BOJ Keeps Rates On Hold In Rare 6-3 Vote Split As It Warns Of Looming Stagflation

Supertanker Rates Hit Six-Year High: Here's What Driving It Global very large crude carrier (VLCC) rates have jumped to six-year highs due to two recent catalysts: first, a growing war-risk premium tied to the possibility of a US-Iran conflict, and second, ongoing consolidation in fleet ownership that is tightening vessel availability. Let's begin by noting that war-risk insurance premiums are rapidly being priced into VLCC tanker rates. The Strait of Hormuz has once again come into focus as the world's most important energy chokepoint, where any flare-up in a US-Iran...

AI Is Causing A Tidal Wave Of Job Cuts At Crypto Firms Layoffs are spreading across crypto and fintech — and executives increasingly say AI is part of the reason, according to Bloomberg. Coinbase, PayPal, Gemini, and Crypto.com have all recently cut jobs while emphasizing efficiency and automation. On Tuesday, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong framed the shift in stark terms, warning that “the biggest risk now is not taking action” as the company tries to become “lean, fast, and AI-native.” Bloomberg writes that the trend gained momentum after Block, Inc. — the...

A senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is giving Hamas 60 days to disarm. Hamas has stated that it will only disarm as part of the process of the creation of an independent Palestine.  Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs said Monday that Israel was giving Hamas 60 days to disarm out of respect […]