A federal appeals court in Washington on Thursday temporarily reinstated the most sweeping of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs—known as the “Liberation Day” tariffs—after a lower court had struck them down as an unconstitutional overreach of executive power. The decision pauses enforcement of the U.S. Court of International Trade’s May 28 ruling, buying time for […]
South Africa’s central bank surprised markets on May 29 by unanimously cutting its main repurchase (repo) rate by 25 basis points to 7.25%, even as it signalled a stronger commitment to narrowing its inflation target to 3% from the current 3%–6% range (Reuters). In addition to trimming forecasts for economic growth and consumer prices, the […]
Introduction: Striking the Balance Between Revenue and Growth The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) has formally submitted a sweeping set of 39 recommendations on the Finance Bill 2025, urging Parliament to adopt measures that raise revenue without stifling economic growth or overburdening taxpayers. In a presentation on 27 May 2025, ICPAK’s delegation […]
A Summit of Influence: Setting the Agenda for 2030 The fifth edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg, wrapped up in Doha last week, drawing 3,000+ in-person attendees from over 90 countries and featuring 120+ speakers, including heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, policymakers and thought leaders. Against the theme “The Road to […]
A Welcome Rally in a Time of Strain Ghana’s cedi has staged a remarkable comeback in 2025, gaining 42% against the U.S. dollar since January and trading near ₵10.20/$1 as of late May. This surge has surprised many investors and provided a critical lifeline to a country grappling with the aftermath of a sovereign debt […]
Overview: A Game-Changing Corridor Deputy President Kithure Kindiki declared on 27 May 2025 that the 749 km Isiolo–Mandera Road, under construction at an estimated KSh 85–100 billion (US $625–735 million), will be a “game changer” for northern Kenya. Traversing Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties, the upgraded highway promises to unlock vast economic potential by […]
Overview: A Modest Upgrade Amid Lingering Risks On 27 May 2025, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its GDP growth forecast for the United Kingdom in 2025 from 1.1% to 1.2%, citing a stronger-than-expected first quarter and signs of a nascent economic recovery. However, the Fund simultaneously warned that U.S. tariffs and persistent productivity weaknesses […]
During President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House on 21 May 2025, South Africa tabled an ambitious trade package aimed at resetting bilateral ties strained under the Trump administration. At its core was an offer to import 75–100 petajoules (approximately 75–100 million m³) of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually over the next decade, […]
The World Bank trimmed its forecast for Kenya’s economic growth in 2025 from 5.0 percent to 4.5 percent, warning that heavy government borrowing, elevated lending rates, and a sharp contraction in private‐sector credit risk stifling the nation’s business engines (Reuters, Bloomberg). Growth Outlook Revised Downwards In the biannual Kenya Economic Update, released Tuesday, the World […]
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde warned yesterday that the long-standing global economic order anchored by the US dollar is “fracturing,” and she called for concerted EU efforts to elevate the euro into a genuine alternative reserve currency. Speaking at the Hertie School in Berlin, Lagarde argued that multilateral cooperation is giving way to […]
Kenya’s monetary policy cycle has entered a defining phase. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has lowered its benchmark rate...
In a development that signals a deeper convergence between traditional finance and digital assets, Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange...
When a nationalised bank in Maharashtra sold a life insurance policy to a 90-year-old man with an annual premium of...
Artificial intelligence has officially crossed a new threshold. For the first time, an AI system specifically AI voice agents can...
