Finance news

Insurers Roll Out $400 Million War-Risk Facility for Hormuz Shipping

The world’s largest insurance marketplace is set to break the Strait of Hormuz logjam with a new $400m (£316m) war-risk facility. Lloyd’s of London has launched a new market consortium designed to provide additional marine war risk insurance capacity for vessels and cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Insurer Chubb will serve as lead underwriter, supported by participating Lloyd’s syndicates and specialist market partners, to bring together underwriting expertise with additional Lloyd’s marke

Oil Markets Need More Than a Peace Deal to Recover

The Iran framework agreement gave an immediate boost to markets, with shares rising and oil prices dipping. But whether this translates into durable economic gains will largely depend on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. There were signs of traffic beginning to revive on June 18 in the hours immediately after the US and Iranian presidents signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war, according to Windward, a maritime intelligence company. Speaking in an online briefing, Windward chief ana

Riedl's Dax radar: Why the rally on the US stock exchanges can continue - and then also take the Dax with it

While Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh is causing irritation, high-tech stocks are boosting the stock markets. Even the Dax could take off again in the summer.

AI has been known to hallucinate. So have financial markets

We’ve never had it so good. The S&P 500 and Nikkei 225 have hit record highs this month. SpaceX had its spectacular initial public offering, the largest in history. The company raised an eye-popping US$75 billion and saw a sharp rise in its share price to a mind-blowing valuation of US$2.5 trillion in two days. The US-Iran deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz caused petrol prices to drop back to below US$4 per gallon. Global stock markets are creating seemingly unstoppable wealth for...

India Receives First Post-Deal LNG Cargo Through Strait Of Hormuz

India on Friday received the first LNG tanker that had passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Iran announced a deal this past weekend. The LNG carrier Disha, flying the flag of Malta, arrived at the Dahej Port on India’s West Coast on Friday, after having crossed the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. The vessel safely anchored at the Petronet LNG jetty, the Bharuch port authority told Indian media. Petronet LNG had chartered the LNG tanker, which is managed by an India-led ship

Fed watching is looking very different now. Two charts can help you in the Warsh era.

Kevin Warsh is forcing Wall Street to do the heavy lifting. Use these benchmarks to find your footing.

US dropping of 'Indo' from Pacific Command adds pressure on India ties

The Fed’s new hawkish reality just forced Goldman Sachs to slash its gold forecast by $500

Strategists at the investment bank see gold rising to $4,900 an oune by the end of the year instead of $5,400.

Trump picked Kevin Warsh to cut rates. The new Fed chief just told us he has other plans.

Here’s what the central bank’s hawkish agenda means for your money.

Oil Flows Resume Through Hormuz as Insurers Remain Wary

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Everyone is hoping the U.S.-Iran deal holds, but Hormuz is still operating on political trust instead of commercial confidence. The U.S. has lifted its naval blockade; Iran and the U.S. have signed the 14-point memorandum; and tankers have started moving again through the strait (including Saudi supertankers carrying millions of barrels of crude). Still, shipping companies and insurers have to decide whether the route is safe enough to normalize operations. The m

Japan joins the global craze to field interceptor drones

The interceptor drone systems are expected to be installed by 2027 near radar sites, bases, vessels and other critical locations, the agency stated.

Why the Fed’s hawkish stance signals a step-change in U.S. dollar sentiment — and a new direction

Interest rate differentials, growth prospects, demand for capital from AI investment and bumper stock market issuance is generating demand for the dollar and a bullish impulse

‘Bury me with them’: animal-lovers want same cemetery plots as their pets

Hong Kong’s pet funeral service providers have urged the government to allow animal ashes to be placed alongside those of their owners, citing a growing demand for such arrangements amid a rapidly expanding afterlife market for furry friends. Petmento, part of local group Sage laGreen Funeral Services, said it had been asking the government to relax regulations by allowing animal ashes to be placed in niches hosting the remains of their late owners. “Now, many shopping centres are open to pets,.

Warsh’s task forces give the Fed wiggle room to put off changing rates until December

During his first press conference as Fed chair Wednesday, Kevin Warsh repeated one refrain in his answers to many reporters’ questions: A task force is looking into it.

Monetary policy: Russian central bank cuts interest rates after pressure from Putin

The Russian central bank chief Nabiullina is expected to emerge from obscurity today - and justify Putin's desired interest rate cut. But the economic outlook remains weak.

