US inflation rose more than expected in April, reinforcing concerns that the recent energy shock is feeding back into consumer prices and complicating the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook. Headline CPI increased 3.8 percent year-on-year in April, up from 3.3 percent in March and above expectations of 3.7 percent. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, CPI…
The Central Bank of Egypt’s Q1 2026 Monetary Policy Report marks a clear shift in the macro outlook. Inflation risks have moved higher, while growth forecasts have been revised lower as regional conflict feeds into energy prices, transport costs, imported inflation, and investor risk appetite. Key insights: The CBE raised its 2026 average inflation forecast…
Goldman Sachs has raised its outlook for the Chinese yuan, arguing that the currency remains more than 20 percent undervalued against the US dollar despite its recent appreciation. The bank now expects USD/CNY to reach 6.80 in three months, 6.70 in six months, and 6.50 within one year, revised stronger from previous forecasts of 6.85,…
China’s low-cost AI strategy is becoming a serious competitive challenge for Silicon Valley. The race is no longer only about who has the most advanced model. It is increasingly about who can deliver useful, scalable and affordable AI to the widest market. The economics are striking. DeepSeek V3.2 pricing is listed at $0.287 per 1…
Kuwait’s banking sector entered 2026 from a position of disciplined resilience, supported by strong capital adequacy, ample liquidity, and continued operational momentum despite regional uncertainty. Key insights: KFH led sector profitability with KD 176.5 million in net profit, up 5.0 percent year-on-year, supported by strong operating income and fee growth. NBK ranked second with KD…
US equities closed at fresh records, but the market message is more nuanced than the headline suggests. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% to 7,412.84, marking its first close above 7,400. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.1% to 26,274.13, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2% to 49,704.47. The Russell 2000 also advanced 0.3% to 2,870.64,…
President Donald Trump’s expected visit to Beijing marks the first visit by a US president to China since November 2017, placing the world’s two largest economies back in market focus. The summit comes amid rising trade, technology, and geopolitical tensions, with key files including tariffs, semiconductor restrictions, artificial intelligence, rare earths, Taiwan, Middle East risks,…
The Egyptian pound weakened again in Tuesday trading, with bank quotes around EGP 53.15 for buying and EGP 53.25 for selling per dollar, after the currency had recovered about 1.7 percent last week. The latest move highlights that Egypt’s currency remains sensitive to external shocks. The regional war shock added pressure to existing vulnerabilities, including…
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Nairobi comes at a critical moment for Egypt’s reform program, as regional uncertainty continues to test energy security, food security, capital flows, and exchange rate flexibility. The meeting followed the IMF Executive Board’s approval of Egypt’s fifth and sixth reviews in February 2026,…
China’s exports accelerated sharply in April 2026, highlighting how AI-related demand, semiconductors, electronics, and EVs are supporting external trade momentum despite persistent global uncertainty. April exports rose to USD 359.4 billion, up 14.1 percent year-on-year, equivalent to nearly USD 500 million per hour. Imports also rose 25.3 percent, while the trade surplus reached about USD…
