strategy behind an $800 billion valuation

The AI firm Anthropic has emerged as a dominant force in the global technology sector, attracting investor interest that values the company at approximately $800 billion (€678.3bn), but what is behind the success?

Economy

Oil prices drop over 10% after Iran declares Strait of Hormuz 'open'

Oil prices have dropped over 10% in less than two hours after the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz "completely open" for the remainder of the current ceasefire with the US.

Markets

London metals index at record high amid aluminium supply squeeze fear

The London Metal Exchange’s benchmark has climbed to a fresh record as aluminium prices surge on fears of a severe and lasting shortfall in global supply following disruptions in the Middle East.

Markets

S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit new all-time highs despite Iran war effects

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed at record highs on Wednesday despite the Iran war dragging on, the Strait of Hormuz remaining largely blocked and global economic growth forecasts being cut amid rising inflation.

Markets

Footwear firm Allbirds trades shoes for AI and shares rise over 550%

In a radical strategic overhaul, Allbirds is divesting its footwear business while securing $50 million (€42.4 million) in new financing to acquire GPUs and rebrand as NewBird AI.

Business

AI expansion drives up profits for Dutch semiconductor giant ASML

ASML, the Dutch semiconductor giant, has posted a rise in net profits to €2.76 billion for the first quarter of 2026 representing a 15% increase compared to the same quarter in the previous year.

Economy

IMF drops Eurozone's economic growth forecast to 1.1% from 1.4%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has adjusted its growth projection for the eurozone down to 1.1% from 1.4% for 2026 as prospects for the euro area dwindle amid higher inflation and reduced momentum.

Economy

IEA warns of historic oil supply shock as Iran war disruption persists

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned of an unprecedented energy shock, with global oil production plunging by over 10 million barrels per day in March, as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran fail.

Business

Luxury giant LVMH faces headwinds as quarterly sales growth slows

LVMH has reported a modest 1% increase in organic revenue for the first quarter of 2026, falling short of market expectations.

Business

Goldman Sachs posts best quarterly profit in five years with 18% jump

Goldman Sachs reported strong first-quarter results, the best in five years, with quarterly profit rising 18% to $5.4 billion (€4.6bn), as the bank highlighted increased volatility due to geopolitical tensions.

Markets

Hungarian stocks hit record high after a landslide opposition victory

Hungary’s main stock index (BUX) surged on Monday as investors welcomed the prospect of far-reaching reforms following Péter Magyar’s decisive win in the country’s parliamentary election.

Economy

US inflation surges to 3.3% as Iran war fuels energy price shock

US consumer prices rose sharply in March, with headline inflation climbing to 3.3% year-on-year as energy costs spiked in the wake of the Iran war, official data showed on Friday.

Economy

Could billions in frozen Iranian assets help the US unlock a deal?

Ahead of US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad on Friday, a top demand from Tehran will likely be the unlocking of its frozen assets abroad. Trump will have to consider handing back the fortune he once locked away.

Markets

Newly-made Polymarket accounts won massively on US-Iran ceasefire bets

Newly-made Polymarket accounts bet big on the US-Iran ceasefire mere hours before Trump's announcement profiting hundreds of thousands of dollars and raising suspicions of insider trading.

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