Global Trade Accord Eases Tensions in 2026, Triggering Coordinated Rate Cuts Global Trade Accord Eases Tensions in 2026, Triggering Coordinated Rate Cuts In March 2026, major central banks announced synchronised interest rate reductions following the ratification of the Global Trade Accord. The agreement resolved prolonged disputes in the South China Sea and stabilised semiconductor supply...

Oil Volatility in 2026 Pushes Borrowing Costs Higher Oil Volatility in 2026 Pushes Borrowing Costs Higher In January 2026, renewed clashes around the Strait of Hormuz sent crude prices surging past $120 a barrel. The sudden spike caught markets off guard and forced the US Federal Reserve to pause its planned rate cuts, keeping the federal funds rate at 4.25–4.50 percent. Economists now...