In the wake of President Donald Trump’s abrupt roll‑out of tougher global tariffs on April 2, many leading U.S. multinationals are extending the duration of their foreign exchange (FX) hedges—shifting from the typical three‑ to six‑month tenors out to two‑ and even five‑year maturities—to shield their earnings and cash flows from heightened currency swings Reuters. […]

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has dramatically revised its forecast for global merchandise trade in 2025, predicting a 0.2% decline instead of the 3.0% expansion projected last October. The downgrade reflects renewed U.S. tariffs, spillover effects from the U.S.–China trade war, and heightened policy uncertainty. With developing economies bearing the brunt of any downturn, the […]

Fitch Ratings has delivered a significant boost to Pakistan’s economic outlook by upgrading the country’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating from ‘CCC+’ to ‘B-’. This decision comes on the back of enhanced fiscal consolidation, a stabilising external position, and more robust macroeconomic policy management. The outlook remains stable, reflecting growing investor confidence in Pakistan’s commitment […]

A new chapter in the volatile saga of global financial markets has opened. In its latest analysis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that major geopolitical risk events—including rising trade tensions, military conflicts, and sweeping tariff measures—can trigger severe corrections in stock prices. The findings, detailed in a chapter of the forthcoming Global Financial Stability […]

Amid mounting economic uncertainty and the lingering spectre of U.S. tariff threats, UK companies are increasingly shifting their focus to cashflow improvement, cost-cutting, and reduced borrowing, according to Deloitte’s latest quarterly survey of chief financial officers (CFOs) at major British firms. In a climate of cautious optimism about long-term prospects tempered by short-term defensive maneuvers, […]

In a surprising reversal from previous forecasts, the UK economy expanded by 0.5% in February, significantly outpacing the anticipated 0.1% growth predicted by a poll of City economists. This unexpected surge in GDP growth is being hailed as a bright spot for the government, with figures bolstering optimism among policymakers, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves. However, […]

In a dramatic pivot that has left global markets reeling and trade analysts scrambling for answers, President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on higher tariffs for most countries—even as his administration simultaneously ramped up tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%. The revised policy comes amid intense market volatility following last week’s sweeping tariff impositions […]

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a further cut in its key repo rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 6.00%. This is the second consecutive rate cut implemented by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) since February, marking the first rate adjustment since May 2020. Alongside the rate reduction, the RBI altered […]

In the early hours of Monday, April 7, 2025, financial markets witnessed one of the most turbulent sessions in recent memory. Major indices like the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and even global benchmarks were buffeted by wild swings as trade tensions and tariff escalations sent shockwaves through investor sentiment. The US economy, […]

Goldman Sachs has raised its odds of a U.S. recession to 45%—up from 35% just a week ago. This marks the second consecutive hike in recession probability by the influential investment bank, reflecting growing anxiety over escalating trade tensions, a volatile global economy, and the uncertain outlook for U.S. economic growth. The revised forecast comes […]