Shipments of Apple Macs plunged during the first quarter of this year as the global personal computer market suffered due to tough economic conditions, market research reports said on Monday.

China’s consumer price inflation fell below one percent in March, official figures showed Tuesday, a sign of weak demand as the world’s second largest economy tries to recover from its pandemic-driven slump.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday trimmed its 2023 global growth outlook slightly as higher interest rates cool activity but warned that a severe flare-up of financial system turmoil could slash output to near recessionary levels.

Major cryptocurrency bitcoin breached the key $30,000 level for the first time in 10 months on Tuesday, adding to its steady gains as investors raised bets that the US Federal Reserve will soon end its aggressive monetary tightening campaign.

The dollar gave back the previous day’s advances against the euro and pound but held some gains against the yen on Tuesday as traders’ attention turned to US inflation data due on Wednesday for signs of how close US rates are to peaking.

Oil prices rose on Tuesday on expectations of potential economic stimulus by China, healthy demand in the rest of Asia and a drop in US crude stockpiles.

Chinese airlines undertaking the biggest hiring drives in more than three years as travel rebounds are facing a deluge of applicants for cabin crew roles as fresh university graduates turn to the relatively high-paying career in a bleak job market.

The International Monetary Fund slightly lowered its outlook for the global economy today, while predicting that most countries will avoid a recession this year despite economic and geopolitical concerns..The IMF predicted the global economy will grow by 2.8 percent this year and three per

State oil giant Saudi Aramco will supply full crude contract volumes loading in May to several North Asian buyers despite its pledge to cut output by 500,000 barrels per day, several sources with knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

Sugar prices in India have climbed more than 6% in two weeks and are likely to rise further as production is set to fall and demand from bulk consumers to strengthen during the peak summer season, industry officials told Reuters.

Indonesia will propose a free trade agreement for some minerals shipped to the United States so that companies in the electric vehicle battery supply chain operating in the country can benefit from US tax credits, a senior minister said on Monday.

Gold prices fell as much as 1 per cent to slip below $2,000 on Monday, after US employment data pointed to a tight labour market, raising expectations of another rate hike by the Federal Reserve in May.

Oil steadied on Monday, after rising for three straight weeks, as looming supply cuts from Saudi Arabia and other Opec+ producers balanced concern about weakening global growth that may dampen fuel demand.

A combination of sticky high interest rates and lacklustre global growth could push a number of emerging economies that are facing soaring refinancing needs into debt difficulties next year.

Li Xiting, founder and chairman of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics, a global provider of medical devices based in China, has again topped Forbes’ list of billionaires in Singapore.

China’s bulk commodity market saw improving fundamentals in March with a marked increase in sales as demand rebounded, industrial data showed.

Emirates is stepping up its frequency with two additional flights per week between Dubai and Toronto after an expanded air transport agreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada.

The Russian rouble on Friday fell to its lowest rate against the dollar in a year, dipping to 82 rubles to the US unit on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX).

The World Bank’s ongoing reform could result in a $50 billion lending boost over the next decade, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told AFP ahead of stakeholders’ meetings next week where key changes are expected to be announced.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expects the world’s biggest economy will continue to grow, despite heightened recession concerns following recent turmoil in the banking sector.