Governments and traders spent Monday assessing the energy fallout from the expanding war involving Iran, as disruption around the Strait of Hormuz renewed fears over one of the world’s most important oil corridors. Since the conflict began on Feb. 28, tanker traffic through the strait has largely stalled, raising concern that a prolonged interruption could restrict supply well beyond the…
UK supermarket group Morrisons said underlying earnings were unchanged in its 2024/25 financial year, citing a jump in costs even as revenue increased. The grocer reported underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £835 million for the year ended October 26, matching the prior year on its preferred measure. Revenue rose 3.2% to £15.8 billion, the company…
A new Fannie Mae video advertisement features what sounds like President Donald Trump delivering a message about housing access, but a disclaimer in the spot says the narration is an AI-cloned voice reading scripted text. The audio was produced with permission from the Trump administration, according to the report. The roughly one-minute ad presents an “all-new Fannie Mae” and describes…
Agreement Signed After Decades of Negotiations The European Union and Mercosur formally signed a long-negotiated free trade agreement in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Jan. 17, 2026, closing a process that stretched more than 25 years. The deal is designed to deepen commercial links at a time of widening trade frictions and a broader shift toward protectionist policies in multiple regions. Mercosur…
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will reduce its 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles as part of an exchange for lower Chinese tariffs on key Canadian farm exports, announcing the arrangement after two days of meetings in Beijing. Carney described the recent trajectory of ties as “more predictable,” arguing the latest steps show measurable outcomes after a period…
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, reported a sharp rise in quarterly earnings as demand for advanced processors used in artificial intelligence systems continued to accelerate. The company said its October–December net profit climbed 35% year over year to 506 billion New Taiwan dollars (about $16 billion), exceeding market expectations. Revenue for the quarter increased 21%…
Lawyers for Nexperia, a Dutch-based semiconductor manufacturer, and representatives for its Chinese owners argued in an Amsterdam courtroom over whether the company should face a court-ordered investigation into alleged corporate mismanagement. The hearing took place at the enterprise chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, where the panel was asked to decide whether the threshold had been met to open…
