Bloomberg — 2026-04-09#

Lead Story#

A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is facing severe tests as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and Israeli forces escalate strikes in Lebanon. Oil prices rebounded amid the maritime gridlock, defying hopes of swift relief, as Vice President JD Vance prepares to lead a US delegation to Islamabad for high-stakes direct talks with Tehran. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the negotiations but vowed to keep US troops in the Persian Gulf and warned Iran against demanding tolls or cryptocurrency payments for ships transiting the vital waterway.

Bloomberg — 2026-04-11#

Lead Story#

US Vice President JD Vance is leading direct three-way peace talks with Iranian and Pakistani officials in Islamabad, aiming to cement a fragile ceasefire after a six-week conflict that has severely roiled global energy markets. As diplomatic efforts intensify, the US Navy and Chinese supertankers have resumed transits through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a tentative easing of maritime chokepoints despite US intelligence indicating that China is preparing to supply Iran with air defense systems in a matter of weeks.

Bloomberg — 2026-04-29#

Lead Story#

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate steady at 3.5% to 3.75%, but the decision revealed a deepening internal division with an unprecedented four-way dissent from policymakers who opposed an easing bias. Adding to the institutional drama, Chair Jerome Powell announced he will remain at the central bank as a governor after his term ends next month, drawing sharp criticism as his designated successor, Kevin Warsh, cleared a key Senate committee vote.

Bloomberg — 2026-05-06#

Lead Story#

The prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Iran ignited a global stock rally and sent crude oil tumbling, as President Donald Trump announced a pause on US-led efforts to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington and Tehran are reportedly closing in on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the nearly ten-week war, prompting traders to rapidly reprice geopolitical risk across asset classes. The optimism propelled US equities to fresh record highs and provided immediate relief to energy markets, even as US domestic gasoline prices topped $4.50 a gallon for the first time since July 2022.

Bloomberg — 2026-06-15#

Lead Story#

The US and Iran have reached an interim peace agreement to halt their nearly four-month war and reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz, triggering a massive relief rally across global markets,. President Donald Trump, currently at the G7 summit in France, declared the waterway would be fully open by Friday and emphasized Iran’s commitment to halting its nuclear weapons program,. The diplomatic breakthrough sent oil plunging to a three-month low while US equities and Treasuries surged as investors scaled back bets on aggressive Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes,.

CNBC — 2026-06-22#

Lead Story#

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has died at age 100 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. The legendary “Maestro” steered the U.S. economy through the 1987 “Black Monday” crash, the dot-com boom and bust, and the aftermath of 9/11, forever shaping modern monetary policy and global markets.

Markets & Economics#

Markets are bracing for a hawkish shift from the Federal Reserve, as Bank of America now predicts three rate hikes this year, warning that the inflation problem has become “unambiguously worse”. This sentiment is driving up U.S. Treasury yields ahead of Thursday’s critical personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index report. However, Expect the Fed to leave rates unchanged this year says Allianz’s Mohamed El-Erian offers a starkly contrasting view on central bank policy pacing. In energy markets, the Energy: Treasury Department authorizes Iranian oil sales under 60-day license provides temporary supply relief as U.S.-Iran peace talks advance in Switzerland. Despite these diplomatic strides, oil prices climbed after President Donald Trump threatened renewed military strikes against Iran.

Bloomberg — 2026-06-24#

Lead Story#

Micron Technology Inc.’s blowout earnings report has reignited the artificial intelligence trade, sparking a rally across US equity futures and semiconductor stocks following a brutal $1.3 trillion two-day tech rout. The insatiable demand for AI infrastructure is driving unprecedented capital market activity, highlighted by SK Hynix Inc.’s pursuit of a landmark $29.4 billion US listing to fund its memory chip expansion.

Bloomberg — 2026-06-26#

Lead Story#

Tensions in the Middle East have violently escalated after the US launched strikes against Iran in retaliation for a projectile attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump accused Tehran of violating their fragile ceasefire agreement with one-way attack drones, a development that Oman warned could permanently alter the region’s shipping status quo and lead to transit fees. Surprisingly, despite the military escalation, oil prices headed for a weekly decline as supertanker traffic continued to flow in both directions through the vital waterway.

Bloomberg — 2026-07-01#

Lead Story#

The United States has decided against renewing the sweeping $2 trillion US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), shifting instead to rolling annual reviews of the trilateral trade pact. The decision, unveiled by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, avoids an immediate collapse of the treaty—which technically remains in force for another decade unless a member exits—but opens the door to years of contentious, drawn-out renegotiations. By abandoning a straightforward renewal, the Trump administration has injected massive long-term uncertainty into North American manufacturing and cross-border supply chains.

Bloomberg — 2026-07-02#

Lead Story#

In a pivotal shift for the US economy, June hiring slowed sharply with nonfarm payrolls increasing by just 57,000, curbing the job market’s recent momentum despite a drop in the unemployment rate. The softer-than-expected data immediately rippled through financial markets, prompting a Treasury rally and driving equity traders to dial back bets that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in the coming months. The employment cooldown aligns with recent dovish remarks from Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh on easing inflation, cementing expectations that the central bank will remain patient on monetary policy.