World economy
Microsoft expands AI footprint in Australia with $18 billion investment
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 23: Chairman and CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella speaks on stage during the Microsoft AI Tour at TikTok Entertainment Centre on April 23, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. Nadella, making his first visit to Australia since 2019, addressed business leaders, developers, and government representatives at the Microsoft AI Tour in Sydney on […]
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Asia markets open higher as Iran ceasefire extension lifts mood
Kazuhiro Nogi | AFP | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets opened broadly higher Thursday, tracking U.S. stocks, which rose overnight after President Donald Trump’s extension of the Iran ceasefire helped to buoy investor sentiment, while upbeat earnings reports also lifted sentiment. Trump extended a two-week U.S. ceasefire on Tuesday, saying it was warranted due to Tehran’s “seriously […]
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Step aside Tesla, BYD: Japanese carmakers deepen their hold on India’s auto market with hybrids
Hello, this is Priyanka Salve, writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to the latest edition of “Inside India“ — your one-stop destination for stories and developments from the world’s fastest growing large economy. Indian consumers’ desire to shift away from gasoline-based cars should have been Tesla and BYD’s moment to shine in the world’s third-largest auto market. […]
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White House UAE financial lifeline raises bigger questions about booming Mideast economy post-war
Tourists and visitors walking around the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque the largest Mosque the United Arab Emirates, a key place of daily worship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. There are 82 domes of seven different sizes and 4 minarets throughout, and has a large car park and a shopping mall underneath it. Andrew Aitchison […]
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European stocks open higher after Trump extends Iran ceasefire deadline
US President Donald Trump speaks during the NCAA Collegiate National Champions Day event at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 21, 2026. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images LONDON — European stocks opened higher on Wednesday as traders assessed the Iran ceasefire extension and the prospect of further peace talks. By 8:50 […]
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Asia-Pacific markets set to fall as Trump extends Iran ceasefire but uncertainty drags on
A pedestrian looks at an electronic quotation board showing numbers of the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo on September 11, 2020. Kazuhiro Nogi | AFP | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were set to open broadly lower Wednesday as concerns grew that the Middle East conflict could drag on, after President Donald Trump extended a U.S. ceasefire […]
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European stocks to open higher as U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline looms
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on April 20, 2026 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images LONDON — European stocks are expected to open broadly higher on Tuesday as investors gauge developments ahead of the expiry deadline for the two-week ceasefire between the […]
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Asia markets open higher as hopes for Iran peace talks offset Trump threat of escalation
The Tokyo Stock Exchange in January 2022. Toru Hanai | Bloomberg | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Tuesday amid hopes for a resolution to the Middle East conflict, even as tensions between Iran and the U.S. continue to simmer. “Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table— […]
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CNBC’s The China Connection newsletter: China ships more humanoid robots than the U.S. as investors diverge on AI bets
A staff member trains a humanoid robot to replicate human behavior at a training center in Hefei, Anhui province of China, on April 13, 2026. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images Hi, this is Evelyn, writing to you from Beijing. Welcome to the latest edition of The China Connection — a succinct snapshot […]
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European stocks set to slump as Gulf tanker attacks threaten ceasefire
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on April 17, 2026 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images LONDON — European stocks are expected to fall at the start of the new trading week on fears that a re-escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions over the weekend […]
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