SINGAPORE/NEW DELHI: Spot premiums for Middle East crude grades Oman and Dubai have soared to all-time highs even as trade slumps due to the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran, with some traders arguing that the benchmarks have lost relevance due to sup…

ROME: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday that diplomacy was the right way to solve the crisis in the Hormuz Strait and there were no naval missions Italy is involved in that could be extended to the area. “As far as Hormuz is c…

LONDON: Global demand for liquefied natural gas is estimated to rise by 54-68% by 2040 and 45-85% by 2050 from 422 million metric tons in 2025, boosted by growing Asian appetite for the fuel, Shell, the world’s biggest LNG trader, said on Monday. …

SHANGHAI: Alibaba Group Chief Executive Eddie Wu will head the newly formed Alibaba Token Hub (ATH) Business Group, the firm said in a statement on Monday. The new group will comprise existing Alibaba units Tongyi Laboratory, MaaS Business Line, Q…

BERLIN: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Monday rejected demands by U.S. President Donald Trump for military support in the war against Iran and downplayed threats that such a stance by allies would hurt NATO. “What does (…) Donald Trump…

Pakistan recorded a current account surplus of $427 million in February 2026, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday. However, on a cumulative basis, the country posted a current account deficit of $700 million du…

LONDON: Industrial metal prices came under pressure on Monday as surging oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East fuelled fears about inflation and global growth prospects, traders said. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was d…

Dismissing rumours of shortages, the Ministry of Finance’s Committee to Monitor Petrol Prices on Monday confirmed that fuel requirements for March are fully secured, with enough inventory and planned imports to last until at least mid-April. Finan…

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures climbed for a fourth consecutive session on Monday, as stronger Dalian palm olein and strength in crude oil prices supported the market. The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malays…

MUMBAI: The Indian rupee was pinned near its all-time low on Monday, averting losses largely on the back of likely central bank intervention, via state-run banks, as hostilities in the Gulf kept oil prices elevated. The Indian rupee closed at 92.4…