Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Regional tensions showed little sign of easing on Wednesday as the United Arab Emirates reported a new wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks despite a ceasefire announced between Washington and Tehran. The UAE Ministry of Defence said air defences intercepted 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones launched on April 8, adding to a mounting tally of projectiles intercepted since the wider confrontation […]
The ratings agency said elevated oil prices are likely to widen the current-account deficit this year and weaken external buffers, even as it still expects the economy to expand at a healthy pace and the fiscal deficit to narrow over the next two years. S&P projected growth of 5.8% in 2026 after the economy expanded 4.4% in 2025, with softer momentum in the first half and a rebound later in the year.
The decision lands at a delicate moment for Manila. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas warned this week that higher fuel costs were already feeding into broader prices after March inflation accelerated to 4.1%, above the central bank’s 2% to 4% target band and sharply higher than February’s 2.4%. Transport costs were the main driver, with diesel prices up 59.5% from a year earlier and gasoline up 27.3%, while core inflation also edged higher, suggesting second-round effects may be starting to build.
That inflation pulse helps explain why S&P has become more cautious. A country that depends heavily on imported fuel is especially exposed when conflict disrupts Middle East energy flows, and the Philippines has been among the Asian economies hit hardest by the latest oil shock. Reuters reported that Brent crude had risen 55% since the Iran war began on February 28, while the Philippine peso slid to record lows against the dollar, adding another layer of imported inflation pressure.
The external vulnerability is not new, but the conflict has made it harder to ignore. Philippine officials have been scrambling to secure energy supplies, including seeking assurances over safe passage for Philippine-flagged ships and fuel cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz. Manila has also explored alternative sources of crude and emergency measures to protect domestic supply, underlining how quickly a geopolitical crisis can turn into a ratings issue for an energy-importing economy.
For investors, the key point is that S&P did not cut the rating itself. The agency kept the BBB+ grade in place, indicating that it still sees underlying strengths in the economy, including growth potential, remittance support and expectations of gradual fiscal repair. That distinction matters. An outlook change signals rising risk over the medium term, but it is not the same as a downgrade, and it leaves room for the sovereign to stabilise if external pressures ease and macroeconomic management holds firm.
Still, the downgrade in outlook will sharpen attention on the government’s fiscal path. The Philippines has already lowered its medium-term growth targets to reflect the impact of Middle East tensions and shifts in US trade policy. Official forecasts now put 2025 growth at 5.5% to 6.5%, down from 6% to 8%, while targets for 2026 to 2028 have been narrowed to 6% to 7%. That softer growth backdrop makes deficit reduction harder, particularly if the state is forced to spend more on fuel relief, transport support or other measures to cushion households and businesses.
There are signs, however, that the fiscal picture is not uniformly worsening. Treasury data showed the budget deficit in February narrowed marginally from a year earlier, while year-to-date figures improved sharply because of stronger revenues and earlier remittance of dividends. S&P’s own statement suggests it still expects fiscal metrics to improve, even if the war has made that path more vulnerable to setbacks.
Beyond the government balance sheet, the social cost of the energy spike is becoming harder to miss. Reuters reported that some farmers in Benguet province were abandoning harvests because higher fuel, labour and transport costs made it uneconomic to bring produce to market. That kind of strain matters for credit analysis because it shows how an oil shock can move from shipping lanes and currency markets into household spending, food supply chains and political pressure for intervention.
