Standard Chartered says Japan ‘very, very close’ to yen intervention

Japan is “very, very close” to intervening in the yen, Steven Englander, head of Global G10 FX research and North America macro strategy at Standard Chartered Bank, told CNBC as the currency languishes at multi-decade lows. “I think we’re actually very, very close to them [Japanese authorities] jumping in … they’ve already discussed the political consequences … Read more

Nigeria’s central bank hikes interest rate to 24.75% as it battles sky-high inflation, currency crisis

A pedestrian in the Lagos Island district of Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday hiked its key interest rate by 200 basis points, as Africa’s largest economy looks to recover from a historic currency crisis and soaring inflation. The CBN announced … Read more

Indian bonds are to be included in global indexes. Is this a gamechanger?

An undated editorial illustration of the Indian rupee and the Indian flag. Anand Purohit | Moment | Getty Images The decision to include Indian government bonds in two prominent global indexes recently is being viewed as a shot in the arm for the rapidly growing country and is expected to bring in billions of inflows. … Read more

A rare Czech almond grove blooms early after an unusually warm winter

HUSTOPECE, Czech Republic — Masses of white and pink blossoms in a rare almond grove in the Czech Republic appeared earlier than usual after one of the warmest winters on record. The almond trees are usually among the first to bloom at the beginning of spring, on the turn of March to April, in this … Read more

Turkey opts for new tightening strategy after signaling pause to hikes

A picture taken on August 14, 2018 shows the logo of Turkey’s Central Bank at the entrance of its headquarters in Ankara, Turkey. ADEM ALTAN | AFP | Getty Images Turkey’s central bank is opting for a different monetary tightening method as it grapples with climbing inflation, after previously signaling that its rate-hiking cycle was … Read more

Nigeria battles to halt spiraling currency crisis and rising food insecurity

IBADAN, Nigeria – Feb. 19, 2024: Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the hike in price and hard living conditions in Ibadan on February 19, 2024. Samuel Alabi | Afp | Getty Images Nigeria is battling to contain a historic currency crisis and soaring inflation, with the International Monetary Fund on Monday warning that … Read more

Turkish annual inflation soars to 67% in February

The Maslak financial and business center in the Sariyer district of Istanbul. Ayhan Altun | Moment | Getty Images Turkish annual consumer price inflation soared to 67.07% in February, the Turkish Statistical Institute said Monday, coming in above expectations. Analysts polled by Reuters had anticipated annual inflation would climb to 65.7% last month. The combined … Read more

Disney’s Reliance merger is a streaming wars win

Disney+ Hotstar logo is seen on a smartphone and flag of India on a pc screen. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Walt Disney and Indian conglomerate Reliance’s media merger will give back highly valuable cricket streaming rights to the U.S. firm in a country absolutely … Read more

A brazen iPhone scam in Iran reflects its economic struggles and tensions with the West

TEHRAN, Iran — With flashy celebrity ads and promises of deep discounts, a shop in Iran’s capital had offered consumers in the Islamic Republic one of the hottest products in the country — an iPhone that came out in 2021. But instead of getting their hands on the handsets, police and prosecutors in Iran allege … Read more

China’s Country Garden gets liquidation petition from creditor

Aerial photo shows a Country Garden residential area in Nanjing, East China’s Jiangsu province, Feb 5, 2024. Future Publishing via Getty Images Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images China’s Country Garden Holdings said Wednesday it received a liquidation petition filed by one of its creditors, deepening worries about the country’s beleaguered property sector. … Read more