Despite a 74% YoY surge to $3.8 billion, MENA’s venture capital market captured well under 1% of global funding in 2025. The lopsided concentration in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and the absence of a liquid exit pipeline raise urgent questions for institutional investors eyeing emerging market exposure.
Source: arabnews.com · Arab News
President Trump’s threat to hike tariffs on Canada over wildfire smoke pollution risks igniting a new trade war, potentially affecting billions in Canadian exports and the $12 billion invested in forest management since 2020, while the World Cup final adds event-risk uncertainty.
Iraq signed 48 agreements with US energy leaders, including ExxonMobil and Halliburton, to revive its oil sector and build a Syria pipeline, signaling a major shift toward American investment. The deals could unlock billions in new revenue and reshape Middle East crude flows for global markets.
Source: punchng.com · thehindu.com
The expansion of US-Iran hostilities to civilian infrastructure and shipping chokepoints sent Brent crude up 3%, heightening supply shock fears. Investors rush to price in prolonged disruption at Hormuz and the Red Sea, driving a third weekly gain and threatening global economic stability.
Source: canberratimes.com.au · illawarramercury.com.au
President Trump's threat to increase tariffs on Canadian imports over wildfire smoke adds fresh uncertainty to North American trade relations. The proposal to recoup 'billions of dollars' in wildfire-related costs through tariffs could disrupt commodities markets, particularly lumber and energy, while testing the resilience of the USMCA trade pact. Investors should monitor diplomatic developments and potential retaliatory measures from Canada.
The U.S. naval blockade and 20% tariff on Strait of Hormuz cargoes have sent crude oil prices soaring, threatening global economic stability and ratcheting up inflation risks for investors and policymakers.
The Iran-backed threat to close Bab el-Mandeb could trigger a massive oil price spike, disrupt global supply chains, and roil commodity, currency, and equity markets. Preparation is key.
A 25% tariff on Brazilian imports, effective July 22, exempts coffee and beef but targets sugar, ethanol, and industrial goods—sparking commodity volatility. Despite the U.S.-Brazil goods trade surplus, the move jolts Brazilian equities and the real, while offering selective opportunities for non-exempt commodity producers.
Source: India Today World Desk (in)
Oil prices jump after US missile attacks on Iran, with Nirmal Bang projecting crude range-bound to higher and gold range-bound to lower as higher energy costs stoke inflation and rate-hike bets. Traders must navigate divergent paths between energy and precious metals.
Source: newyorkstatesman.com · newyorktelegraph.com
A dual shock hit markets Monday: oil soared on a Strait of Hormuz blockade while AI chip stocks plunged. Brent jumped 7.8% to $81.92, the S&P 500 fell 0.7%, and South Korea’s Kospi cratered 8.9%.
Near-closure of Strait of Hormuz drives oil price volatility concerns; only 2 product tankers transit as US-Iran conflict intensifies, threatening global crude supply.
Energy prices are poised to spike as direct military conflict erupts in the heart of global oil production. The U.S. third round of 140 strikes and Iran's ballistic missile attack on Al Udeid airbase threaten supply routes, driving safe-haven flows into gold and treasuries.
Source: britainnews.net · english.news.cn
A new WEF-Marsh report quantifies the economic drag of ageism: OECD economies face nearly $500 billion in cumulative GDP losses by 2040 from underutilized 55+ workers. The US alone will lose $113 billion, France $106 billion, and Brazil $105 billion, raising concerns for long-term growth, fiscal pressures, and labor-market inefficiencies.
A 12.5% tariff on South African exports to the U.S. could significantly affect the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the rand, and commodity prices. Investors should monitor the USTR’s decision for potential downside to South Africa-linked assets.
Source: therecord.com · seattletimes.com
Diplomatic negotiations in Oman aim to secure safe passage for oil tankers through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. A deal could ease the blockade that has disrupted a fifth of the world's oil supply, fueling inflation and market volatility. Investors monitor the outcome for potential energy price relief.
Bitcoin’s price barely moved at $63,000 following U.S. airstrikes on Iran, while Ethereum, XRP, and Dogecoin fell. An analyst suggests the turmoil creates an ideal dollar-cost averaging entry for BTC.
Source: benzinga.com · Yahoo Finance
China's plea for unhindered Hormuz transit follows reports that Europe is resigned to paying Iran-Oman fees, injecting a fresh geopolitical risk premium into crude futures and threatening to stoke inflation and central bank hawkishness.
The US decision not to renew the USMCA in its current form injects a decade of tariff and regulatory uncertainty into the $1.8 trillion North American market, weighing on cross-border equities, currencies, and bond risk premia. Investors must now factor in annual review risks and a Canada-China friction that could reshape continental trade flows.
Defying a Middle East war and rate-hike fears, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted their biggest quarterly gains since 2020, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq leaping 21%. Strong corporate earnings and US economic resilience drove the rally, but oil-driven inflation concerns and a stalled ceasefire could test the momentum in the second half.
Source: Straitstimes · SECTIONS US stocks today S; P ; Nasdaq post best quarter since
The immediate loss of 20 million barrels per day of oil is sending financial markets into uncharted territory. Inflationary expectations have unanchored, the IMF has slashed global growth forecasts, and central banks face an impossible trilemma between growth, inflation, and financial stability.