Frank Elderson: Fireside chat

Piero Cipollone: The foundations of national sovereignty: the role of central bank money

Deadly Philippines quake permanently alters Mindanao coastline

Arsenio Butil Jnr fell to his knees and began to pray when last week’s deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake began shaking his home on the coast of the southern Philippines. When he opened his eyes, he saw a once-familiar shoreline changing in real time, with swathes of previously submerged coral suddenly pushing above the waterline. The June 8 quake, driven by a shifting of the nearby Cotabato Trench, toppled buildings, triggered landslides and killed at least 76 people on the southern island of...

Philippines taps ‘smarter, cheaper’ Australian drones to deter China

Australia has supplied the Philippine coastguard with a new batch of aerial and underwater drones that could significantly enhance Manila’s capability to monitor activities in the disputed South China Sea. The systems would help the coastguard gather evidence and enhance deterrence across the contested waters, including areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, where Manila has faced repeated confrontations with Chinese vessels, according to analysts. Based on images released by the

Philippines Seeks Long-Term Oil Supply Deal With Russia

The Philippines is looking to formalize a deal to buy oil from Russia on a more permanent basis amid the energy crisis and heightened geopolitical tensions, Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has said. The Philippines has been one of the worst-hit Asian economies in the current oil supply crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict, and has turned to Russia for ad-hoc spot supply to cover the shortfall of cargoes from the Middle East. Now the Asian country is looking to make the Russ

Beijing details rare marine survey east of Taiwan after Tokyo-Manila talks

A mainland Chinese research vessel has conducted a marine environmental survey in waters east of Taiwan, the latest sign of Beijing’s bid to reinforce its jurisdictional claims in the area following Japanese-Philippine maritime boundary talks. The survey, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday, was conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources’ East China Sea Bureau, which deployed the oceanographic research vessel Xiangyanghong 22. The goal was to “gain a comprehensive understanding of the natural

Filipinos do not trust the news. Are they sick of divisive politics?

Filipinos are losing faith in the news faster than audiences almost anywhere else in the world, as analysts attribute the decline to years of sustained attacks on the Philippine media industry and the growing reach of influence operations on social media. Only 28 per cent of Filipinos said they trusted news most of the time, down from 38 per cent in 2025, according to the latest Reuters Institute Digital News Report – the steepest decline among respondents across 48 markets. The figure placed...

ECB publishes consolidated banking data for end-December 2025

Nikkei and Kospi: Canceled US-Iran talks weigh on Asian stock markets

At one point, two indices in Asia reached record highs. However, the joy was short-lived. Meanwhile, inflation remains stable in one country.

Passive income: interest on a subscription – through bond ETFs with little risk

With term funds from two providers, investors can put together a bond portfolio with regular income. Exchange rate fluctuations hardly play a role.

House financing - building savers yes or no?

Hello everyone, I want to finance a house and need a loan of 370,000 euros. ​ First of all: I have little idea myself, so some advice would be helpful. ​ I have 2 financing offers from 2 different banks: ​ Annuity 4.16% eff. Interest, 2% repayment, installment approx. 1871 euros/month, remaining debt after 10 years fixed interest rate: 280,000 euros, special repayments not provided. Additionally, building savers: pay in 60k within 10 years, in return 90k at 1.67% interest as a final payment

US Federal Reserve: One sentence moves the stock markets: New Fed chief starts an era that hardly anyone expected

Kevin Warsh has spooked the markets with his clear commitment to less inflation. What investors and observers are now preparing for.

Hong Kong property sales more measured as interest rate increase looms

Hong Kong homebuyers showed interest in 130 flats put on sale by developers on Thursday evening, but the pace of buying was more measured after an interest-rate increase later this year became more likely. Agents said 30 of the 75 units put on sale at Phase 4B of La Montagne at the Southside project at Wong Chuk Hang MTR station sold on Thursday. The two-bedroom units had saleable areas ranging from 484 to 546 sq ft, with prices starting at HK$13.4 million (US$1.7 million) after discounts. With.

Real Estate: Follow-up financing: Who can change – and who has to stay

For many owners who bought at low interest rates, follow-up financing will soon be available. Not everyone will have the choice to switch to cheaper banks, a study shows.

+++ USA +++: USA initiates investigation into German drug prices

First interest rate decision for Fed Chairman Warsh – Trump upset +++ Planned attack on Trump’s birthday – Five men indicted +++ The news blog.