US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made a fervent appeal Wednesday for central bank independence, as he prepares to cap an eight-year term at its helm marked by insults and legal action under the Trump administration.

Rising global energy prices, driven by geopolitical tensions, along with recent domestic fuel price adjustments, are pushing up production and transport costs and threatening Bangladesh’s export competitiveness, according to a General Economics Division (GED) report published yesterday.

Commerce minister attended the virtual hearing with UNCDP chair, held on April 29

Brent for June delivery, which hit a peak of $122.53 Wednesday, was sitting around $120 in Asian trade, while West Texas Intermediate was around $108.

Airbus said Tuesday its first-quarter profit fell as it delivered fewer planes to customers, falling behind rival Boeing for the first time in years.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on ​Wednesday that the decision by the United Arab Emirates ‌to leave Opec will mean the oil-producing countries will boost production, bringing down global prices in the future.

Oil prices rose Wednesday as talks to end the Iran war appeared to be at a standstill and the crucial Strait of Hormuz no nearer being reopened.

The MCCI organises dialogue on Bangladesh’s investment climate

Minister opens BTKG Expo 2026

Brent is above the level it hit before the two sides announced a ceasefire at the start of April, sitting around $112

Investment volumes fell by five percent during the quarter, according to the World Gold Council

Asian governments are spending billions of dollars in subsidies to shield consumers from the oil price shock

Less than 30 percent of Venezuela’s oil wells are currently active, a trade group said during a forum Monday, with production hovering around 1 million barrels per day.

Thailand’s economic growth and tourist arrivals are forecast to drop this year as the Middle East war roils global energy prices, the finance ministry said Tuesday.

Oil prices rose nearly 3 percent on Tuesday, extending the previous session’s gains, as ‌efforts to end the US-Iran war appeared to have stalled, with the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway still mainly shut, starving markets of key Middle East energy supply.

Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea and other low-cost airlines are feeling the financial pain from high jet fuel prices as a result of the Middle East war and are cutting flights.

Brent T. Christensen joins AmCham luncheon dialogue

Growth in the Southeast Asian nation is anaemic, with the tourism sector vital but arrivals yet to return to their pre-Covid highs

Reuters compiled a list of the five best-selling electric vehicles in China that start under $12,000 using ​DCar data

Brent crude futures for June climbed $1.41, or 1.3 percent, to $109.64 a barrel