Iran-affiliated cyber actors are targeting internet-facing industrial control equipment used by parts of the United States’ critical infrastructure, with federal agencies warning that the campaign has already caused operational disruption and financial loss in some cases. The alert, published on April 7, said the activity was focused on operational technology devices, including programmable logic controllers, or PLCs, made by Rockwell Automation’s Allen-Bradley line. The warning matters because […]
Matein Khalid The US-Israel war with Iran has now stretched beyond five weeks, inflicting extensive damage on energy infrastructure, airports, ports and commercial and technology hubs across the six GCC states. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf oil and gas exports is, in itself, an economic catastrophe. It forces the GCC to conclude that energy export security is not national security. Drone and missile attacks triggered a sharp […]
By Asad Mirza It seems that President Trump’s Tuesday morning Truth Social post, which threatened “a whole civilisation will die tonight” and raised the spectre of nuclear war, has jolted the American lawmakers, and it has begun a chorus of calls either for Trump’s impeachment or for his removal via the invocation of the 25th […]
The article Irrespective Of Two Week Ceasefire, Demand For Impeachment Of Trump Grows In U.S. Congress appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai shares posted their strongest one-day rise in more than a decade on Wednesday after a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran eased fears over a wider regional conflict, soothed concern over energy shipping routes and triggered a broad relief rally across Gulf markets. Dubai’s benchmark index jumped as much as 8.5% intraday, while Abu Dhabi’s main market also recorded its […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Airlines and energy traders are bracing for a prolonged squeeze in aviation fuel supplies even after the Strait of Hormuz reopened under a two-week ceasefire arrangement announced by US President Donald Trump, with the head of the International Air Transport Association warning that disruption to jet fuel availability could take months to unwind. Oil prices dropped sharply below $100 a barrel after the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil prices fell sharply on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, tied to the immediate and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears of a prolonged supply shock through one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Reuters reported Brent crude was down 13.3 per cent at $94.76 a barrel in […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah authorities said on Tuesday that a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit an administrative building belonging to Thuraya Telecommunications Company in the emirate’s Central Region, wounding two Pakistani nationals and underlining how the wider regional conflict is reaching civilian and commercial sites in the UAE. Officials said both men suffered moderate injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. State news agency […]
The head of the International Monetary Fund on Monday defined the direction of glbal economic travel with unusual clarity. “All roads now lead to higher prices and slower growth,” said managing director Kristalina Georgieva in an interview. The IMF had expected global growth of 3.3% in 2026. Six weeks of war centred on Iran and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz have already forced a rethink. […]
Iran-linked hackers mounted a coordinated password-spraying operation against Microsoft 365 tenants across the Middle East in March, with Israel and the United Arab Emirates emerging as the main targets in a campaign that cyber researchers say shows how regional conflict is increasingly being mirrored in the cloud. Check Point Research said the activity came in three waves on March 3, March 13 and March 23, hitting more […]
Israel has warned civilians across Iran to avoid trains and railway lines, signalling a new phase in its expanding campaign against Iranian infrastructure as the conflict entered a more dangerous stage on Tuesday. The Israeli military issued the message in Persian on its official account, telling people not to travel by rail or go near railway tracks until 9pm local time, and saying their presence there could […]
Oil prices pushed higher on Tuesday as Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran, sharpening investor anxiety over the fate of the Strait of Hormuz and the risk of a wider supply shock across global energy markets. Brent crude traded above $110 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate rose past $113, extending a rally driven by fears that a prolonged disruption in the Gulf could squeeze flows […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Mounting economic damage from the Middle East war is set to push inflation higher and global growth lower, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva has warned, as the fund prepares to cut its growth outlook and raise its inflation projections in its World Economic Outlook due on April 14. The warning comes as the conflict has triggered what the International Energy Agency has […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iran said on Monday it wanted a durable end to the war with the United States and Israel rather than a temporary truce, rejecting pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Washington’s timetable as President Donald Trump warned the country could be “taken out” if it failed to meet his Tuesday night deadline for a deal. Tehran’s stance underscored how far apart […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Jazeera Airways has postponed a decision on its cash dividend for 2025, saying the move reflects caution rather than financial weakness as the Kuwait-based low-cost carrier responds to mounting regional disruption. In a board decision disclosed on 6 April, the airline said it had amended its recommendation to shareholders and would instead revisit the payout after first-quarter 2026 results, with the annual general […]
Bitcoin pushed back above the $70,000 mark on Monday, offering a measure of relief to a market that has been battered by volatility, geopolitical tension and doubts over whether institutional buying is strong enough to absorb selling by large holders. The move was modest rather than decisive, with live pricing showing bitcoin at about $69,728 on Tuesday in Asia after an intraday high of $70,240, underscoring […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Donald Trump has said a Tuesday deadline for Iran to accept a deal remains final, sharpening a crisis that has already pushed energy markets higher, intensified diplomatic pressure and raised fresh concern over the risk of a broader Middle East conflict. Speaking on April 6 at the White House, the US president said Tehran had made what he described as a significant move […]
Singapore’s parliament is set to turn its attention on Tuesday to the economic and security consequences of the war involving Iran, with lawmakers filing 62 questions and three ministers due to deliver statements on how the conflict could affect energy supplies, inflation, transport costs and broader national resilience. The questions, lodged by 32 members from both the ruling People’s Action Party and the opposition, underline growing concern in the trade-dependent city-state over the fallout from turmoil in the Middle East.
