Iran’s annual inflation rate rose to 50.6 percent by mid-March, up three percentage points from the previous month, the country’s official statistics centre said on Sunday.

Oil companies will have to look further afield for new fossil fuel resources now that the Iran war has dented the investment allure of the energy-rich Middle East. Higher oil prices will give them that chance.

Unpredictable tax practices, weak enforcement, and conflicting regulatory directives continue to raise costs and delay operations for businesses, Japanese investors said yesterday.

Oil prices extended gains on Monday, with ​Brent headed for a record monthly rise, after Yemeni Houthis launched their first attacks on Israel over the ‌weekend, widening the US-Israel war with Iran in the Middle East.

As energy stress spreads across Southeast Asia, governments across the region are asking China to deliver on its pledges of closer energy security cooperation by freeing up now-banned exports ​of fertiliser and fuel.

Low-cost carriers could struggle the most given their passengers are more price-sensitive than the corporate customers and wealthy consumers

The yen hovered near the key 160 per‑dollar level, after hitting its weakest since July 2024

Members debated key issues such as e-commerce and WTO reform over the last four days

Brent crude futures jumped $2.43, or 2.16%, to $115 a barrel

Pakistan said on Sunday it was preparing to host "meaningful talks" to end the conflict over Iran in coming days

Iranian forces’ threat to ships in the crucial Strait of Hormuz has driven up payments for the insurance that underpins the world freight industry.

Nepal has expressed a strong interest in upgrading Bangladesh’s Saidpur Airport to an international airport, seeking cooperation to boost regional connectivity, trade, and tourism across the sub-region.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Friday that it has reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan to unlock a new $1.2 billion package as part of its support programmes for the country.

Thailand has reached an agreement with Iran to allow Thai oil vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Southeast Asian nation’s Prime Minister said on Saturday.

The e-commerce moratorium is a global agreement among World Trade Organization members which bans customs duties being applied to electronic transmissions such as digital downloads and streaming.

China’s commerce ministry has initiated two counter-probes into US ‌practices that hamper the flow of Chinese products into the United States, it said on Friday, refraining from immediate retaliation to US measures announced earlier this month.

Gold demand in India saw a slight ‌uptick this week as softer bullion prices attracted some buyers, though many remained cautious and held off for further price drop, while premiums in China narrowed as physical demand slowed.

It covers cross-border transmissions such as software downloads, e-books, music and movie streaming and video games

Sixty-six World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries, representing 70 percent of global trade, have adopted a pathway to bring into force electronic commerce (e-Commerce) agreement through interim arrangements.

The two India-flagged ⁠vessels have crossed the Gulf area and are in ​the eastern Strait of Hormuz, the data showed