The scale of parliamentary scrutiny is notable even by Singapore’s standards. According to the order paper for the 7 April sitting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam, and Acting Transport Minister and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow are scheduled to address the chamber. The questions range from the immediate effect of higher oil and gas prices to the security of liquefied natural gas supplies and the government’s plans to shield households and businesses from a prolonged external shock.
At the centre of concern is Singapore’s dependence on imported energy and its exposure to global shipping routes. The order paper shows MPs asking whether damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facilities could materially affect short- and medium-term supply, whether alternative procurement arrangements would be enough to offset any shortfall, and whether disruption in the Middle East might accelerate efforts to diversify the energy mix, including greater investment in alternatives such as nuclear power. That line of questioning reflects a deeper vulnerability: Singapore generates most of its electricity from natural gas and has little room to escape sudden swings in international fuel markets.
Cost pressures are another major theme. Lawmakers have asked how rising fuel and electricity prices may feed through to household expenditure, transport operators and the wider cost of living. For a government already balancing inflation management with fiscal prudence, the debate offers an opportunity to show whether existing buffers are sufficient or whether targeted support may be needed if the conflict persists. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in a video message on 2 April, had already warned Singaporeans that instability in the Middle East could affect the economy through higher energy prices, supply chain disruption and weaker global confidence, signalling that the government was preparing the public for a potentially difficult external environment.
Singapore’s predicament is shaped by geography as much as policy. The republic sits far from the conflict zone, yet its economy is tied tightly to global trade, imported food and imported fuel. Any threat to Gulf energy production or maritime passage through strategic chokepoints can ripple quickly into Asian benchmark prices, freight costs and business sentiment. Questions filed for parliament suggest MPs are not only concerned about immediate supply disruption, but also about second-round effects on manufacturers, logistics firms, electricity generation and consumers already sensitive to living costs.
The breadth of the questions also points to a broader political calculation. Singapore’s leaders have long framed resilience as a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, particularly when external shocks threaten domestic stability. The debate now unfolding in parliament is likely to test how far that framework can stretch in the face of a conflict whose trajectory remains uncertain. Opposition members, including Workers’ Party figures, have pressed for details on fuel reserves, assistance for workers dependent on transport and the likely effect on household budgets, while ruling-party MPs have focused heavily on energy security, diversification and inflation spillovers.
Beyond energy, the parliamentary discussion may widen into questions of diplomacy, national security and public confidence. K. Shanmugam’s planned statement suggests the government sees the crisis as more than a commodity shock. Singapore has consistently sought to position itself as stable, rules-based and open to commerce, which means geopolitical conflict in a key producing region carries implications not only for prices but also for investor confidence and regional security calculations. Ministers will face pressure to reassure the public that contingency planning is in place, even as they acknowledge that a small open economy cannot fully insulate itself from a major war-driven disruption.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai AirAsia X has raised ticket prices by between 31% and 40% and lifted fuel surcharges by as much as 20% after jet fuel costs surged following the Iran war, according to Group Chief Executive Officer Bo Lingam, underscoring how quickly conflict in the Middle East is feeding into Asian aviation costs and passenger fares. The Malaysia-based low-cost carrier said average jet fuel prices […]
By Nantoo Banerjee The Reserve Bank of India and the government may officially deny or even pretend to ignore the adverse impact of the continuous downhill journey of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar on the economy, the disturbing trend, if not contained, is bound to lead the heavily import-reliant nation to high inflation […]
The article Indian Rupee’s Continuous Downtrend Is A Big Concern appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai ADNOC Gas said its domestic supply chain remains intact after damage at part of the Habshan complex on April 3, with gas demand inside the UAE being met through other facilities and no disruption to customer supply. The company told the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange that the affected area had been isolated and that a full assessment of damage to the Habshan train […]
Gold prices extended their retreat as investors recalibrated expectations for US interest rates after stronger labour-market signals collided with a worsening conflict in the Middle East, a combination that lifted the dollar, pushed oil higher and revived concerns that inflation could stay stubborn for longer. Spot bullion has come under pressure even as geopolitical risk remains elevated, an unusual pattern that reflects how sharply energy costs and […]
Italy has introduced temporary jet fuel limits at four airports as supply strains tied to the Middle East conflict begin to hit European aviation, raising the prospect of operational disruption just as airlines prepare for heavier spring and summer traffic. Notices to airmen issued for Bologna, Milan Linate, Venice and Treviso said Jet A1 availability from Air BP Italia was limited, with restrictions running between April 2 […]
